William Cameron Edwards was the son of William Edwards of Portsmouth, England and Martha Ann Cameron of Fort William, Scotland. He married Catherine Margaret Wilson, daughter of William Wilson and Mary McElroy in January 1885.
William attended the Ottawa District Grammar school, and by the age of 19 he was working for Cameron & Edwards, a lumber firm at Thurso, Quebec.
In 1866 he formed the Thurso infantry company and served as its captain for three years, prior to his leaving the village.
In 1868, he founded W.C. Edwards & Co. and built a small steam sawmill at Rockland. In order to satisfy the growing demand for wood in Montreal and Europe, the mill, the lumberyard and the shipping docks were expanded in the second year of operations. In 1875 fire destroyed the sawmill, but by 1876 the sawmill was rebuilt and operating. Soon there were larger sawmills built along the Ottawa River at Rockland and New Edinburgh.
In 1882, William ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate for the district of Russell in the House of Commons. He ran again in the 1887 General election securing the position as a member of parliament representing Russell. William was elected 4 more times in the 1888 By election and in the General elections of 1891, 1896 and 1900.
In March 17, 1903 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada at the recommendation of Sir. Wilfred Laurier, a position he held until his death.
After the death in 1901 of Hannah Currier, the widow of J. M. Currier, William purchased their home at 24 Sussex Dive in Ottawa for $30,000.00. Upon his death, the house passed to his nephew Gordon Cameron Edwards.
In 1911, William purchased land and a sawmill on Harrington Lake previously owned by two American half-brothers, W. A. Drum and W. L. Donnelly. Fire destroyed the sawmill in 1915, but since lumber requirements had slowed considerably, William did not rebuild, but kept the land. Upon his death, his nephew Cameron MacPherson Edwards inherited the property.
At one time, William was also a noted livestock breeder earning a number of prizes for improved breeds of cattle. He owned a large stock farm In the Ottawa Valley and for a time served as President of the Russell Agricultural Society.
William was very involved in supporting the efforts during the Great War, giving freely of both his time and money in the interest of supporting England.
William attended the Ottawa District Grammar school, and by the age of 19 he was working for Cameron & Edwards, a lumber firm at Thurso, Quebec.
In 1866 he formed the Thurso infantry company and served as its captain for three years, prior to his leaving the village.
In 1868, he founded W.C. Edwards & Co. and built a small steam sawmill at Rockland. In order to satisfy the growing demand for wood in Montreal and Europe, the mill, the lumberyard and the shipping docks were expanded in the second year of operations. In 1875 fire destroyed the sawmill, but by 1876 the sawmill was rebuilt and operating. Soon there were larger sawmills built along the Ottawa River at Rockland and New Edinburgh.
In 1882, William ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate for the district of Russell in the House of Commons. He ran again in the 1887 General election securing the position as a member of parliament representing Russell. William was elected 4 more times in the 1888 By election and in the General elections of 1891, 1896 and 1900.
In March 17, 1903 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada at the recommendation of Sir. Wilfred Laurier, a position he held until his death.
After the death in 1901 of Hannah Currier, the widow of J. M. Currier, William purchased their home at 24 Sussex Dive in Ottawa for $30,000.00. Upon his death, the house passed to his nephew Gordon Cameron Edwards.
In 1911, William purchased land and a sawmill on Harrington Lake previously owned by two American half-brothers, W. A. Drum and W. L. Donnelly. Fire destroyed the sawmill in 1915, but since lumber requirements had slowed considerably, William did not rebuild, but kept the land. Upon his death, his nephew Cameron MacPherson Edwards inherited the property.
At one time, William was also a noted livestock breeder earning a number of prizes for improved breeds of cattle. He owned a large stock farm In the Ottawa Valley and for a time served as President of the Russell Agricultural Society.
William was very involved in supporting the efforts during the Great War, giving freely of both his time and money in the interest of supporting England.
William Cameron Edwards was the son of William Edwards of Portsmouth, England and Martha Ann Cameron of Fort William, Scotland. He married Catherine Margaret Wilson, daughter of William Wilson and Mary McElroy in January 1885.
William attended the Ottawa District Grammar school, and by the age of 19 he was working for Cameron & Edwards, a lumber firm at Thurso, Quebec.
In 1866 he formed the Thurso infantry company and served as its captain for three years, prior to his leaving the village.
In 1868, he founded W.C. Edwards & Co. and built a small steam sawmill at Rockland. In order to satisfy the growing demand for wood in Montreal and Europe, the mill, the lumberyard and the shipping docks were expanded in the second year of operations. In 1875 fire destroyed the sawmill, but by 1876 the sawmill was rebuilt and operating. Soon there were larger sawmills built along the Ottawa River at Rockland and New Edinburgh.
In 1882, William ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate for the district of Russell in the House of Commons. He ran again in the 1887 General election securing the position as a member of parliament representing Russell. William was elected 4 more times in the 1888 By election and in the General elections of 1891, 1896 and 1900.
In March 17, 1903 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada at the recommendation of Sir. Wilfred Laurier, a position he held until his death.
After the death in 1901 of Hannah Currier, the widow of J. M. Currier, William purchased their home at 24 Sussex Dive in Ottawa for $30,000.00. Upon his death, the house passed to his nephew Gordon Cameron Edwards.
In 1911, William purchased land and a sawmill on Harrington Lake previously owned by two American half-brothers, W. A. Drum and W. L. Donnelly. Fire destroyed the sawmill in 1915, but since lumber requirements had slowed considerably, William did not rebuild, but kept the land. Upon his death, his nephew Cameron MacPherson Edwards inherited the property.
At one time, William was also a noted livestock breeder earning a number of prizes for improved breeds of cattle. He owned a large stock farm In the Ottawa Valley and for a time served as President of the Russell Agricultural Society.
William was very involved in supporting the efforts during the Great War, giving freely of both his time and money in the interest of supporting England.
William attended the Ottawa District Grammar school, and by the age of 19 he was working for Cameron & Edwards, a lumber firm at Thurso, Quebec.
In 1866 he formed the Thurso infantry company and served as its captain for three years, prior to his leaving the village.
In 1868, he founded W.C. Edwards & Co. and built a small steam sawmill at Rockland. In order to satisfy the growing demand for wood in Montreal and Europe, the mill, the lumberyard and the shipping docks were expanded in the second year of operations. In 1875 fire destroyed the sawmill, but by 1876 the sawmill was rebuilt and operating. Soon there were larger sawmills built along the Ottawa River at Rockland and New Edinburgh.
In 1882, William ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate for the district of Russell in the House of Commons. He ran again in the 1887 General election securing the position as a member of parliament representing Russell. William was elected 4 more times in the 1888 By election and in the General elections of 1891, 1896 and 1900.
In March 17, 1903 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada at the recommendation of Sir. Wilfred Laurier, a position he held until his death.
After the death in 1901 of Hannah Currier, the widow of J. M. Currier, William purchased their home at 24 Sussex Dive in Ottawa for $30,000.00. Upon his death, the house passed to his nephew Gordon Cameron Edwards.
In 1911, William purchased land and a sawmill on Harrington Lake previously owned by two American half-brothers, W. A. Drum and W. L. Donnelly. Fire destroyed the sawmill in 1915, but since lumber requirements had slowed considerably, William did not rebuild, but kept the land. Upon his death, his nephew Cameron MacPherson Edwards inherited the property.
At one time, William was also a noted livestock breeder earning a number of prizes for improved breeds of cattle. He owned a large stock farm In the Ottawa Valley and for a time served as President of the Russell Agricultural Society.
William was very involved in supporting the efforts during the Great War, giving freely of both his time and money in the interest of supporting England.
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