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Progressive Men of Iowa
1899
 EDWARDS,
Millard Fillmore, a successful lawyer of Parkersburg,
Butler county, brought thorough preparation, natural
ability and good health to the practice of his
profession. His parents were of German ancestry on his
mother's side and Welsh on his father's side, and he was
born near the town of Muncy, Lycoming county, Pa.,
October 22, 1858. His father was William Edwards, a
farmer and stock raiser in fair financial circumstances,
and his mother's maiden name was Mary Catherine Schmull,
sometimes written "Smull" and "Smole."
From his early boyhood,
Millard F. Edwards enjoyed good educational advantages,
first in the public schools of Lycoming county, then in
the Lycoming County Normal school and in the Central
State Normal school, in Lock Haven, Pa. For some years
after this he taught in the schools of Lycoming county,
beginning in the country schools and advancing steadily
to better positions in the graded schools, until he
finished nine years' teaching, as principal of one of
the graded schools of that county. Mr. Edwards also took
a course in the Commercial college at Williamsport, Pa.
He graduated from the Pennsylvania State Normal school
in 1882, ranking as one of the best in the class, and
being selected to represent his class with an oration in
the commencement exercises. The next year he
came to Iowa to enter the law department of the State
university, devoting himself to the work of preparing to
enter the legal profession with the same industry that
had won success as a teacher. Graduating from
the law school in 1884, Mr. Edwards returned to
Pennsylvania and entered the law office of B. S.
Bentley, of Williamsport. Concluding, however, that Iowa
offered the best field for his efforts, he decided to
locate in this state, coming to Parkersburg in July,
1885, and forming a partnership for the practice of law
with Hon. O. B. Courtright, now of Waterloo. The
partnership lasted a little over two years, when Mr.
Edwards retired from the firm and has since been engaged
in practice alone.
Mr. Edwards has always been a
republican and expects to be in the future. He has been
honored by his fellow-townsmen by an election to the
office of mayor, and has served as secretary of the
school board.
Aside from these positions, he has devoted his
energies to his profession, with good results. He
belongs to Royal Lodge No. 218, Knights of
Pythias, in Parkersburg, and is a member of the grand
lodge of the state. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church. Mr. Edwards was married July 21, 1887,
to Miss Ida Whiting, of Parkersburg, and two children
have come to bless their pleasant home. They are: Helen
Catherine, born January 10, 1889, and Mildred Irene,
born November 28, 1897.
Since the preparation of this
sketch Mr. Edwards has taken up the banner of his party
in Butler county, as the republican candidate for state
representative, and will in all probability represent
that county in the next
legislature.
 PAULGER, Frederick Wheatley, cashier of the
New Hartford, Iowa, bank, was born at Bucknall Grange,
Lincolnshire, England, May 19, 1854. John Paulger, his
father, was an Englishman, who came to America with his
family in 1869, from Great Grimsby, England. They left
Liverpool on the steamship Nestorian in May and landed
at Point Levi, across the river from Quebec, Canada,
June 7, 1869. From there they came west and after a few
days' stay at Rockford, 111., came to New Hartford,
Iowa, and settled on a farm a few miles from town.
Before coming to America
young Paulger attended the schools in the city of London
and also the Victoria schools in Great Grimsby, where he
was a faithful and studious scholar and won several
class prizes. After leaving school he worked in a
telegraph office as messenger, and also in the steam
shipping office of John Sutcliffe at Great Grimsby for
about one year before leaving England. After locat-ing
at New Hartford he learned telegraphy at the railroad
station during the winter of 1872 and was appointed
agent and operator for the Illinois Central Railroad
company at that point July 4, 1873. This position he
retained until 1881. During 1875 he formed a partnership
with his father in the coal and grain business, under
the firm name of J. Paulger & Son. In August, 1882,
this firm bought the lumber and hardware business of J.
A. Cousins.
In 1883 the father retired from the lumber and
hardware business, and Frederick W. formed a
partnership with the former proprietor, J. A. Cousins,
under the firm name of Paulger & Cousins, which
continued until November, 1892, when Mr. Cousins bought
the entire business. During the year 1885 Mr. Paulger
entered into partnership with W. E. Miner, under the
firm name of Miner & Paulger, and started the New
Hartford mill, in which he retained his interest until
1888, when it was purchased by his partner. During the
year of 1889 Mr. Paulger, with three others, organized
the New Hartford bank, of which he became cashier in
1893. He still retains that connection with the bank and
its prosperity is largely due to his energetic and
conservative management. Mr. Paulger has
always been an active member of the republican party and
has been honored by election to several local offices.
He was elected mayor of New Hartford in 1892 and in 1894
accepted the position of city treasurer, which he still
occupies. He is master of Beaver Lodge, A. F. and A. M.,
and has held that office for three consecutive years. He
is also a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar, being a
member of Baldwin commandery of Cedar
Falls.
November 10, 1880, Mr. Paulger was
married to Ida Guthrie, daughter of Dr. James A.
Guthrie, of New Hartford. They have three children: Leo
Harry, born March 7, 1882; Mable Frank, born July 20,
1884, and Ruth Genevieve, born July 22, 1889. By a long
and successful business career Mr. Paulger has merited,
and has won, the confidence and esteem of his fellow
citizens, and established a fine reputation for business
foresight and ability.
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