Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. Marriage — Location — Business Affairs—Resumes Itinerant Labors — Experience. few miles east of Athens, Ohio, there lived a very interesting and intelligent family by the name of Hibbard. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church in the East, but at the time here alluded to belonged to the United Brethren. Mr. Hibbard was a lawyer of good abilities, but had abandoned the profession for the study of divinity and occasional preaching. His son Randolph, studious and scholarly in his habits, was also a preacher of more than ordinary promise. Both father and son were members of Scioto Conference. The young ladies of the family were sprightly and accomplished. They were objects of special attraction to the young people of the neighborhood. Harriet, the oldest of the girls, had already become the wife of Rev. John Miller, also a member of Scioto Conference. This was a well-to-do family, but not in affluent circumstances. It is easy to see that this must haveteen a very pleasant stopping-place for any one who could appreciate refinement and culture. It was all this and much more to Mr. Edwards, as we shall see presently. While traveling Raccoon Circuit he frequently stopped with this family, and thus formed the acquaintance 01 Miss Liktc- tia Hibbard, who was at that time teaching school near Athens, Ohio. Her engaging manners and good solid sense pleased him, and so, after awhile, he proposed marriage, and his proposal was accepted. The nuptials were solemnized on December 10, 1839, Rev. W. K. McKabe officiating. This union proved fortunate in every respect. Mrs. Edwards, as the wife of an itinerant, has ever been a devoted and efficient helper. It was through her judicious management of the financial affairs of the family that he was enabled to devote h...