edwards was born in dover, england, the son of john edwards, came to canada west with his family in 1862 and was educated in toronto. he was a prominent businessman in the city as proprietor of j.e. edwards & sons leather good manufacturers. he was also known as a mining pioneer working with adam wright in the early days of cobalt, ontario. in 1887, he married elizabeth ann kerslake. together they raised two children, a son and a daughter. he died in 1950.