The prosperity of a communitiy depends upon its commercial enterprise and
  the men who are at the head of such are the real promoters of a city's welfare
  and advancements. My Grandfather, Daniel O. Edwards was an enterprising 
  merchant and postmaster of Hazelton for 19 years before 1911. "His business,
  the oldest in the town was so prosperous that their annual sales amounted to
  twenty thousand dollars in 1911:, so says an old history book recently found
  in the Hazelton area.
     Daniel O. Edwards was born NOv. 13, 1858 in Steuben County, New York. His
  parents were James and Carrie (Patterson) Edwards. His father was of Welsh
  and English descent from the "Empire State" of New York. He farmed, raised
  stock and had a dairy business. His mother belonged to a well known New York
  family. In Hazelton, she was active in the Methodist Church. They had 3
  children, Blooma who died at the age of 15, also another child died in early
  youth, so D.O. (Daniel) was the only surviving child.
     Grandfather's education was acquired in public school and through business
  experience. When 18, he worked in a saw mill, then spent 5 years near James-
  town, N.Y. From there he went to Rochester, N.Y., where he lived until arriving
  in Harper, Kansas in 1882. Moving to Hazelton in 1883 and establishing a 
  business of Hardware and Drugs, also a lumber and coal yard. His first partner
  was G.W. Peck for 6 months, then with G.R. Follett of Newton, Kansas until 
  1893 when he sold out and moved to Alva, Oklahoma. In 1896, he returned to
  Hazelton as a partner of Mr. Folletts.
     In 1885, in Barber County, Grandfather had wed Emma Follett. She had come
  fromOlean, New York. Four children graced this union. Raymond F., Grace, 
  Leland C., and Daniel O. Jr.
     Grandfather was a leading member of the Republican party, strongly advocating
  its principles and contributing in a large measure to its success at that time.
  He served as Justice of the Peace and also as Hazelton's Mayor. He was appointed
  Postmaster by President McKinley and served from 1896 to 1912 and again from
  1920 to 1932, when Luther Wainscott became postmaster. He was a prominent and
  active member of the Blue Lodge and had been Master of the Masons. He also
  belonged to the Knights Templars of Anthony Commandry K.T.
     His son, Raymond, was my father. When my mother, Alma (Rentfrow) Edwards
  died in 1918, I lived with one of my mother's sisters for a year. Then I lived
  with my grandparents until I married H.D. Heath of Hazelton in 1931.
     Grandfather died in 1936 and grandmother in 1944. Both are buried in the
  Hazelton Cemetery.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 167 
     Submitted by: Jean Edwards Heath