John Edwards (Arkansas)

John Edwards (October 24, 1815 - April 8, 1894) was a U.S. Representative from Arkansas.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Edwards received a limited schooling. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He moved to Indiana, where he served in the State house of representatives in 1845 and 1846. He moved to California, and in 1849 was elected an alcalde. He returned to Indiana in 1852. He served as member of the State senate in 1853. He moved to Chariton, Iowa, in 1855. He served as member of the Iowa constitutional convention. He served in the State house of representatives 1856-1860, the last two years as speaker of the house. Founder in 1857 of the Patriot, a newspaper. He was appointed lieutenant colonel May 21, 1861, on the staff of the Governor of Iowa. He served as colonel of the Eighteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, August 8, 1862. Brigadier general of Volunteers September 26, 1864. At the close of the war settled in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was appointed by President Johnson as United States assessor of internal revenue and served from August 15, 1866, to May 31, 1869. Presented credentials of election as a Liberal Republican to the Forty-second Congress and served from March 4, 1871, to February 9, 1872, when he was succeeded by Thomas Boles, who contested the election. He was not a candidate for renomination. He settled in Washington, D.C., and died there April 8, 1894. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.