Charles W. Edwards was born at the turn of the 20th century, on November 21, 1899, outside the town of Otterville, IL. He married Thirza Edith Noble in July 1921, in Granite City, IL. He was an educator for 45 years, starting out in one room schoolhouses.
One of his many grandchildren, Jeffrey Druce, remembers his grandfather as a "serious bird watcher and history buff" and that, "he had a flat rock in his garden that he told us leprechauns danced on when the moon was full."
Charles passed away in 1985, however, his love of nature, family, and country shines through his writings and he lives on through his poetry. He self-published a book of poetry, "Of Shoes and Ships
and Sealing Wax" in 1971. "Charley, Tie Your Shoes" is a poem from this work and is a great reminder for young and old to "get up and try again."