Contributing writer
“I smell the blood of an Englishman.” And he was a true proper Englishman, known as “Uncle Ed” to the town of Marion. Always dressed in a business suit carrying a rolled up umbrella, he wore a hat and starched shirt collars and was always polite.
He came to Marion in the 1870s with his parents, brothers, and sisters. He loved to garden and his tomato plants were taller than his head and he was so proud of his gladiolas. When they bloomed, he took big vases of them to businesses in town to display.
I am now reading a novel about an Englishman who made me think of Uncle Ed. He is a helpful person just like Uncle Ed. I don’t know how many nieces and nephews were helped through school by Uncle Ed. He also made a home for his parents and sisters. He never missed church. It was his task to sack up Christmas treats for the children every year.
He never got back to the English farm that the family left behind. He was a strong patriot of the United States. His quiet way and reserved actions were a strong part of him. He was such a dear man and highly respected by everyone.