James Thomas Edwards (January 6, 1838 – August 20, 1914) was an American educator, Methodist minister, and politician.

Their children were Grace Ella Baker (1864-1921), Laura Alice Lyman (1868-1944), and Florence Emily Sumwalt (1876-1959).

In 1868, John was a Presidential Elector for Ulysses S. Grant,[2] and was a Rhode Island Delegate for the 1866 National Union Convention.

[3] In 1870, James left Rhode Island for the Chamberlain Institute in Randolph, Cattaraugus County, New York.

He also received a Degree of Divinity from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1876, and in 1890 was made a Doctor of Laws.