Mr. I.H.Edwards came on a ship from Russia. He was going to work with his uncle in a sweatshop factory in New York. All he had with him was bread and baloney. He slept with the animals on the ship. He didn't know it but he landed in Philadelphia so his uncle wasn't there to meet him. He began picking up fruits and vegetables from the market to sell to survive. He finally got a little cart to sell his goods. Finally a rabbi told him he was not in New York City but Philadelphia. The rabbi got hold of his uncle and he went to New York where he worked in a sweat factory. It wasn't long before he realized he was making more money in Philadelphia so he went back. Then he sent for his fiancee' Bessie and she joined him. They married and moved to Jacksonville, Florida. They opened a store on Phoenix avenue and lived upstairs. He kept expanding and opening more stores. They were called Daylight Groceries.
He used my company for shipping and receiving for many years. Back in those days we had the Florida Railroad Commission. Mr. Edwards got old and Bessie died. He was in St. Vincent's for a long time and I would take books over and read to him.
About this time I applied for a permit (a certificate of necessity & convenience) to haul bananas. The hearing was held in Jacksonville on Oak Street. The big trucking companies were fighting me tooth and nail. The permits were hard to get. All of a sudden in the middle of the hearing an ambulance pulled up front. They took a stretcher out. Mr. I.H. Edwards testified for me and said that no one had ever given him the quality of service that I had. When he finished testifying the commissioners told him not to leave. They adjourned for 15 minutes and when they came back they awarded me the permit. I had no idea he was going to do this for me but am always grateful for his kindness.
Photos: The Jacksonville Journal 1949.
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