Edward Jerrard was born about 1870 in Wisconsin. He came to Bemidji from St. Cloud in August, 1899, being one of the first to arrive here and take up his abode in the frontier town of the northern woods. “Ned” Jerrard soon took a prominent place among Bemidji’s early hustlers. Jerrard conducted the first plumbing business in Bemidji, and he built much of the early lines of piping about the city.
E. H. Jerrard and F. J. Kennedy have each built a fine ice boat to use on Lake Bemidji. (Jan 1, 1900)
In 1905, J. C. Covington, who had come to the city the previous year, joined forces with Mr. Jerrard and the two gentlemen engaged more extensively in the plumbing and heating business, with much success.
In the fall of 1907, Messrs. Jerrard & Covington decided to engage in the hardware business, as well as the plumbing and heating business, and they immediately put in a splendid stock of hardware of all kinds.
The success of the firm, since putting in the hardware stock, has been even more pronounced than when they were engaged exclusively in plumbing and heating. Jerrard & Covington dissolved their partnership in March 1909. Jerrard continued to work in the hardware business and also advertised that he would fix ay problems with boats.
Jerrard & Covington had a large boat house, on Lake Bemidji, where there are slips for rent to any persons desiring the same.
Edward Jerrard was still living in Bemidji in 1930.