Jack Edwards was born into slavery in approximately 1837 in Albemarle County, Virginia. He had one sibling, a sister named Agnes Minor. Their owner, Hiram G. Edwards, moved his family and slaves from Virginia to Missouri in the late 1830s, and by 1840 they were all living in Pike County. 

Jack Edwards enlisted in the 18th USCT Infantry Regiment on August 29, 1864, in Bowling Green, Missouri, for a period of 3 years. At the time of his enlistment, he was 27 years old, stood 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and possessed a black complexion, hair, and eyes. He mustered into Company F as a private on the same day at Benton Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri. The regiment had organized during the summer of 1864 and primarily served in the District of St. Louis until November 1864. During this time, Edwards contracted cephalagia, a medical term for headache, and doctors deemed him not fit for active duty. Edwards instead entered into the hospital at Benton Barracks. He recovered, however, and soon transferred east to Nashville, Tennessee, on November 7. Edwards and the regiment continued on towards Paducah, Kentucky, between November 7-11. The regiment, however, quickly returned to Nashville on November 11.

Around this time, Confederate General John Bell Hood initiated his Franklin-Nashville campaign. Edwards and the 18th USCT took part in the occupation of Nashville during Hood's operations around the state capital between December 1-15. They saw action at the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, a Union victory. The regiment quickly joined in pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River between December 17-28, but once Hood crossed the Tennessee River, the men received reassignment to guard the railroad at Bridgeport, Alabama, around New Year's Day 1865. They saw action while at this post at Elrod's Tan Yard on January 27. Following this action, Edwards and the regiment transferred back to Chattanooga, and they were stationed in the District of East Tennessee until mustering out on February 21, 1866, in Huntsville, Alabama.

Following the war, Edwards returned to Missouri and married Matilda Campbell on March 4, 1866, in Bowling Green. Together, they had seven children: Macer, born on November 15, 1868; Lizzie, born on December 20, 1866; Henry, born on October 24, 1870; Geomer, born on September 17, 1879; Isaiah, born on September 27, 1881; Bessie, born on January 6, 1886; and Myrtle, born on March 14, 1888. Edwards worked as a blacksmith after the war. He first applied for a pension on March 26, 1888, and continued to file claims for increases due to a combination of ailments, including rheumatism, heart disease, and a slight deafness in his ears. He received a rate of $12 per month that was soon increased to $17.

His wife passed away on December 3, 1898, likely in Bowling Green, at approximately the age of 65. Edwards outlived his wife by 3 years, dying on October 25, 1902, likely in Bowling Green, as well.