Born in Bellevue Hospital, New York City on September 23, 1914, Edward Martin McLaughlin was the second of three children born to William George McLaughlin and Helen Teresa Weber McLaughlin. Edward's father was born and educated in Great Britain arriving in America in 1903 as financial clerk of S. Pearson & Son, contractors of railroad tunnels under the East River. In the boarding house of Julia S. Weber, 183 Lexington Avenue, NYC he met Julia's daughter, Helen Teresa Weber. The two married on September 25, 1909 renting an apartment at 220 East 36th Street. In March 1914 they moved to 169 West 73rd Street, NYC. Their first son William George II ("Bill") was born July 25, 1910.

Although Edward's father became a naturalized US citizen in 1910, he was loaned to the British War Mission in November of 1914, precipitating the families move to Montreal, Canada. In January 1916 the British War Office relocated to NYC. The family moved to Manhattan's Upper West Side.

In 1917 the family moved to 36 Summit Street, East Orange, NJ. On April 17, 1919 the couple's third son Vincent James arrived. In that year the family moved to 30 South Grove Street, South Orange, NJ.

In late 1920 Edward's father transferred to Kingan & Company (meat processing), Indianapolis. The entire family relocated to Indianapolis' Holy Cross Parish in early 1921. In 1922 the family moved into St Philip Neri Parish renting the upstairs of 548 Eastern Avenue. In 1924 the family moved to 644 N. Oakland Avenue. In September of 1924 Bill left for St Meinrad Seminary.

Edward's father traveled extensively with Kingan & Company. He made regular train trips to Kansas City, Atlanta and Vancouver, Canada. In early 1927 he returned home from Kansas City with a cold. He developed pneumonia and, without antibiotics, died on March 15, 1927 at age 48. Edward's mother died from a massive heart attack suffered after work (housekeeping, The Indiana National Bank) while boarding a bus at Washington Street and Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis in 1941.

Edward entered St Meinrad Seminary in 1927 and was ordained May 30, 1939. Assigned to the Indianapolis Archdiocese, Edward served as: associate, St. Theresa of the Little Flower (1939-1947); associate, St Anthony's (1947-1956); pastor, Mary Queen of Peace, Danville, IN (1956-1971) and as pastor, St Joseph's, Shelbyville, IN (1971-1977). The affable Fr. Ed performed countless baptisms and marriages during his 42 years of priesthood. Fr. Ed served as chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol and the Holy Family Council - Knights of Columbus. Fr. Ed's imposing German Sheppard "Odell or Odie" was a well known Danville resident. Edward loved to travel abroad. He carried chalky liquid antacid to calm a frequent upset stomach. With no previously known heart problem, Fr Ed, age 62, died of heart failure in his sleep at Shelbyville, IN. The Most Rev. George Biskop, Archbishop of Indianapolis and brother, Rev. William G. McLaughlin II presided at his funeral mass.