Edgar Page Stites was of English descent and was born at Cape May, New Jersey, where his ancestors had settled after coming over on the "Mayflower". Edgar was converted to Christ at the age of 19 during the great revival of Philadelphia, often called the Awakening of 1857 and 1858. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Methodist Church of Cape May and became a local “lay pastor.” As a home missionary, he also was involved in the starting of new churches in the South Jersey area.