PHILIP L. EDWARDS.

BY ROBERT E. PRAPER

PHIL

HILIP LEGGET EDWARDS was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, on the 14th of July, 1812; died the 1st of May, 1869; hence he was fifty-six years, nine months, and seventeen days old. His father and mother, Thomas Edwards and Jane Edwards, (whose maiden name was Jane Cunningham) were both natives of Virginia. At quite an early period they bade farewell to their native home, and marched westward to the then frontier State of Kentucky. Enterprise, coupled with adventure-the love of unrestrained freedom to enjoy the extended fields of nature ere they had been incumbered with a dense population-were leading characteristics of the Edwards family.

Virginia had, it is true, more of the comforts of life and promises of leisure than the wilderness west of the Alleghanies could offer; yet the father of Colonel Edwards stopped not to consider a life of ease in the land of his birthplace, but eagerly sought to lead the van of empire, whose path was westward. His move from the scenes of his childhood, instead of satisfying his desire to see new places and fasten his attachment for a particular locality, rather stimulated his inclination still farther west, for in 1824 he was again on the road of emigration, this time to the outposts of the white settlements in the State of Missouri.

He located at Old Franklin, in Howard county, on the Missouri river; afterwards moved to Ray county, in that State, where he resided until 1850, at which time he took up the line of march for California. He lived to be quite an old man; was resident of Nevada county several years, where, two or three years since, his career on earth was brought to a close.

Colonel P. L. Edwards, the subject of this sketch, (the title Colonel was acquired during the Mormon troubles in Missouri, 1841) commenced teaching school at the age of twenty-one, in the village of Richmond, Ray county, Missouri. That avocation, which of all others is best calculated to discipline the mind, to inculcate method both of thought and action, systematize reflection, and enable the inquiring mind to arrive at just conclusions, was entered by him just as youth had ripened into manhood. This is the most important point in the life of every man, for at this period the tender cares of the mother, the wise admonitions and counsel of the father, culminate and unmistakably direct him to assume responsibilities which he never before held, and lay out the course which he would follow through an active, living world.

With a full supply of common sense; naturally kind, eager to learn; faculties capable of receiving and inclination to acquire knowledge; he commenced the active duties of manhood in that praiseworthy calling of imparting information to the innocent youth; and doubtless he also commenced the cultivation of those traits of character which endeared him to his friends, and formed that frame-work of esteem and respect that elevated him, wherever he resided, far above suspicion, even of the most vicious. That honesty of purpose, love of truth, independent thought, earnest action, gratitude to friends, and leniency towards antagonists, which he taught the young under his tutelage, he also practiced himself. Next to that of character, his fondest theme for the study of the young was the understanding of words. This theory he strictly pursued in all his readings as well as his writings. No man systematically analyzed the subject

Its sev

under consideration more completely than he. eral branches he would unravel in detail, and unite the various collateral definitions as well as join the main line in one aggregated conclusion, and express the same in language sufficiently terse, perspicuous, and comprehensible to bring it within the scope of the simplest mind.

Frank, energetic, and industrious, he moved in any cause in which he engaged with a zest and ardor to succeed, not only to the understanding of the surface, but the cause, the wherefore, and the groundwork, as well as the superstructure. The glittering varnish on the outer lines of the work might please his eye, but the plan of the architecture, the base and foundation of the whole structure, were subjects of far greater importance to him. The experience of those who had gone before him, the theories of government, the life and character of statesmen, the mysteries of politics, the teachings of theology, the works of the poets, the facts of the historian, the tales of life and stories of romance, all received his attention; and although the taste he nurtured for reading while the bloom of youth was on his cheek may have become somewhat abated as age advanced, yet he continued the habit of much reading down to the day of his death. This, coupled with his abundance of kindness for all, and ill-will towards none, is the explanation of that remarkable faculty he had in making every one easy in and fond of his company. If the man of letters was present, he could readily draw upon the rich storehouse of information at his own command, and never fail to entertain as well as inform his hearer. The illiterate would feel easy in conversation with him, because in his pleasant and unassuming style, he would anticipate their deficiency, and supply it for them in such a friendly manner, they would fail to discover their own ignorance in their admiration of the Colonel's great good nature, manifested in understanding them, however awkwardly they expressed themselves. He was a man full of humor, indulged frequently in anecdotes, and highly enjoyed a good joke well told.

During the second year of his school, his health be

came rather feeble. Just at this time, a party was organized, some of the members intending to trade with the Indians on the plains; others to perform missionary duties among them west of the Rocky Mountains; others again were seeking to inform themselves of the topography and resources of the wild, uninhabited "West." Of the traders, Captain N. J. Wyeth was the most prominent; Jason Lee had charge of the missionary division; Townsend, and Nutall, the distinguished naturalist, and Captain Steward, afterwards Lord Clyde, were seeking pleasure and information. The Colonel joined the party, mainly to improve his health, and at the same time to satisfy an inclination to explore the unfrequented plains and mountains of which at that time so little was known.

The party left Independence, Missouri, on the 25th of April, 1834. On the 15th of July following, they arrived at the point on Snake river since known as Fort Hall. Here Wyeth and his party of traders remained; the others continued their journey to Vancouver by the way of Walla Walla, arriving at the former place on the 15th of September of that year. The missionaries, after receiving their supplies, (which had been forwarded from Boston on the brig Mary Dacre) and being joined by those in the same cause who came on the brig, established their headquarters at Willamette Valley, about seventyfive miles above the mouth of the Multnomah. Colonel Edwards remained with them. This fact likely gave rise to the impression which has since appeared in public print, that he was a member of the mission. He was at that time a member of the Methodist Church, and may have joined his efforts with those around him in disseminating the truths of the Bible among the red men of the Pacific coast, but he was not officially connected with the mission. In September, 1835, Daniel Lee, nephew of Jason Lee, and Colonel Edwards, left the mission for Vancouver; the former seeking to restore his health, and the latter contemplating a return to the United States on the brig Mary Dacre.

The change from the mission to Vancouver seemed not to have the desired effect upon Mr. Lee's health, for

instead of improving, he grew worse; hence his friends deemed it advisable and did send him to the Sandwich Islands. Colonel Edwards in the meantime changed his intention of returning by sea, and went back to the mission. In October of that year, he established a school at Campment du Sable, or Champoeg, which he continued till the next spring. Other missionaries had arrived from the States, which, by the spring of 1836, increased their numbers to quite a settlement, sufficiently so as to make it necessary to look after the means of support and to provide against contingencies. Colonel Edwards again visited Vancouver, and soon after joined with others in the enterprise to obtain cattle and horses from California to supply the pressing wants of the fast increasing population of the Willamette Valley-Douglass, Governor of British Columbia, being one of the interested parties in the venture. Captain W. A. Slocum, of the United States Navy, very kindly offered the interested parties free passage to San Francisco. Colonel Edwards and Ewing Young were appointed to take charge of the expedition. They arrived in San Francisco the 1st of July, 1836.

What a change! A few huts here and there, standing on the margin of the bay, not of sufficient importance to deserve the name of village when first he saw the place, had grown to a populous and wealthy city when last he visited it in 1869.

The party delayed no time in purchasing and gathering together a band of cattle and horses, and started across the country for the settlement of the missionaries. The Indians frequently annoyed them, and on several occasions seemed determined not only to take their property but also their lives. They succeeded in stealing part of their band; yet, through the perseverance and undaunted courage of the managers of the expedition, near 1,200 head were taken through, which were distributed among the settlers, and laid the foundation for a rapid accumulation of the comforts of life and future wealth.

In March, 1837, the Colonel, in company with the Rev. Jason Lee and two Indian boys, whom they had.