Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-14
A QUEER CHARACTER.
The Strange Adventures of Pioneer
Californian.

Here is story. of a California pioneer told
by the New Haven Palladium: Every few men
in New Haven have had so checkered a career
or life so full of adventure and change as has
Edward b. Davidson. This is the man who
applied to Town Agent Todd last week for
pecuniary assistance, and whose clothes on
being searched at the almshouse we're found to
contain nearly $50. He was born in Milford
sixty or sixty-five years ago. In early life. he
migrated slowly westward until in 1854 he
started from Bloomington, Ill, for California
with an OK train. On the journey cholera at
tackled the party ndmany died. Among these
was near relative of the late Judge David
Davis. Davidson was the only man in the
party who would bury Davis, and he rolled
him in buffalo robe and inferred him on the
banks of the Platte river near Salt Lake City.
On this journey on one occasion Davidson was in
camp cooking supper for the other men who
were out hunting. A band of hostile Indians
came up, but Davidson pacified them by treat
ing them to fancy crackers. On arriving at Sacra-
mento, Cal, he engaged in business on 4th
street, keeping store which he called post
office exchange. The food of GO destroyed his
stock. man gave him money with which to
start again, but soon foreclosed. Then he be-
came reporter on the Sacramento Bee, and
he remained on this paper for some time. A
little latter he became insane, and passed two
years in the insane asylum at Stockton. After APP
parently having almost fully recovered his mind.
he joined party and went to Oregon. Here
he was given a position on the Portland
Oregonidn. and became sheriff of the county.
He remained there for year or two. and then
went to the gold mines at Canyon City. Here
his party was attacked by Indians. He and
two other men escaped. and he and one of his
companions carried the other. who was
wounded. IA miles on poles. After he had been
west for four years he returned to Milford for
mis- wife, but found she had married another
man. Returning. he bought $1,000 worth of
stationer's goods i'll New York on credit, had
them fully insured and shipped them via Cape
Horn. The ship was lost. Davidson waited
till he received his insurance, and then paid
for the goods.
Soon after he hit upon plan by which he
made much money. This was by obtaining old
papers at post-offces from various parts of the
country and selling them to miners. He fire.
quently received Il for paper, and on one oc-
caslon received so for a paper which came
from an eastern town. from miner from the
same town. Davidson is a member of the Cali
fornia state pioneers. He was the first man to
was member of the vigilance committee
which did the first hanging in that state. He
returned to New Haven about twenty years ago
and has since been book peddler and news
seller. having had stand on the corner of State
and Prout streets. He had lodgings on Long
wharf. AT one time he was worth $50, 600.
He now wears rags. but is suspected of having
several thousands hidden away. He had three
sisters who were insane, and undoubtedly he Is
still mentally unsound. He has daughter in
this city. Mrs. Young