The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-05-11
MAI. JOHN N. EDWARDS.
From the Jefferson City Tribune.

Maj. Jno. N. Edwards is dead! This
short but sorrow -freighted telegram
has already flashed across the wires of
this state, bearing with it cause of
grief such as has not been felt within
her borders in many a long wear;
Srlet as poignant, as unexpected, so
sudden did his end come, as suddenly
almost as if be had fallen in battle.
Maj. Edwards was born in February
lo4l, in Warren county, Virginia.
EmigratiDg TO this state when "a mere
boy, he learned the trade OF printing i'm
the office OF the Lexington Expositof,
where he continued until the breaking
out OF our civil war, when he enlisted
among the earliest in the Missouri
state guard. Afterwards he entered
the confederate service, was sergeant
MAJOR IN Col. (aftera ard) Gen. j. O.
oheiby's regiment and through success
sive promotions for gallant aud meri-
torious service rose TO the position of
adJutant OF the division, with the rank
oi major. AS soldier and officer he
Was cool, brave and efficient, and
IL some daring venture was TO be made,
some hazardous Reconnaissance to be
performed, some dashing raid to be rid.
den, some forlOrn hope TO be led. il
was not seldom that he was placed in
the post Of honor. So it was through.
out the war. At the battle of Cape
Girardeau, in 1868, being severely
wounded, lie was captured and re-
manned prisoner until exchanged.
AT the close OF the war he still clupo TO
his Old commander and shared his for
tunes when he and other confederates
sought the hospitable shores OF Mexico
III preference To remaining in the land
Where they had all SO recently tclt the
pangs or bitter and disastrous defeat
remaining there year or more, he
returned with his general and q few
other comrades 10 Missouri. Locating
IN st Louis, he wrote that fascinating
book, "Shelby and His Men; or, War
ln the West," book that, being read,
Sill causes the eye of many war
worn confederate soldier 10 kindIe and
his color to return 10 his aged cheek as
he recounts the Oft-told story OF "leats
of broil and battle" But il is in the
ranks of Journalism where the fame of
Nal Edwards as a writer must ulti-
mately rest.
AL various periods he was editor OF
the st. Louis Times, of the Sedalia
Democrat and the st, Joseph Gazette,
and ut the time of his death was edi-
torlal writer on the Kansas City Times.
Possessed of style as inimitabIe as
1t was resplendent,a fancy that arrayed
Itself III all the riches of nature and of
art and made them tributary TO his
wohdrous skill, power of word
painting that caused his pages to glow
IKE some ancient and inspired canvas.
II is no marvel when he assembled the
editorial tripod that a reputation second
10 none as writer should have been
accorded to him in this and adjacent
states almost at the very outset of his
journalistic cpreer. No. one, whether
friend or Zoe, can read the back files of
the different papers he edited without
involuntarlly coniessing to himself:
"Here, indeed, is the handiwork of a
man OF genius;" aud as such he will be
appreciated and held In admiring and
ahectlonate remembrance long after
the throbbing pulses of the hand which
pens this brief and feeble tribute to his
memory shall become stilled like his
oy the touch OF the same icy fingers.
AS child OF genius, he had all of
the excelleDcies aud all of the eccen-
trlcltles that are ever characteristic of
those favorites of fortune. Warm
hearted and impulsive by nature, sim
pie ana unobtrusive in his manner as a
chlId, he was true as steel to his friends
and singularly forgiving to the few
enemies that sometimes crossed his
checkered pathway. He was remarka.
Oily generous-gencrOus TO fault and
forgetful of self. This trait was con-
spicuons during the war amid the
llcissitudes incident to camp life.
snort rations, long forced marches and
the cherries bivouacs of our half
starved southern soldiers. As he was
I'D war SO was he in peace. When he
removed to st. Louis he was frequently
called upon by former comrades and
Dy ex- -confederates Tor pecuuiary aid.
and as long as he had dollar he never
turned them empty away. OF him IL
could truly be said : "He had tear
tor pity and hand open as day for
melting charity"
AS democrat, he was as unflinch-
ng In his democracy, as loyal TO its
as viCilant in their defense,
IS If still doing picket duty on the
ented field; and the editorials he
,enned In their support, such is their
Nondrous force of words, oftentimes
'nund like bugle blast or a cavalry
'harge.
Soon after returning to this state
Maj. Edwards was united in marriage
o Miss Plattenburg, daughter of Judge -
OF Dover, La:sS eo0n-
y. Or this marriage threeA ,.yGiren
we're born, two boys now at,o1ding
chool at the Usage mission, Kansas,
md one daughter of tender years, now
With her bereaved mother in this city.
In the midst of a sorrow so sudden
md so great as theirs we feel it would
'e vain and impertinent TO offer emmy
words and phrases of conventional con
iolence. But there are many who
read the soil of Missouri to- day who
viii unite with the widow and the
'rphan in mingling their tears over the
rave and the memory of one of the
most generous, gifted and chivalrous
ouls that ever welded sword or pen
n behalf of hlfnanity.