The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-08
JOHN N. EDWARDS.
THE MISSOURI JOURNALIST WHO RE-
GENTLY DECEASED.
He Was Largo Hearted, Brave Man,
Who Befriended Every One who APP
piled to Him. and Was the staunch.
True Friend of the James Brothers.

farm wagon, attracted considerable atten-
ton last Saturday as they entered the Nc
Carly House and passed up TO the room
where lay the remains Of Maj. John N.
Edwards, the Kansas City editor who had
died few hours before Of paralysis. The
woman was in tears and her husband evil
IDENTIFY was trying hard to conceal his emo
ton. Both were well along in years and
his hair was streaked with gray.
Gam i related to Maj. Edwards2' he
said to an attendant. "No, but l would
have done as much for him as / would for
a brother. Mary and were coming to
town and / heard few miles out that the
Major was dead. He did me q friendly
act once when was stranger and in sore
need Of friends. Nobody but Mai. Ed
wards would have done it. / was in the
army and got word that my wife, Mary,
was very sick and likely to die. To
come back almost certainly meant to
be taken prisoner, but / decided to
risk it. Several days l hung around the
neighborhood and became nearly fam
ished, and then / made break for the
house. was captured by two men and
taken before Mai. Edwards To him /
told my story. He believed me and ac-
companied me 10 my house. Mary was
at deaths door, but n doctor came and
| things that were necessary were provided.
Finally she got better and was sent back
to my company, the only thing being re-
| quired that say nothing about what had
taken place. DO you wonder that mourn
this mans death?"
When they had gone an old acquaint-
ance OF the deceased said to Times repre-
sentative:
Mai John n Edwards was unobtrus-
i've personally. He would no more wound
the feelings OF his fellow man than he
would desecrate the grave OF his best
! fiiend. But in times when II was neccs-
sary for him to stand out and engage in a
conflict he was rs brave as a lion and
| picturesque in his manner OF warfare.
He had something in his composition
that reminded one OF old Murat, and yet
he was perfectly free from buster and os.
tcntation.
"When the last war came upon the
country he was boy in appearance and
scarcely man in years. lie espouscd the
cause OF the Coniederacy. While he was
loyal to whatever trust was imposed upon
him he chafed under restraint, and for
that reason he became a soldier under the
banner Of the redoubtable Joe Shelby, who
went to battle very largely on his own
| plan.
Mai. Edwards was knightly in what
ever he did and gave the West a romantic
coloring which attached 10 no other sec.
ton. As polished rs any courtier, no
matter whether he was in hand.to hand
conflict or in drawing-room; as mcrciiul
as Sister OF Charity, as tender rs a moth
or; lac was at the same time the apologist
and the historian OF the guerrillaand loved
30 steal away from his own camp in the
night and ride across a trackless prairie TO
convey the message OF some woman 20 her
lover who was watching in the jungles for
prey.
mo matter what flag nuttered over the
suffering, II he was in tho vicinity he
turned aside and acted the role OF the good
samaritan. II he could do this without
his left hand being any the wiser for il il
suited him so much the better. II any man
had 4 contempt for dress parade It was
John \. Edwards.
Missouri occupied n position during
the war which caused the Union and the
! Confederate soldier TO strive for the ascen-
dancy in different manner than was the
case In almost any other state. II was the
homo OF the fathers and mothers OF the
soldiery Of both sides. Children had grown
up together aud had wonhlpped in the
same sanctuary until they separated 70 go
out 10 battle. The prairics were dotted
with the humble homes OF old people left
behind. Here was the dwelling OF the
father Of boy In blue, and just across the
lane or meadow was the shelter Of the
father Of boy In gray. A return 10 his
home now and then, even II he had 10 dC
30 rs n desertcr for the time being, was
part OF the duty OF the frontier soldier. II
used 90 be one OF the delights Of Edward,
90 arrange for these returns and 10 see Il
Il that the roof beneath which the ten
porary dcscrtcr passed a few nights com
iorting an old father aud mother was pro
teclod.
ut made no difference 10 Edwards
about the color Of the clothes OF the visit
ing soldier. is he good SOLDIER Is b,
coming home 10 see his mother, and vii
he 90 back aud fghtY were the question
asked the skulker.' and II they wer,
aflirmatiycly answered the 'skulkor' wa
not only permitted 10 pass but was fur
nished, II necessary, with guide aud sal,
conduct and return.
"whcn the war was over Joe Sholb,
aud some OF his followers who hal
dreamed Of an empire on this side Of th
Atlantic went Eilloping over the borde
and presented themselves 20 Maximilial
In the City OF Mexico. Edwards was on
Of the company. TWAS a strange soldiery
as picturesque as anything In the story O
spain. Not man IN that company VIII
lad not been present nj some OF the rccep
tons OF the mcst notable people In hi
own country. Not man who was not
noblcmnn by nature. Not one VIII
had not had, before tho war. hi
rctinuc OF servants and all that none
could give. Not one who did not spcaI
the court language as ilucntly IA he spok
his own. Not ono who was not Cited 70
the conycniionalilcs OF the drawing-roon
OF any crowned head. Edwards, In par
ticular. ~ shy a. a iawn even then, be
came iayonlc with Macmillan, and wa
guest at tho capital at the invitation Q
Carlotia. who never tired Of hearing hl
stories Of the country from which lac came
This unique sodiery, however, sool
returned 10 their own country and becam
loyal aud useful citizens. Carlotla wen
homo across the water and the pitilul stor!
OF her fate has been told Ia tears all arounI
the globo. Edwards wrote tribute 10 he
on the occasion OF her malady which wa
printed and copied the land over ans
translated into various languages In thI
old world. II was the tendorcsl aud purcs
bit Of English that ever came from pen.
"Aitor Nellie Grant married and wheI
she went 10 England 10 live there cam