The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-19

Chester Edwards. a young newspaper
man. has just received word from his
father, Hon. A. c. Edwards. United States
commissioner at Kodak. Alaska. that his
tChestersj mother has fallen heir 10
3. coo eco. This was especially pleasing 70
young Edwards because he saw in Il the
restoration OF the family 10 the position Of
wealth and affuence held before the Spo-
kane boom eliminated and fortunes dis
appeared "a If by magic.
Mrs. Edwards comes into this vast es-
tate through relationship 20 James Nc
Whorter. who lived eighteen miles down
the Mississippi river from Memphis. Nc
Whorter owned 1850 acres of land and sew
eTai packet freight boats lie also had
large sums invested in bonds. About lSs2
or 1855 he died. leaving his vast estate 10
his only son. II now appears that the son
died intestate four or five years ago. and
during all this time search has been GO
Ing on to locate Mrs. Edwards. who was
a niece OF the original James McWhorter.
Mrs Edwards maiden name was Jennie
McWhorter. Her father lived out of Louis
VILE on a plantation. He had so or Go
slaves, and before the war was considered
a very wealthy man.
His family connections consisted of him
self and wife and two children. Jennie and
her brother. Jennie NcWhorter. now Mrs.
Edwards married Thomas Webb. who
was an officer in the Confederate army.
The result Of this union was two children,
Walter O.. and Thomas E. Webb. Mrs.
Webb's husband died, and on January .,
1872. she married A G. Edwards at Helena.
Ark. They moved 10 ST. Louis, then 10
Omaha. Carney, Neb.. and finally TO Dem
yer. Col. AT Denver Mr. Edwards was as
ISOLATED with Brick" Pomeroy. Edwards
got experience 70 the extent of $50 100. Ii
il said. and then concluded TO move furth-
err West.
Mr.. Edwards was the first one to run a
pack train 10 Eagle City. In the Occur d
Alene. He made about 5000. and then
went TO Spokane I'm 1888. He invested in
real estate and buildings until he owned
fifty-three houses and two brick blocks.
When the Panic came Edwards could not
carry his property and Went down in the
crash. Subsequently, he was appointed
United States commissioner at Kodiak,
position he still holds.
A short time ago DR. Walter -. Webb.
Mrs. Edwards son by her first husband.
received a letter from DIR. John Mayheld,
of Memphis. asking If he was any rela-
ton of Mrs. Thomas Webb. The doctor
said he had been unable 10 get track Of
Mrs. Webb, but happened TO see the doc
tors name and wrote about 1t. The mat
ter then resolved itself into the propo-
sition that Mrs Webb (Mrs Edwards
was with her brother. the only heirs to
the James McWhorter estate near Mem
phis.
The estate is reported to be In shape for
immediate settlement but the proposition
of finding Mrs. Webbs Mrs EdwardsD
brother hobs up. No one knows where he
is. He may be dead.
United States Commissioner Edwards
will undoubtedly resign and go 10 Mem
phis TO look after the interests of his wife
In the estate. and his son Chester. who has
been living in Seattle, will go with him.
DR.. Walter @. Webb used to be county
physician of Spokane. and was chairman
of the Spokane board of health. His
brother, Thomas +. Webb. was the nrst
mail carrier ever appointed in Spokane.