Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-11-21
Remarkable Story Of a Clerk in a
Lewiston House.
His Forefarthers Were Granted Acres
IN Gotham's Business
Center.

Ork,
1.-THE track embraces As acres
extending from Battery street to
Canal street and includes all OF the
promontory which extends from
Canal street out into the bay. The
great business blocks on Wall street
and on Broadway, the government
building, postoffice, custom houses
and mint are on this property.
"This land was leased TO King
Georne Ill, by the Edwards family for
colonial use prior to the revolutionary
war for a period Of 30 years. Ii was
afterwards subject by crown lease to
a Dutch settler aud later sold of into
city lots subject TO the terms Of the
lease. Thus the Edwards ownership
was recognized prior to the reYolutlon'
AIRY war. Later deeds were absolute,
but the Edwards heirs never lost
sight OF their equity and when the
lease expired efforts were made TO
establish title, but many reyerses
followed.
Accusations of forgery and bribery
we're made in connection with the
claim until ~ years ago, when zone OF
the heirs httedlhimself. for the contest
aud began the work OF establishing
title for the heirs Of Robert Edwards
"This man finally perfected an alb
stract OF title from the crown grant
in the first instances and then
tie lease to the crown for the use Of
the colony, then the subtitle lease to
the individual who sold Off lots sub
ject TO the lease. IL seems that all
the rights OF the Edwards heirs 6eFe
protected to avoid lapse OF title by
prescription under the common law
u'The copies OF deeds and leases form
perhaps the most complete abstract OF
title in the civilized world, This
work was compiled by William Ed
wards Of Tennessee in 1915. He took
the case out OF the hands OF the law
yers IL years ago. For ten years he
worked necessarily on the task,
spending private fortune in the
work, but when he confronted the at
torueys OF the present holders OF the
property in 1896 they adyised com
promise.
"Mr. Edwards was required To Sc
cure Identification through the sec
retary OF state OF the national govern
ment before he could secure the
evidence OF title he required from the
archives Of the English government
"Mr. Edwards had secured about
200 powers OF attorneys from the
living heirs OF Robert Edwards. When
ne came TO New York with his cyl
dence aud a compromise was proposed
he entered into an undertaking tC
quiet title for the SUN OF 1905, 1000
"Over 81 100000 OF this sum was
placed on deposit and the date ixec
for the distribution was September
8, 1896,
THE heirs were quietly summoned
TO New York 10 transfer title and u
secure for each Il share OF over
million dollars.
"But some OF the heirs who wer'
possessed OF large fortunes refused h
compromise for what they considered
a small portion OF the great estate
William Edwards, who had all bu
finished the great work OF his life
was insulted aud grieyed by th
ungrateful attitude OF these heirs ant
by the lmputatlon that he had ex
ceeded his authority. He droppe'
the great work then aud there.
'"rhe title TO the realty, however
was established and the holders ap
piled TO the courts for an order 4
quiet title. A suit was brought u
compel the heirs OF Robert Edward
to make a deed in accordance will
the contract entered into by tnei
attorneys-in fact by which the heir
we're 20 receive s3O5, 100000. Thl
contract is now held 10 be bindln
upon the heirs and the cOmpromis
price OF 1906 ,OOO,O 900 is ready for dis
trlbution."
j. NJ. Edwards is not Informed a
TO the exact number OF testatOrs, bu
there are less than 300. His father
family consisted OF 10 children, ful
and half brothers and sisters. Som
OF these are dead. rwO sisters liy
near Spokane, Mrs. j. s. Marney an
Mrs. Emmett Robinson. The brother
James j. Edwards, Is with the SteT
ling Mercantile Company 10 Wall
Walla. The family home Is 10 Tel
nessee, where the mother owns
homestead OF 1890 acres OF land. Tn
father died several years ago.
JIM. Edwards has been 10 th
10 the employ OF j. p. Vollmer al
= most continually for eight years, bu
r he has lived 10 Genesee the create
part OF tue time. lie has famll
ofwife and Two children, and
working as salesman while wal
ing fiual summons 10 take possession
OF his million.
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