by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

JOHN P. EDWARDS

   Mr. Edwards was born January 30, 1830, in Sag Harbor, Long Island. There he lived until he was twenty-two years of age, working on a farm and attending school. He graduated from an academy located at East Hampton, Long Island. In 1852, he took a six months voyage in a sailing vessel to several foreign ports. Leaving New York City he went to Havana, Cuba, then to Portland, England, and to Smyrna and India. For five years he followed the sea, sailing most of the time from New York City to West Indies. The last two years of his nautical life he was second mate and mate. In 1857, he went to Henry County, Iowa, where he remained more than a year. He traveled through Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa before settling in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1858. There he remained until the spring of 1861, engaged in the dairy and gardening business. He paid $25 in gold for his best cows, though common ones could be obtained for half the amount. He would have none but the choicest animals. During the following three years he was a resident of Fremont County, Colorado, engaged in ranching. In 1865, he freighted to different points, making one trip to Fort Union, New Mexico. Returning to Kansas City, Missouri, he was obliged to remain one winter on account of sickness. After his recovery he came to Colorado, stopping at the mouth of the Purgatoire Creek, where he built a house for Kit Carson and resided in it for a few months. Mr. Edwards took part in the Indian war of 1867—68. He removed his family to Fort Lyon and scouted for the Government until the Indians went into winter quarters. For some months afterward, he furnished wood for Fort Lyon, and the people of the old town of Las Animas, when he removed to Fremont County and remained one year, at the expiration of this time he returned to the western portion of Bent County, engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Edwards has been improving his herd by crossing with thorough-bred short—horn cattle, in which he thoroughly believes. Mr. E. has been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. He was married in 1866, to Miss Sarah Hayes, who resided near Bowling Green, Kentucky. They have one boy and one girl. In 1881, Miss Minnie, their daughter, had spent two years at school in Sag Harbor, L. I. Mr. Edwards has a quarter section of land fronting on the Arkansas River. Mr. E. has the reputation of being a great hunter. He killed the last band of wild turkeys ever seen in Bent County.