Philip Leget Edwards
Encyclopedia
Philip Leget Edwards was an American educator from the state of Kentucky
and first teacher in what became the state of Oregon
. After teaching in Missouri
, he traveled to the Oregon Country
with Jason Lee
and helped establish the Methodist Mission
. He was also involved with the Willamette Cattle Company
before returning to Missouri where he became a lawyer and was on officer in the militia fighting against the Mormons. After moving to California
, he served in the state assembly.
, on July 14, 1812. His parents were the former Jane Cunningham and John Edwards. The family moved to Missouri
one year after his birth. After receiving his education he was a teacher in that state from 1833 to 1834.
was heading west to start a mission in the Oregon Country
when he was passing through Missouri. Edwards was living in Richmond, Missouri
, at the time and agreed to join Lee’s group. He and Courtney M. Walker joined the rest of the group at Independence
and headed west. These missionaries traveled with mountain men and traders including Nathaniel Wyeth’s group across the Rocky Mountains
, reaching the pass on June 15, 1834, and Fort Vancouver
on September 16. That fall the group started building a mission along the Willamette River
north of present day Salem, Oregon
. Edwards was engaged in farming much of his time at the mission.
From 1835 to 1836 Edwards taught school to both Native Americans and the children of French-Canadian settles of the French Prairie
at a small school at Champoeg
. As such, he was the first school teacher in what became the state of Oregon. He was part of the Willamette Cattle Company
in 1837, traveling to California
with Ewing Young
and others to purchase cattle and drive them back to the Willamette Valley
. Edwards served as the treasurer of the group and kept a journal of the trip. In 1838, he wrote a memorial to the United States Congress
concerning the conditions in the Oregon Country, and then accompanied Jason Lee back east to deliver the document as Lee recruited more people for the mission.
in 1842 to represent Ray County as a Whig. In the legislature
he served as the chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1844, he was a delegate to the Whig Presidential Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, serving as the chairman of the state’s delegation.
In California, he was the Whig Party’s candidate for Congress in the 1852 election, losing to Milton Latham
. He served as a Whig legislator in the California State Assembly
after winning election to the lower chamber in September 1854. He represented the 9th district and Sacramento County
and served as the chair of the judiciary committee.
, in September. Philip Leget Edwards died on May 1, 1869, at the age of 56.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and first teacher in what became the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. After teaching in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, he traveled to the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
with Jason Lee
Jason Lee (missionary)
Jason Lee , an American missionary and pioneer, was born on a farm near Stanstead, Quebec. He was the first of the Oregon missionaries and helped establish the early foundation of a provisional government in the Oregon Country....
and helped establish the Methodist Mission
Methodist Mission
The Methodist Mission was founded in Oregon Country in 1834 by the Reverend Jason Lee. The mission was started to educate the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley and grew into an important center for politics and economics in the early settlement period of Oregon.-Foundation:In 1831, several...
. He was also involved with the Willamette Cattle Company
Willamette Cattle Company
The Willamette Cattle Company was formed in 1837 by pioneers in the Willamette Valley of present day Oregon, United States. The company was formed with the express purpose of purchasing cattle in California to bring to Oregon Country...
before returning to Missouri where he became a lawyer and was on officer in the militia fighting against the Mormons. After moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he served in the state assembly.
Early life
Philip Edwards was born in Breckinridge County, KentuckyBreckinridge County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,648 people, 7,324 households, and 5,309 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,890 housing units at an average density of...
, on July 14, 1812. His parents were the former Jane Cunningham and John Edwards. The family moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
one year after his birth. After receiving his education he was a teacher in that state from 1833 to 1834.
Oregon Country
In 1834, missionary Jason LeeJason Lee (missionary)
Jason Lee , an American missionary and pioneer, was born on a farm near Stanstead, Quebec. He was the first of the Oregon missionaries and helped establish the early foundation of a provisional government in the Oregon Country....
was heading west to start a mission in the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
when he was passing through Missouri. Edwards was living in Richmond, Missouri
Richmond, Missouri
Richmond is a city in Ray County, Missouri, United States. The population was 5,797 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Ray County.-Geography:Richmond is located at...
, at the time and agreed to join Lee’s group. He and Courtney M. Walker joined the rest of the group at Independence
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
and headed west. These missionaries traveled with mountain men and traders including Nathaniel Wyeth’s group across the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, reaching the pass on June 15, 1834, and Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
on September 16. That fall the group started building a mission along the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
north of present day Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. Edwards was engaged in farming much of his time at the mission.
From 1835 to 1836 Edwards taught school to both Native Americans and the children of French-Canadian settles of the French Prairie
French Prairie
French Prairie is a prairie located in Marion County, Oregon, United States, in the Willamette Valley between the Willamette River and the Pudding River, north of Salem...
at a small school at Champoeg
Champoeg, Oregon
Champoeg is a former town in the U.S. state of Oregon. Now a ghost town, it was an important settlement in the Willamette Valley in the early 1840s. It is positioned halfway between Oregon City and Salem and the site of the first provisional government of the Oregon Country...
. As such, he was the first school teacher in what became the state of Oregon. He was part of the Willamette Cattle Company
Willamette Cattle Company
The Willamette Cattle Company was formed in 1837 by pioneers in the Willamette Valley of present day Oregon, United States. The company was formed with the express purpose of purchasing cattle in California to bring to Oregon Country...
in 1837, traveling to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with Ewing Young
Ewing Young
Ewing Young was an American fur trapper and trader from Tennessee who traveled Mexican southwestern North America and California before settling in the Oregon Country. As a prominent and wealthy citizen there, his death was the impetus for the early formation of government in what became the state...
and others to purchase cattle and drive them back to the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. Edwards served as the treasurer of the group and kept a journal of the trip. In 1838, he wrote a memorial to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
concerning the conditions in the Oregon Country, and then accompanied Jason Lee back east to deliver the document as Lee recruited more people for the mission.
Political career
Edwards was elected to the Missouri House of RepresentativesMissouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
in 1842 to represent Ray County as a Whig. In the legislature
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
he served as the chairman of the judiciary committee. In 1844, he was a delegate to the Whig Presidential Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, serving as the chairman of the state’s delegation.
In California, he was the Whig Party’s candidate for Congress in the 1852 election, losing to Milton Latham
Milton Latham
Milton Slocum Latham was an American politician, and served as the sixth Governor of California and as a member of the federal U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Latham holds the distinction of having the shortest governorship in California history, lasting for five days between...
. He served as a Whig legislator in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
after winning election to the lower chamber in September 1854. He represented the 9th district and Sacramento County
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
and served as the chair of the judiciary committee.
Later years
Edwards then returned to Missouri where he became an attorney, passing the bar in 1840. Later in 1840, he married there to Mary Venable Allen, who bore him two daughters. Edwards joined the Missouri militia in 1841 to fight against the Mormons, and attained the rank of Colonel. In 1842, he published the Sketch of the Oregon Territory, Or, Emigrants' Guide. Edwards moved west again in 1850, settling in Nevada County, CaliforniaNevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
, in September. Philip Leget Edwards died on May 1, 1869, at the age of 56.