John Edwards (missionary) facts for kids

John Edwards (1828-1903) was an American missionary and teacher. He worked with the Choctaw people in what is now Oklahoma during the 1800s. Born in Bath, New York, he became the leader of the Wheelock Mission. This mission helped educate Choctaw children. During the American Civil War, he faced danger because he did not pick a side. He later returned to help rebuild the mission. Edwards is remembered for his dedication to the Wheelock Mission.

Edwards' Education and Mission Work

John Edwards went to college in Princeton, New Jersey. He graduated in 1848. Then, he studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, finishing in 1851. A group called the American Board of Missions (ABM) sent Edwards to the Choctaw Nation. He went there in 1851 to teach.

He first taught at Spencer Academy. Soon after, he moved to Wheelock Academy. He became the main missionary there. Dr. Alfred Wright had started Wheelock Academy in the 1830s. He passed away in 1853.

John Libby: Edwards' Helper

John Libby traveled with Edwards to the Choctaw Nation. He later went back east to finish his own studies. In 1857, Libby returned to Wheelock to help Edwards. Libby married a Choctaw woman who had studied at Wheelock.

The Libbys stayed at the mission when Edwards had to leave. They took care of the buildings during the Civil War. They also ran a small school. In 1869, a big fire destroyed most of the mission. Only the stone church was left.

A Dangerous Escape During the Civil War

In May 1861, John Edwards had a very close call. A group of soldiers from Texas and Choctaw men who supported the Confederacy came to the mission. They were looking for weapons and people who supported the Union. They even asked Edwards to promise to fight for the Southern side.

Edwards later wrote about what he told them. He said he could not fight against his home in the North. He believed the Southern states did not have a right to leave the Union. He just wanted to stay and work with the Choctaws. He promised not to do anything against them.

The men did not find anything. They warned Edwards to leave the area. They thought he might be hiding Union supporters. Three weeks later, a neighbor warned Edwards' wife. A group was coming to hang her husband that day.

Edwards quickly got ready to leave. He gave his keys to Mr. Libby. He packed some food and took all the money. After a quick prayer with his wife, he rode away. All of this happened in just fifteen minutes.

Life Away From the Mission

Not much is known about what Edwards did after he escaped. He stayed away from the Choctaw Nation until after the Civil War ended. His wife went to California, probably to stay with family. Edwards later joined her there. Sadly, her health got worse, and she died in California in 1881. She never returned to the Choctaw Nation.

After his wife passed away, Edwards went back to the Choctaw people. The National School Board asked him to teach at a school near Boggy Depot. This was while they planned to rebuild Wheelock Complex. Edwards agreed to teach for two years.

In 1884, the school board asked Edwards to be the superintendent of Wheelock again. He said no because his health was not good. He suggested they find someone else. He stayed at Wheelock as a mentor until the school year of 1886-87 ended.

Later Life and Family

John Edwards married a second time in 1884. His new wife was Constance Lucretia Hunter. She was born in Ohio in 1853 and taught at the Wheelock school. They retired together in California in 1895.

After Edwards died in 1903, Constance moved to Oregon. She lived there with her only child until she passed away in 1936.