EDWARDS, Thomas Arthur, Jr.; Flatonia Cty., TX; now Calcasieu Parish Submitted by Mike Miller ** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ EDWARDS, Thomas Arthur, Jr., -- district attorney 15th judicial district, Lake Charles, La., was born at Flatonia, Fayette county, Tex., Jan. 18, 1876, son of Thomas Arthur and Sarah (Brooks) Edwards, the former of whom was born in the state of Kentucky and the latter at Nashville, Tenn. The father, when a boy, went to Texas with his widowed mother, in 1850. His mother purchased a ranch in the latter state and there reared her family. It so happened that Sarah Brooks went to Texas with her parents in the same year as did the father with his mother. Thomas Arthur Edwards, Sr., began life on his own account at an early age. When the Civil war began, he was 16 years of age. He immediately enlisted and served until the close of the war. At successive periods he was attached to the commands of Quantrell, Gen. Price, and Capt. Ben McCullough, and participated in the last battle of the war, at Brownsville, Tex., under Capt. Rabb. After the surrender he engaged in the stock business in western Texas. He was the first marshal of the town of Flatonia, and while occupying that office--about the year 1875--was appointed deputy sheriff of Fayette county, and from that time until 1903 he served continuously in that capacity, under succeeding chiefs, making a record of about 28 years in the one office. He then moved to Bee county, Tex., where he owns a ranch and now resides. During his service mig throughout the Civil war he was wounded only once, but as a deputy sheriff, in dealing with the desperate characters of his section and time, he received many wounds. Thomas Arthur Edwards, Jr., was the first of 7 boys born to his parents, 5 of whom are living at this time. He received his earlier education in a private school taught by an aunt, after which he attended a graded school, at various times, at Flatonia. When he had attained his eighth year he became a cowboy, and from that time assisted his father and others in herding cattle, attending school at intervals until reaching his fifteenth year. In 1891 he entered the Temple & Hamilton Business college, at San Antonio, to take the stenographic course, and so well adapted to the work was he that he had completed the course within 2 months. He then accepted a position as stenographer for the law firm of Phelps & Willrich, Lagrange, Tex., and although it was 17 years later that he was admitted to the bar, he here began the study of law, pursuing his studies intermitently as circumstances afforded opportunity. He remained in this first stenographic position 1 year, following which he visited Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, California, Arizona and New Mexico, working on ranches and following the occupation of a cowboy. After passing 2 years in this way, he went to San Francisce and there again engaged in stenographic work with the law firm of McKnight & Coffer. Later he visited his uncle's ranch in the San Joachim valley, and afterward put in some time as an employee of the Macy Bros. ranch, from which place he returned to Texas by way of New Mexico, and at Flatonia began buying and shipping cattle to Northern points for his father. May 18, 1895, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss Minnie McKinney, of Lagrange, Tex., a daughter of Dr. R. A. McKinney, who has practiced mcdcine in that locality during many years. Following his marriage Mr. Edwards took a position as stenographer for the law firm of R. F. Blair, at San Antonio, and later was connected with other firms of that city in a similar capacity. In 1896 he went to the city of Porfirio Diaz, Mexico, as stenographer for C. K. Dunlap, general passenger agent of the Mexican Central R. R. Later he returned to San Antonio, and was there employed in the general office of the San Antonio & Arkansas Pass R. R., until the early part of 1897, when he became connected with the maintenance of way department, remaining in that connection until the beginning of the Spanish-American war, when he joined Lane's rangers, which later became Troop H, 1st Texas U. S. Volunteer cavalry, under Col. Luther R. Hare. The command was mobilized at Camp Mabry, Austin, Tex., and from there sent to Fort Sam Houston and the Mexican border, at which place Mr. Edwards was transferred toTroop I of the same command. He was detailed as clerk to the colonel of the regiment and later made official reporter for court martials. While so connected he personally captured Wellington C. Lewellin, who had shot a lieutenant, and for this service was highly commended in a general order issued by the colonel. Afterward he was placed on detached duty and employed in searching out deserters. Later he was honorably discharged in order that he might accept the position of secretary to the chief mustering officer in connection with the work of mustering out the troops, and in this capacity went to Cuba. In Jan., 1899, he returned to Lagrange, Tex., and was appointed deputy sheriff. In the autumn of the same year he came to Louisiana and was employed by the timber firm of Lock, Moore & Co. as stenographer, remaining in that connection about 10 months. In Nov., 1900, he accepted a position with Harry C. Laws & Co., of New Orleans, with whom he remained 1 year, after which he was employed by Judge Charles Parlange, as private secretary and reporter of U. S. court, remaining in this connection until 1905. He then went to Lake Charles as stenographer for the law firm of Pujo & Moss, and later accompanied Hon. A. P. Pujo, then a member of congress, to Washington, D. C., as his private secretary. He was thus employed until Oct. 1, 1908, when he appeared before the examining committee of the Bar association at Shreveport, La. Dec. 14, in the same year, he passed examination before the supreme court and was licensed to practice. Immediately thereafter he established himself in offices at Lake Charles and there began the practice of law. At this time he has heen in practice only a little more than 4 years, and has made the phenomenal record of representing the defense in 12 murder cases without losing any one of them. At the Democratic primary on Sept. 3, 1912, he was nommated for district attorney, and on Dec. 16 of the same year qualified in that office. His district is the largest in the state of Louisiana, comprising the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis, but up to this time he has been able to conduct the business of his office without assistance. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have 5 children, namely: Frank McKinney, Thomas Arthur, Jr., Robert Alexander, Arsene Pujo, and Edine. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 147-149. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.