"ED LEE . . . Adventures of an Uncommon Man"
by
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The night passed without incident and the day dawned
clear and beautiful in the countryside.
Much of fall’s scarlet red, bright yellow and orange colors
remained. With bedding stored,
breakfast over, and the teams hitched, a call to “move out” was heard. The so-called “breakdown” was scheduled for
mid-morning.
Mr. Kriner asked Ed to go to each wagon again and be
sure that they knew what the plan was.
Ed made the rounds and everyone said that they knew what to do.
One thing that worried both Ed and Mr. Kriner was
that they did not know what Martin did with his gold. For the most part, they did not want to know. But, their duty was to secure the safety of
the people with the train as well as their possessions. They should know where the gold was stored,
but they chose not to ask.
At midmorning and right on schedule, the fifth wagon
“broke down.” Within a few minutes
women and children were in the wagons lying flat and all but two men were
outside, busy about their wagons and equipment. The two men, around and under the “broken down” wagon, were
taking instructions from Mr. Kriner.
As predicted by Mr. Kriner, within minutes, two men
came riding at breakneck speed from the south toward the wagon train. Meanwhile, Ed and one of the wagon’s men had
made it to their secluded stations adjacent to the north and south of the
train. As the riders approached, each
man of the train readied his weapon.
The rider, as Mr. Kriner had thought, headed straight for the Martin’s
wagon. One of the two riders jumped off
his horse thrust his gun barrel in Martin’s stomach, and ordered him to turn
over the gold that he knew Martin had.
Martin insisted that he didn’t have any gold. The robber retorted, “I know you do. I heard you make the arrangement with the banker in
Oakville.”
Martin repeated in a low, steady voice, “I do not
have any gold!”
The robber turned to the second rider. “Lew, let’s search the wagon, and if anyone
gives us trouble, shoot ‘em!”
Just at that moment, Mr. Kriner appeared from behind
the wagon in front of the Martin’s and said, “Hold it right there! There will be no searching of any
wagon. You may not have noticed but you
have about ten guns pointing directly at your heads. Lay down your guns and do it right now.” The circle of men was within about thirty or
forty feet of the robbers, with their weapons aimed.
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About the Book
This is an intensely interesting true story by John
Irvin based on the life of a very unusual man.
Dr. Ed Lee became quite fond of John Irvin and his
brother Fred when they were children.
They had the good fortune of learning about Dr. Lee’s life, which began
in Pittsfield, Ill. in 1860 and ended in Chillicothe, Mo. in 1940. Irvin’s novel, which in titled Ed Lee--
Adventures of an Uncommon Man gives the reader a good story about a young
man with purpose, with goals, who succeeded in spite of failure. This story is imbedded in history – of land,
of life and relationships
The story focuses on Ed Lee who has learned about
farming and animals at home, then follows his ambition to make his own
way. He leaves the only environment he
ever knew. He crosses the Mississippi
by ferryboat to Hannibal, Mo. and then on to Arrow Rock, Mo. where he
encounters his first barroom brawl, his first taste of liquor and a “lady of
the evening.” Then on to Leavenworth,
Kansas to create his own farming business so that he might some day send for
his young love, Elsie Hill, and marry her.
Crossing the Mississippi, grief, failure, success and adventure await
him.
Irvin says “He taught us to have admiration for not
only good people, but the good things in life, and to strive to have the
ability to recognize them as well.
About the Author
John Irvin was born and
raised in Chillicothe Mo. where he now lives with his wife Virgie and they have
a winter home in San Diego, CA.
Irvin finished high school
in Chillicothe received further education at the Chillicothe Business College
and The University of Missouri at Columbia, Mo. He also received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Culver
Stockton College in 1992. He has been
on their board of trustees since 1972.
Before retiring Irvin was
president of The Irvinbilt Co. doing general construction in Missouri, Kansas
and Iowa. He sold this company to his
employees in 1976. He was also
president of Midwest Concrete and Asphalt. Co.
Irvin is affiliated with
organizations such as The Chillicothe Fine Arts council, the Missouri Mansion
Preservation, The First Christian Church {Disciples of Christ}, Friends of
Arrow Rock in Arrow Rock Mo. and the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre. He also is serving his 32nd year
as a board member of Hope Haven Industries in Chillicothe, Mo. {a sheltered
workshop}. He is a former vice chairman
of The State of Missouri Council on the Arts and former board member of the
Missouri State Council on Historic Preservation.
Irvin has written several
newspaper articles and two true stories Ed
Lee and Czech Escape.
Mr.
Irvin acknowledges the patience and editorial assistance of his wife
Virgie. Also the research material from
The Livingston County Mo. Library, The San Diego Ca. Library. The Cody Museum at Cody Wyo. Also the help of Mrs. Sherry Strong and Dr.
Hammer of Culver Stockton College at Canton, Mo at well as that of his
secretary Mrs. Beverly Williamson.