<P> A poorly educated, gruff - looking dirt farmer, Mr. Edwards helps the Ingalls family build their new home on the prairie and deal with the hardships that arise . It is during this time that the series' main protagonist, Laura Ingalls, develops a close relationship with Edwards . Laura's mother, Caroline, distrusts Mr. Edwards at first, finding his mannerisms and rough demeanor uncouth, but in time grows to respect and accept him as one of the family . Edwards and the Ingalls family are separated when they are forced to leave their property by the government . </P> <P> When Little House on the Prairie was picked up as a weekly television series, Victor French was returned to the role . In the time between the pilot movie and his first episode, "Mr. Edwards' Homecoming," Mr. Edwards had become a drunken drifter, and eventually arrives in Mankato, Minnesota; there, he gets into a barroom brawl when by chance Charles Ingalls--who was making a delivery run from Walnut Grove, where the Ingalls family had settled--arrives and (upon hearing the commotion and recognizing Mr. Edwards) comes to his defense . Mr. Edwards is brought to the Ingalls' new home near Walnut Grove, and eventually gets a place of his own . It is about this time he reveals his past: He became an alcoholic after his first wife and young daughter died of smallpox, and renounced his Christian faith as a result . For the most part, Mr. Edwards is able to keep his drinking under control in episodes that aired during the first three seasons . Mr. Edwards frequently sang the song, "Old Dan Tucker," and a musical cue sometimes introduced his character . </P> <P> Mr. Edwards eventually meets Grace Snider; the two fall in love and are married . They adopt three children orphaned when their mother dies of an illness: John Jr., Carl and Alicia Sanders . The family remains a part of the cast until the end of the third season, when Mr. Edwards uses a gold claim to begin a logging empire (the storyline was created after Victor French took the lead role in another series, Carter Country). French reprised his role in a Season 6 episode, "The Return of Mr. Edwards", where he is seriously injured by a falling tree and becomes suicidal; Charles and Laura arrive to help Mr. Edwards out of his depression . </P> <P> With French's return to the show during Season 8, a story arc was developed around the death of Mr. Edwards' eldest son, John Jr., and the consequences that result . John Jr., who had become an investigative reporter for a Chicago newspaper, was murdered by a corrupt businessman who didn't want his activities becoming public . Mr. Edwards is initially told that it was a street accident that killed John Jr., but as Charles helps him grieve, the two--along with the editor and a street urchin--uncover the truth . It is John Jr.'s death that causes Mr. Edwards to relapse into deep alcoholism, causing him to lose his logging business and eventually, his family . Distraught, Mr. Edwards returns to Walnut Grove, keeping his dark secrets under wraps until he causes a street accident that seriously injures Albert Ingalls (Charles' adopted son). Charles breaks off his friendship with Mr. Edwards and tells him to leave and never return, leaving Laura as his only hope . Laura and her husband, Almanzo (who are by now married) agree to help reform Mr. Edwards, and it works...until Mr. Edwards gets a letter from Grace telling him she has filed divorce papers . Mr. Edwards tries to break into the Mercantile to obtain alcohol, but when it is locked up, he sees the church and goes in to pray and seek God's forgiveness and guidance; he subsequently reconciles with Charles and eventually becomes Rose Wilder's godfather . </P>

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