<P> The character of Isaiah Edwards was introduced in the pilot movie, which established the Ingalls family settling on a prairie tract in Kansas . Victor French, a close friend of series creator Michael Landon and a character actor who had acted in several television westerns beforehand, portrayed the role throughout most of the series run . </P> <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>

What happened to mr. edwards wife on little house on the prairie