Montgomery County History Center | Dave McFarland

The Montgomery County History Center is constantly doing research into our local history. You might think that search would have its limits, but it often surprises one.

We have found that there have been over 20 towns that tried to get started within the boundaries of our fair county (this can be referenced in “A Tour Through The History Of Montgomery County”). A few have survived, more have not. There are small skeletal remains of a few, for others there are only footnotes. Some may have only been a dream or merely existing on paper. Just a week ago or so, we ran across a reference to a town name that we had not heard of before. A new search may be on.

With all those communities, one can only guess at the history that was lived and has been lost.

Take the daring daylight holdup that occurred in Montgomery County just more than 100 years ago.

Friday, March 1, 1912, I.R. Edie, rural postman, left Emerson on his mail route. He covered his route, Number 1, with his trusty old horse and well-worn mail cart.

The small town of Wales, in the northwest corner of Montgomery County, had just been added to Mr. Edie’s route. Wales once had a post office, but it had been closed due to lack of patrons. The community had grown and was now slated for mail delivery once again.

Mr. Edie become uneasy as he approached the main street of Wales. There seemed to be a gathering of men at the end of the main street, and they seemed agitated. No sooner than arriving, Mr. Edie was set upon by the men. He was told in no uncertain terms to go stand on a nearby platform. Edie apparently was not quick enough to satisfy the men, and the instructions were forcefully repeated. He quickly complied.

As Mr. Edie took up his spot, he saw several men take control of his mail cart, while another group of men unhooked his horse and began taking it away. This group quickly engaged in unharnessing the horse as they went. Mr. Edie felt his knees beginning to fail as the men began talking about shooting him. They informed him that the only reason for not carrying out this act was they could not decide on who should have the honor.

Minutes passed, which must have seemed like hours to Mr. Edie; then suddenly the group of men with his horse returned. To add to Mr. Edie’s confusion, his horse was wearing a brand new harness. Before any questions could be formulated, let alone asked, the Rev. R. Johnson Thomas appeared and began expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the local folks for once again being the recipients of mail.

It was said that Mr. Edie could remember very little of Rev. Thomas’ speech. Mr. Edie was too busy trying to come to terms with the fact that it had all been a good-natured joke and that the people of Wales had all chipped in to buy him a new set of harness.

We can only imagine what thoughts that were going through Mr. Edie’s mind as he headed south back to Emerson with the sounds of celebration in Wales fading behind him. Thus ended the famous daylight mail robbery in Montgomery County.

Dave McFarland is director of the Montgomery County History Center. You can reach him at mchsociet@qwestoffice.net.