In 1882/1883 Edwin took a business trip to Chicago.  Soon after he went missing and was never heard from again. No record of his death could be found. Court Affidavits and Depositions from both Elizabeth Wines and Nancy Hadley verify this story.

The story handed down through the generations is that he met an untimely demise for the money, or that he may have had financial troubles that lead him to take desperate measures. Either way, Nancy never gave up hope that her husband would return. With each knock on the door, she would run to answer the door with hope that it was Edwin returning home.

General Affidavit
Elizabeth Wines Deposition
Nancy Hadley Deposition
Edwin Vincent Hadley
Edwin's parents were natives of South Carolina. He acquired his preliminary education at a Quaker school of Richmond, Indiana after which he attended the University at Ann Arbor, taking up the study of law which he completed in the Albany Law School at Albany, New York graduating about the same time the Civil War broke out; and he afterward enlisted in Company E, 26th Michigan Infantry. He took part in a number of important engagements and at the battle of the Wilderness was seriously wounded receiving a bullet wound in his knee. This bullet was never extracted and Edwin suffered from his injuries through his remaining days. For a time he was in the hospital at Georgetown, D.C. and he was never able to return to active service, but was appointed judge advocate of the court marshal in New York City acting in that capacity for six months. He then returned home and he and his wife went on a visit to Indianapolis where he was also appointed judge advocate of the court, remaining at that place until he received his discharge from the Army. He then went to Adrian, Michigan, where he entered upon the practice of law, being accorded a large and lucrative clientage, and for three terms he served as Circuit Court Commissioner of Lenawee County, and was also Commissioner of Bankruptcy. He was attorney for the Pere Marquette Railroad and had a gratifying private practice which he conducted successfully until his death, his devotion to his clients' interests being proverbial.
Taken from a post at ancestry.com

About Jan 20, 1883, Edwin Hadley, a lawyer for the Pere Marquette Railroad, went from St. Ignace, Mich. to Ann Arbor to visit his family, then on Jan 25 to Chicago on business. What we believe was a last letter to his wife (from the Sherman House Hotel postmarked Jan 30, 1883) stated his desperate need for help from a man he was to meet. (He reportedly had about $600 cash with him.) Hadley then vanished without a trace. He was a Civil War veteran, with a decided limp from a war wound in his knee. Had brown curly hair, blue eyes, 5'10", 135 lbs. Raised a Quaker, he attended Earlham College & the U of Mich. (1857-60). Practiced law in Adrian, Mich. 1866-Spring 1881. Son of William & Ann Harvey Hadley. Husband of Nancy Wines Hadley. Would appreciate any information about him.