Biographical Sketch of W. L. Hedges, M.D., Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** W. L. Hedges, M. D., vice-president of the Commercial Bank of Warrens- burg, was born December 17, 1842 in Bath county, Kentucky, son of James F. and Ruth J. (Brown) Hedges. James F. Hedges was born in 1822 in Bourbon county, Ky. He was of English lineage and a descendant of the family of Hedges, who came to America with the first colony sailing from England for Maryland, which colony entered the Chesapeake late in February, 1634. Ruth J. (Brown) Hedges was a native of Nicholas county, Ky., and of Irish descent. To James F. and Ruth J. (Brown) Hedges were born the following children: W. L., the subject of this sketch; Benja- min F., who was principal of the Polk public school, St. Louis, Mo., at the time of his death in 1881; Milton B., a retired merchant of Still- water, Oklahoma; Mrs. Fannie E. Clark, Rich Hill, Missouri; John F., who was a prominent merchant of Stillwater, Oklahoma, where his death occurred about 1912 as the result of a surgical operation; Mrs. Belle Shirley, Chanute, Kansas; James H., a railroad contractor residing in Springfield, Missouri; and Mrs. Rolla J. Booth, Rich Hill, Missouri. The Hedges family moved from Kentucky to Indiana in 1852 and located in Putnam county, where James F. Hedges purchased a farm of 240 acres, upon which the town of Carpentersville was later built. Within a short time, Mr. Hedges disposed of this farm and bought another, upon which they resided until 1856, when the family moved to Illinois, locating on a farm which Mr. Hedges purchased in Macoupin county. They remained upon this farm until the time of the Civil War, when they moved to Gir- ard, Macoupin county. In 1869, on account of business reverses, James F. Hedges left Girard, Illinois and went to Emporia, Kansas, near which he owned land. He moved to Warrensburg, Mo., in 1872 and remained one year, when he moved to Fredonia, Kansas and in 1881, to Rich Hill, Mo., at which place Mrs. Hedges died in 1882. Fourteen years later her hus- band died in Rich Hill. Interment for both father and mother was made in the cemetery at Rich Hill. Dr. Hedges received his early education in the public schools of Scottsville, Ill., and in an academy of that state. He enlisted in the Union army in 1862 and served throughout the war, returning to school when the war had ended. He entered Lunbard University at Galesburg, Ill., in the fall of 1865 and was in attend- ance at that institution two years. Dr. Hedges began the study of med- icine with Dr. F. Jones, an eminent physician of his day, and attended a course of lectures at the Hahnemann Homeopathic Medical College at Chicago, Ill., in 1867-68, and the next year entered the St. Louis Med- ical College, where he was graduated February 24, 1869. W. L. Hedges enlisted in Company B, 122 Illinois Infantry, August 13, 1862. He lack- ed three votes of being elected lieutenant. On account of his age, which was only nineteen years, he preferred to serve as private. His company was assigned to the Army of Tennessee and in the battle of Parker's Cross Roads was cut to pieces. December 31, 1862 a bursting shell knocked young Hedges down, but no permanent injury was received. The following spring of 1863 he took an active part in the battle of Town Creek, Alabama, which lasted from April 15 until April 25. July 14, 1864, his company was engaged in the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, and in October of the same year was in pursuit of Gen. Sterling Price, marching from the barracks at St. Louis through Jefferson City, Sedalia, Lexington, Independence, Old Santa Fe, to Harrisonville and back to the barracks through Pleasant Hill, Lexington, Glasgow, Columbia, and St. Charles, a total distance of about six hundred miles within forty-one days. December 15-16 the battle of Nashville, Tenn., was fought, in which Dr. Hedges' regiment lost twenty-six men. They then marched to Eastport, Miss., whence they were transported to New Orleans and short- ly after to Mobile, Alabama, by steamer. The regiment assisted in taking Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakely, Ala., April 9-10, losing twenty men, killed and wounded. After a march of more than 200 miles the reg- iment arrived in Montgomery, Ala., where they learned of Lee's surren- der. Doctor Hedges returned to Mobile, Ala., where he was appointed mail clerk, his run being from Mobile to New Orleans by boat. He re- ceived extra pay for his services in that capacity. He was mustered out July 15, 1865 and arrived in Springfield, Illinois, August 4, 1865. Before the war, Dr. Hedges taught a rural school in 1862, receiving $20 a month for his services. He began the practice of medicine after the war, prior ot his graduation from the medical school in 1869. In 1871 Dr. Hedges came to Warrensburg and opened an office. He was elected honorary member of the Kansas State Homeopathic Institute in 1875 and in 1876 Doctor Hedges became a member of the National American Insti- tute, the oldest medical society in the United States. He has also been a member of the Missouri Homeopathic Institute, of which he was president in 1879 and 1880. On May 30, 1877, Dr. W. L. Hedges was united in marriage with Virginia A. Gilkeson, of Warrensburg. Doctor and Mrs. Hedges celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on May 30, 1917 at their home at 215 West Gay street in Warrensburg. Mrs. Hedges has always taken an active interest and prominent part in religious and literary work. She has served as corresponding secretary of the Chris- tian Women's Board of Missions and for five years was president of the Equal Suffrage Association of Missouri. Dr. W. L. Hedges has filled many prominent offices within the gift of the Republican party, of which he is an influential member. In 1878 he was elected mayor of Warrensburg and continued in that capacity five years, and served as president of the Warrensburg school board at the same time, from 1878 to 1883. During his incumbency, the finances of the city were placed on a firm basis and the indebtedness satisfactorily arranged. He was appointed United States pension examining surgeon in 1879 and served eighteen years in that capacity. Doctor Hedges was a member of the Congressional Committee from the 6th district and chairman of the Con- gressional Convention, consisting of members from this district, which met at Butler, Missouri. On September 1, 1897, A. S. Mayes and Doctor Hedges founded the Commercial Bank of Warrensburg. Until January 1, 1917, Doctor Hedges was president of the banking institution. He re- signed at that time and is now serving as vice-president. Prior to the organization of this bank, Dr. W. L. Hedges was a member of the board of directors of the Centerview State Bank and of the Peoples Bank of Warrensburg. He was also one of the organizers of the Johnson County Building Association, of which he was president for thirty-one years, resigning in April, 1916. In 1865, Dr. W. L. Hedges was made a Master Mason and made a Royal Arch Mason in 1866, and in 1892 a Knights Temp- lar. He is also affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has been an active member of the Christian church since 1857. For many years he was an elder and for more than five years served on the state board of missions and served as president of the Missionary Organization of Missouri one year. Doctor Hedges has always been an active man of affairs and now at the age of seventy-five years is as alert physically and mentally as when he was appointed United States examining surgeon for pensioners of Johnson county in 1879. He attri- butes his remarkable strength and vigor to his war experience, which he believes hardened him and thus helped him bear the strain of the strenuous public life which followed. Dr. Hedges still stands 5'11", practically the same as when he entered the army. He is now, and has ever been, one of Johnson county's leading citizens. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================