BIOGRAPHY: Gen. Ira M. Hedges; Haverstraw, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

Gen. Ira M. Hedges, President of the National Bank of Haverstraw, Director of
the North River & New York Steamship Company, President of the Wyomng Dairy
Salt Company, President of the Diamond Brick Company, and dealer in lumber and
coal at Haverstraw, was born in what is now the town of Stony Point, at Grassy
Point, Rockland County, July 31, 1839, being the son of Phineas and Eliza
(Edwards) Hedges. He traces his lineage to William Hedges, the founder of the
family in America, who settled in Southampton, L.I., as early as 1647. Two
years afterward he and twelve others founded the town of East Hampton, on the
east end of the island, and his original is now owned by his descendants of
the sixth generation.

Immediately prior to the Revolution, members of the family removed to Orange
County, and a son of one of these, Peter Hedges, married Naomi Terry, whose
ancestors were pioneers of Southold, L.I. Their children were named as
follows: Phineas, our subject's father; John, who served in the War of 1812,
and whose descendants are living in Dutchess County; Elizabeth, wife of
Gerritt Smith; Margaret, Mrs. Henry Massey; Elsie, who married Jacob Gedney;
Richard, whose children are in Dutchess County; and Henry, who died in
Virginia.

Phineas, who was born near Newburgh, February 25, 1805,w orked in a brickyard
in boyhood, and pater purchased a half-interest in one. In April, 1837, he
removed from Newburgh to Grassy Point, where he engaged in the manufacture of
brick. In 1842 he purchased from John Thiell a portion of the Cheesecock
Patent, and there he spent the remainder of his life, He was an ardent
temperance man, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist
Episciopal Church at Haverstraw. In character he was honorable, in disposition
amiable, and in energy tireless. He married Eliza Edwards, and they had eight
children, namely: Anna M., Susan, Ira M., Melissa J., George B., Aaron P.,
Charles A. and Emma F. George B., who was an importer of paints, dyes, oils
and drugs in New York City, died about 1887. The only survivors besides our
subject are Aaron P. and Charles A., a brick manufacturers at Cornwall, Orange
County.

After five years of age the subject of this notice lived on a farm, and his
education was obtained in the common schools and at Haverstraw Mountain
Institute under Lewis B. Hardcastle. On concluding his studies he entered a
law office under Judge Edward Pye, then County Judge, and was almost ready for
admission to the Bar when the outbreak of the war caused a change in his
plains. In August, 1861, he enlisted in a company raised by Captain Pye, who
later became Colonel of the Ninety-fifth New York Infantry and was killed at
Cold Harbor. He became a member of Company F, which joined the regiment in New
York City and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac.

The Ninety-fifth Regiment had more than two hundred men from Rockland County,
about three fourths being from haverstraw. It was organized in New York City
for three years, and was mustered into service i November, 1861, remaining in
the army until July 16, 1865. Among the battles in which it participated were
those of Gainesville, the second engagement at Bull Run, and South Mountain,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness,
Spotsylvania, North Ann, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Welden
Railroad, Chapel House and Hatchie's Run. October 1, 1861, Company F was
raised at Haverstraw, with Edward Pye Captain, James Crenney First Lieutenant
and S. G. Mackey Second Lieutenant, and was mustered into the Ninety-fifth at
New York, October 15. It captured Aqua Creek under McDowell and Wadsworth, and
then became a part of the army under Gen. Abner Doubleday, the hero of Ft.
Sumter. After supporting Banks in Virginia, it was assigned to Pope's army,
took part in the retreat to Washington and int he reorganization under
MacClellan. After the campaign at Antietam, it took part at Chancellorsville,
and on Lee's invasion into Pennsylvania was the advance of the Federal army
under General Reynolds. July 1, 1863, it occupied the most advanced position
on McPherson Ridge at Gettysburg, and was the first regiment under fire in
that famous battle. The first man shot in that engagement was John Abbott, of
Company F. General Reynolds was killed early in the day, after which the
regiment drew back to a second position, but was held to keep the enemy in
check until the entire Federal army came up.

This regiment, in company with the Fourteenth New York and Sixth Wisconsin,
captured a whole Mississippi brigade, who had taken Hall's battery. On being
repulsed they ran in disorder back to Gettysburg (then in the hands of the
Confderates), and almost the entire regiment, including one hundred and firty
officers and thirty-four hundred men, was taken prisoner. This happened during
the first day of the battle. The regiment reformed and continue dits
organiaztion during the remainder of that memorable conflict.

Enlisting as a private, our subject refused the commissions of Leiutenant and
Quartermaster, also that of Major of a colored regiment. Later he served as
Quartermaster-Sergeant in his own regiment, the ranking officer of the non-
commissioned staff. Though much of the time on detail duty, he took part in
the principal battles. At the battle of Antietam he acted as Ordnance-
Sergeant. While serving as Quartermaster-Sergeant he practically had charge of
the detail of that department in the regiment. While in the hospital, sick
with typhoid fever, he was captured by Gen. Job Stuart near Chambersburg and
was paroled. As clerk in the convalescents' ward, he made out the parole
papers for the inmates, all of whom were soon afterward exchanged. In 1880 he
assisted in the organization of Edward Pye Post No. 179, of which he was
Commander for many years. In 1884 he was elected State Commander of the
department, State of new York. In 1888-89 he was Inspector-General of the
United States, under Commander-in-Chief John D. Rea, of Minneapolis, Minn. In
all pension legislation and matters pertaining to the welfare of soldiers, he
has taken an active part.

After the war Mr. Hedges joined two parties intending to go to Pilot Knob,
Mo., to engage in the iron business, but at the entreaty of his mother he
decided to remain in the East. In 1866 he opened the lumber and coal business
which he continues. In 1870 he began to manufacture brick, of which he has
turned out as high as sixty million per annum. In 1871, with others, he
started a State Bank, of which two years later he became President. In 1874 it
was made a National Bank, and he has continued its President. In 1872 he
organized the Diamond Brick Company, of which he is President. At the same
time he organized the Haverstraw Barge Company, which for twenty years
employed more than six hundred men and transported fifty million of brick per
year. Meantime he organized the Excelsior Company, which is now a large
corporation, with a captial of $100,000, and furnishes employment to about one
hundred men.

After 1882 Mr. Hedges purchased an old passenger and freight line and
organized the North River & New York Steamship Company, with headquarters at
Nyack, thought he stock is held mainly in Haverstraw. This line runs from
Peekskill to New York and intermediate points. With other parties, in 1881, he
secured property on the Erie Railroad in Wyoming County, N.Y., intending to
prospect for oil, but finally struck a salt bed. The Crystal Salt Company was
organized and he became its Treasurer, the headquarters being at Haverstraw.
He is now President of the Wyoming Dairy Salt Company, the works being
situated at Salt Vale, near Warsaw, Wyoming County, where they have three
separate plants, with a capacity of one thousand barrels daily. In addition,
he has large real-estate interests at Haverstraw.

January 4, 1866, Mr. Hedges married Miss Nettie S., daughter of Levi and
Margaret Knapp, of Haverstraw, where she was born September 19, 1843. They
have three living children: Margaret, wife of M. F. Washburn; and Irene and
Lila, at home. May, Nettie M., Ida P. and George S. are deceased. Socially mr.
Hedges is a Chapter Mason. He travels considerably and usually spends his
winters in Florida. Since 1856 he has voted for every Republican Presidential
candidate. He has been a delegate to the majority of the county conventions
and has attended nearly all state conventions. Twice he was a candidate for
State Treasurer. He was a deelgate to the Republican Convention at Chicago
which nominated General Harrison for the Presidency. In Grand Army matters he
has also been active. In May last Mr. hedges was appointed by Governor Morton
one of the Commissioners for the completiton of the new capitol at Albany. He
was a nember of the Constitutional Convention of 1880, and was chairman of the
military committee and rearranged the military organization, besides holding
other responsible positions.