CHAMPAIGN COUNTY OHIO - Miscellaneous Biographies (published 1881) [2] *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by weiser2 weiser2@neo.rr.com March 26, 1999 *********************************************************************** Thought these might be of use to someone. I've been researching the Hedges, so found them interesting. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Book: HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN CO. From Beers, Biographical Sketches, 1881. Union Township, Champaign Co. Page 904 JACOB CONKLYN (deceased). The subject of this memoir was a native of Jefferson Co., VA, born July 14, 1810. He was a son of Henry and Mary Conkyn. His father died in Virginia when Jacob was only 15 years old: he then learned the trade of blacksmith, and in 1834 came to this State in company with his mother and eight brothers and sisters, finally locating, in 1838, in this county, where they remained till the time of his death, his mother living near him until her death. Which occurred in 1847. Mr. C. followed the profession of blacksmith and carried on a farm at the same time till within the last ten years, when his health became so poor that he was obliged to abandon the trade as a business, and devoted his entire attention to the farm. He was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than thirty years, and was consistent and exemplary Christian gentleman, always interested in the general welfare of the community. He was sober and upright, open-hearted and fondly attached to his family and friends. He was called from this life Feb. 8, 1880. Mrs. Conklyn remains on the farm with her son Jacob H. Mr. Conklyn was the father of eight children, four of whom are living. His marriage was celebrated with Miss Emily Hedges, Oct 25, 1838. Page 653-Urbana Township: EMORY HEDGES, farmer: P.O. Urbana. The father of Emory Hedges, Jonas Hedges, was born in Berkeley Co., VA, in 1789. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Robinson, of that county was celebrated in 1811. They had three children, born in that state_Joseph, Mary and Ann. In 1818, they emigrated to this township, and their entire business life has been connected with its interests. Jonas was a remarkably successful business man, and his first purchase of 160 acres was added to until he was owner of 900 acres prior to his death. He served in the war of 1812, and was a pensioner at the time of his death. He built the first house on Sec. 11, Urbana Township, and this tract is still in possession of our subject. They were the parents of twelve children, five of whom are living_Elizabeth Hamilton, Hamilton J., Samuel R., James R., and Emory. All but James live in the county, and will be represented in this history. The wife and mother died in 1834, and Jonas, her husband, in 1864, at the ripe old age of 74. He lived long enough to see the county interlaced with railroads, and the forests disappear, and in their stead appear beautiful fields of waving grain. The best years of their lives had been given to the development of this county, and too much honor cannot be given to the pioneers who reared families of noble sons and daughters to perpetuate their names, who are possessed of the same spirit of enterprise that characterized their ancestry. Emory was married in 1858 to Nancy J. Gainer, of this township. They have six children living_Jonas H., Rebecca E., Wilber R., Marlay, Mary E. and Annie. The children are being well educated, and Jonas has been engaged in teaching, but as yet has chosen no profession. Their parents are both able and willing to give them all an academic education. The family history of the Hedges will form a very important part of the biographical series of Urbana Township. Mr. Hedges was a volunteer during the war of the rebellion, and served in Co. G, 134th Ohio V.I. He served in front of Petersburg, and was principally engaged in doing guard duty on the Appomattox and James Rivers. Page 654-Urbana Township ALEXANDER R. HEDGES, deceased. This worthy representative of the name died Dec. 29, 1873, and his wife, Ellen (Morris) Hedges, in February of the same year. They left a family of children, nine in number: their names are, respectively, Elizabeth A., Pearl I., Edward O., Rebecca C., Franklin J. Mary A., Deborah E., Martha E. and Frederick M.: they all reside in the county except one_Pearl I. Hedges_who is in the drug business at Piqua. There are seven living on the old homestead. Three are married at this time. The father, Alexander, was quite a prominent man in his day, being Justice of the Peace, and for many years was a member of the school board. He was one of the originators of the agricultural society at Urbana, and from its_ organization until his death was one of its Directors. He was a member of the National Guards, and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, being one of the most prominent officials. He reared his children in the faith of his fathers, and the example set by him has done much to give them that straightforward business character for which the Hedges family are noted. At the time of his death, he owned 185 acres of land. Page 654 Urbana Township HAMILTON HEDGES, farmer: P.O. Urbana. The subject of this sketch is the eldest son of Jonas Hedges, who is spoken of in the biography of his son Emory. Jonas was a prominent local politician in his day, and was one of the first to espouse the principles of the Republican party in this county. He was one of the originators of the _Know-Nothing_ party, and was the third enrolling his name on their roster. He was largely engaged in the settling of estates, in which he gave universal satisfaction. He was a remarkable mathematician, although not having a collegiate education, and was largely endowed with a spirit of enterprise, being foremost in anything looking toward moral and social advancement. Having a cool head and being a close observer of matters pertaining to the business interests of the neighborhood, his judgment could always be relied on, and he seldom made a mistake. His death was greatly felt in the locality in which he lived so long. James and his two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, were given a collegiate education, the others attending only the common schools. All, however, received a good English education, which has done much to make them the practical business men and women that so ably represent the name. The marriage of Hamilton and Miss Ruth E. Gearard was celebrated De. 15, 1847. She was born in Winchester, VA, June 1, 1826. Their children are five in number, three sons and two daughters. Emily J. wedded Thomas Fuller: Jonas A. was married to Miss Carrie Laughlin, of Columbus: James, Nannie E. and George R live with their parents. There were three other children who died in infancy. Mr. Hedges has been Assessor of this township for sixteen years, and during all this time no complaints have been made. He has always been a leading man in his neighborhood in political matters, and during the war of the rebellion was an active worker in the organization of troops, being himself a member of Co. G, 134th Ohio V.I. Previous to entering upon his term of service, Mr. Hedges was unfortunate enough to lose an arm by accident, which necessitated his discharge. He has always been an exemplary man, and his record as such will ever live in the history of the county, and his descendants for all time may take a pride in their ancestry, who have, from their earliest connection with the county_s interest, been foremost among those who have been honest, upright, and faithful to their trusts. Elizabeth Hamilton is the eldest daughter of Jonas Hedges, and her marriage to Nelson Miller was celebrated in 1836. One son (Robert M.) was born to them, who is now Deputy Sheriff of Champaign Co. The death of Nelson, his father, occurred in 1837. The marriage of Mrs. Miller to Joseph C. Hamilton occurred in 1840, to whom were born four children, all dying in infancy, except Virginia, who became the wife of D. W. Todd, of Urbana. The death of Mr. Hamilton occurred May 27, 1872. His widow resides on the farm which has been her home for many years. Her brother James married Miss Mary L. Hamilton, daughter of Joseph Hamilton, and their residence is in New York. They have only one son living_Merklin McLain, who resides in Springfield, Clark Co. Mrs Hedges died in July, 1862 and in 1866 he married Miss Lydia Huffman, of Dayton, Ohio. They have no children. Biographical Encyclopedia Pages 638-639. Hedges, Josiah, The founder of Tiffin, Ohio, was born, April 9th, 1778, near West Liberty, Berkeley County, Virginia. He left his father's home at an early age, with the determination to carve out his own fortune. The first enterprise which he undertook on his own account was a trading excursion to New Orleans on a flat-boat laden with fruit, which he floated down the Ohio river from Wheeling to New Orleans, the voyage lasting six weeks. He finally settled in Ohio, in 1801, one year before was admitted as a State, and located in Belmont county, where for a number of years he was one of its most active and prominent citizens. He was the first Sheriff of that county, and for a term of years Clerk of the Court. He next engaged in the mercantile business at St. Clairsville. His capital was limited, but was slowly and surely increased by prudence and sagacity. In those days merchants in the West were wont to purchase their goods in Philadelphia, journeying across the Allegheny mountains on horseback, and carrying their specie in their saddle-bags. In 1819 he opened a branch store in Mansfield, having as a partner his brother, General James Hedges. Soon after this he removed from St Clairsville to Mansfield, and in 1820 made a journey to Fort Ball--it now being a part of Tiffin. He immediately decided to enter the land opposite to Fort Ball, on the east side of the Sandusky river, on which the county seat was located and the city of Tiffin was afterwards built: and proceeding to the Land Office at Delaware, Ohio made the purchase of the same from the government. In 1822 the first stick was cut on that part of Tiffin now in the First ward, and during the same year the first frame house on the town plat was erected and used as a store--now known as the "Old Masonic Hall." He also built, in that same year, a flouring mill on the Sandusky river, and a saw-mill on Rocky creek, both of which were largely patronized by the pioneers of that day. By a prudent and liberal course in disposing of his town lots he saw the place increase steadily in population, and in 1828 he secured the removal of the Lay Office from Delaware to Tiffin, thus giving the town a renewed impetus. In 1831 he was chosen to represent the district in the Ohio Legislature, serving one session. In 1837 he disposed of his store to a son, and retired from trade, giving his attention from that time until his death to his real estate interests in Tiffin, which were necessarily very large. In his younger days he was an athletic and vigorous man, and in his old age retained in a remarkable degree his manly sense and vigor of mind, transacting and managing up to the last his own business affairs. He was generous and just in his dealings with his fellow-men, benevolent to all Christian denominations, in most cases donating the lots on which their churches were erected, and was liberal towards all public improvements. He was a friend to the poor, as many citizens can testify, well remembering his kindness and leniency to them. In all the relations of life he was a just and sincere man. He was a good citizen and a true and steadfast friend. As a father, affectionate and indulgent: and by his kindred, both old and young, he will ever be gratefully remembered. To him they could always go, and his heart was ever open to them. His sagacity and foresight were such that his advice was often sought: and so excellent was his judgement that he rarely erred in giving it. Although not a member of any church, he was a good and true man, and upon his dying couch he expressed to his friends a willingness to die, and assured them of his unfaltering trust in that "Saviour who has promised to save all who may turn towards Him in faith and penitence." He dropped away quietly, as if but entering upon a sleep. Without a groan or struggle the good old man took his departure and passed away "like one that draws the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams." He was first married September 29th, 1803, to Rebecca Russell, in Belmont county, Ohio, and had by this union six children, two only of whom are now living--Mrs. Rebecca Walker, widow of Joseph Walker: and Mrs. Clarinda Hunter, widow of William Hunter, all of Tiffin. His first wife died July 8th, 1816, aged thirty-one years. After a widowerhood of one year he was married, July 10th, 1817, to Eliza Hammerly, of Martinsburg, Virginia, having by this marriage nine children, of whom six are still living--his son William C. Hedges, a real estate dealer in Tiffin: Cynthia A., wife of Luther A. Hall: Mary Jane, wife of A. C. Baldwin: Minerva, Wife of Harrison Noble: Elizabeth, wife of John G. Gross, all residents of Tiffin: and Sarah V., wife of W.W. Armstrong of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. His second wife died November 10th, 1837. He was last married, October 29th 1844 to Harriet, daughter of Henry Snook of Seneca county, who survives him. He died in Tiffin, July 15th, 1858. ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====