Dr. W. B. Hedges
Dr. W. B. Hedges is a native of McConnellsville, Morgan County, Ohio. He was born in 1835. He was educated in the High School of McConnellsville. He possessed an active and studious mind, and at an early time, after completing his school life, he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. M. Edwards, May, 1858. He took up the study of the drug trade, and prepared himself for the work in 1860. After two years, in 1862. he resumed the study of medicine in the old office, to prepare himself for the army, now needing doctors. He graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, Ohio, July. 1863. He passed the examination of the State Board of Examiners for the position of assistant surgeon for the volunteer service. He was assigned to the Eighty-sixth O. V. I., a six-months organization, in September, 1803, and joined the regiment at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. He was at once put in charge of the Medical Department of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, which position he held until the muster out of the organization, at the expiration of their term of service in February, 1864. He was appointed assistant surgeon of the Eighty-second Regiment, O. V. I., Third Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, April 27, 1864; and joined the regiment in May, 1864, at Atlanta, Georgia. They went on duty at once and were under fire of battle for one hundred and twenty days. The doctor was the only surgeon with the regiment from Atlanta, Georgia, to the sea, or Savannah, Georgia. Then on to Goldsborough, North Carolina, 1864 and 1865; then to Raleigh, North Carolina, and to Washington, D. C. Here he was detailed to care for the sick and wounded at Richmond, Virginia, and to arrange for transportation to the North those able to go. In 1865, while waiting for the muster out at the close of the war, he was at Louisville, Kentucky, and was in charge of the hospital there. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, July 27, 1865. He returned to his home and began the practice again. In 1873 he located at Beverly. Washington County. Ohio, and in 1879 came to Delaware, Ohio. He is in active practice today. He has been a member of the County Hoard of United States Pension Examiners for fourteen years. He served two years as health officer for Delaware, lie was physician to the Girls' Industrial Home for several years. He is a member oi the Delaware County Medical Association; Ohio State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was married to Mrs. Mary Pewthers in 1872. He is an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908