Joshua Hedges
Walnut Township, Pickaway County, is the home of many wealthy and influential citizens, not the least among whom is the subject of tliis sketch and of the accompanying portrait. He is the proprietor of a valuable estate on section 16, which his industry and good judgment have placed under thorough cultivation, and which brings him in a handsome income.
All the early associations of Mr. Hedges are connected with the district in which he is now a resident, as he was born in this county July 18, 1832. His parents, Jabez and Maria (Williamson) Hedges, were natives respectively of Virginia and Pickaway County, this State, and the father was a soldier in the War of 1812. He located in this State in 1803, making his home in Fairfield County. A year later, he came to this county with his family, and made settlement in the woods in Walnut Township. He was employed, as were all the pioneers of that day, in subduing nature, building cabins, clearing land, breaking prairie, etc., but with all that labor was social and happy, having a care for the morals and education of his growing family. Mr. Hedges died in 1880, having been preceded to the land beyond by his good wife, who died May 13, 1868.
In Walnut Township our subject was reared to man's estate, and has followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. His education was obtained in the log cabin of that period, which was carried on under the rate-bill system. He made the best of his limited opportunities, however, and is to-day an intelligent and well-read gentleman. September 13, 1855, Mr. Hedges was united in marriage with Sarah A. Hartman, who was born in this county May 4, 1834. Mrs. Hedges was the daughter of Jonas and Sarah (Hoffhimes) Hartman, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to this county in an early day. When she was an infant of one year, her parents removed to Hancock County, Ill., where she grew to mature years, and was given a fair education in the log schoolhouse with slab seats and puncheon floor.
To our subject and his worthy wife have been granted a family of nine children, eight of whom are living, namely: Clara, the wife of John Oman; Hattie, Mrs. W. A. Parks; Emma, who is a musical instructor in Nicholasville, Ky., being employed in a private female seminary; Chester, Edgar, John, Claude and Anne G. Mrs. Hedges is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in all good works. Our subject has been the incumbent of various positions of trust and responsibility, among which were those of Township Treasurer and Trustee. Since 1853, he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Pickaway Lodge No. 32, at Circleville. In politics, he casts his vote and influence in favor of Democratic principles and candidates, and is interested in all measnres that have for their object the upbuilding of his community. He has watched the details of improvement and the gradual evolution of his section from the original wild state to its present prosperous air of rural life. He owns over five hundred acres of valuable farming land, three hundred and twenty of which comprise the home farm. The family are among the old pioneer residents of the county, and occupy a high position socially in their community.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]