FRED HEDINGER

HEDINGER

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 15:51:32

FRED HEDINGER, an intelligent and enterprising farmer, an old soldier and popular citizen residing on section 23, Nodaway township, was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, November 27, 1843, a son of R. and Maria (Balher) Hedinger, both natives also of that canton, who in 1854 emigrated to America, with eight children, settling in Monroe county, Ohio, and lived there until their death. Fred was therefore brought up a farmer, receiving a good education.

Under President Lincoln's first call for 300,000 volunteers to suppress the great insurrection, Mr. Hedinger, in August, 1862, enlisted for his adopted country, in Company E, One-hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, which was attached to the army of Virginia, and participated in the battles of Moorefield, Winchester, Jackson, Piedmont, Lynchburg and Snicker's Gap. In December, 1864, it was transferred to the army of the James, and participated in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Fort Gregg and Rice's Station, and was at Appomattox Courthouse at the final surrender. After his discharge, Mr. Hedinger returned to Monroe county, Ohio.

He served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and in 1868 came to Iowa, settling in Jasper township, Adams county, where he lived three and a half years. In 1872-73, his health being poor, he was in the East. During the latter year he worked at his trade in Wheeling, West Virginia, and then returned to Ohio. In 1876 he came to Council Bluffs; later he sold out his interests there, purchased land in Adams county and continued at his trade for six years. In 1882 he settled upon his farm, which now contains 120 acres of land, well supplied with a good residence, barn, outbuildings, etc. In 1888 he attended the Twenty- second National G. A. R. Encampment and Exposition at Columbus, Ohio; he also visited his former home and relatives and good old friends in Monroe county, Ohio.

He was married April 6, 1882, in this county (Adams), to Miss Madelia J. Millard, a refined and educated lady, brought up at Clinton, Iowa, from the year 1849. Her father David W. Millard, was born in Montgomery county, New York, and married Amarett D. Jenkins, who was a successful teacher before her marriage. Mr. Millard was killed at Clinton, Iowa, by the great cyclone of 1860, which also severely injured his wife and family.

Mr. Hedinger is an independent Republican, a member of Meyerhoff Post, G. A. R., of Nodaway, and both himself and wife belong to the Baptist Church.