N. Frank Hedrick 1834-1915

HEDRICK, MORROW, JENNINGS, UTT, CARR

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 3/22/2023 at 06:04:20

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 9, 1915
Page 8

N. Frank Hedrick, a prominent resident of Columbus Junction for many years, died at his home in this city Sunday morning, September 5th, at seven o'clock after an illness of several months. Mr. Hedrick was born in Franklin county, Indiana, June 22, 1834 and was a son of the Hon. James W. and Mary (Morrow) Hedrick. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1842, when but eight years of age. The family settled in Wapello county near Ottumwa where Mr. Hedrick was reared on a farm and received a good common school education. In 1859 he went to California, leaving Ottumwa on the first of March of that year, and traveling with an ox team. In California he engaged in mining with varying success and subsequently he went to Nevada, where he enlisted in Company B. Nevada Volunteers and served until the close of the war when he was honorably discharged. After the war he remained on the Pacific slope for about thirteen years, ten of which were passed in California.

In 1872 Mr. Hedrick returned to Ottumwa and engaged in the bridge carpentry work for several years. He then ran a grocery store for a short time and in 1874 he came to Columbus Junction. Here he engaged in the hotel business for several years and later rented the hotel and engaged in the implement business. After three years in this business he went to Dakota and was engaged there for two years in the same type of business. In 1887 he returned to this city and built a fine home on West Hill where he lived until a few years ago when he moved to his home on Third street. During the summer of that same year (1887) Mr. Hedrick built the Commercial hotel. His faith in the town was shown by the splendid hotel which he built at that time. When completed the Hotel Hedrick was one of the finest hotels for that time in eastern Iowa. Mr. Hedrick made an ideal landlord. He was always attentive to the wants of his guests with whom the traveling salesmen of those days found it a pleasure to stop.

On the third of April 1874, Mrs. Hedrick was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha Jennings widow of Henry Jennings and a daughter of James Dixon. She was the mother of two children, Artie, wife of J. H. Utt of California and May, wife of W. A. Carr, of this city. Mr. Hedrick served several years on the city council and in 1881 he was elected mayor serving his term of office very satisfactorily. The mining fever again asserted itself in 1898 when he went to the gold fields of Alaska by way of Chilkoot Pass. By the capsizing of his boat his entire outfit and supplies for winter were lost and he was obliged to hurry out before the Alaska winter set in. He arrived home in September without much gold but in excellent health.

Socially, he was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Columbus City lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M. and also of composite Chapter No. 91, R. A. M. He is survived by his wife and a host of friends in this city morn with her. Besides his widow he is survived by two brothers and three sisters and one half sister. One of the brothers, James D. Hedrick, of Ottumwa, was able to be present at the funeral. The funeral services were held at the home Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by Rev. E.C. Brooks. Interment in the Columbus City cemetery.