Hedges, Thomas Mathews 1838-1921

HEDGES, MCCOY, BURROUGHS, CARD, NEWTON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 3/4/2014 at 11:42:52

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

THOS. MATHEWS HEDGES
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Old Time Grinnell Resident Passes
Away at Glendale,
California
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PRACTICED MEDICINE IN
GRINNELL FORTY-FOUR YEARS
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Was In All Respects an Honored Citi-
zen and Exemplary Physician
And Man
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Thomas Mathews Hedges, physician and druggist in Grinnell for forty-four years, was born at Bellville, Pa., on Jan. 15, 1838. He received his education at Waynesburg college at Waynesburg, Pa. Dr. Hedges' medical education began at Chariton, Iowa, and was finished at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk in the spring of 1865. He then moved to Grinnell where he began and continued the practice of his profession until 1909 when he found it necessary to retire and he moved to Glendale, Calif.

In August 1861 he enlisted on behalf of the Union in Company B of the Sixth Iowa Infantry and served for three years until he received his honorable discharge in 1864, having taken part in the battle of Shiloh and other important engagements.

On Aug. 14, 1864, he was joined in marriage to Miss Lois McCoy of Milford, Indiana to which union have been born five daughters Florence L. Hedges, Mary H. Burroughs, Lydia Grace Hedges, Myrtle H. Card and Lola Fern Newton, all of whom with their mother, survive him, his being the first death that has occurred in the family.

On coming to Grinnell Dr. Hedges was associated with Dr. Thomas C. Holyoke in the drug business which they carried on in connection with their practice of medicine until the death of Dr. Holyoke. As our older citizens will recall, he was also contemporary with Drs. John Lewis, E.H. Harris and E.W. Clark all of whom held an honorable place in the growth and welfare of our beautiful city. No doubt many of us will remember the heroic efforts of all these men in battling against the ravages of Spotted Fever, Smallpox, the Tornado and other calamities which have visited this vicinity during the last half century.

Dr. Hedges was overtaken by a stroke of apoplexy on Jan. 19 which resulted in his death on Feb. 5 at the age of eighty-three years. His burial place is Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Funeral services were held Feb. 7 at two o'clock in the Little Church of the Flowers Forest Lawn Cemetery with Rev. Mr. Edmonds conducting. Pall bearers were from Dr. Hedges' Sunday school class of G.A.R. Singing was by the Presbyterian Quartette.

Dr. Hedges was one of the real gentlemen who have made Grinnell their home. Quiet, modest, a successful physician, earnest in every good work, he was one of our most useful citizens. In the years of his activity, which were many, few of our people would have been missed more than he, and all who lived in and near Grinnell during his forty four years of service will read of his death with sincere sorrow and mourn him as a universal friend.

Mrs. Hedges and the four daughters survive him. All live in California except the daughter, Mrs. Alfred Burroughs of Grinnell.