HEDGES:
The first of this family name in this county was Charles Thornton Hedges, born in Harrison County, Virginia, May 16, 1813, son of Hiram Benjamin Hedges, born in Berkely County, Virginia, son of Charles Hedges, Jr., born in Frederick County, Maryland, 1749,. served as a volunteer in the Continental Army of 1776-1780.
Charles Thornton Hedges, first abovementioned, married, August 28, 1838, Nancy C. Boggess, born November 18, 1818, in Clarksburg, daughter of ________ Boggess.
To Charles T. and Nancy C. (Boggess) Hedges were born three children, in Harrison County. They came to Roane County about the year 1850, after which five more children were born. Charles T and Nancy C. Hedges, on coming here, purchased a tract of some 800 acres of land situate on Little Spring Creek. On it and of it they made their home for life.
On the outbreak of the War of Secession, Charles T. being loyal to the commonwealth, enlisted in the armies of the Confederacy as a cavalryman. While at home on a furlough seeing after his family and property, he was killed in his own dwelling by Unionists, whether regularly enlisted soldiers or mere zealots, we are not sufficiently informed to say. At the time he was killed his wife was absent on some errand, and the killers left the dead body there in the house where it lay all night, three little children keeping vigil 'til the mother returned in the morning.
To Charles T. and Nancy C. were born eight children, whose names were: Caleb Boggess; John Franklin, died in the Confederate service; Henry Clay, married Miss Alice Robinson, of Harrison County; Charles Edwin; Mary Jane, married John Drainsfield, of Harrison County; Hiram Benjamin, died unmarried; Albert Otho, married Louisa J. Martin, of Harrison County, W. Va.; Fernando R., married Rebecca Foster, daughter of Thomas and Isabel Foster, therefore a sister of Ella Jane, wife of Charles Edwin, his brother.
Charles Edwin Hedges, son of Charles T. and Nancy C. (Boggess) Hedges, was born in Harrison County, W. Va., May 12, 1852, and came with his parents to this Spring Creek country when about two years old, grew up here; in the year 1883 married Ella Jane Foster, daughter of Thomas and Isabel Foster, of Doddridge County, W. Va.; settled and made his home for himself and wife on part of the old patrimonial lands on Little Creek; taught school during winters and between farming months, for some twenty years.
To Charles E. and Ella Jane were born two children, one of whom died in infancy, the other, Grover F. Hedges, grew to manhood, studied law, graduated at the West Virginia University, LL. B., married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Jarret Depue, June 3, 1913; his age 28, hers 19, lives in Spencer. Charles Edwin Hedges died January 26, 1894.
Ella Jane, widow, married for a second husband, Henry Depue, widower, on June 2, 1895. His age 54, her age 36.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 545-546
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
