The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-07-23

~ wv R'N NtifAffilf ~ NitAfNl fANA NNNN VIZ
umph awaits the Republican party Of
Ohio, in November next.
LcomMuyIcArED
An OH Pioneer Gone-.-Death Of |
josiah Hedges
On Thursday Of last week July 18Th, after an
illness Of nine days, the venerable Josnu tItbors
Of this city, departed this life, at the advanced
ago Of 80 years and months. lie was born in
Berkeley county, Virginia, on the gh day oil
April, 1715 lIo lott bis fathers home at au
carly age, with the determination to carve out
his own fortune His first enterprise ON hi, own
account was a trading excursion to New CLEANS,
with fruit, which he aat-boated from Wheeling,
Va, 70 that point, when the time occupied 80
making the voyage was six weeks, and when but
a few adventurous sprts would make the oxpe.
rimcnt, fhich was then hazardous and dangerous
lie finally In 1901, one year before Ohio was ad
milted as Stale Of this Union, settled in Bel
mont oouhtyi whore he for number Of years
was one Of most active and prominent citizens
He was lbo first sheriff of Belmont county, and
also for a term Of years the Clerk Of the Court.
He then entered Into tho mercantile business at
st. 6Iaisyille. Ills capital @os limited, but BY
his prbdehbe and sdgarity, he increased it slowly
and surely At that ilmei the ifercbants Of the
WeFt bought most Of their goods In Philadelphia,
and we have frequently llslbhed with interest TO
the accounts given by Tie deosdsed df the man.
ner In which the merchants made th6ir Tips after
''few goods and supplies" Then they threaded
their way, In companies Of eight and ten, on
k.saH 81.
bags, TO pay for their purchases. Right merry
times, too, these old pdheera had in "crossing the
mountains" and visiting IN tic East. In l5l9
Mr. HEDoEs started branch store at Mansfield,
Ohio, having ne partner, his brother, the late
Gen James Hedges, and afterward Mr.. L.
Hedges, who still lives at that point. Subse
quently Mr.. Hedges removed from St. Clairsvilie
to MansGod Being then Of IL speculative mind,
and being convinced that North western Ohio
was one of the Garden Spots Of the world, and
that 10 would settle up with remarkable mpidity,
Mr.. Hedges made a journey 10 this region lie
Immediately determined upon entering the land
upon which this city is mostly built AT that time
tootpaths were worn around 10, by persons who
bad looked at the land. Me- Hodges then pro-
ceeded 10 tho Land Office, and in 1890, at the
Land Sales at Delaware, Ohio, he bought the land
which Wasan upbroken forest--a vast solitude
a tangled wld-w0odsi--a spot where oaks, stall
wart hicS0ries, and towering sycamorcs occupied
the places where SOW the spires Of elegant
churches, and fne public buildings rear their
heads-whero now stand fine private residences
and splendid buildings, dedicated to business--
where thousands act mart, seeking livelihood
in hundred different ways. Such were the
changes that Mr.. Hedges Witnessed in our now
z prosperous city.
, Mr.. Hedges, as We have before said, purchased
the land in 1870. In 1922, the first stick OF
wood was cut upon the town plot Of that portion
Of Tilhn, which Is now known as the first ward
In the same year he erected the first frame house
upon the town plot, which Is the old building
known as the sold Masonic Hall" which was
used for store, aud subsequently for Court
House and Church. He also, the same year
erected a Touring mill on the Sandusky, nov
known as "dunter's Mill" and a saw mill on
Rocky Creek, which drew to Tinin largc num-
bcrs Of pioneers ilom every section to get theil
"gris's and boards," BY prudent and system
D ATTIC course 10 disposiiig Of his town lots, Mr. II
had the pleasure Of seeing his toWn increase in
, population. For a number Of years there was
much rivalry between Fort Ball tnow the second
ward) as 10 which should be the county scat. By
the persoyerUg efforts of Mr. H., and by purchos
ing much Of tic property or The Fort Ball sidei
Tho sucteedcd IN securing the location on the East
lside This was I'm 1923. He then went to work
ldolermined to effect tho removal Of the United
States Land Office then located at Delaware, IA
this city In this he was successful, and from
that time onward Tifllu has progressed rapidly IN
wealth and populhton In 1881 Mr. Hedge,
V,s chosen 20 represent this county, or the dis
triot of which this county was a portion, in the
Ohio Legislature. He served one session, ba
lpreferrvd paving more attention TO his own pri
vate affairs, and declined any Further politica
prelerment.
Mr.. Hedges in his younger day was a stout
athletic, vigorous man, and retained 70 n remark
able degree, IN his old days, his manly sense an,
energy Of mind, having up to his last aud fata
attack, transacted and managed his own busnos
affairs, lie WAS generous aud just in his deal
ings with his fellow nicn, and strupdlouslv hon
cst,--beuevolent TO all christian denominations
having With one or two exceptions, donated tn
lots upon which thoir churches are erected ant
he was liberal towards all public improvements
lie was the FRIEND or riIE fOoR, as many Of th
o citizens ct our city can attest, who will remembe
his lehiency aud Kindness towards them. Desir
ing what was his own, he was not grasping o
avarioous, he was not cold and hcartless; on th
CONTRARY, he indulged those with whom he la,
business Transactions, 10 a degree injurious /,
himself In all the relations Of life. public o
private, he was a Just and sincere man He wa
good citizen aud a true aud steadfast friend =
IA As husband he was kind and obliging-as
y father afIeehonatei generous and indulgent. B,
- his Kindred old and young, he will always
q gratefully remembered; 10 him they could aiwav
5 90; lis heart always open to them his sapae
a ity and foresight was such that his advice an,
~ comsel was always sought, and SO excellent wa
T. his judgments that he rarely ever erred.
J. Although not a member OF any church, Nj
m Hedges was good and sincere man, and upol
ts dying couch; he expressed to hi5 friends
willingness 20 die, and assured them of his un
~ taltering trust in and dependence ON "that Saw
ior who has promised 10 save all who may tur
towards him, in faith and penitence" He mass
ed away TRANQUILITY and quietly as fbutenterin
l. upon sleep; without groan, sigh. or a str,g
4. gle, the good old man. took his departure fror
the scene of bis earthly experience, and passe,
4, away IKE one that draws the drNpwyof hi
B, dreunsp
. State Central Committee.
We heartily endorse every word Of IN