"a dweller on the path by the hedge"
Hedgpeth / Hudspeth NewsLetter Vol. 1 iss. 6
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER
(Family Information Exchange)
Publisher: Mrs. Frances R. Nelson [street address removed] - Riverside, California 92505SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $5.00 per year (annual index included) Single or sample copies $1 each All subscriptions beg, in with issue #1 of the current volume. PUBLISHED MONTHLY - for 10 months plus index published the 11th month. No issue for the month of December. EXCHANGE ADS are welcome - Publication Exchanges invited. QUERIES - Free to all so long as they are Hedgpeth/Hudspeth or associated families. Please submit queries exactly as you wish them published. No limit on number of queries submitted.MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION Any sort of material you care to have used is most welcome. If xeroxing is necessary I shall be glad to refund cost, or copy and return your material if you request it. STORIES AND TRADITIONS add richness to our endeavor and bring our people to life! Please send tales handed down through the generations. In many cases these stories will die with our generation. Getting them into print will preserve them. EDITORIAL POLICY It is my earnest desire. to record only reliable source material so that the Newsletter can be a reference tool for HEDGPETH searchers anywhere and anytime. Stories and traditions lend interest, but will be clearly identified as such.LET US ALL BE DILIGENT ! Should errors occur, as they surely will, I must rely on you good subscribers to catch them. Please amend your copies to comply with corrections to be noted. Should the grim reaper pro- vent our publishing a completely amended copy of this publication some day ......... perhaps our efforts will permit a correct version to be made eventually by someone. PHOTOGRAPHS - The FAMILY ALBUM section will be delighted to display your ancestor.... it might also serve to identify some of those elusive "unknowns" in your collection. Do not send the only copy in existence for the mails are not altogether safe. It is a good idea to have copies made for yourself anyway, for unpredictable things do happen to the irreplaceable! Include all the background information you can with each picture submitted.
MARCH - 1975 HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER Issue #6 - Vol.I
THE HEDGPETH FAMILY , ,
(by Joel Hedgpeth 1840-1922) ............. p. 55
HEDGPETHS in Barry Co., Mo.
1840 Census .............................. p. 58
ANOTHER LEMUEL descendant
Lineage of Merle Obenchain ............... p. 59
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
Douglas Co., Ore· 1880 Census
Crook Co. Ore·, Com. Record
Samuel .. 1779 Va. tax list
T. G. Hudspeth - 1850 Ark.
Misc. Marriage Records .................. p. 60
THOUGHTS on Northumberland Co., Eng ........... p. 61
ALABAMA Census 1850 ........................... p. 61
More VIRGINIA records ......................... p. 62
STORY TIME
"It happened on the Oregon Trail" .......... p. 63
FAMILY ALBUM
Who ? ..................................... p. 64
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Newsletters are mailed as cheaply as possible by 3rd class
"express".... I try to have them in the mailbox the first week of
the month. If your copy has not arrived by the end of the month
please let me know; or if your copy does not arrive in good condi-
tion I shall be happy to replace it. Please but ask!
There are threats of a hike in postage rates, but I think at will
not change our rates. Advertising budget will suffer, however ...
so if you will all do a little individual advertising for us it will
help. Bigger volume is always a happy solution for absorbing costs;
however in this case there would be the added advantage of contacting
more HEDGPETHs ....... plus the delight of sharing their records!
Send me addresses ...· I'll send flyers. Or better yet, perhaps a
personal note from you individually might be more inviting.
I Shall be happy to send complementary copies to any Historical
Libraries where they might be seen by Hedgpeth-searchers. Most
particularly we would be interested in the Virginia, Carolinas
or Tennessee areas.
[sign] - Fran
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6 - 55
THE HEDGPETH FAMILY
by Joel Hedgpeth (1840-1922)
[Note: The author of this article presents interesting and valuable
information which is probably close to truth in essence, for James
Henry Hedgpeth, sr. was his Grandfather ... and Lemuel his great-
grandfather. Stories and traditions kept alive in the family cir-
cle were not far back and remained fresh in the memory of the
living generation. Think what they might have done had some of
our modern-day avenues of research been available to them! FN]
This document, history, biography or Statement is not intended
for the gratification of the reading public (for the reading-
public is not likely to ever see it) but for the information of
some members of the family and other friends who might care to
know.
The family is of Welsh extraction, originating, it is said, in the
Island of Anglesea in North Wales. The family (according to a
vague tradition) having descended from the old Welsh bards, or
Minstrels, a class of men who flourished in Britain during the
Middle Ages. The first spelling of the name was perhaps Hedgepath
thus designating the person or persons living on or near a path by
the hedge and in process of time this became a family name. But
my great-grandfather, Lemuel Hedgpeth by name, spelled it as I do,
thus, Hedgpeth, and this I have taken to be the correct spelling
of the name. This I learned from a book belonging to my father
in which was his grandfather' s name written by the old man himself.
The name was in beautiful penmanship. Written with an old goose
quill pen.
The family moved from Wales to America in Colonial days, several
years before the Revolutionary War, and settled, I think, in
Henrico Co., Virginia. Most of the things I am writing about mem-
bers of the family I learned from my father Joel Hedgpeth, and he
from his father and grandfather.
Early in the American Revolutionary War Lemuel Hedgpeth, before
mentioned, joined Daniel Morgan's Co. of riflemen and went with
that company to Cambridge, Mass. in July 1775, to join Washington
in the seige of Boston. Whether or not my great grandfather went
with Morgan to Canada in Montgomery's expedition I was not inform-
ed. It is quite probable however, that he was not with Morgan at
Saratoga at the capture of General Burgoyne and his army. For I
have been definitely informed that he was with Gen. Greene's div-
ision, and very much present at the battle on Brandywine Creek
where he had both legs broken. The division to which he belonged
was drawn up, or stationed, beside an old rail fence and a cannon
ball knocked a rail against his legs and thus broke them.
56-
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER- I/6
After the Revolutionary War my great grandfather taught school
most of his life, in Virginia, and perhaps in Kentucky later in
life. I don't know about his educational qualifications, but
I know he was a splendid penman. When an old man he, with my
grandfather, James Henry Hedgpeth, moved from Virginia to Kentucky.
In the War of 1812 when Gen. Shelby, ex. Gov. of Kentucky, raised
and organized a body of 4000 men and led them as a reinforcement
to Gen. Harrison, my grandfather was in that body. He belonged
to the Regiment of Col. Richard M. Johnson (afterward Vice President)
and was with him at the battle of the Thames, Oct. 5, 1813.
Grandfather and most of his family, including my father, moved
from Kentucky to Missouri in 1837. Grandfather had five sons
and four daughters, I believe. The names of his sons were Mat-
thew, Holland, Joel, James Henry and Lewis Johnson. My father,
Joel Hedgpeth (#1 of the Joels as far as I know) was born in
Greene Co., Kentucky, January l4, 1810. He married when quite
young to Jane Hudspeth, that was my mother's name before marriage.
The date of their marriage I do not know.
When a young man, though married, my father was elected Captain
in the Militia of Kentucky. This I believe was the only military
title he ever bore. After moving to Missouri in 1837 he was Jus-
tice of the Peace for a number of years. Among the lawyers who
practiced in his court were Robert Steward (afterward Governor of
Missouri), Willard P. Hall (who became a Brig. Gen. in the Federal
Army during the War between the States, rather noted for his heart-
less cruelty) and a Mr. Wheaton, who gained notoriety as a lawyer
in Taos, New Mexico. Later in life father was one of the Judges
in the county court in Nodaway Co., Mo. for several years. But
the best office my father ever held, was that of Class Leader in
the M. E. Church, South which he held for ten or twelve years.
The names of my father's children in their order, were as follows:
Minerva Jane, Thomas Riley, Henry Holland, James (who died in child-
hood), Lewis Johnson, Joel, William Pleasant, a girl who died in
infancy, and Elizabeth Ann. A further notice of some of these, my
kindred may be of interest to some of my kinsfolk or to some other
friends.
The oldest of my father's family was married to a Mr. Kelley, Peter
Kelley, and died more than fifty years ago. She left, I believe,
one daughter and two sons.
The oldest son in the family, Thomas Riley, was born I believe in
1830. When about 17 he took service in the Government Quartermas-
ter's department, in 1847, for about l0 months, and again the fol-
lowing year for a few months. About the time he was 19 years old
he was married to Miss Eliza Jane Elliott. He was with that some-
what famous Bailey-Hedgpeth train that crossed the plains in 1858.
- 57
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
And that had a very serious encounter, battle, with the Mohave
Indians on the banks of the Colorado River. He then returned to
Missouri. His children are, or were, Demetrius, James Henry
(now dead), Calloway, Charles Edward, Thomas and two girls.
Brother Thomas Riley died a Superannuate member of the Missouri
Conference, M. E. C. S.
The second son of the family, Henry Holland Hedgpeth, was about
two years younger than Thomas Riley. I don't know the date of
his birth. He taught school when 16 years of age, and joined the
Missouri Conference when about 20 years old. At one time he was
Presiding Elder of Council Grove District in Kansas, of the M. E.
Church, South. He was engaged in Missionary work in the West
Conferences. Rev. E. J. Stanley, in his "Life of Rev. L. B.
Statelet", said of him (among other things), "Rev H. H. Hedgpeth
had a wonderful memory. He could read a story in a newspaper or
a chapter in the Bible and repeat it from memory." He died in the
active ministry, near 50 years ago.
The fourth son in father's family, third to reach manhood, was
Lewis Johnson Hedgpeth. He was born Aug. 11, 1837. He was li-
censed to preach in Sept. 1860 by the Visalia Quarterly Conference
and joined the Pacific Conference in Oct. 1862, at San Jose, Calif.
In 1875 he was transferred to the Los Angeles Conference and moved
to Arizona. He was considered by many to be the Father of Method-
ism in Arizona. He was as true, noble and loving a brother as any
man ever had. He died Dec. 18, 1912, in Arizona.
Of the fifth son of this family (fourth to reach manhood) this
writer need say but little since another has written more compli-
mentary things of him than this scribe would presume to write, but
instead will make a quotation from Dr. Simmon's "History of South-
ern Methodism on the Pacific Coast" page 336:
"Joel Hedgpeth was born in Buchanan County, Missouri Dec 18, 1840.
He was converted and joined the M. E. Church, South, at the camp-
meeting held on his father's place in Nodaway County, Mo. in 1854.
Soon after that the family moved to California. At a camp-meeting
held on the Visalia Circuit, near his father's residence, Sept.
1860, he was licensed to preach, T. C. Barton being presiding elder.
He is clear thinking and most chaste and a beautiful preacher. His
sermons as he preaches them would read well, so well arranged are
they, and so accurate the language in which they are expressed."
His children in their order are: 1. Henry Bascom, Nov. 13, 1872;
2. Ida May, married to Marvin Simpson, b. Jan 20, 1874; 3. Thomas
Anderson, b. Nov. 16, 1875; 4. Chrissie Irene, married to M. T.
Pyott, b. Aug 12, 1878; 5. Jane, born dead May 6, 1880; 6. Hester
Parlee, b. Oct. 5, 1882; 7. George F. P., b. Jan 31, 1885;
8. Marvin Wesley, b. Dec. 15, 1888.
58 -
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
The sixth son of father's family, William Pleasant Hedgpeth, was
born Aug 31, 1843. When 30 years old he was married to Miss Mary
Braley. He has two children, a daughter Caroline and a son Joel.
The youngest of father's family was Elizabeth Ann, who married
W. W. Christy, and had four daughters.
(Transcribed from undated manuscript by Joel W. Hedgpeth, grandson
of William Pleasant Hedgpeth, June 30, 1957)
webmaster note: top of page 57 herein mentions "James Henry
(now dead)" this JH a doctor, died in Jan. 1917, perhaps that
might be a clue as to when this manuscript was written ?
[Note The author of the above manuscript, Rev. Joel Hedgpeth
was along on the 1858-9 wagon train to California and wrote
his version of the experience. To date only two people have
expressed an interest in wanting separate copies for your-
selves ..... will that be all?]
##################################################################
Rev. Joel's manuscript lists the children of James Henry Hedgpeth,
senior as the same found on p.2 of the Newsletter but minus the
eldest son, Manuel/Lemuel/Lionel. I don't believe there are any
records on this individual...., did he remain in Virginia? Did
he, indeed, exist?
##################################################################
HEDGPETHS IN BARRY COUNTY, Missouri -1840 Census (These are all
living in the same neighborhood - Smith Township.
Benjamin was living two or three pages away - still
Smith Township.
A. HEDGEPETH Males: 1 under 5 DAVID HEDGPETH
1 20-30 Males: 2 under 5
Females: 1 under 5 1 10-15
1 5-10 1 15-20
1 20-30 1 20-30
Living between these fams.: 1 30-40
William Snayden/Snagden & 1 60-70
Absalom Renfro females: 1 under 5
1 10-15
JOHN HEDGEPETH 1 15-20
males: 2 5-10 1 30-40
1 30-40 1 60-70
females: 1 10-15
1 30-40 Living between Henry
Sailings and John HPTH
Living between David HPTH
and D. W. Scott. BENJAMIN HEDGEPETH
males: 1 under 5
#################################### 1 20-30
# females: 1 under 5
BARRY County, Missouri was # 1 5-10
formed 1835 from Greene County. # 1 20-30
An error in survey, rectified 1876,#
established 'the western line 2½ # Living between the
miles east of previous boundary. # Henry Flusher and J.R.
# Williams families.
#
- 59
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
ANOTHER LEMUEL descendant:
Lineage of Merle 0benchain
X. HENRY HEDGEPETH (tentative) d. Va. before 1779
(see NL p.2) Isle of Wight Co.
XI. LEMUEL HEDGEPETH (b. ca1757 Va.; d. Ky.) wife: Lydia ?
known ch: James Henry, Holland,
(see NL p.23) Nancy, Bethany, Lewis, Sarah,
Lydia
XII. JAMES HENRY HEDGEPETH, sr. (b. c1785 Va.- d. c1842 in
Ky.? or Mo.?) wife: Ruth Jones; ch: Lemuel (?);
Matthew; Holland; Betty; Joel; Nancy; Sarah;
Bethane; James Henry, jr.; Lewis. (see NL p. 2)
XIII. JAMES HENRY HEDGPETH jr. (1822 Ky.-1897 Ore.) wife:
Ellinor Elliott; CH: Mary E.; Ruth Caroline;
Phoebe; John W.; Percilla J.; America Ann; Lewis
Kinman; Rosana; James David; Jeremiah E.; Wm. Frank
(see NL p.3)
XIV. JOHN WESLEY HEDGPETH b. 19 Dec. 1848 - Nodaway Co., Mo.
d. 23 Dec, 1926 - Central Point, Ore.
bur. Workman's Cem., Linn Co., Ore.
m. 19 Sept 1872 to Susannah Mathilda Davis(1855-1926
in Dixie, Ore (Polk Co., near Dallas).(md. 54 yrs)
ch:
1. Walter Leslie b. 1873 Or. d. (infant)
2. Alfred Franklin b. 1874 Or. d. (infant)
3. Mary Ellinor
(Mollie) b. 1876 Or. d. 1961 Or. m. Volney Oden
4. Elbert Wesley
(Bert) b. 1881 Ore. d. 1959 Or. m.1)E.Doolittle
2)M. Buckles
5. Ray Wilkerson b. 1889 Or. d. 1914 Or. unmarried
XV. ELBERT WESLEY HEDGPETH (Bert) b. 15 May 1881 - Prineville, Ore.
d. 11 Nov. 1959, Aloha, Ore.
m.21 Aug 1904 in Roseburg, Douglas Co., Ore. to
Erma Mary Doolittle (1885-1971) dau of Emma
Ann Allison and Alfred Doolittle
ch:
1. Ethel Alice b. 1906 Doug. Co.,Ore. d. 1963 Jack. Co., Ore.
m: James F. Campbell (1911-1964)
2. Harry Elbert b. 1906 Doug. Co., Ore. (Roseburg)
m. May Clifford (1915-1962)
3. Merle Edith b. 1913 Doug. Co., Ore' (Dixonville)
m: Oliver Obenchain
XVI. MERLE EDITH (Hedgpeth) OBENCHAIN b. 17 Jan 1913 Dixonville, Or.
m. 1 Mar 1936 in Central Point Ore. near Medford
to Oliver Obenchain (b. 19 June 1912)
ch:
1. Linda Merle (Obenchain) b. 1936 Medford, Ore.
m. Paul Stanley Darke
one ch: David Paul Darke b. 1965 San Gabriel
Calif.
60 -
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS Submitted by:
1880 U.S. Census - Douglas Co., Ore. Merle Obenchain
Deer Creek #292:
J. H. Hedgepath 58 b.Ky pa. b.Va.; ma. b. Va occup, farmer
*Ellinor 37 b.Mo. pa. b.NC ; ma. b. Tenn - (wife)
John. D. 18 b. Mo. (son)
Jeremiah 16 b. Mo. (son)
William (Frank) 11 b. Mo. (son)
**Leander (mar) 24 b. Mo. (son)
Sarah (mar) 26 b. Ia. pa; b.Ill; ma: (unkn.) (dau. in-law)
LINVILLE, Joel 28 b. Mo. pa: b.Mo.; ma: b.Ky. (s-in-law)
Roseann 20 b. Mo. pa: b~Ky.; ma: b.Mo. (dau)
Ruth 3 b. Ore. (gr. dau)
[notes: *Ellinor(Elliott) was b. Mo. 1824 would be age 56 here -
Her mother, Polly Vanderpool was b. N.C., not Tenn. per
statement of her husband Willis Elliott.
**Leander is incorrect ... probably Lewis Kinman b.1856,
would be age 24 here, and his wife was Sarah (Cockle-
rease ?).]
Deer Creek #257
John Hedgepath 30 b. Mo. pa: b.Ky; ma: b.Mo. farmer
Susan 25 b. Mo. pa: b,NCi ma: b.Mo. wife
Mollie 4 b. Ore dau
[Notes: This is John Wesley Hedgpeth, s/o James Henry HPTH,jr.
John's wife was Susan Davis (see NL po59)]
##################################################################
Crook Co., 0re, Cem. Records:
M. HEDGPETH - Crook Co. Cem., near Prineville -(no dates
or info.)
##################################################################
From Ntl. Gen. Soc. Qtrly. - Vol.46, Dec.1958 - Short Census of
Virginia 1779 by Wm. H. Dumont.
p.184 SAMUEL HEDGPETH, Isle of Wight - Entry #1783 - amt.
deposited $313.
Submitted by:
Alice Hall
##################################################################
1850 Drew County, Arkansas
(THOMAS GREENWOOD HUDSPETH)- per records of Ann Theg Brown)
T. G. HUDGSPETH 53 Hotel Keeper, Minister, merchant b. NC
MARRIAGE RECORDS from my files - Can we place these folks ?
James D. Hedgpeth to Mary Gulliford - Crook Co., Ore. 1 Dec 1885
J. E. Hedgpeth to Mary Wells - Crook Co., Ore. - 10 Aug 1886
Caroline Hedgpeth to Mayberry Splawn - Nod. Co., Mo. -
by Joel Hedgpeth 22 July 1851
Nancy A. Hedgpeth to Daniel A. Baker - Nod. Co., Mo. by Thos.
R. Hedgpeth 25 Oct 1860
62 -
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
1850 Census - Montgomery County, Alabama Ward 3 #1140
HEDGEPETH, William 22 carpenter NC
living in household of L. J. Burnette, aslo carpenter b. NC
1850 Census - Autauga County,. Alabama - Kingston Beat #858-875
HEDGEPETH, Elias 47 farmer NC
George 17 laborer Ala
Harriet N. 16 NC
Wade H. 15 Ala
William A. 14 Ala
Sarah A. 12
Enoch 10
Mary A. 6
A History of Halifax County, Va. - by Carrington - marriages
p.457: HEADSPETH, Pleasant G. - S. P. Wilson, 23 May 1844
Pleasant - Martha Crews, 12 Jan 1822
HEDSPETH, James H. - N. J. Green, 12 Feb 1835
WILLS and ADMINISTRATIONS of SOUTHAMPTON CO., Va. 1775-1800
91. Charles Hedgepeth witnessed will of Elisha Darden who died
3 December 1788, recorded 9 July 1789
75. Charles Hedgepeth witnessed will of John Carr who died
30 May 1780, recorded 14 Sept 1786
160. Elizabeth Hedgepeth witnessed will of Thomas Bradshaw
who died 16 Sept 1796, recorded
20 Aug. 1798
ENGLISH DUPLICATES OF LOST VIRGINIA RECORDS by Louis des Cognets, jr.
201. Nansemond County - a complete list of Rent Roll of land
in Nansemond County 1704 - JOHN HEDGEPETH - 700 acres
82. List of Patents signed Oct. 1706, Nansemond County,
JOHN HEDGEPETH, jr., 443 acres, surveyed by Thomas
Milner, 18 Jan 1705
85. Nansemond County, JOHN HEDGEPETH, 443 acres, surveyed by
John Milner 18 Jan 1705 ..... (note: John & John, jr.
are separate entries for the same number of acres ...???)
99. List of patents granted for land in Colony by the Honorable
Alexander Spotswood; His Majesty's Lieutenant Gov. and
Commander in Chief of this Dominion. 443 acres, Nanse-
mend County granted JOHN HEDGEPETH, jr. - 16 June 1714.
Ann Theg Brown suggests the following:
It should be noted that the Index to the Colonial and State
Records of North Carolina, Volume 14, page 667 gives the letter
from Gen. Jethro Sumner to Maj. Gen. Gates dated October 4, 1780
telling of the murder of the sheriff of Surry County. The name
given as "one HEDGSPETH" but was of Sheriff JOHN HUDSPETH, - 1780,
son of RALPH HUDSPETH by 1770-1777 Surr Co., and grandson of
RALPH HUDSPETH - 1719 of Virginia (my DAR line- Ann)
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HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT NORTHUMBERLAND County, England
(from Ann Theg Brown's records)
I do feel the name Cuthbert is significant. Several years ago
I, personally, found the Hudspeths in Corbridge, Northumberland
County, England, and they are unquestionably the same family.
This item intrigues me:
In 1684 Ralph and Cuthbert Hudspeth, among others were
fined for not repairing a bridge. Both names drop from
the records.
Sometimes I find myself speculating about the family story of
Frances Hedgepeth who says three brothers came to America and
changed their names .... if you leave out the other details and
stay with that idea -- I just wonder if ......,.????
Two other Hudspeths also disappear from Corbridge records at
that time!
1682 Robert, son of Richard~ sold family land
1729 William and son Robert sold another long-held family
farm.
The Hudspeths did have their land caught up in the Enclosure
Movement of the time which accounted for many English coming to
Virginia. The name appears first in 1747 as "Hodespeth" and
through many, many spellings seems to keep recognizable form.
The above are the only Ralph and Cuthbert in four hundred
years, the names Richard, Robert, William and George being pre-
ferred.
##################################################################
The following records from Frances Hedgepeth of Shreveport, La.
dated Dec. 1963 - are submitted via Ann Theg Brown.
1850 Census - Pike County, Alabama #34
HEDGEPETH, John H. 55 farmer b. NC
Selah 60 ; Jesse 22; John 21; Bedy 19;(believe
all preceding b. No. Ca., no birthplace designated
except for last one, Henry) Henry 18 b. Ala.
There is a note here that John H. Hedgepeth may be
a brother of Beady who married Stephen Loe.. (DAR
line of Eva Loe McDuffie ·. see ad section)
1850 Census - Conecuh Co., Ala. #766
PARKER, Samuel 43 farmer b. Ga.
Rachael 35
HEDGEPETH, Jane 50 (no birthplaces designated for
last two entries)
Note: the following was a picture photo Album page ...
the three photographs will be added at a later date.
#1 and #2 were together in
an envelope marked Thos.
Hedgpeth & family ... in the
envelope were also some tin-
types of children.
These are from the
collection of
Mrs. Lewis R. Brown
3. From among a collection of of Blanchard, Iowa
Campbell pictures owned by
Mrs. Art Hamilton - Elmo, Mo.
- 63
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
STORY TIME The Wagon trip across the plains in 1867 was an
historic one for the Hedgpeths. James Henry HPTH, jr.
his wife and most of his family were among the travelers. Our
Eleanor Brown was a descendant and a good listener. Here is
another of her tales about the trip.
"One thing concerning the wagon-train trip that has always puzzled
me. Mother said they spent July 4t]~ in Denver and from there they
went to Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Looking at the map that seems to
have been a long way 'round. From Medicine Bow they went to Ft.
Rawlins and I suppose from there to Fort Bridget. They dreaded
Utah for the Mormons were supposed to be preying on Trains passing
through their country.
"I remember bits and pieces of many things Mother told me about
their trip but there is no continuity to them and, of course, no
proof.
"In the wagon train was a widow with her son and daughter. She
was taking several head of cattle with her and the plan was for a
barbeque when they reached Denver where her daughter was to be
married to a young man who was following a day behind the train
with a string of freight wagons. [Might not the sale of this
freight in Denver have been the reason for their unusual itinery?]
"The Indians had been giving trouble along the way and at night
the men all slept under the wagons with their guns 'at the ready'.
On the last morning out from Denver, everyone was hurrying to get
ready to be off. The widow lady became careless. As she grabbed
her son's rifle out from among the blankets by the barrel end,
the gun fired into her chest.
"In the few minutes that remained of her life she said, 'This is
a careless, dern fool thing I've done! .... Now, I'll miss the
wedding! But don't let it spoil things for the rest of you.
Jest you bury me right along the road here, and go ahead with the
plans'.
"She insisted upon their promise, so mournfully, the travelers
opened her trunk, found her best blue taffeta dress to bury her
in. They hastily built a coffin from boards taken from wagon beds
and she was duly deposited into the earth by the side of the road.
"The train went on into Denver, made camp and prepared to carry
out the wedding and 4th of July celebration as directed by the
dying widow.
"Before the day was out, the freight train came upon the site of
the tragedy. One can only imagine the feelings of the young man
to see his future mother-in-law' s body found sprawled by her
graveside .... denuded of her beautiful blue silk dress and other
clothing.
"The freighters wrapped her in blankets, re-buried her and went
into Denver with the disquieting news. There a team of fast
64-
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER - I/6
horses were hitched to a light wagon and several men with guns
and what ever else they deemed necessary went back to bring in
the body.
"Again, the grave had been opened and the blankets stolen! This
time they took the body into Denver for proper burial.
"The wedding took place as planned. The cattle were barbequed
and a feast was served to all."
[Note: These must, indeed, have been inexperienced travelers.
The usual procedure was well known. Burial was done
right in the road-bed, and wagons were run over the
grave so that no trace was left for the Indians to find.]
##################################################################
FAMILY ALBUM Begging for pictures all over the country-side,
as I do .... sometimes a surprise comes along.
A cousin on my CAMPBELL side sent me a batch of unidentified
pictures and tin-types from Nodaway County, Missouri. She thought
they were probably Campbells. She sent them in their original
envelope on which was written in fine old script: Thomas Hedgpeth
and family. The pictures are reproduced here. Can anyone make a
positive identification? Or are they, indeed, Campbells in the
wrong envelope?
THOMAS RILEY HEDGPETH (see p. 56 this issue) was a prominent
Nodaway County minister whose name appears on many family wedding
certificates. The Campbells were also faithful members of the
M.E., South Church. Grandmother Campbell was Ruth Hedgpeth, and
a cousin of Thomas Riley Hedgpeth.
A timely warning here .... Somebody printed the marriage records
for Nodaway County and recorded the marriage of Thomas Richey
Hedgpeth and Eliza Jane Elliott ..... This was Thomas Riley HPTH.
Photograph #3 was among the Campbell collection, but cannot be
identified ... there is the off-chance that he is a Hedgpeth.
Clarence Hedgpeth and his wife, Mabel, stopped by last week.
Wait til I have room to write about them! Mabel is a crack-shot
hunter. Clarence had a beautiful album-full of Hedgpeths ... and
one unidentified lady turned out to be my Aunt Rose Campbell ....
how about that! Rose corresponded widely ... and Clarence's folks
were her cousins.
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER"JONES JOURNEYS" (Research Aid)A Research Bulletin for anyone working on JONES surnames$6.00 yr. - $11.00 for 2 yrs. 30-page issuesYearly Index & Free Queries Quarterly- Feb.; May; Aug.; Nov.Please note: this periodical is no longer published, check with your local genealogical library for back issues, there was 23 volumes! of which 15 years worth, Frances Nelson was the editor.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ! I I I"DIGGIN FOR DAVIS" Research AidA Research Bulletin for anyone working on DAVIS surnames$6.00 yr - $11 for 2 yrs. 30-page issuesYearly Index & Free Queries Quarterly - Jan.; Apr.; July; Oct. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "BERRY PICKIN" Research AidA research bulletin for anyone working on BERRY surnames$6.00 yr. - $11 for 2: Yrs. 30-page issues Yearly Index & Free Queries Quarterly : Mar; June; Sept; Dec.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++"HORINE FAMILIES OF AMERICA"Published Spring & Fall$6.00 yr..- $11 for 2 yrs. === Minimum of 120 pages a yr.Yearly Index & Free Queries Hundreds of Allied lines +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ALL OF THE ABOVE MAY BE ORDERED FROM: Mrs. Darla M. Jones [street address removed] Bull Head City. Arizona 86430 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++VANDERP00L NEWSLETTER - published monthly - 10 months yr. A family information exchange plus Index minimum 10-page issues $5.00 yr. Order from: Mrs. Frances R. Nelson [street address removed] Riverside, Calif. 92505
HEDGPETH NEWSLETTER FISHER FACTSResearch Bulletin for anyone Searching for FISHERS$6.00 per yr. Quarterly Published: $11 for 2 yrs. Jan.; Apr.; July; Oct. FREE QUERIES to Subscribers Yearly Index Included Order from: Exchange Ads & Publications Mrs. Betty L. Pennington Invited [street address removed] Riverside, Calif. 92509 25 pages each issue. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++HEDGPETH - Liberty Hill-Brush Valley - Friendship The Churches, Schools, Community & PeopleDescendants of Rev. War veteran JOHN HEDGPETH (1757-1818) Order from: $10.00 post-paid (388 pages) Mrs. Eva Lee Mc Duffie [street address removed] Monroe, La. 71201++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Hudspeth/Hedgpeth Anna has spent a lifetime collecting data and has gener- Miss Anna Ford ously shared material with the [street address removed] Newsletter. Write to her for Kansas City, Mo. 64109 particulars regarding her five volumes.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++CAR-DEL SCRIBE Six 36'page (8 1/2xll) issues per year: Features: "Coffee Break" Published: Jan.; Feb.; an informative how-to-do-it Apr.; July; Oct.; by Mrs. Charles Delmar and Dec. Townsend, Certified Genealogist. FREE QUERIES 8 pages of source records Many other Interesting Books for Sale - features! Book reviewsMail chock or money order to: CHEDWATO SERVICE $4.50 Yr. (Mass. tax 3%) [street address removed] Middleboro, Mass 02346 Canada - $5 yr. Foreign $6 yr. Special Offer - $1.00 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tell them you saw their ad in our Newsletter .... Brownie Points for us !!!
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