General James Hedges; 6th in series

OHIO'S HISTORICAL MARKERS
Richland County

To take a close peek at today's historical marker you will have to enter the parking lot of Mansfield's Masonic Temple on Middle-Bellville Rd., and drive around to the west side of the building.  The marker is very close to the building, just north of the main entrance.

To find information on Gen. James Hedges, you will have to work harder than that.  Since I have been doing research on-line, I never have encountered a subject with less information available.

From the marker itself, you will learn Hedges arrived in Ohio in 1803 and worked as a deputy (US) surveyor in Richland and surrounding counties.  He wound up owning 19,000 acres in Richland county and became one of the city's founding fathers in 1808.

In 1811 he had the privilege of naming the first male child born in Mansfield.  The name given was Mansfield Hedges Gilkison.

In the book "A Pioneer History of Richland County Ohio" General Roeliff Brinkerhoff says, "In the early part of the summer of 1809, the father of the writer drove the first team into the town of Mansfield.  A party consisting of himself and family, Capt. James Hedges (afterwards known as Gen. Hedges)...and Johnny Appleseed dined on the public square....This was the commencement of the city of Mansfield."

The square then was a field of stumps remaining from recently cleared trees and a blockhouse.

The marker goes on to explain "Hedges served in the War of 1812....In February 1818 he obtained the Deposition for Mansfield Lodge #35, Free and Accepted Masons" which explains the location of this historical marker.

Hedges died in 1854 from rheumatism and was buried July 4th in the Mansfield Cemetery.