Harry Newton Otis: Hedges Genealogy

1892 - 1956 (63 years)

Generation: 1

1.	Harry Newton Otis was born on 22 Dec 1892 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (son of David Tulley Otis and Louise Ann Hedges); died on 1 Jun 1956 in Gearhart, Clatsop County, Oregon; was buried in body donated to medical science. Other Events: Occupation: electrician in movie industry

Generation: 2

David Tulley Otis was born on 2 Jun 1844 in Bath County, Kentucky; died on 14 Aug 1907 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 17 Aug 1907 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Other Events:

Census: 1880, Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky
Census: 1900, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Notes:

Otis, David – Died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m.; funeral Saturday, Aug. 17, 2 p.m., at residence, 2500 North Harding street, Sherman ave; friends invited; burial at Mt. Jackson.
The Indianapolis, Star, Indianapolis, Indiana. Friday, 16 August 1907.

Aged Man Dies Suddenly
Reads to Daughters and Expires as He Locks Door for the Night.
Death stalked unwelcome in to the midst of the Otis family, 2500 Schurmann avenue, last night. David Otis, age 68, was reading with this daughter in the sitting room of the home. It was an evening custom in the Otis home, as the father’s eyes were growing dim. He and his daughter talked some of what they had read, and the old man got up from the table and walked toward the front door to lock it and get ready for bed. With his hand on the lock he reeled and fell. The daughter sprang to his side, but the tongue which would have answered her questioning was stilled.
The cause of death is given as heart trouble. He had been feeling very well for several days, and had made no complaint of any sort. A son, Harry Otis, travels with the John Robinson Circus. Yesterday the show was at Bellefontaine, O., but today the Otis family does not know where it is and can not get word to him.
The Indianapolis, Star, Indianapolis, Indiana. Friday, 16 August 1907.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136421329/david-otis

Section 9, Row 1, Grave 49

David married Louise Ann Hedges. Louise (daughter of Monroe Hedges and Julia A. Sparks) was born on 25 Dec 1858 in Nicholas County, Kentucky; died on 2 Jul 1944 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 5 Jul 1944 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Louise Ann Hedges was born on 25 Dec 1858 in Nicholas County, Kentucky (daughter of Monroe Hedges and Julia A. Sparks); died on 2 Jul 1944 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 5 Jul 1944 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Notes:

Otis – Louise Ann, age 85, beloved mother of Harry and Georg Otis, Lottie Edwards, Emma Pruitt, Ella Clamfourth and Anna Cobb, passed away Sunday. Funeral Wednesday, 10 a.m., at Shirley Bros. West Chapel, 2002 W. Michigan st. Burial Mt. Jackson cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel after 7 p.m. Monday.
The Indianapolis, Star, Indianapolis, Indiana. Tuesday, 4 July 1944.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64936770/louise-ann-otis

Section 9, Row 1, Grave 50, Lot 56 - Reinterred 6/3/1960

Children:

Anna Belle Otis was born on 8 Oct 1873 in Tipton County, Indiana; died on 12 May 1944 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 16 May 1944 in Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Julia Ann Otis was born on 20 Nov 1876 in Kentucky; died on 23 Jan 1905 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 24 Jan 1905 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Emma Florence Otis was born on 21 May 1881 in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky; died on 8 Jun 1963 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 12 Jun 1963 in Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
George W. Otis was born on 4 Dec 1889 in Mason County, Kentucky; died on 19 Aug 1958; was buried in Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
1. Harry Newton Otis was born on 22 Dec 1892 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 1 Jun 1956 in Gearhart, Clatsop County, Oregon; was buried in body donated to medical science.
Lottie Helen Otis was born on 9 Oct 1897 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; died on 20 Apr 1984 in Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana; was buried on 23 Apr 1984 in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Generation: 3

Monroe Hedges was born on 11 Feb 1803 in Fleming County, Kentucky (son of Levi Hedges and Rosannah Ribelin); died on 18 Oct 1899 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Other Events:

Occupation: farmer / shoemaker
Census: 1850, Fleming County, Kentucky
Census: 1860, Nicholas County, Kentucky
Census: 1870, Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky

Notes:

MHR note: He may have been named "Levi" Monroe Hedges as a "Levi Hedges", brother of Sarah (Hedges) Gilkison used to visit her at times, walking in and was from some distance away - said Martin "Luther" Gilkison to MHR on his 82nd birthday. He said he had supposed his father, Levi "Monroe" Gilkison, had been named for that brother, who did not enjoy being scuffled with by Luther and his brothers, and "Luther", himself was a small tike. He thought the great uncle looked about 65 years old. He would say "Get away; get away; get away" when they wanted to scuffle.

LKH note: MHR only listed three children: Francis M. Hedges, Hiram C. Hedges, and James Hedges. She gave estimated birth years all prior to 1850. However only Francis M., age 10, and Hiram C. Hedges age 6 appear in the 1850 census record. However, James Hedges age 14 does appears in the 1860 census record.

LKH note: information for all other children born after James are added from census information from 1860 and 1870.

LKH note: Article about centenarians in Indiana includes description of Monroe Hedges.

Some Centenarians
Five Pioneers Who Found Indiana’s Climate Conducive To Longevity.
Some Centenarians
Anderson special: Action has been brought by one of Alexander Ferguson’s daughters to have a guardian appointed for him. Ferguson lives in Gilman. He has just passed his one hundred and seventh birthday. The action for the guardian has brought to light the fact that there are five people in this (Madison) county who have passed the hundred-year mark. Ferguson is the dean of the men, and his sister, Mrs. Bettie Carrolton, who lives near Franklin, heads the women with 111 years to her credit. Summitville claims the next distinction, presenting Thomas Wells, age 104. Wells was born in Falmouth, Pendleton county, Kentucky, in 1793, but has lived in Indiana since 1824. Monroe Hedges was 105 years of age on the 11th of last February, and he looks it. He has been a cripple for fifteen years, and is scarcely able to move. Mentally, however, he is active and he sees the bright side of life. He is poor and lives with his eight-year-old wife and two sons. He is a Kentuckian by birth.
[article continues with descriptions of Julia (Owens) Hamilton, age 100; and David Lynch, age 119, who died recently.]
Boonville Standard, Boonville, Indiana. Friday, 17 February 1899.

LKH note: Monroe's age and certain facts about his life change in different news articles.

Whipped His Baby
Monroe Hedges, 106 years old, whipped his 80-year-old son Hiram at Indianapolis the other day and placed him in the hands of surgeons. The father lives in a little house in Anderson, Ind. He claims the distinction of being the man who drove the first spike on the first railway ever constructed in Indiana. His 89-year-old wife died recently. His strength and metal activity war something marvelous. Hiram was one of the babies of the family.
The Hamilton County Ledger, Noblesville, Indiana. Friday, 13 October 1899.

LKH note:
news article gives some details about how the family was living.

Centenarian Dying.
Monroe Hedges is Said to be 105 Years Old.
In a ramshackle hut in the rear of 1012 Rhode Island street, lies an old man, who says he is 105 years old, at the point of death. The old man is Monroe Hedges, known in the part of the city in which he lives as “Granddad Hedge.” The house in which he lives, with several sons, was, at one time, a stable. It has since been turned into a house of two small rooms. Until Tuesday of last week the old man retained all his faculties, and pulled himself about the small, dirty yard in a chair. In someway (the sons could not explain) blood poisoning affected his right arm and leg and gangrene developed.
Hedges has five sons and one daughter living, the oldest son, Hiram Hedges, being seventy-one years’ old. The youngest member of the family is Fames Hedges. Another member of the family says James is about forty years old. The names of the other children are Jonas, Roe, Dudley and Louanna. The old man is said to have been born in Flemingsburg, Ky., on the site of the court-house, 105 years ago the 11th day of last February. He has often spoken of fighting in a are, but the members of the family can not tell in what war he served. They think, however, that it was the Mexican war.
Hedges moved with his family to this city twenty-two years ago. His wife died about three months ago, eighty-seven years old. The family lives on a pension paid to Monroe Hedges for the death of a son in the civil war.
The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana. Wednesday, 18 October 1899.

LKH note:
Article names son of Monroe Hedges as Jonas Hedges, leading one to assume this is our Monroe Hedges.

A Disgraceful Row.
A row occurred yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock at a picnic of thirty or forty drunken men and women in the woods north of the Insane Asylum, which cam near resulting in another Sunday murder. The crowd was composed of a very disreputable class, which had gone to the woods with two kegs of beer for the deliberate purpose of getting drunk. About 3 o'clock Monroe Hedges, an old man, who had taken a part of the crowd out in this wagon, began hitching up the team, and announced his intention of coming to town. George Barnaby declared that he should not leave until the rest were ready to go, and a fight followed, in which Barnaby knocked the old man down with a club. A general fight ensured, in which nearly the whole crowd took a hand. It was at first supposed that Hedges had been killed, and a telephonic message to that effect was sent to town. The superintendent of police and several officers went out to the place, but found that Hedges had recovered consciousness, and no one was dangerously injured. George Barnaby had an ugly gash cut in his forehead, where he had struck with a whip-stock by Jonas Hedges, a son of the old man, with whom the fight begun. One shot was fired, but no one was wounded. The police returned to the city without making any arrests, but al who participated in the row will probably be prosecuted before the justices this morning.
The Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana. Monday, 2 July 1883.

Indianapolis Sentinel---October 19, 1899

MONROE HEDGES IS DEAD
RELATIVES CLAIM HE WAS 105 YEARS OLD

Monroe Hedges, who was thought to be the oldest person in Indianapolis, died at 3o'clock yesterday afternoon in a ramshackle hut in the rear of 1012 Rhode Island Street. His relatives claim that he was 105 years old.

Hedges was known in the part of the city where he lived as "Granddad Hedges." He was a familiar figure about the streets and enjoyed good health until a few weeks ago. Until Thursday of last week he retained his mental faculties and was able to pull himself about the small, dirty yard in a chair. Blood poisoning set in, however, and gangrene affected his right arm and leg. Hedges leaves five sons and one daughter. The oldest son is seventy-one years old and the youngest about forty-five years old.

He was born in Flemingsburg, KY., on the spot where the court house now stands. He was a soldier in the Mexican War and was also a member of the "home guards" during the Civil War. He located in Indianapolis shortly before the war broke out and he delighted to tell of the skirmishes the guards had with the "guerillas."

Until recently Mr. Hedges boasted that he was never whipped in his life and made the assertion that he never expected to be. Recently his son Hiram got into an argument with his wife and decided to give her a whipping. His father interfered, however, and knocked him out with a cane. The incident caused considerable comment and New York and Chicago papers sent here for accounts of the old man. Mrs. Hedges died about six months ago at the age of eighty-seven years. The surviving children are: Hiram, James, Jonas, Ross, Dudley, and Louisa.

Indianapolis News---October 18, 1899

Monroe Hedges died late yesterday afternoon at his home in the rear of 1012 Rhode Island Street. His extreme age attracted many curious people to the ramshackle hut in which he lived. Members of the family say there is no doubt that he was nearly 106 years old, although they can not prove it.

Hedges often boasted that he had never been whipped in his life, and recently beat his seventy-one year old son with a cane. Undertaker Weiss said the dead man looked at least 106 years old. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon and the burial will be in Mount Jackson Cemetery, at the side of his wife, who died last May.

Dying of Gangrene.
Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 19. – Monroe Hedges, 105 years old, is dying of gangrene. He is a native of Kentucky, a soldier of two wars and quite recently he came into particular prominence by knocking out one of his sons, 70 years old, who came home intoxicated and attempted to whip his wife. It was the old man’s boast that he had “never been licked and never expected to be.” His wife died six months ago. She was 87 years old.
The Richmond Item, Richmond, Indiana. Thursday, 19 October 1899.

Monroe Hedges Dead.
Monroe Hedges, a Mexican war veteran, is dead. He was supposed to be over a hundred years old. His home was in the rear of 1012 Rhode Island street. He leaves five sons and a daughter.
The Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana. Friday, 20 October 1899.

Name:
William Monroe Hedges

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64926496/william-monroe-hedges

Section 11, Row 4, Grave 25

Monroe married Julia A. Sparks. Julia was born on 28 Aug 1809 in Bracken County, Kentucky; died on 1 May 1899 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Julia A. Sparks was born on 28 Aug 1809 in Bracken County, Kentucky; died on 1 May 1899 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Notes:

AGED WOMAN DEAD
MRS. JULIA A. HEDGES WHO CAME HERE SEVENTY YEARS AGO
Julia A. Hedges, who is believed to have nearly been 100 years old, was found dead in bed at her home, 1012 Rhode Island Street, yesterday morning by her son, Jonas Hedges. Her husband, Monroe Hedges, who says he was 105 years old Feb. 11, survives her.
Mrs. Hedges came with her relatives from Flemingsburg, Fleming County, Kentucky, about seventy years ago and settled in Indianapolis. At that time Indianapolis was a village, and the greater part of the houses were located west of the river. Mr. Hedges arrived a few weeks later and he and Mrs. Hedges were married. At first they lived in a tent, but soon secured a house. Mr. Hedges was a wagon maker and he also worked on the old Madison Railroad. At present he lives in a little house back of the one occupied by his son. There is an old wagon shop on the lot, where he spends the greater part of his time. Coroner Nash held an autopsy on the remains of Mrs. Hedges yesterday and decided that death was due to senile debility.

The Indianapolis Sentinel---May 6, 1899

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64926818/julia-ann-hedges

Section 11, row 5, grave 25

Children:

Francis Marion Hedges was born in 1840 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died in Aug 1881 in Greenfield, Hancock County, Indiana; was buried in burial details unknown.
Hiram C. Hedges was born in 1845 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 15 Feb 1917 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 17 Feb 1917 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
James K. Hedges was born in 1848 in Nicholas County, Kentucky; died on 28 Dec 1862 in Cumberland County, Kentucky; was buried in Crab Orchard Cemetery, Crab Orchard, Lincoln County, Kentucky.
Monroe Hedges was born on 23 Oct 1850 in Nicholas County, Kentucky; died on 4 Nov 1910 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 7 Nov 1910 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Oliver Hedges was born about 1851 in Kentucky.
Jonas Hedges was born about 1856 in Kentucky; died after 1899.
3. Louise Ann Hedges was born on 25 Dec 1858 in Nicholas County, Kentucky; died on 2 Jul 1944 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 5 Jul 1944 in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Ambrose Dudley Hedges was born on 1 Jul 1860 in Nicholas County, Kentucky; died on 19 Oct 1947 in Marion County, Indiana; was buried on 21 Oct 1947 in New Crown Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

Generation: 4

12.

Levi Hedges was born on 24 Nov 1775 in Frederick County, Maryland (son of William Hedges and Elizabeth Dern); died on 1 Apr 1847 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Old Crain Cemetery, Fleming County, Kentucky.

Other Events:

Census: 1800, Montgomery County, Kentucky
Census: 1820, Fleming County, Kentucky
Census: 1830, Fleming County, Kentucky
Census: 1840, Fleming County, Kentucky

Notes:

MHR note: Levi used to have family worship at their home and he loved to sing. He sat on his porch the evening before his death and watched the sun set, and sang his favorite song:

The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear:
Oh, may we all remember well
The night of death draws near.

We lay our garments by,
Upon our bed to rest.
So death may soon disrobe us all
Of what we now possess.

He was taken suddenly in the night by an attack of acute indigestion and was gone.

MHR note: Levi Hedges worked as a blacksmith, tanner, carpenter, and of course, farmed also.

MHR note:
Levi's father, William, had stated in his will that his son Andrew could keep the plantation Hedgehogg is he could, which Andrew did by buying out the other two sons, Levi and William.

1800 tax list. Montgomery County, Kentucky. Levi Hedges.

Census 1820. Fleming County, Kentucky. In 1820, the age brackets indicate that Levi's household included 11 people: Levi (age 45); Rosannah (age 40); William (age 22); Monroe (age 17; Addison (age 13); Jesse (age 10); Levi (age 6; David (age 3; Jonathan (age 1); Mary Ana (age 20); [possibly Elizabeth age 16]; and Sarah (age 8).

Census 1830. Fleming County, Kentucky. In 1830, the age brackets indicate that Levi's household included 8 people: Levi (age 55); Rosannah (age 50); Monroe (age 27); Addison (age 23); Jesse (age 20); [possibly Levi age 16]; David (age 13); Jonathan (age 11); [possibly James age 10]; Sarah (age 18), and Louvina (age 7).

Census 1840. Fleming County, Kentucky. In 1840, the age brackets indicate that Levi's household included 5 people: Levi (age 65); Rosannah (age 60), Sarah (age 28); Louvina (age 17), and a female aged 5 to 9.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64938628/levi-hedges

Mary Hedges Reiner visited the cemetery in November 1950 when it was known as the Graham Cemetery. Two Flemingsburg High School boys went with her to hunt for headstones and they found them completely covered with earth. She took photographs of the two stones.

Levi married Rosannah Ribelin in 1795 in Kentucky. Rosannah (daughter of William Ribelin and Mary Ann Kiher) was born on 2 Sep 1780 in Yadkin Valley, North Carolina; died on 29 Sep 1848 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Old Crain Cemetery, Fleming County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

13.

Rosannah Ribelin was born on 2 Sep 1780 in Yadkin Valley, North Carolina (daughter of William Ribelin and Mary Ann Kiher); died on 29 Sep 1848 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Old Crain Cemetery, Fleming County, Kentucky.

Notes:

MHR note: Rosannah (Ribelin) Hedges was the neighborhood nurse and midwife. There is a story told of a black servant who came to take her to attend a birth in the home of his master. He rode a horse and led one with a side saddle. The river was in flood, and she was swept out of her saddle in the dark. The servant caught her and held her head above water until the horses swam to the shallow water and they went on. She attended to her duties as midwife and next morning the water was down so she could go home.

She told fortunes with tea leaves.

Levi Hedges left Maryland and came to Kentucky probably around 1795. That is also the year that he met and eloped with Rosannah, the oldest daughter of William Ribelin (who had moved his family to Kentucky from Yadkin Valley, North Carolina). Levi was about nineteen and she was not quite fifteen years old. Her father threatened to scratch her name from the family Bible, but he did not do so as Mary Hedges Reiner saw the family Bible of William Ribelin (probably in the 1950's) in the Historical Society in Lexington and Rosannah's name was still there.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25751032/rosannah-hedges

Mary Hedges Reiner visited the cemetery in November 1950 when it was known as the Graham Cemetery. Two Flemingsburg High School boys went with her to hunt for headstones and they found them completely covered with earth. She took photographs of the two stones.

Children:

William R. Hedges was born in 1796 in Montgomery County, Kentucky; died in 1796.
William Ribelin Hedges was born on 14 Mar 1798 in Montgomery County, Kentucky; died on 28 Nov 1885 in Rowan County, Kentucky; was buried in Three Lick Cemetery, Rowan County, Kentucky.
Mary Ann Hedges was born on 7 Sep 1800 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 28 Oct 1838 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Hargis Cemetery, Morehead, Rowan County, Kentucky.
Rosanna Hedges was born about 1803 in Fleming County, Kentucky.
6. Monroe Hedges was born on 11 Feb 1803 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 18 Oct 1899 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; was buried in Mount Jackson Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
Addison W. Hedges was born on 27 May 1807 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died about 1875.
Jesse Hedges was born about 1810 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 29 May 1894 in Rowan County, Kentucky; was buried in New Hope Presbyterian Cemetery, Fleming County, Kentucky.
Sarah Hedges was born on 3 Sep 1812 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 16 Jul 1892 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Cranston, Rowan County, Kentucky.
Levi Hedges was born in 1814 in Fleming County, Kentucky.
David R. Hedges was born about 1817 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 27 Oct 1878 in Fleming County, Kentucky.
Jonathan Kiher Hedges was born on 31 Jul 1819 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 15 Nov 1912 in Smoot, Greenbrier County, West Virginia; was buried in Andrew Chapel Cemetery, Williamsburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
James Hedges was born about 1820 in Fleming County, Kentucky.
Louvina Jane Hedges was born on 18 Jul 1823 in Fleming County, Kentucky; died on 14 Jul 1891 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Gilead Cemetery, Bath County, Kentucky.

Hedges and Allen Families

Genealogy of William Riley Hedges and Sarah Lavina Allen

Harry Newton Otis