Gen. John M. Hedrick

Gen. John M. Hedrick, a native of Indiana, came to Wapello County in 1844. He passed his winters in teaching and summers on his father's (Hon. J. W. Hedrick) farm. He became a clerk in 1852, later a partner and then sole owner of a business establishment. In 1861, he largely assisted in recruiting a company of men for the Civil war, received a commission as first lieutenant of Company D, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. A few months later he was made quartermaster of the regiment, and was then promoted to the captaincy of Company K. He distinguished himself in the war and returned to Ottumwa with the brevet of brigadier general. He was appointed postmaster of Ottumwa and held the office until 1870, and was supervisor of internal revenue for the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Colorado and Dakota, 1870-76. During his incumbency as postmaster in 1866, he became editor of the Courier and in 1869 owned a half interest in the paper. In the latter year Major Hamilton bought the other half and they together had charge of the publication until January 1, 1878. Retiring from the Courier, General Hedrick gave his time chiefly to looking after the interests of the Cedar Rapids, Sigourney and Ottumwa Railway Company, of which he was president. He was active in many enterprises of local benefit. He died October 3, 1886.

SOURCE: Harrison L. Waterman, Editor, History of Wapello County, Iowa, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, Volume 1, p. 271-2