Page 53 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 40

When he ran for reelection in 1880, however, he was concerned
with more important matters. In October, l880, three of his children
caught diphtheria, and during the election Hedges was much more
concerned with their serious conditions than campaigning.

Less than a week after his defeat, Ellen Caroline Noble Hedges,
his youngest child, on November 8 died at the age of 2 1/2 years.
Judge Hedges last day in office was December 18, l880.147

His Journals, June 6, 1887. The final pages of his l876 journal
contain a record of the marriages he performed as Probate Judge,
with the names of the witnesses, for l876 and 1877. The final pages
of his l878 journal contain a similar record for 1878, and the final
pages of the 1879 and l880 journals contain similar records for l879
and 1880 respectively, plus a record of fines charged in his court,
listed by date, name, charge, and amount of fine for each of the two
years, 1879 and 1880.

Hedges often attended the sessions of the Territorial Legislature
during his tenure in office as Superintendent of Public Instruction to
lobby for better school laws. He attended the 1876 legislative session
in such a capacity, and his comment on February 11, indicates he
was not too impressed with its accomplishments. He wrote:

“Legislature closed today, was up till 12 to see it out. Calamities
like all else have an end. No school laws changed. Railroad
bills all Signed. No Insane bill passed. Helped Governor in
looking over some bills.”148
In acknowledgment of his oratorical ability, Judge Hedges was
selected to make the Fourth of July Address for Lewis and Clark
County in 1876, in conjunction with the National Centennial
celebration of that year.149 Whenever he made a major speech, he
always spent much time in preparation, and this was no exception.
He began historical research for the address on the afternoon of June
14, 1876.150
On February 20, 1878:“Witnessed the operation of the Telephone
in the evening.” At that time the telephone was one of the newest
marvels of the invention age.151 The telephone was developed by
Bell between 1873 and 1876, and patented in 1876 and 1877.