JOSHUA HEDGCOCK was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, February 2, 1843, on the place where he now resides, a son of John and Temperance Hedgcock. He received his education at the public schools, remaining at home until August, 1862, when he enlisted, at the age of twenty, as a private in Company G, Seventy-second Regiment Illinois Volunteers, Captain H. D. French commanding the company. His was the first Board of Trade regiment made up in Chicago, commanded by Colonel F. A. Starring. He was in the battles of Champion Hills, Big Black, Benton, Mississippi; siege of Vicksburg; Columbia and Spring Hill, Tennessee; Nashville, December, 1864, and Spanish Fort, Alabama, in April, 1865. He was discharged as Second Sergeant at the close of the war, with the record of which he is justly proud. He returned home in August, 1865, and lived with his father until his death, May 20, 1877, aged seventy-four years, and now occupies the old Spring Hill home of seventy-eight and one-half acres, which his father first bought and settled on in this country. He has now 230 acres.

Joshua was married first January 9, 1870, to Miss Susan E. Glover, born in Hancock county, and died here January 9, 1872, aged twenty-six years. She left one son, who survived her eight months. Joshua was married for the second time, to Miss Anna M. Totten, April 10, 1879, who was born in Adams county, September 26, 1854, and by this marriage there are six children. Mr. and Mrs. Hedgcock attend the Methodist Protestant Church. He is a member of Post No. 302, G.A.R., at Augusta, Illinois; has been Assessor of his township. His first vote was cast while home on furlough, for Lincoln, and every president he has since voted for has been elected, except one.