Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Edwin Hadley

Dr. Edwin Hadley, son of Jonathan Hadley and Olive nee Mendenhall, his wife, was born May 16, 1826, and died October 12, 1891. He was a lineal descendant of Simon, the scribe who came over from England in 1680, and settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. On his mother's side of the house he was connected with the great Mendenhall and Harlan families. He was a nephew of Hiram Mendenhall, the pioneer abolitionist who presented the petition to Henry Clay, asking him to free his slaves, in spite of the threats of the mob. Clay's bitter speech in reply lost him the presidency, upon which his heart was set.

Dr. Edwin Hadley was married in 1854, to Jemima Doan, by whom he had ten children, six of whom survive him: Eliza D. married William Mendenhall; Edwin Clarence married Emma Hill; Turner W., Horace G. and Jessie C, all of whom reside at Richmond, Indiana; also Anna M., who married Willard Read, and settled at Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Edwin Hadley died in 1886, at the age of sixty-five years. As a physician he graduated, in 1856, at Cleveland, Ohio, bearing the honors of his class. He took a second course at Cincinnati, Ohio, and then entered regularly upon his professional duties, which he followed for thirty years, loved and honored by all who knew him. He received an honorary appointment as surgeon during the civil war; was an honorary member of the Ohio State Medical Society; a member of the Indiana State Medical Society, where he served as president and was appointed a delegate to the national convention held at Philadelphia in June, 1876. He was depended upon in his papers and his discussions for the clear, analytic powers of his mind; but his chiefest post of duty was the bedside of his patients, whom he served with unswerving devotion. After a lingering sickness, borne with Christian resignation, he died at his home surrounded by his loved ones and ministered unto by his many friends, who repaid their debts to him in the same spirit of loving sacrifice that he had exhibited toward them. President Joseph Moor, President J. J. Mills and Dr. Dougan Clark offered loving tributes to the deceased at the funeral services. The burden of the discourse was "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."

Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899