DR. D. F. HEDGPETH, a young but promising physician of Sparta Mo, although still in the dawn of the success which has attended his efforts in a professional way, has already given abundant evidence of the ability which qualifies him for a high place in the medical profession. Truly ambitious and with an ambition whose aim is high, there seemed no reason why his unquestioned ability should not find full scope to relieve the pains which a suffering world is heir to. He was born in Sparta, December 4, 1862, to the union of Emanuel I. and Lurannah J. (Farmer) Hedgpeth. Judge Hedgpeth, grand-father of our subject, came from Tennessee, and was one of the earliest pioneers of this section of the country, settling in this region when it was Greene County. He located two miles north of Sparta and followed farming until his death. The Hedgpeth family came originally from Germany and settled in this country at a period antedating the Revolution. The father of our subject was born in what is now Christian County (then Greene), Missouri, and like his father before him, he chose agricultural pursuits as his calling in life. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army, Company G, First Arkansas Cavalry, under Capt. Mack, and served about three years, participating in all the engagements of his regiment. In politics he was a Republican, and a man who gave his hearty support to all worthy enterprises. He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church and died in that faith in 1874. His wife was the daughter of A. Jackson Farmer (see sketch), and was born on the old homestead. She is now residing in Sparta and has her children with her. These children, three in number, are named as follows: D. F. (subject), Anna (single ), and John. The latter was a prominent physician at Sparta and graduated from the college at St. Louis. He practiced his profession in Christian County until his death in the spring of 1893. He had taken a post-graduate course in New York City, London, England, and Berlin, Germany, and was a young man possessed of unusual talents. In politics he was a Democrat. The family remained on the old farm about one mile east of Sparta until 1885 and then moved to that city. All the members attended the Baptist Church.
The early life of our subject was spent on the farm and as his educational advantages were good, he secured a thorough schooling, and subsequently became a teacher. He followed this with marked success for five years, teaching part of the time in Sparta, and in 1884 he began the study of medicine, attending the Missouri Medical College where he graduated in 1886. He then began practicing at Sparta, and in 1890 he passed a post-graduate course in New York City. Two years later he and his brother John took a post-gradutae, course in London, England, and Berlin Hospital, Germany. Returning to Missouri he resumed his practice and is now one of the leading physicians of the county, his practice extending over a wide range of territory. He pays particular attention to the practice of surgery and has been unusually successful in that line. In politics he takes an active interest and at all times advocates the platform of the Republican party. He is a member of the I. 0. O. F., Sparta Lodge, has held office in the same, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. He is a public-spirited young man and extends a liberal hand to all laudable enterprises.
