1892 Biography - D. J. Wedge

Hon. D. J. Wedge, formerly of the firm of Wedge & Kilbourn, also of the firm of Wedge & Moore, and one of the very highly esteemed citizens of this parish, is a native of New York state. Long before the war he was associated with Joseph Adams, as an attorney in this parish. He was born in 1838, and is the son of Elder Albert T. and Elizabeth (Clark) Wedge, both of whom were natives of New York state. When our subject was a youth, his parents moved to Hillsboro, Ohio, where his mother died, leaving his father with a family of children to rear. After the Mexican war Mr. Wedge's father moved to Pendleton, Ind., and some few years after, while the father was in Wisconsin on a visit he was taken sick and died. Our subject then went to Fond du Lac county, Wis., and resided with two uncles, Coleman and Lucius Wedge. He was educated at Brockway college, Wis., and came to East Feliciana parish, La., in 1858, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar, and has practiced his profession since. He enlisted in the Fourth Louisiana regiment of volunteers, known as "Hunter's Rifles," going in as a private, and was in the battle of Shiloh, and in several skirmishes, the battle of Baton Rouge, and the siege of Port Hudson. At the siege, after the surrender, four of the soldiers tried to make their escape and remained in the swamps several days. Among these was Mr. Wedge, but they were finally captured and taken to Port Hudson, where Mr. Wedge made his escape from the guards and succeeded in rejoining his regiment in Virginia at Richmond. He was then transferred to the Mississippi department and served until the close of the war under General Thomas, serving as commissary of subsistence. After the battle of Baton Rouge, Mr. Wedge was promoted to the rank of major, and had headquarters at Alexandria and Natchitoches. He was paroled at Monroe and returned to Clinton, where he has since resided. He has held the office of parish attorney, being appointed by Governor Nicholls, and has been a member of the board of aldermen. He believes in the principles of the democratic party. and is regarded as one of the very able attorneys of this state. In 1866 he was married in Clinton to Miss Annie Merrick, the niece of Judge E. T. Merrick, of the supreme bench, and the daughter of Dr. D. D. Merrick, a native of Massachusetts. and his wife, Isabella (Smith) Merrick, of Mississippi, Amite county. The Doctor was one of the leading physicians of the parish, and a man who was well known throughout the state. He came to Louisiana about 1850 from Massachusetts, and settled in this parish, where he died of yellow fever in 1854, leaving three children--two daughters and one son: William D., now deceased, lived in this parish until his death in 1884; Katy Merrick became the wife of W. A. Robins, of this parish. The wife of our subject was the eldest child and graduated at the Smith Athenaeum, of Columbia, Tenn., a very celebrated school. To this union were born six children, three of whom were sons and three daughters: Deloss C. is now a bookkeeper in Albert Lea, Minn.; Maggie is a graduate of Silliman collegiate institute, of Clinton; Katy is a student of the Sophia Newcomb school, of New Orleans, La.; Daniel and Albert are at home going to school, as is also Annie, the youngest daughter. Mr. Wedge is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and also of the I. O. O. F. In connection with his professional practice he is also engaged in planting, which occupation he has followed more or less since the war. He and his family are in the enjoyment of a very pleasant home, where they hospitably entertain their many friends. Mr. Wedge is held in the highest respect by his fellow-citizens, by whom he is regarded as an honorable, high-minded gentleman. He has had an extensive practice, and is known as one of the most successful men in his profession.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 2, pages 446-447.