Pedigree
 Descendancy


By November of 1893, and possibly earlier, John R. and his brother James, in their early twenties, were in Butte, Montana, where their uncle, Anthony Humble Hedley, had been living for many years (See Chap.4,9)  John R. and James U. apparently joined in their uncle’s enthusiasm for placing mine claims and conducting real estate transfers. The Land Management Database for Jefferson County, Montana shows land purchases by both John R. and James U. in 1893. As "The Helena Independant" observed, John R., after becoming interested in mines in the vicinity of Whitehall, "did well enough to became the envy of most young men." He invested his money in Butte real estate and entered Montana Wesleyan University, where he met 23-year-old Laura Eleanor Fitch, graduate of New York's Silver Lake Art School  and teacher at Wesleyan University for three years.

On Jan.23, 1896 John Rorison Hedley, age 29, married Laura Eleanor Fitch, age 25, born May 1, 1871 in Sheridan, Madison, Montana, the daughter of Lydia Amelia Day and Henry M. Fitch who were married in Sheffield, Lorain, Ohio in 1861. Lydia Day, Laura’s mother, was the daughter of Julia Ann Root (b. 1805) and Norman Day (b. 1803) both natives of Sheffield, Berkshire, Massachusetts; however, they must have moved to Ohio before Lydia’s birth. The 1880 U.S. Census for Sheffield, Lorain, Ohio shows Laura, age 9, living in the household of her grandfather, Norman Day, age 78, along with her mother Lydia Day, 38, and her mother’s twin sister Mary Day.  ( See Addendum 1 of this Chapter to read Lydia Day's amazing account of her experience teaching Sioux children in 1875-6)



The 1902 Butte City Directory shows John R. Hedley living at 611 W. Park and working for the H.J. Blume Co. It is interesting to note that twenty years earlier, the 1880 Census for Butte showed John’s uncle, Anthony Humble Hedley, age 41, single, living in the same boarding house as Henry J. Blume, who was then 24 and employed as a painter.
In 1904-7 the Beaver County Archives show five land claims by John R. Hedley.

In 1910 John and Laura and their three children were living in Los Angeles.  Laura’s widowed mother Lydia Fitch was living with the family as was John’s uncle, Anthony Humble Hedley  whose wife Emma had died the previous year.  John R.’s occupation  was listed as “vacation,” and Anthony’s occupation was listed as manager in the Oil Wells Industry.



Ten years later, in the 1920 census, John R. and Laura and their three children were living in Long Beach Township, Los Angeles County,  in their own mortgage-free house. John’s work is listed as “rancher,” working on his own account. Laura’s mother is still living with them, but Anthony Hedley is no longer part of the household.

Apparently  John R. and Laura returned to Montana temporarily some time between 1920 and 1924. The Beaver County Archives show six land claims made by Laura E. Hedley in March 1924, and the 1928 Butte City Directory lists John R. and Ora F. Hedley living at 612 Park. John is employed as collector for Charles Steele, Realtor; Rentals, Insurance and Investments.
However, in 1930 John R. and Laura are again in the Long Beach Township Census:

       1930 U.S. Census for California State, Los Angeles Co. Long Beach Township

		age	age at first  marriage	place  of birth	father's  pl.of b.	mother's  pl. of b.	Occ..
Hedley,  John R.	head	62	28	Michigan	Can. (Eng.)	Can. (scot.)	none
Laura	wife	58	24	Montana	Ohio	Ohio

Laura (Fitch) Hedley, born May 1, 1871 in Montana, died April 21, 1955 in Los Angeles at age 84. John Rorison Hedley, born April 8, 1867 in Michigan, died Aug. 6, 1938 at age 69.