James and Ethel Hedges' store at Tomahawk

Hedgesville native James Randolph Hedges and his wife, Ethel, operated the Hedges store at Tomahawk from 1914 to 1927.

Later, James found work as a carpenter. In his 50s, he was employed by Paul Ruppenthal in Martinsburg.

James and Ethel lived on Hedgesville Road in Opequon.

James’ father had Keesecker ancestry. His mother was a Johnson who was also from the Clarks of North Mountain.

Ethel’s maiden name was Rooney. Her father had Robinson and Shields ancestry. Her mother was from the Hiett and Shanholtz families of Hampshire County but she grew up in Hedgesville.

James and Ethel are buried at Tomahawk Cemetery.

James and Ethel had one child. Daughter Lois “Rosalie,” born in 1926, attended Martinsburg High School. Rosalie's generation was the first in the region for whom it was customary to stay in school throughout high school graduation. For children born before the 1920s, it was more common to attend school only through eighth grade, especially for more rural farming families.

Rosalie, who married Arnold Paul Guesford, died in 2015 at age 88. She and her husband are buried at Harmony Cemetery.