Mehdigulu was born in 1855 in Shusha in the family of a Kumyk major-general, Khasay khan Utsmiyev (1808–1866)[1] and Azerbaijani poet Khurshidbanu Natavan.

"[2] He enrolled in the military in 1871 and received a silver medal the same year "For greeting the Sovereign Emperor in Tiflis in 1871".

Joining Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, he usually fought under Iosif Gurko, who led the spearhead of the Russian invasion, took Tarnovo on July 7, crossed the Balkans by the Haim Boaz pass—which debouches near Hainkyoi—and, despite considerable resistance, captured Uflani, Maglizh and Kazanlak; on July 18 he participated attack on Shipka, which was evacuated by the Turks the following day.

He was also granted estates in the Shusha: Malıbəyli, Qiyaslı, Xıdırlı, Bilaghan, Ahmadvar, Qarvand-Meydan, Salvard, Qaraqoyunlu, İlxıçılar, etc.

[3] He married his 2nd cousin Saltanatbeyim Javanshir (daughter of Karim agha Javanshir (1826-1907), a grandson of Ibrahim Khalil Khan) in 1871 and had a son and 3 daughters:[3] Source:[3] Maj-Gen. Khasay Khan Usmiyev (1808–1866), husband of famous Karabakh poet Natavan.