Thomas Hedge was born on June 24, 1844, in Burlington, Iowa Territory, Hedge attended the common schools, including the North Hill school in Burlington, and Denmark (Iowa) Academy.

He graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1861, but his education was interrupted by the Civil War.

He was admitted to the bar in New York in 1869, and returned to Iowa to practice law in Burlington.

[3] For twenty years, Hedge practiced in a partnership with Iowa Republican politician J.W.

[citation needed] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress