Frederick Rhinaldo Wedge (July 31, 1880 – March 3, 1953) was an American boxer who fought over 70 professional bouts as "Kid" Wedge; an

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

, who pastored churches in Nebraska, Wisconsin, and California for the

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

, Baptist, and Congregational denominations; a

Chautauqua Chautauqua ( ) is an adult education and social movement in the United States that peaked in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Cha ...

lecturer; an author of several books, including ''The Fighting Parson of Barbary Coast''; and an educator, who taught at

Pasadena College Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is a Private college, private Christianity, Christian Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college with its main campus in Point Loma, San Diego, Point Loma in San Diego, California, Unit ...

, and high schools in Arizona and California, whose admission into the Graduate School of Education of

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in January 1922, and his January 1929 second marriage were both a national ''

cause célèbre A ( , ; pl. ''causes célèbres'', pronounced like the singular) is an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning, and heated public debate. The term is sometimes used positively for celebrated legal cases for th ...

'' in the USA."Kid Wedge, Pastor and Ex-Pugilist, 'Knocked Out' by Divorcee", ''The Milwaukee Journal'' (January 25, 1929):2.

Early life and family

Frederick Rhinaldo Wedge was born on July 31, 1880, in

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

, the son of Hugh Wedge (born in Michigan), and Nettie Hunter Wedge (born in Michigan). Wedge grew up in Martinez,

Mecosta County, Michigan Mecosta County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 39,714. The county seat is Big Rapids. The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American ...

. When he was two years old, his father was killed.Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard: How I Fought My Way From the Lumber Camp to a College Degree", ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' (March 4, 1922):10. His mother subsequently married a man who proved to be physically abusive to both her and Wedge. After his mother died when he was 8, making him an

orphan An orphan is a child whose parents have died, are unknown, or have permanently abandoned them. It can also refer to a child who has lost only one parent, as the Hebrew language, Hebrew translation, for example, is "fatherless". In some languages ...

, his stepfather abandoned him, and he was sent to live with his father's brother,Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard: How I Fought My Way From the Lumber Camp to a College Degree", ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' (February 20, 1922):18. Isaac Wedge (born December 1856 in French Canada),"Fred Wedge Will Become Evangelist", ''Berkeley Daily Gazette'' (December 25, 1924):14. a

sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...

man, and aunt Alice Hunter (born June 1861 in Michigan), who lived at 137 Eagle Street, Pelican, Wisconsin. As a young boy Wedge worked as a newsboy and sold newspapers, having to defend his location against " street arabs" and prevent theft,"Champion Fighter Now Chautauqua Lecturer", ''The Lodi Sentinel'' (Lodi, California) (May 12, 1914):2. and later worked as a helper in various Wisconsin

lumber camp A logging camp (or lumber camp) is a transitory work site used in the logging industry. Before the second half of the 20th century, these camps were the primary place where lumberjacks would live and work to fell trees in a particular area. Many ...

s, before becoming a

lumberjack Lumberjack is a mostly North American term for workers in the logging industry who perform the initial harvesting and transport of trees. The term usually refers to loggers in the era before 1945 in the United States, when trees were felled us ...

Rhinelander, Wisconsin Rhinelander is a city in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 8,285 at the 2020 census. History The area that eventually became the city of Rhinelander was originally called Pelican Rapids by early s ...

. Wedge soon acquired a reputation as a hard drinker and tough fighter,"Minister is Advocate of Boxing Game", ''The Troy Sunday Budget'' (Troy, New York) (January 7, 1917):17. and "took delight in starting drunken brawls in Rhinelander" and other logging camps, or assaulting policemen. with several convictions for drunk and disorderly conduct, serving a total of 105 days in the Oneida County jail. During this time, Wedge was considered "the rough-and-tumble champion of northern Wisconsin".

Boxing career

By the age of 18 Wedge became a pugilist, fighting under the name "Kid" Wedge. Additionally, Wedge fought in many bar fights, resulting in his skull being fractured twice. Wedge was considered "one of the best rough-and-tumble fighters in the days when loggers and

s considered gouging, strangling and stamping with their

hobnailed boot In footwear, a hobnail is a short nail with a thick head used to increase the durability of boot soles or provide traction. History Hobnailed boots (in Scotland "tackety boots") are boots with hobnails (nails inserted into the soles of the ...

s as fair in a fight"."'Rough and Tumble' Fighter of 20 Years Ago Rides Box Car from Arizona to Enter Harvard", Special to ''The New York Times'' (January 17, 1922):16, https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/01/17/107044980.pdf Among his opponents were Clarence English, Abdul the Turk and Jack Carrig.Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard", ''Syracuse Herald'' (Syracuse, NY) (February 15, 1922):20. Wedge fought as "Kid" Wedge in at least seventy professional boxing contests in seven years from 1899. Wedge was discovered and managed by Bill Daniels. Wedge's first professional fight was a ten-round bout with Chicago Jack Glenn, who had ten years professional boxing experience, with Wedge winning in the 9th round after Glenn's corner threw in the sponge after Glenn broke his right hand. On Saturday, July 23, 1904, Wedge was arrested "on suspicion" by a local police officer in

Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh () is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the western shore of Lake Winnebago and had a population of 66,816 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List o ...

, and ordered to leave town by the police chief. After three fights in Omaha in the summer of 1905, Wedge met his future wife, Prudence Olive Tracy, for the first time after a concert in Omaha. After realizing that he was uncultured and lacking in education, and with Prudence's encouragement, Wedge began a course of self-education guided by a retired doctor. At the age of 22, Wedge had been illiterate, being unable to read or write. About 1905 Wedge entered a preparatory school and completed twelve years of education in six years. His tutor assisted him with his grammar school education in the evenings after working ten hours each day as a lumberjack. Eventually Wedge graduated from the

Rhinelander High School Rhinelander High School (RHS) is a high school in Rhinelander, Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. History The first Rhinelander High School was built in 1889. It was named Rhinelander Union High School (RUHS) and the building was commonly ...

, Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Wedge was converted in a religious meeting in June 1906 conducted by

evangelist Evangelist(s) may refer to: Religion * Four Evangelists, the authors of the canonical Christian Gospels * Evangelism, publicly preaching the Gospel with the intention of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ * Evangelist (Anglican Church), a ...

Rev. Hay Red Bell (born July 22, 1862, in Illinois; died November 16, 1917, in Missouri), a graduate of

Moody Bible Institute Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have identified it as ...

. By November 1906 Wedge came to believe that it was wrong to fight except in self-defense, and that he should devote his life to Christian service."His Last Fight", ''Poverty Bay Herald'' (New Zealand), (26 January 1907):5, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=PBH19070126.2.39 Other factors in his decision to retire were that he may have been the loser of several of his more recent bouts, and was also remorseful over the death of an opponent in San Francisco. and was encouraged to do so by Prudence Tracy. At the time of his retirement in November 1906, Wedge was the lightweight champion of

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

."Here and There", ''Lewiston Evening Journal'' (Lewiston, Maine) (November 28, 1906):6. Wedge, who was scheduled to fight Guy Buckles in front of 2,000 fans over six rounds on a sand bar south of

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

, announced his retirement before the bout to devote his life to Christian service and then gave Buckles a religious tract and a

New Testament The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...

. Buckles, who was insulted by Wedge's actions, punched Wedge on the nose, however Wedge refused to retaliate, choosing instead to "turn the other cheek". However, after another blow from Buckles, Wedge indicated: "I have not been told what to do next, but I guess I can pound you to pulp without interfering with my conscience". In the ensuing altercation, both fighters were severely disfigured, but Wedge was adjudged the winner. Wedge indicated that he would pray for Buckles.

Ministry and education

Nebraska (1906–1910)

In 1906 Wedge was admitted to the

University of Nebraska A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

, and completed his first year in June 1907.

First Presbyterian Church, Barneston (1907–1908)

By September 1907 Wedge was appointed the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in the small village of Barneston, Nebraska,"From Prize Ring to Pulpit in One Year", ''The Pittsburg Press'' (September 29, 1907):22."CHURCHMEN", Los Angeles Times (March 1, 1908):VI 14. where the Presbyterians had constructed a church building in 1889. However, by March 1908 Wedge had suffered a nervous breakdown. In November 1908 Wedge announced he would resume boxing as he could not make a living as a preacher, and that he would fight Walter Stanton of San Francisco in Omaha in early December."Preacher to Fighter", ''The Evening Chronicle'' (Spokane, Washington) (November 25, 1908):5."Forsakes Pulpit for Ring Arena", ''The Youngstown Daily Vindicator'' (October 15, 1908):16. On February 22, 1909, Wedge preached a 17-minute sermon just prior to the Buckles-Hanson prize fight in Omaha, Nebraska. On Friday, September 3, 1909, Wedge preached a short sermon and sang a hymn before the fight between Dick Fitzpatrick of Chicago and Guy Buckles.

Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary (1908–1909)

After completing three years at the University of Nebraska, in 1908 Wedge transferred to the

Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary The Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary was located at 3303 North 21st Place in North Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Opened in 1891 in downtown Omaha, the institution moved to the Kountze Place neighborhood in North Omaha in 1902 and closed i ...

, a Presbyterian seminary in

North Omaha, Nebraska North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the ...

, for a year in order to complete the requirements for ordination in the Presbyterian Church."Pugilist-Parson Weds", ''Los Angeles Times'' (December 19, 1910). To finance his studies, Wedge gave boxing lessons in Omaha.

Presbyterian Church, Monroe, Nebraska (1909–1910)

After graduation from Omaha Theological Seminary in September 1909 Wedge was ordained by the Nebraska Presbytery, and elected pastor of the small Presbyterian Church in

Monroe, Nebraska Monroe is a village in Platte County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 284 at the 2010 census. History The first settlement at Monroe was made in the 1850s. Monroe was not platted until 1889 when the railroad extended a siding to ...

, but later was forced to leave due to opposition to his pugilistic past,"Frisco's 'Barbary Coast' is Respectable Again", ''The Mansfield Shield'' (Mansfield, Ohio) (April 9, 1913):3. and the embarrassment caused by his fiancée canceling their wedding amid rumors of Wedge's immorality.Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard: How I Fought My Way From the Lumber Camp to a College Degree", ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' (February 20, 1922):5.

San Francisco (1910–1911)

After his fiancée Prudence Tracy cancelled their planned wedding in 1909, Wedge left university in his junior year and moved to San Francisco. By the end of April 1910 Wedge moved to San Francisco and lived in a boarding house at 633 Vallejo Street in San Francisco and served as a missionary to San Francisco's

Barbary Coast The Barbary Coast (also Barbary, Berbery, or Berber Coast) were the coastal regions of central and western North Africa, more specifically, the Maghreb and the Ottoman borderlands consisting of the regencies in Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, a ...

, described as the "most infamous blot on the underworld, where depravity reigned supreme, despite the officers of the law, and where booze and immoral women turned men to moral lepers"."From Prize-Fighter to Parson", ''American Magazine'' 85 (Colver Pub. House, 1918):54ff.

Herbert Asbury Herbert Asbury (September 1, 1891 – February 24, 1963) was an American journalist and writer best known for his books detailing crime during the 19th and early-20th centuries, such as ''Gem of the Prairie: An Informal History of the Chicago U ...

described the Barbary Coast: "The slums of Singapore at their foulest, the dens of Shanghai at their dirtiest, the waterfront at

Port Said Port Said ( , , ) is a port city that lies in the northeast Egypt extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, straddling the west bank of the northern mouth of the Suez Canal. The city is the capital city, capital of the Port S ...

at its vicious worst – none of these backwaters of depravity and vice ... achieved the depths of corruption that typified the 'Barbary Coast'". When Wedge arrived there was "over six hundred dance halls and dives" in "a district little over half a mile square".Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard: How I Fought My Way From the Lumber Camp to a College Degree", ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' (February 27, 1922):5. Engaged by the City of San Francisco, during the next few months, Wedge "waged a campaign on vice and corruption in

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

and the Barbary Coast". A contemporary report indicates that Wedge "carried the battle to the very doors of the hidden

opium den An opium den was an establishment in which opium was sold and smoked. Opium dens were prevalent in many parts of the world in the 19th century, most notably China, Southeast Asia, North America, and France. Throughout the West, opium dens were f ...

s; he ferreted out the leaders of the

tong wars The Tong Wars were a series of violent disputes beginning in the late 19th century among rival Chinese Tong factions centered in the Chinatowns of various American cities, in particular San Francisco. Tong wars could be triggered by a variety o ...

and slave girl rings, and left

renovated spiritually". Wedge's ministry was considered one of the factors responsible for the amelioration of conditions on San Francisco's Barbary Coast. Wedge also was director of boy's work among the

newsboys Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band that has existed in various permutations since its founding in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia, by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. Now based in Nashville, Tenness ...

of San Francisco. On December 1, 1910, Wedge was arrested and incarcerated in the city jail on charges of

battery Battery or batterie most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source * Battery indicator, a device whic ...

for attempting to strike a night watchman named Gus Miller and begging after being found on Fifth Street near Market Street at 4.30am."Pastor Jailed for Using Fists", ''Oakland Tribune'' (December 1, 1910):3. Wedge denied the allegations and explained his alcoholic odor as due to his incarceration with drunks and "wine bums", and that he possessed

port wine Port wine (, ; ), or simply port, is a Portuguese wine, Portuguese fortified wine produced in the Douro, Douro Valley of Norte, Portugal, northern Portugal. It is typically a sweetness of wine, sweet red wine, often served with dessert wine, ...

given to him by the Hahnemann Hospital to prevent pneumonia. Wedge was given the

sobriquet A sobriquet ( ) is a descriptive nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. A sobriquet is distinct from a pseudonym in that it is typically a familiar name used in place of a real name without the need for explanation; it may beco ...

"The Fighting Parson of the Barbary Coast"."Remember 'Kid' Wedge?", ''The Evening State Journal and Lincoln Daily News'' (Lincoln, NE) (December 10, 1917):7. In 1917 Wedge explained its origin: "I was preaching on a

beer keg A keg is a small cask used for storing liquids. Wooden kegs made by a cooper were used to transport nails, gunpowder, and a variety of liquids. Nowadays a keg is normally constructed of stainless steel, although aluminium can be used if it is ...

in a saloon on the Barbary coast in San Francisco when a couple of toughs went for me. I guess maybe I cleaned out the place then. A reporter on the San Francisco newspaper gave me the name. He said I was a fellow who, if he could not preach good into men, would knock h—l out of them. Those fellows got me, though, and put me in the hospital for a while". After being hospitalized after a vicious assault by several denizens of the Barbary Coast at the corner of Pacific and Montgomery avenues, by the end of 1910 Wedge decided to return to Omaha to recuperate and to attempt to reconcile with Prudence Tracy. After his marriage to Prudence on December 18, 1910, the newly weds returned to San Francisco to continue Wedge's ministry in the Tenderloin.

Nebraska (1912–1913)

Presbyterian Church, Genoa (1912)

By January 1912 Wedge had become the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in

Genoa, Nebraska Genoa ''(pron. je NO uh)'' is a city in Nance County, Nebraska, Nance County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 894 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city was founded by Mormons in 1857. In the fall of 1859, the Mormo ...

."Rev. F.R. Wedge Told to Step Down and Out", ''Lincoln Daily News'' (Lincoln, NE) (July 25, 1912):7. After his return to Nebraska, Wedge re-enrolled at the University of Nebraska.Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard: How I Fought My Way From the Lumber Camp to a College Degree", ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' (February 28, 1922):14. Wedge's only child, Hugh T. Wedge (died January 20, 1991, in

Lake Havasu City, Arizona Lake Havasu City (, ) is a city in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 57,144, up from 52,527 in 2010. It is served by Lake Havasu City Airport. History The community first started du ...

) was born on January 13, 1912, in Genoa.Ancestry.com. ''Social Security Death Index''. Source Citation: Number: 573-16-8107;Issue State: California; Issue Date: Before 1951. Wedge had a "fistic encounter" with a lawyer named Rose, whom Wedge whipped in the public street."Rather Be a Preacher At But $800 a Year", ''Lincoln Daily News'' (Lincoln, NE) (September 26, 1912):1. In the subsequent hearing held by the Kearney Presbytery in July 1912, Wedge admitted conduct unbecoming a minister, and renounced his allegiance to the presbytery. The Presbytery terminated his pastorate at Genoa on July 24, 1912, and suspended him on the ground of insubordination from any ministerial activity until his trial in September. During his suspension from the ministry, Wedge wrote a novel, ''The Fighting Parson of Barbary Coast'', based in part on his own life and ministry, which was published by November 1912. Wedge dedicated it to Prudence: "to the noble woman who saw good in me when others saw evil; who believed I would win despite every handicap." Wedge trained "Battling" Nelson at St. Joe, Wisconsin, in early September as he was "run down and needed the exercise", where he also engaged in street preaching.Frederick Wedge, in "Rather Be a Preacher At But $800 a Year", ''Lincoln Daily News'' (Lincoln, NE) (September 26, 1912):1. On September 24, 1912, Wedge was found not guilty of all charges,"Ten Years Ago Today", ''The Lincoln State Journal'' (Lincoln, NE) (December 8, 1922):6. after he explained that Rose had "attempted pugilistic tactics by insolent words and by puffing out his chest, ... he annoyed my wife when she was in poor health". Wedge refused $3,000 to box again on the

orpheum circuit The Orpheum Circuit was a chain of vaudeville and movie theaters. It was founded in 1886, and operated through 1927 when it was merged into the Keith-Albee-Orpheum corporation, ultimately becoming part of the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) corporatio ...

and another offer of $125 a week to play a militant preacher in a New York

Bowery The Bowery () is a street and neighbourhood, neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row (Manhattan), Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th ...

play, in order to accept the Presbyterian Church's offer to be an evangelist on the Nebraska home mission district for $800 a year. About 1912 Wedge held a series of religious meetings at the Presbyterian church in

Table Rock, Nebraska Table Rock is a village in Pawnee County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 236 at the 2020 census. History Table Rock was platted in 1855. It was named from a large rock formation nearby on the Nemaha River which has since been dest ...

. In December 1912 Wedge was tried but found not guilty in the "celebrated" trial of ''State v. Fred Wedge'' in Nebraska. On June 5, 1913, Wedge announced his resignation from the ministry in

Eureka, California Eureka ( ; Wiyot: ; Hupa: ; ) is a city and the county seat of Humboldt County, located on the North Coast of California. The city is located on U.S. Route 101 on the shores of Humboldt Bay, north of San Francisco and south of the Oreg ...

, as "the call of the blood was too strong". Wedge announced: "I am quitting the ministry for several sufficient reasons. My forehead is too low, my jaw is too square. I like the things of the world too well". A few hours later Wedge was arrested and incarcerated overnight in the city jail due to public intoxication after a charge by Rev. Arthur Hayes Sargent (Born May 18, 1879, in

Corinth, Vermont Corinth ( ) is a New England town, town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,455 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Local services include a general store, post office, doctor's office, library, and ball fie ...

; died August 9, 1969, in

Portland, Maine Portland is the List of municipalities in Maine, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat, seat of Cumberland County, Maine, Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolit ...

), pastor of the Eureka Universalist church, who with some other local ministers had tried to rescue him. However, on September 21, 1913, Wedge spoke at the Church of Christ in

Lincoln, Nebraska Lincoln is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The city covers and had a population of 291,082 as of the 2020 census. It is the state's List of cities in Nebraska, second-most populous city a ...

. By May 1914 Wedge was claimed to have fought and "never suffered defeat", and in 1922 his record was given as having "fought 70 fights and lost but three of them"."Ex-Pug at Harvard!", ''Ironwood Daily Globe'' (Ironwood, MI) (January 24, 1922):6. In the Summer of 1914 Wedge gave lectures on his life at

s at

Lodi, California Lodi ( ) is a city in San Joaquin County, California, United States, in the center portion of California's Central Valley (California), Central Valley. The population was 66,348 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History When a gro ...

, in May,

Modesto, California Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the List of cities and towns in Ca ...

, in June, and

Butte, Montana Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the 2 ...

, in July. In December 1914 ''The Beatrice Daily Sun'' reported Wedge's "fall from grace".

Wisconsin (1916–1917)

First Baptist Church, Rhinelander (1916–1917)

By May 1916 Wedge became the pastor of the First Baptist Church in

."Wedge Goes South", ''The Gazette'' (Stevens Point, WI) (February 28, 1917):2. While pastoring the Rhineland church, Wedge complete courses at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

. Despite his retirement from boxing, Wedge, known as "the Fighting Parson", supported the sport indicating that it was more clean and wholesome than in his era, and inspired youth to lead clean and healthy lives. Consequently, in January 1917 Wedge applied for a license to organize and manage the Rhinelander Amateur Athletic Association in order to train his Sunday School boys and hold bouts in their gymnasium. The Wisconsin Athletic Association approved their licensing on January 2, 1917. On January 10, 1917, Wedge was arrested on a charge of using slanderous language on January 1, 1917, to a former member of his congregation, whom Wedge had ousted from church membership for irregular conduct. On January 13, 1917, Wedge was jailed for a few hours in Rhinelander after being found guilty of using abusive language. After pleading not guilty, Wedge admitted the charge, but indicated he had been provoked, and refused to pay the fine of $5 and costs. Wedge was released after the fine was paid anonymously. On February 18, 1917, Wedge was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital after collapsing while preaching in the evening service at the Rhinelander First Baptist Church, and was unable to complete the service. On February 23, 1918, Wedge resigned from the First Baptist church due to his health and departed for

Hot Springs, Arkansas Hot Springs is a resort city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Garland County, Arkansas, Garland County. The city is located in the Ouachita Mountains among the U.S. Interior Highlands, and is set among several natural hot springs ...

, where he planned to remain until he regained his health and then return to his pastorate. After his resignation from the Rhinelander pastorate, Wedge worked erecting

silo A silo () is a structure for storing Bulk material handling, bulk materials. Silos are commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. Three types of silos are in widespread use toda ...

s, but quit as it did not meet his income needs. By July 1917 Wedge had moved to

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

."News and Views From Here and There", ''The Gazette'' (Stevens Point, WI) (July 4, 1917):6. After the USA entered

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Wedge attempted to enlist in the US Army in order to fight overseas, but was rejected despite being physically fit, because of his use of a

dental plate Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or complete ...

due to his "shortage of teeth, accounted for by the numerous pugilistic encounters he had before entering the ministry".Frederick R. 'Kid" Wedge, "FROM PRIZE RING TO HARVARD: How I fought My Way from the Lumber Camp to A College Degree", ''Boston Daily Globe'' (February 22, 1922):10. After being rejected for military service, Wedge obtained a job working in a munitions factory in

. By August 1, 1917, Wedge found employment as a

brakeman A brakeman is a rail transport worker whose original job was to assist the braking of a train by applying brakes on individual wagons. The advent of through brakes, brakes on every wagon which could be controlled by the driver, made this role r ...

for the

Chicago & Northwestern Railroad The Chicago and North Western was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the "North Western". The railroad operated more than of track at the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states befor ...

on the

Antigo, Wisconsin Antigo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,100 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Antigo is the center of a farming and lumbering district, and its manufactured prod ...

, to

Ashland, Wisconsin Ashland is a city in Ashland County, Wisconsin, Ashland and Bayfield County, Wisconsin, Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat of Ashland County. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon ...

, line, earning $125 a month, with which he hoped to pay off his debts and accumulate a small "nest egg". Later that month Wedge was involved in a street fight at the rear of a downtown saloon in

, with a "ham and egger" named "Fighting Leach", that was broken up by the police. Wedge was charged with disorderly conduct, found guilty, and the sentence was suspended. Wedge discontinued his studies at the University of Nebraska in 1917 in his Senior year and the family moved to

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Illinois (1917–1918)

Olivet Presbyterian Church, Chicago (1917)

Wedge moved to

, where he was the assistant pastor of the Olivet Presbyterian Church in Chicago, where he had 300 young men in his athletic Bible class. At this time Wedge also was the director of the Junior Boys' club of Olivet.Ray Pearson, "BOXING CAN HELP LICK THE KAISER, MINISTER HOLDS: "Fighting Parson," Now in Chicago, Lauds Sport at War Camps", ''Chicago Daily Tribune'' (November 14, 1917):13. While in Chicago, Wedge did a post-graduate course in Greek, Hebrew, and other subjects at the

McCormick Theological Seminary McCormick Theological Seminary is a private Presbyterian seminary in Chicago, Illinois. As of 2023, it shares a campus with the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Catholic Theological Union, in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. A l ...

YMCA secretary, Camp Grant (1917–1918)

By the end of November 1917, Wedge and his family moved to

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...

, where his wife's younger sister Eunice D. Tracy (born 1874 in Ohio) lived. As Wedge had been previously refused admission into the US Army, and as he believed that boxing training would help American soldiers defeat the Germans, Wedge volunteered to be a civilian boxing instructor for the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

at Camp Grant near

,Ray Pearson, "'FIGHTING PARSON' PUTS ON THE GLOVES", ''Chicago Daily Tribune'' (January 4, 1918):13. where he also ministered to the men of the 341st Infantry, 35th Engineers, and the Quartermaster Corps. While at Camp Grant, Wedge became the secretary for the

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...

building No. 4 at Camp Grant,Alexander McConnell, William Revell Moody, and Arthur Percy Fitt, eds. ''Record of Christian Work'' 37 (Record of Christian Work Co., 1918):454. and formed an Ironsides Bible Class among the 86th Division, reviving the motto of

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

's Ironsides: "The Lord of hosts is with us". In December 1917 Wedge was found guilty of using abusive language. After being hospitalized after a severe bout of

influenza Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These sympto ...

in the Winter of 1917–1918, Wedge was diagnosed as having "hasty consumption" (incurable

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

) and given only 2–3 months to live, with the recommendation that he move to a warmer climate."Boxing Cured Tuberculosis", ''NZ Truth'' (8 February 1919):8. In April 1918 Wedge was discharged from his duties at Camp Grant.

Texas (1918–1919)

In late April 1918 Wedge was transported to

El Paso, Texas El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...

, where after a few weeks he worked as a street car motorman for the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad. In May 1918 Wedge wrote: "Whether I get well or die, I am going to keep smiling as long as I can get a bit of air in these old lungs of mine". Needing funds to relocate from

, to

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

, to enroll in the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

, and after extensive training which he believed cured him of tuberculosis, and hoping to be able to return to his position as a boxing trainer in the US Army, Wedge returned briefly to the ring by September 1918. After bouts with two border army corps men in preceding months, on January 1, 1919, Hedge fought Sergeant Tommy Murphy, the

welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term ''welterweight'' was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...

champion of the

Southwestern United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural list of regions of the United States, region of the United States that includes Arizona and New Mexico, along with adjacen ...

, who was serving with the US 5th Cavalry at

Fort Bliss Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in New Mexico and Texas, with its headquarters in El Paso, Texas. Established in 1848, the fort was renamed in 1854 to honor William Wallace Smith Bliss, Bvt.Lieut.Colonel William W.S. Bliss (1815–1853 ...

,.Frederick R. ("Kid") Wedge, "From Prize Ring to Harvard: How I Fought My Way From the Lumber Camp to a College Degree", ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' (March 1, 1922):14. but was

knocked out A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...

early in the fight and lost the ten round fight on a points decision. Wedge remained in his job in El Paso until July 1919.

Arizona (1919–1921)

In July 1919 Wedge moved from El Paso to

, to begin his studies at the

. Initially Wedge worked as a

switchman A switchman (North America) also known as pointsman (British Isles) or yardman (Commonwealth) is a rail transport worker whose original job was to operate various railway switches or points on a railroad. It also refers to a person who assist ...

for the Southern Railroad for eight hours each night from midnight. By January 1920 Wedge was employed as a clerk at the Southern Railroad, and lived in a boarding house on East 13th Street, Tucson with his wife and son. After twelve months at the university, Wedge completed his course requirements and graduated in June 1920 with a

Bachelor of Arts degree A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree ...

where he studied Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and the sciences. Wedge was able to speak six languages. In Spring 1921 Wedge's application for admission was accepted to the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, where he planned to earn a Ph.D. in social and educational psychology.''Catering Industry Employee'' 33 (Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union., 1924):17. To earn sufficient funds to study at Harvard, Wedge accepted the position as the principal of the Union High School in

Benson, Arizona Benson is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, Cochise County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,355. It was founded as a rail terminal for the area, and is located approxim ...

Harvard University (1922)

Wedge left Arizona to enroll in the Graduate School of Education of

on December 31, 1921, with only $10 and "rode the rails" in railroad

boxcar A boxcar is the North American (Association of American Railroads, AAR) and South Australian Railways term for a Railroad car#Freight cars, railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry freight. The boxcar, while not the simpl ...

s for 2,000 miles, arriving in

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, located directly across the Charles River from Boston. The city's population as of the 2020 United States census, ...

, on January 16, 1922. However, soon after his arrival, Wedge was advised he would not be admitted to Harvard University. Harvard officials rescinded their offer of admission, probably due to the publicity surrounding his pugilistic past, indicating that "despite his degree that he was not scholastically equipped to enter for the degree of

doctor of philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of Postgraduate education, graduate study and original resear ...

". Wedge fought to reclaim his place at Harvard, indicating he had renounced his "barbarian ways for the glory of Harvard", and promising that if admitted on probation for a year, he would study hard, and not publicize his past. On February 15, 1922, the Harvard authorities decided to admit Wedge for second semester. Wedge intended to specialize in psychology, and return to teach at the University of Arizona after graduation in 1925. On March 13, 1922, Wedge appeared in District Court in

Watertown, Massachusetts Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, part of Greater Boston. The population was 35,329 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Its neighborhoods include Bemis, Coolidge Square, East Watertown, Watertown Sq ...

, after being arrested for public intoxication late the previous evening in Mary's lunch room, but was released without penalty as a first offender. After an investigation by Harry W. Holmes, dean of the Graduate School of Education, Wedge was exonerated as it was discovered that he had been ill with

the grippe Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These symptoms ...

and that his intoxication was due to taking a prescribed dose of medicine that was a mixture of

quinine Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria and babesiosis. This includes the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' that is resistant to chloroquine when artesunate is not available. While sometimes used for nocturnal leg ...

and

whiskey Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from Fermentation in food processing, fermented grain mashing, mash. Various grains (which may be Malting, malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, Maize, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky ...

. After several weeks in hospital, Wedge left Harvard for Arizona after April 27, 1922."'KID'" WEDGE GETS K. O. BY T. B.; HAS TO QUIT, HARVARD", ''Chicago Daily Tribune'' (April 27, 1922):2. Despite claims by Harvard authorities that he had left Harvard due to a recurrence of tuberculosis, Wedge admitted that he had left as he was missing his wife and son who were still living in Arizona, and that the weather was affecting him adversely. Later he acknowledged that lack of finances also compelled him to leave Harvard."Reformed Fighter to Take Up Acting as Temporary Occupation", ''The Nebraska State Journal'' (Lincoln, NE) (June 10, 1922):1. Wedge planned to return to Harvard with his family in September 1922. In June 1922 Wedge announced plans to produce a film of his life story, in which he would star, with all profits to be used to finance his return to Harvard.

California (1922–1923)

To earn funds to return to Harvard to complete his post-graduate studies, Wedge moved to Los Angeles, California by the beginning of July, 1922.

Congregational Church, Terminal Island (1922–1923)

At the beginning of July 1922 Wedge started the Los Angeles, Terminal Union

Congregational church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

Terminal Island Terminal Island, historically known as , is a largely artificial island located in Los Angeles County, California, between the neighborhoods of Wilmington, Los Angeles, Wilmington and San Pedro, Los Angeles, San Pedro in the city of Los Angeles ...

"among the lumber yards and shipbuilding plants of Los Angeles Harbor". Wedge preached to the

longshoremen A dockworker (also called a longshoreman, stevedore, docker, wharfman, lumper or wharfie) is a waterfront manual laborer who loads and unloads ships. As a result of the intermodal shipping container revolution, the required number of dockworke ...

each noon and on Sundays without any compensation."Wedge is a Longshoreman", ''The New York Times'' (July 7, 1922), https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1922/07/07/99035459.pdf By 1923 Wedge had resigned as the pastor of the Congregational Church on Terminal Island."REDS CONFIDENCE OOZING: Port Strike Leaders Admit Walkout is Collapsing; Radical Oil Field Onslaught Fails RADICALS LOSE HOPE IN STRIKE", ''Los Angeles Times'' (May 2, 1923):II1. In July 1922 Wedge joined the Marine Transport Workers Industrial Union 510 in

San Pedro, California San Pedro ( ; ) is a neighborhood located within the South Bay (Los Angeles County), South Bay and Los Angeles Harbor Region, Harbor region of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los ...

, and became a

longshoreman A dockworker (also called a longshoreman, stevedore, docker, wharfman, lumper or wharfie) is a waterfront manual laborer who loads and unloads ships. As a result of the intermodal shipping container revolution, the required number of dockworke ...

."KID WEDGE NOW A LONGSHOREMAN", ''Boston Daily Globe'' (July 7, 1922):9.Kevin Starr, ''Endangered Dreams: The Great Depression in California'' (Oxford University Press, USA, 1997):363. While working as a longshoreman, Wedge joined the

Industrial Workers of the World The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), whose members are nicknamed "Wobblies", is an international labor union founded in Chicago, United States in 1905. The nickname's origin is uncertain. Its ideology combines general unionism with indu ...

. During the April 1923 San Pedro strike, Wedge addressed about 2,000 strikers at the

May Day May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on 1 May, around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere's March equinox, spring equinox and midsummer June solstice, solstice. Festivities ma ...

rally organized by the IWW at Fourth and Beacon Streets, San Pedro. Wedge was one of 26 arrested when the police arrested San Pedro strikers on May 4, 1923, but was released from jail by May 14. Wedge, who was assaulted by a jail officer, became sympathetic to the cause of the IWW and its members. Wedge was eventually elected to the executive board of the IWW. Wedge later used his 15 months of experiences inside the IWW to fulfill his academic requirements and gather data for his

thesis A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...

, and later to lecture on the IWW. Wedge's self-published book ''Inside the I.W.W.'' was published in 1924, with its profits helping meet the cost of further post-graduate studies.

Harvard University (1923–1924)

Later in 1923 Wedge returned to Harvard and spent twelve months in classes there."Frustrate Suicide Attempt of Wedge", ''Berkeley Daily Gazette'' (August 20, 1928):1. Wedge was commended by his Harvard professors for both his academic ability and application.

California (1924–1927)

By 1924 Wedge transferred to the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

as a post-graduate student. While studying at UC Berkeley, Wedge and his family lived at the Kittredge Apartments in Berkeley. By August 1924 Wedge was a teaching fellow at UC Berkeley. Rather than accept the position of principal of a local high school, at the end of December 1924 Wedge announced his intention to become an

. However, he subsequently joined the faculty at Redwood City High School. At the end of December 1924 Wedge announced that after he completed his post-graduate studies at the

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

, that it was his intention to forgo his ambition to become a college professor to become an evangelist, hoping to succeed

Billy Sunday William Ashley Sunday (November 19, 1862 – November 6, 1935) was an American evangelist and professional baseball outfielder. He played for eight seasons in the National League before becoming the most influential American preacher during t ...

, a former professional baseball player who was the best-known evangelist of the early 20th century. On Sunday evening, May 2, 1926, Wedge preached on the subject "A Knock-out for the Devil" at the First Church of the Nazarene in Oakland, California.

Pasadena College (1926–1927)

By 1926 Wedge had been awarded a

doctor of divinity A Doctor of Divinity (DD or DDiv; ) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity (academic discipline), divinity (i.e., Christian theology and Christian ministry, ministry or other theologies. The term is more common in the Englis ...

degree and was recruited by H. Orton Wiley to be the dean of the college of

liberal arts Liberal arts education () is a traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term ''skill, art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. ''Liberal arts education'' can refe ...

at the

Church of the Nazarene The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged in North America from the Wesleyan-Holiness movement within Methodism during the late 19th century. The denomination has its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas. and it ...

's Pasadena College, where he was also professor of sociology and psychology. Wedge resigned from Pasadena College in 1927 to enroll in a master's degree program at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. Soon after his arrival in New York, Wedge's wife, Prudence, who had been diagnosed with cancer, had two major operations, and was sent to her sister Eunice's home in

Freeport, Illinois Freeport is the largest city in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The population was 23,973 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, and the mayor of Freeport is Jodi Miller, elected in 2017. Freeport is k ...

, to recuperate.

Nebraska (1927–1928)

Presbyterian Church, Monroe (1927)

In June 1927 it was announced that Wedge would become the pastor of the Presbyterian church in

, having received 27 of 29 votes cast by the church members. Despite his son Hugh winning the A.A.U. Midwest Lightweight title victory in a boxing bout in

, on January 31, 1928, Wedge filed charges with the A.A.U. against the referee who officiated, alleging he allowed the opponent to foul Hugh repeatedly. On Friday April 13, 1928, Wedge returned to the University of Nebraska and lectured on the

, drawing on his fifteen months experience as a member."To Discuss 'Wobblies'", ''The Evening State Journal and Lincoln Daily News'' (Lincoln, NE) (April 13, 1928):18. As Prudence needed to move to California for her recovery, Wedge left Columbia University and traveled to California with his son to establish a home in preparation for her coming. Prudence died in Illinois in May 1928, and was buried in Oakland, California after a funeral conducted by her husband."Tribute to Womanhood by Minister", ''Oakland Tribune'' (May 26, 1928):7.

California (1928–1930)

Wedge returned to Berkeley, worked part-time as an undercover

prohibition agent The Bureau of Prohibition (or Prohibition Unit) was the United States federal law enforcement agency with the responsibility of investigating the possession, distribution, consumption, and trafficking of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in the Unit ...

, and completed his post-graduate work at the

's Summer session in 1928. While eschewing the use of alcohol, in 1928 Wedge campaigned for the repeal of the

Volstead Act The National Prohibition Act, known informally as the Volstead Act, was an act of the 66th United States Congress designed to execute the 18th Amendment (ratified January 1919) which established the prohibition of alcoholic drinks. The Anti- ...

and

Prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic b ...

arguing they were ineffective, and that training of young people to make good decisions by their parents would be more effective."Barbary Coast Crusader Hits Volstead Act", ''Oakland Tribune'' (April 27, 1928):13. In November 1928 Wedge led an unsuccessful campaign to repeal California's 10-round boxing law."Divine, Ex-Pug, Resigns to Marry a Divorcee", ''The Helena Independent'' (Helena, MT) (January 26, 1929):7.

First Presbyterian Church, Oakland (1928–1929)

By January 1929 Wedge was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at 2619 Broadway,

Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...

. On Friday, July 14, 1933, Hugh Wedge fought Jack Howard over three rounds in an exhibition bout at the Athens Athletic Club in Oakland, California. By September 1935 Hugh Wedge was a successful amateur boxer with aspirations to box as a

middleweight Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have beg ...

in the

1936 Summer Olympic Games The 1936 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XI Olympiad () and officially branded as Berlin 1936, were an international multi-sport event held from 1 to 16 August 1936 in Berlin, then capital of Nazi Germany. Berlin won the bid to ...

Berlin, Germany Berlin ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of ...

, after winning the Diamond Belt titles for '' simon-pures'' of Oregon, California, and Arizona. In February 1936 Hugh Wedge sparred with former heavyweight champion Max Baer in Oakland, as part of Baer's efforts to reclaim his title. A third round

TKO A technical knockout (TKO) is a professional fighting term. TKO may also refer to: Sports * TKO, the name of a professional wrestling move referring to either the cutter or stunner variant * TKO Group Holdings, a combat sports company Music Ar ...

defeat by Hugh McPhillips in the semi-finals of the Pacific 160-pound championship at the Dreamland auditorium in San Francisco, proved to be the end of Hugh Wedge's Olympic aspirations.

Nebraska (1945)

By April 1945 Wedge was the pastor of the Union Church in Monroe, Nebraska, and taught boxing to the local boys. On April 24, 1945, Wedge and Guy Buckles fought for the fourth time in their careers, their first since 1913, a three-round exhibition bout in Monroe, Nebraska, in a boxing carnival organized by Wedge, who was then pastor of the Union Church."Pastor and Old Ring Foe Fight Exhibition", ''The Evening Independent'' (St. Petersburg, FL) (April 25, 1945):14.

Personal life

Wedge married at least four times, and had one child, a son, Hugh Tracy Wedge.

Prudence Olive Tracy (1910–1928)

After a protracted friendship, a broken engagement and cancelled wedding plans, Wedge married Prudence Olive Tracy (born March 1872 in Ohio; died May 1928 in

),Dr. ('Kid') Wedge's Wife Succumbs", ''Oakland Tribune'' (May 15, 1928):36. the

postmistress A postmaster is the head of an individual post office, responsible for all postal activities in a specific post office. When a postmaster is responsible for an entire mail distribution organization (usually sponsored by a national government), ...

Florence, Nebraska Florence was a historic municipality in Nebraska. Founded in 1854, the Nebraska Territory Legislature first incorporated it as a town in 1855 and then incorporated it as a city in 1857. In 1917, it was annexed by the City of Omaha and ceased ...

, a northern suburb of Omaha, since 1895, a graduate of the

, choir singer and concert musician, and the third of the five children of Sarah E. Smalley (born October 1846 in Ohio; died September 2, 1889, in Ohio) and Jonathan Franklin Tracy (born about 1845 in

Otway, Ohio Otway is a village in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 92 at the 2020 census. History A post office called Otway has been in operation since 1861. The town site was platted on March 29, 1884. The village was named after Tho ...

), a Wisconsin

physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...

. on December 18, 1910, in

. Prudence had previously been engaged, but broke off her engagement to the other man who had decided to migrate to Canada. Wedge and Prudence were soon engaged, and had announced their wedding date, but Prudence cancelled the wedding after a family friend brought to her mother's attention rumors that Wedge had not really reformed but was rather living an immoral life. In 1909 Wedge resigned from the pastorate and relocated to San Francisco to work as a missionary on the Barbary Coast. After their marriage, the Wedges moved to San Francisco. Thirteen months later their only child, Hugh Tracy Wedge (born January 13, 1912, born in

; died January 20, 1991, in

) was born. Prudence was diagnosed with cancer, and had two major operations about 1927, and was sent to her sister Eunice's home in

, to recuperate. As Prudence needed to move to California for her recovery, Wedge and Hugh worked their way to California to establish a home in preparation for her coming. However, Prudence died about May 15, 1928, just after Wedge and Hugh arrived at her bedside in Illinois."Frustrate Suicide Attempt of Wedge", ''Berkeley Daily Gazette'' (August 20, 1928):13. Prudence was buried in Oakland, California after a funeral conducted by her husband. On August 20, 1928, Wedge, who was despondent due to the death of Prudence in May, his unemployment, and financial problems, was prevented from committing suicide in his apartment at 2261

Shattuck Avenue Shattuck Avenue is a major city street running north–south through Berkeley and Oakland, California. At its southern end, the street branches from Telegraph Avenue in Oakland's Temescal district, then ends at Indian Rock Park in the Ber ...

, Berkeley, by friends who had received his farewell letters. Wedge wrote a letter of resignation from the Presbyterian church where he held his minister's credentials so that he would not die as a clergyman. Wedge was committed to the psychiatric ward of the Highlands Hospital for several days of observation after a petition by his friend, Rev. Miles B. Davis, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Berkeley.Wedge Held for Threat to Kill Bride", ''Oakland Tribune'' (January 31, 1929):3.

Jennie Mina Holliday (1929)

While studying at the University of California Summer session in 1928, Wedge met Jennie Mina Holliday, a fellow student, with whom he soon fell in love, and decided to marry"Quits Ministry to Wed Bride", ''Prescott Evening Courier'' (January 25, 1929):6. after she had visited him several times when he was hospitalized after his August 1928 suicide attempt. However, his friend Dr. Lapsley Armstrong McAfee (March 31, 1864, in

Ashley, Missouri Ashley is a census-designated place in Pike County, Missouri, United States. It has a population of 94 in the 2020 census. It is located on Route 161, approximately six miles south of Bowling Green. Ashley was plat In the United States ...

– January 18, 1935, in

Dumaguete Dumaguete, officially the City of Dumaguete (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it h ...

Philippine Islands The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

), pastor of the Berkeley Presbyterian Church, refused to perform the ceremony, as it was incompatible with Presbyterian beliefs on divorce and remarriage. Rev. Chauncey David Norris, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...

, agreed to perform the ceremony. However, after Wedge's denominational leaders protested his intention to marry Holloway, as she had been divorced on the grounds of incompatibility, Wedge decided to break his engagement to Holloway and cancel the wedding. Three hours before the wedding Wedge sent a special delivery letter to Holloway: "It is better for me to remain a lonely Presbyterian minister than to marry you and break God's law. The Bible is against our marriage. While your husband is still living I would be breaking God's law by living with you, even though the laws of California sanction it". However, within hours he reconsidered and announced his intention to resign as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, California, and also from the Presbyterian denomination and to marry Holloway. The wedding was held in the evening of January 25, 1929, two hours later than scheduled, in Holloway's Oakland home, with Hugh Wedge as best man and Holloway's daughter, Mrs Jeanette Dale, the bridesmaid. On the day after the wedding, Rev. Charles Smith, District Superintendent of the Northern California District of the Church of the Nazarene, contacted Norris and advised him that he had no right under Nazarene polity to conduct the wedding of a person who had divorced unless adultery was the grounds,"Wedge Held for Threat to Kill Bride", ''Oakland Tribune'' (January 31, 1929):1. and that he would " unfrock him for marrying a person divorced on grounds outside those recognized by the church"."Kid Wedge To Be Examined By Alienists", ''Providence News'' (February 1, 1929):3. Norris was confident he would be exonerated after Nazarene authorities investigated the situation.Frederick Wedge, in "'Kid" Wedge Wins Tilt with Pastor",'' Oakland Tribune'' (January 29):44. On Monday, January 28, 1929, Norris met with Wedge in the bridal suite on the seventh floor of the Hotel Oakland, and quarreled about the wedding. Norris initially refused to file the paperwork for the wedding, as he claimed Wedge had lied to him about the marital status of Holloway, creating the impression that she was a widow. After Wedge threatened to file a mandamus suit against him, Norris filed the paperwork at the hall of records. Wedge indicated that: "To save his own ecclesiastical hide, Norris would like to get me out on a limb and then saw the limb off". Wedge insisted that even if the church did not recognize the legality of his wedding, that "we are married in the eyes of God and that is enough to satisfy me". Wedge also indicated that while he expected never to be given a pastorate again, that he had no intention of resigning from the church: "They may keep me from preaching, but they won't kick me out of the church". Wedge planned to train and manage his son, who was a promising amateur boxer, but on January 30, 1929, Hugh informed his father that he had decided not to sign a contract with him, and to remain in high school and then work in a foundry. After this argument with his son, Wedge indicated that he lost control and contemplated throwing himself out of his hotel window to spare his bride anymore humiliation. Within a week of his wedding, Wedge had been committed to the psychiatric ward in the Highland Hospital in

, for observation after admitting to an

alienist Alienism is an obsolete term for psychiatry, the study and treatment of mental illnesses. In the early 20th century this term was replaced by that of psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are ...

that he had been obsessed with either strangling his new wife or defenestrating her during their honeymoon. Wedge also confessed that "for several months I have been fighting a desire to kill myself. For weeks I would want to slash my throat every time I picked up a razor. Every time I looked out of a high window I wanted to jump out. I am a sick man and for my own protection and for the protection of my loved ones I want to be locked up and be placed where I can harm neither myself or anyone else". Wedge believed his condition was caused by damage caused by a frontal skull fracture sustained in a saloon fight about 1899, and exacerbated by the stress caused by the publicity surrounding his wedding and resignation from the church. Jennie Wedge announced on 1 February 1929 that she would be seeking to have her marriage to Wedge annulled. She was reported as saying: "If he is mentally unbalanced I am sorry. But I could never live with him again. I would be in constant fear of my life. We had been so happy all week long until this sudden threat of his to kill me and then himself". On February 2, 1929, Jennie Wedge applied in the superior court to have her marriage to Wedge annulled on the basis of his "unsound mind" and his fraud, alleging that Wedge "falsely and fraudulently" represented that he had sufficient funds to provide for her immediate needs, whereas he had insufficient funds to pay the $100 bill for their honeymoon suite. Also on February 2, 1929, Wedge was charged with insanity at his own request, with the papers signed by his son, Hugh. On February 5, 1929, Wedge was declared insane and committed to the

Napa State Hospital Napa State Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Napa, California, founded in 1875. It is located along California State Route 221, the Napa-Vallejo Highway, and is one of California's five state mental hospitals. Napa State Hospital holds civil ...

, "an insane asylum" in

Napa, California Napa is the largest city and county seat of Napa County, California, Napa County and a principal city of Wine Country in Northern California, United States. Located in the North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area), North Bay region of the Bay Area, th ...

. Wedge's marriage to Holliday was annulled after June 1929."'Kid' Wedge and Divorcee Wed", ''Oakland Tribune'' (April 5, 1933):1. After his father's committal, Hugh Wedge lived with relatives in

Emeryville, California Emeryville is a city located in northwest Alameda County, California, in the United States. It lies in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley, California, Berkeley and Oakland, California, Oakland, with a border on the shore of San Francisc ...

, where he attended Emeryville High School. After graduation in 1931, Hugh Wedge was accepted into the University of California, Berkeley, where he was part of the USC boxing team.

Viola M. Anderson (1930)

By the beginning of April 1930 Wedge was listed as being an unmarried author, and living in the Union Mission,Ancestry.com. ''1930 United States Federal Census''. Census Place: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 169; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 1247; Image: 267.0. a two-story frame building for indigent men, at 126 South Marengo Avenue, Pasadena. On April 15, 1930 ''

The Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper in the U.S. and the larges ...

'' announced Wedge's intention to marry Viola M. Anderson (born about 1900 in Wisconsin), a stenographer residing in

Montebello, California Montebello (Italian language, Italian for "Beautiful Mountain") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located just east of East Los Angeles, California, East Los Angeles and southwest of San Gabriel Valley. It is an indepen ...

, with her Swedish father. Wedge lived in Berkeley, California until 1932, taught psychology at

,"Rev. 'Kid' Wedge Arrested Upon Drunk Judge", ''Oakland Tribune'' (August 8, 1933)):1. and wrote several books, as well as filled the pulpit in several cities.

Matilda Trueds (1933)

On Tuesday, April 4, 1933, Wedge married

divorcee Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganising of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...

Matilda Trueds, a traveler and writer from Sweden, in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

, in a ceremony conducted by his friend, Rev. Mark A. Matthews. Wedge was arrested on August 8, 1933, in the lobby of the Royal Hotel at Twentieth Street and San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, for being drunk and disturbing hotel patrons. On September 16, 1933, Hugh married Marion Phyllis Hohl, a secretary, in Oakland, California.

Death

Wedge moved from Oakland, California, to Napa, California, and lived with his son, Hugh. Wedge died on March 3, 1953, in Napa.

Works

* ''The Fighting Parson of Barbary Coast''. Columbus, Nebraska: Tribune Printing Company, 1912.HathiTrust Digital Library – The fighting parson of Barbary Coast / by Frederick R. Wedge
/ref> * "From Prize Ring to Doors of Harvard". ''Boston Globe'' (February 13, 1922). * "On the San Pedro Slave Market". * "Inside the IWW, by a Former Member and Official: A Study of the Behavior of the IWW, with Reference to Primary Causes" (1924).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wedge, Frederick 1880 births 1953 deaths Boxers from California Industrial Workers of the World members American Presbyterians Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Omaha alumni University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni University of California, Berkeley alumni Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni University of Arizona alumni McCormick Theological Seminary alumni American male boxers People from Emeryville, California Sportspeople from Alameda County, California