Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Hendricks, Gideon A. 1913
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Lyons Herald, 23 Oct 1913

G.A. Hendricks passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. H. Hale, in the 
village, Thursday, October 16, at the advanced age of 88 years, 11 months and 
24 days.  Gideon A. Hendricks was born at Bath, New York, October 22, 1824.  He 
received his early education at a seminary in Lima, N.Y., the same school in 
which Rev. Wm. Judd of this place also attended, the families of the two men 
being great friends for years.

In 1839 Mr. Hendricks, in common with thousands of eastern people of that day, 
decided to try his fortune in the west, so on a sail boat he arrived in Detroit 
the same year.  On Hog Island (now called Belle Isle) he purchased the choice 
of a drove of Indian ponies for $5.  He swam the Detroit river with the pony 
and purchased a saddle and bridle.  Hearing glowing reports of the chances in 
the central part of this state, he started for Lyons, making the trip through 
an unbroken wilderness.  About sunset Oct. 22, 1839, on his fifteenth birthday, 
he arrived on the hill at the Staley farm, above Riverside Park, and as he sat 
looking out over the valley, said it was the most beautiful sight he had ever 
seen.  

When he arrived in Lyons there were only five white families here.  He only 
stayed here for a few days, when he went on west to Ionia, Grand Rapids and 
Grand Haven, where he was variously employed for several years.  While at Grand 
Rapids he was assessor, making the first tax roll for that village.  The 
assessed valuation at that time was less than $80,000.  About this time he 
owned the strip of property from the Grand Trunk depot to the Pantlind hotel, 
between the river and Canal street, and he said he thought he had made a fine 
deal when he traded this property for a yoke of oxen.  He also took the Indian 
census of Michigan twice for the U.S. government.

In 1845 Mr. Hendricks returned to Lyons and engaged in the mercantile business 
under the firm name of Hendricks & Fox, the firm later losing all by fire 
without insurance.  In the fall of 1856 he purchased the Lyons Herald and ran 
the same as editor and owner.  That fall a bitter campaign was waged, and Mr. 
Hendricks, who was a life long democrat, bent every effort in the support of 
James Buchanan and the entire democratic ticket.  Later he was appointed 
postmaster by President Buchanan.

He was also a resident of Stanton for years, being elected mayor of that 
village two terms, was city clerk for eight years and also served there as 
postmaster.  He was chairman of the democratic county committee a number of 
years, and served two terms as member of the democratic state central 
committee.  Deceased was a fine bookkeeper and was at one time employed in Muir 
in the early lumber days by the firm of J. & J. Begole.  From 1898 until 1911 
he was a bookkeeper at the mill of J. Hale & Sons of this village.  He was also 
a charter member of Lyons Lodge No. 37, F. & A.M.

Thus passes one of the pioneers of this section of the country; we venture to 
say the only one who could recall happenings of nearly three quarters of a 
century ago.  His memory was exceptionally good and he enjoyed recalling 
incidents of those early days when the country was a trackless forest and often 
their nearest neighbors were Indians.  Those were the men, fast passing, who 
made the settlement of the western country possible, and gave us the advantages 
we now enjoy.  Mr. Hendricks was a man of strong and independent thought and 
convictions, a fine scholar, a great reader, quiet and unobtrusive, and was 
well posted in public affairs.

The funeral was held Saturday from the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Hale.  The 
services were conducted by his life long friend, Rev. Wm. Judd.  The pall 
bearers were:  E.B. Hale, H.A. Isham, W.C. Hawley, H.A. Ranger, L.N. Olmsted 
and G.H. MacGillivray.  The interment was in the Lyons cemetery.  The floral 
offerings were a testimonial to the affection in which deceased was held by the 
people who knew him.  Deceased is survived by one brother, Judge Myron B. 
Hendricks of Iowa; three brothers having died within the past year.


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