Joseph Smith Hendricks

I found an old book barely holding together in my dad's collection of family history.  It has a collection of original photos and biographies.  The book was compiled by a M.F.H.K.  I don't know who that is.  I think she wrote this biography of Joseph Smith Hendricks and is his daughter.  I don't know from which wife though.  It is hand written.  Although it could also have been written by a Lurinda Hendricks Leavitt.  They have similar handwriting.  I will try to post some additional biographies found in the book as time allows.  I enjoyed reading a biography of Joseph Smith Hendricks written by his child.  

Joseph Smith Hendricks

            Joseph, second son, fifth and youngest child of James and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, born in a moment of quiet between mob drivings and persecution, where they had stopped to raise a crop at Far West, Caldwell Co. Mo. 23 Mar. 1838.

            A rare privilege was granted this babe, when he was taken in the arms of the Prophet Joseph Smith who blessed him and gave him his own name.  What a moment of joy, this must have been to his proud parents whose love for their prophet was perhaps surpassed only by their love for the things he taught.

            Peace was not for long; in August of the same year trouble began again.  Election was the excuse this time.  The crops were nearly all destroyed, and mob violence grew.  Joseph’s father was called out in defense of some brethren who were held and beaten by the mob, and was shot 24 Oct. 1838 in the battle of Crooked River.  Again the family, with many others, was driven from the state.  The mother with her little children and almost helpless companion were compelled to move on.  Many times there was little or nothing in their house to eat, and the mother’s heart ached when her baby asked for food which she could not provide, but as many times as needed the Lord came to their rescue and in some way they were supplied with enough to carry on. 

            You have read in Grandmother Drusilla’s history how they were driven again and again until they found another brief rest in Nauvoo, The City Beautiful.  Here Joseph Smith Hendricks, no doubt, at times watched the construction of the magnificent Temple, listened to the voices of the Prophet and apostles, went into their homes, or played with their children.  A picture he always retained in his mind was of Joseph Smith riding his splendid white horse at the head of the Nauvoo Legion.  He was six years old when the Prophet and Patriarch were martyred; he very likely went with his family to join the sad procession of mourning friends as they paused for one last look at their beloved leaders.  He was with his mother in that momentous meeting when the mantle of Joseph the Prophet fell upon Brigham Young.  He saw his mother quickly stand as many others, as they softly and wondrously exclaimed, “Can it be Joseph?”  For surely it was his voice.  But it was not Joseph, and these faithful saints knew their chosen leader was Pres. Brigham Young. 

            In Feb. of 1846, this family with others of the Church was again driven from their homes, from the State of Illinois across the frozen river, and the city of Nauvoo, with its beautiful Temple in the arm of the majestic Mississippi became as the “Deserted Village.”  The inhabitants with what little of their substance they could pack in a wagon or two, once more became wanderers facing they knew not what, going they knew not where, but fulfilling prophecy as they turned their faces westward toward the Rocky Mountains, and the Desert which would ‘blossom as the rose,’ where mobs would be left behind.  Weary destitute and ill there was yet another blow to be struck by their enemies.  This time in the “Call to Arms.”  This time five hundred of their able bodied men were to leave their families’ in wagons, tents, and on the trackless prairie, to fight for their country, which they loved, but which they felt were driving them from its border.  Joseph’s father not able bodied but still a cripple from the bullet of the mob could not answer the call, which duty fell upon William, the oldest son.  This left Joseph who was about nine years old to be the main help to his mother in tending and driving the oxen, and other chores needed to travel with a wagon train.  The 4^th of October 1847 they entered the Salt Lake Valley.  Ten days later the soldier brother joined them. 

            Salt Lake Valley!  Did that nine-year-old boy dream of the adventure, the hardships, the romance and final triumph that lay ahead. 

            With William’s return they built a home within the fort wall.  Hunger stood at the door through that long hard winter.  Crops were planted in the spring, and just when they held up the promise of the harvest, came the crickets.  Joseph and Rebecca were the youngest of the Hendricks family.  Both of them would hold an end of a bed cord, dragging it over the grain, knocking the crickets off the precious wheat.  Meanwhile their father and brother brushed them from the corn to save what they could of that.  You know the story of the crickets, the despair they brought to those disheartened pioneers, and the soul-stirring miracle, the rescue by the sea gulls.  It was just another trial.  The Lord had not forgotten His people. 

            They went to the warm springs and built a house and bathhouse.  They did not remain there long. 

            Joseph and Rebecca found much pleasure in singing. 

            On the 4^th of January 1857 when Joseph was 19 years old he was married by Pres. Young to Sariah F. Pew, daughter of William and Caroline Calkins Pew. 

            In the winter and spring of the next year came Johnston army, they with the others of Salt Lake City fled southward, leaving their homes deserted and ready for the torch.  This time the promise was kept, the soldiers marched through the city and camped on the opposite side of the Jordan River, three days later they passed on to the south west and founded Camp Floyd.  The word was carried to the refugees and they returned unmolested to their homes.  Two children were born to them in Salt Lake, Lillie and Fidelia.  Lillie died in infancy. 

            Pioneers – one who goes before to prepare the way for others.  These were pioneers, and now they moved onto Cache Valley and built a home in Richmond sometime about 1860.  He acted as minuteman and scout against Indian attacks between Richmond and Franklin.  In 1864 in obedience to council and at that time practice of the Church, he married as a plural wife Lucinda Bess, daughter of Juel J. and Laura Richison Bess.  Nine children were born in these two families while in Richmond.  Three were Sariah’s, and six were Lucinda’s. 

            Sometime near 1877 they made their way northward and built a home in Swan Lake Idaho, where two more children were born to Lucinda.  Here also in these first years a real siege of sickness fell upon these homes.  First Lola died.  A little later Libbee had typhoid fever, Inez and Laura were suffering with diphtheria, Juel and Will were also ill.  One winter day for about three hours, Laura lay so quiet, it seemed she must surely have passed from this life.  But she aroused and told her mother she had been in the other world, and that she had seen her relatives on the other side.  She told what a beautiful world it was and she wanted to go back, at her Mother’s protest she replied that she must go at once, she and Inez too.  Early in December they both joined those on the other side. 

            For a while Joseph drove freight teams, then contracted the building of railroads up through Idaho into Montana.  They were working with large groups of men.  He was a member of the High Council when he was in Swan Lake and Oxford. 

            Then came word that the rich Snake River Valley held a promise of prosperity and bright future – to those who would brave the hardships and struggle to subdue the wilderness. 

            Pioneers?  Yes the pioneer spirit arose to meet this challenge.  And once again these families loaded their goods into wagons and moved farther to the north, homesteading farms and making the sage country beautiful with fields of waving grain and hay.  They called their new home Marysville, a valley between the North Fork of the Snake and Fall River guarded on the east by the lofty and inspiring Teton Peaks. 

            To build homes in this wild untamed country meant work, hard work, long hours of work, but with it came the joy of achievement and a task well done.  Trees were cut and brought in to build houses.  Tall heavy sage brush thick sweet scented buck brush was cleared that the fields might be plowed and planted, these roots were large and tough, but they worked together undaunted men, women, and children, as little by little the sage gave way to growing crops.  Homes were enlarged, and fences built.  They were not fences of steel and wire at first, but high leaning pole fences picturesque and practical.  Canals were dug to sustain the thirsting crops.  The main one was the Brady Canal, for years it seemed all the time that what could be spared from the farms was given to this work.  Men with teams and scrapers digging deep to build this main artery of the network which is the lifeline of the country.  A dug way was made down to Warm River, where Joseph and others had a sawmill from which building materials were supplied to build up this new country.  A place for school and worship was soon needed.  At first gatherings could be held in the homes, but before long these were inadequate. 

            Water was hauled from the rivers in barrels and covered with clean canvas held in place by the hoop.  Lights were coal oil lamps, and sometimes candles.  Winter roads were often bad and travel dangerous.  One might start in what seemed ample time to reach his destination, but if a blizzard came up or a horse slipped off the road many hours might be consumed in going but a little way. 

            They pioneered not only temporally but also in spiritual affairs as they built up the ward adding one organization then another, each one doing his bit were it little or much.  Joseph was councilor to Bishop James H. Wilson for many years. 

            The social side of this growing community was not neglected.  There were home talent plays, Magic Lantern pictures, dances, surprise parties, and on the 24^th of July almost the entire community would take a vacation camping and fishing in the hills on Warm River or Big or Lower Falls on the Snake River.

            Another annual event was the Hendricks Family Reunion, where most everyone for miles was invited.  Joseph would lead in the merriment with singing and dancing.  Some of the old songs were “Hard Times”, “Fall River Valley”, and “Nelly Gray”, “After the Ball”, and “The Nauvoo Song”, but I think the most loved of all was “Come, Come ye Saints” and “Small Wonder,” as he would tell the stories of what we now call Church History, not as he had read them, but as he had seen them, lived them, and played a part in their making.  He would tell them with such fervor and conviction that his hearers, adult and children alike, would thrill with the spirit of his testimony.  Was it a factor in making you love the gospel and the history of our people as it was to me?

            He led in the dancing too, usually in the Virginia Reel, not the wild frolic we have made of it, but sedate and stately – I wish you could have seen them dance, you who did not.

            Joseph had the gift of healing, through the power of the Priesthood.  Sometime near 1914 they moved to Lewiston, Utah where he lost his wife Sariah in 1919.  He passed from this stage of life in 1922 in Tremonton, Utah at the home of his granddaughter.  Lucinda joined them about tree years later.  Not enough can be said of the sterling character of these Pioneer parents of ours.  And we are proud to be their children.