James Oliver Hendrickson obituary copy...
I found an old type-written copy of my gr-greatuncle James Oliver Hendrickson. (Looks like a copy typed out to give to the newspaper for entry.) It reads as follows...
James Oliver Hendrickson, son of the late Jesse T. (Townsend) and Mary (Mary Lorina Valentine) Hendrickson, was born Nov. 23, 1877 at Birmingham, Illinois and early Friday morning February 17th, 1950, joined the innumerable host who have answered their final summons.He was 72 years, 2 months, and 25 days of age at his death.Besides the grief stricken widow he leaves a foster son and daughter-in-law, Nelson L. Bruce and wife of Chicago and one foster grandson Richard Lee Bruce; two brothers and 1 sister, namely Robert (Clarence) Hendrickson, of Springfield, Ill.; Jesse (Townsend) Hendrickson (Jr.) of Bloomington and Mrs. Alice (Evaline) Rhoades (married William Earl Rhoades) of Galesburg, and a number of nieces and nephews.Two brothers, Plimpton (Otis Plimpton) and Will (my gr-grandpa William Benjamin) and one sister Nellie (Nellie Coral) are deceased. (handwritten next to this is -- also Ola Kepler (Rebecca Iola married Leonard Kepler) of Macomb)
In his young manhood Bro. Hendrickson enlisted in the U.S. Army and served 3 years in the Spanish American War at the turn of the century.After receiving his honorable discharge at the close of that war he settled at Macomb, where, on Sept. 3rd, 1903 he was united in marriage to Miss Maude Turner with the Rev. W. H. Lawson as officiating minister.No children were born to this union but since they yearned for and loved children they took Nelson Bruce at the age of nine years and reared him to manhood loving him as their own son.
In 1908 Bro. Hendrickson was converted and joined the Free Methodist Church at Macomb, and two years later answered the call into the ministry, serving his first charge at Athens, Illinois, following up with other Free Methodist churches in that district and in the Greenville District among which are Sorento, Coffeen, Hillsboro, and Irving.Three years ago when his health had become impaired, he retired from active ministry and he and his faithful wife purchased property and have since made their home in Coffeen where they previously had pastored the Free Methodist Church for 8 years.
Rev. Hendrickson had the characteristics of a true Christian soldier as well as a military one.His integrity and uncompromising belief in the things he held to be right, with his kindly and loving personality won for him the confidence of those who knew him, and many, many are those who admired him and were numbered among his friends who with the bereaved family mourn his passing.We feel assured that our friend and brother J. O. Hendrickson has anchored safely in the Haven of Rest and has met his Pilot face to face.
Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past;
The battle's fought, the race is won,
And thou art crowned at last.
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Anyone need any other info on this line or descendants of siblings: Elizabeth(1778-1847), Solomon(1782-1857/1867), Jesse(1793-1854) Frances(1800-1858), Elizabeth(1802-1857), Nancy Ann(1804-1893), and possible others, feel free to email me.
Kathy P
[email protected]