Joseph Smith Hendricks Sr.

Joseph Smith Hendricks Sr. was born March 23, 1838 in Far West, Missouri to James and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks.

History

After the baby was born, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Joseph Smith was in the area and was asked to give the baby a blessing. He named the baby after himself.

The same year Joseph was born, his father was injured during an attack by mobsters who wanted the Saints out of Missouri. The injury left him paralyzed from the neck down and Joseph's mother had to take care of the whole family during this time. After some time, the Hendricks family moved to Quincy, Illinois.

During their time in Illinois, the Hendricks participated in the construction of the Nauvoo Temple, the assassination of Chruch President Joseph Smith, and the sustaining of Brigham Young as leader of the Church. The Hendricks family joined the Grant/Nobel company on June 19, 1847 and entered the Salt Lake Valley on Oct 2.

Joseph married Sariah Fidelia Pew on Jan 4, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Hendricks family moved to Richmond in 1860. An experience Joseph had with some Native Americans is told by his granddaughter:

"Once while at Richmond, a[ Native American], sick and cold, came to Joseph’s home. There he was fed and cared for through the cold winter. In the spring, he went on his way. At a later time Joseph and his friends who made a freight wagon train were surrounded by a band of [Natives]. Surprised and greatly out numbered these men had no time to plan any sort of defense. As these savage riders circled closer and closer, Joseph acted and stood up on his wagon to speak to the men. At once, the [Native] leader shouted an order. The astonished red men halted and the wild cries ceased. The white men watched as the [Native] made his way to the man standing high in the wagon. The Indian leader recognized the man who had fed and cared for him at a desperate time in his life. He turned to his followers, raised his hand high and called out, 'Richmond Joe, Richmond Joe!' Friendly greetings were exchanged between the two men. Soon the [Natives] were off among the cliffs and hills, and the freighters went on their way rejoicing and thankful that they had escaped the terrible fate that had threatened them."

Joseph entered the practice of polygamy on Oct 10, 1864 by marrying Lucinda Bess in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1878, the Hendricks family moved to Oxford, Idaho.

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