Testimony of Lorenzo Dow Hickey - LDS

A "Strangite's" (partial) testimony about the Mormon Church:

TESTIMONY OF L. D. HICKEY AT TEMPLE LOT SUIT

L. D. Hickey, of lawful age, being produced, sworn, and examined on the part of the Defendants, testified as follows:

I am seventy-eight years old, I reside in Branch County, Michigan, at the city of Coldwater, have lived there twenty-four years. Before going to Coldwater, I lived in Wisconsin, in LaCrosse county, and in Jackson county. I lived in Wisconsin from 1856 to 1857. I went from Wisconsin to Beaver Island at the north end of Lake Michigan. I think I went to Beaver Island either in 1848 or 1849. Before going to Beaver Island I lived in Lapeer county, Michigan. I left Nauvoo in the spring of '45 and then went to Wisconsin. Staid there until I went to Beaver Island. Before I went to Nauvoo I lived in the town of Troy, in Oakland county, Michigan. I went there from York State, and lived there until I went to Nauvoo. Before I went to Nauvoo I had been a member of the Methodist church; but when I went to Nauvoo, I belonged to the Mormon church. I was baptised in the month of February 1842. I was tolerable well acquainted with the church. I understood the law of the church on the question of succession; I know what the law says on the subject. I know who the successor of Joseph Smith was in the Presidency of the church. I know it upon the same principle that I know Mr. Harrison is President of the United States. I know it by criticizing the constitution of the church, which made regulations for a successor, and how that successor shall be appointed and ordained, and James J. Strang filled that bill. The constitution of the church makes provision for a successor just as clearly as the Constitution of the United States makes provision for the succession in the Presidency of the United States, according to my way of looking at it. The book you now hand me is the "Diamond," and it is the work of Strang published at the time he claimed to be the successor of Joseph Smith. In it he sets forth his claims to be Joseph Smith's successor. I accepted Mr. Strang's.....[end of page]

From the Strangite Collection at the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (as was this).

The Last of the Twelve: Lorenzo Dow Hickey

Lorenzo Dow Hickey was the last of the apostles with James Strang who was "one of three major contenders for leadership of the Latter Day Saint movement." There was a book written about him entitled "Lorenzo Dow Hickey: the Last of the Twelve" by John Cumming. Lorenzo was the son of Rev. James Hickey.

Obituary of Lorenzo Dow Hickey published April 26, 1897
[From the Clarke Historical Library collection]

Died: 25 April 1897
Born: 15 February 1817 in Palmyra, New York
1852 married Sarah Linnell of Beaver Island, Michigan (2nd wife)
1866 to Coldwater, Branch Co., Michigan
13 Children: Alvira E. Brownson of Alden, MI; Jerry M. of Marino, CO; Lorenzo D., Jr., of Jonesboro, AR; Judson J. of Grand Rapids; Jessie G., Matthew, Joseph, Mrs. Robert Rattray, Ruth, Phoebe & James, all of Coldwater and two daughters [Favor Hickey & Rhoda] of Lapeer Co. (the last three by former wife). Is Jared L. also referred to as Jerry?

2 Brothers: Rev. George Hickey of Lansing and Manasseh Hickey of Detroit
1 Sister: Mrs. John [Julia] Hutchins of Detroit

Lorenzo Dow Hickey's first wife was Ann Davis (she married 2nd John Wesley Peaslee). He was a polygamist (even though his obituary stated he wasn't). Three children were with Frances Miller and there was a possible fourth wife who died in childbirth. [Source]. Sarah Adaline Scott is thought to be the mother of Lorenzo Dow Hickey, Jr.

Hickeys in the Coldwater City Directory in 1882.

Death record of Lorenzo D. Hickey's grandsons, Eber Brownson and Howard Hickey.

Marriage record of Frances Adelia Hickey, Jesse J. Hickey, Ruth Hickey, Phoebe E. Hickey,

1880 MI Branch Co., Coldwater
Lorenzo D. HICKEY Self M W 65 NY Teamster NY NY
Sarah HICKEY Wife M W 44 NY ME CT
Ruth HICKEY Dau S W 13 MI School NY NY
Judson HICKEY Son S W 11 MI School NY NY
Adelia HICKEY Dau S W 9 MI School NY NY
Phebe HICKEY Dau S W 7 MI School NY NY
Joseph HICKEY Son S W 4 MI NY NY

1880 MI Branch Co., Coldwater
Francies MILLER Self W Female W 43 NY Keeping House NY NY
Marietta MILLER Dau S W 22 WI House Keeper NY NY
George MILLER Son S W 20 WI Clerk Store NY NY
Mark MILLER Son S W 15 WI School NY NY
Jessis J. HICKEY Nephew S W 23 WI Drayman NY NY
Lorenzo D. HICKEY Nephew S W 21 WI Painter NY NY

There is a memoir online written by Judy, a descendant of Lorenzo Dow Hickey's grandaughter Sybil (Hickey) Berry. Judy, has a collateral ancestor (Nancy Bridger) who was married to one of my collateral ancestors (Isaac Garrett). Judy's great-great grandfather, Lorenzo Dow Hickey (subject of this post), lived in Lapeer County, Michigan, where many of my paternal relatives lived. Judy's great-grandfather, Lorenzo Dow Hickey, Jr., moved from Michigan to Craighead Co., Arkansas, where he lived amongst my maternal ancestors (Garretts & Johnsons).

A Post At The Archives of Michigan

The Archives of Michigan posted an article by Christiane Evaskis entitled "The Kingdom of St. James," on 4 Aug 2009, about the life and times of James J. Strang, featuring his time at Beaver Island, Michigan.

Here are three related articles recently posted to my blog, Detour Through History:

Excerpts From The Strangite Collection
Elvira E. Field Strang
Family Relationship of James J. Strang's Assassin

We plucked the same historical figure from the 1800's to blog about at approximately the same time! Wow. I feel even more connected to the SeekingMichigan.org site.

Excerpts From the Strangite Collection - Part One - Letters From Clement Strang

James Jesse Strang, a leading figure in the Church of Latter Day Saints, eventually led a splinter group, known as "Strangites." Not only did Mr. Strang become the group's religious leader, he envisioned himself as their king. Strang is often called the "King of Beaver Island."

In order to complete some reciprocal research, I perused the Strangite files housed at the Clarke Library***.

The Clarke Library at Central Michigan University is a repository for Strang items. Included in the Strangite Collection are letters from Clement Strang (b. Dec 1854), son of James J. & Elvira E. (Field) Strang, who married Nevada Sutherland on 21 Feb 1894 in Ingham County, Michigan. He (Clement Strang) may have also been married to Rosabelle N. Rider in 1881 in Cass County and married to Marietta Francis in 1890 in Eaton Co., Michigan.

From the Collection:

Strangite Collection at the Clarke Historical Library, Box 3 Items 6-12

"Old letters to Mr. Stanley Johnson 1936-1942 from Clement Strang." Beacon Hill Cottage - Benzonia, Michigan

Wrote to Joseph H. Hickey (three years old when Clement talked to L.D. (Lorenzo Dow Hickey*). Joseph's older two brothers and Clement's brother** were at that time serving out a stiff sentence for horse-stealing in the Ohio Penitentiary.

**Gabriel, son of James J. Strang & Betsey McNutt, robbed horses in southern MI and was sent to Ionia (he also stole horses in Ohio)

Other information in the file:

Clement Strang's brother Charley [adopted by David Grier - see bio here and gravestone here]

Moved to Jackson County, near Warren's Mills

In Brookfield Township, Eaton County, Michigan lived with mother's brother Albert Field

*From this post:

***My interest in the Jehiel Davis family began with Ann...whose first husband was Lorenzo Dow Hickey... . Lorenzo Dow Hickey (who was in Lapeer County in 1850 with his then wife, Ann (Davis) Hickey) was the ancestor of Judy in Arkansas, whose relative, Nancy Bridger, married my great-grandfather's brother, Isaac Garrett, in 1880 in Craighead Co., Arkansas.