Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-10-21
HONORB ClTI-
ZEN PIONEER
TRAILS HOME

Abraham Hedrick. a pioneer Of tn
Belt district and man who has lonl
been associated with the farming
and livestock industries died at tn.
DeacOness hospital Wednesday nigh
October 18th last.
He suffered a stroke of paralysis
a few months ago which transformed
him from a vigorous man to an
invalid.
His condition never improved and
although he was still genial and
friendly yet no hope was retained
that he would live long.
Mr.. Hedrick is survived by his
widow, four sons, Isaac, John, Henry
and Cornelius, and three daughters,
Mrs. Joseph Sanders of Seattle, Mrs.
Wallace Frost of Great Falls and
Mrs Peter Martin of Seattle.
Mr.. Herrick was born in Missouri
in 1866 Of old American stock and
lived near Salem, Dent county, Mis-
souri, until he grew to manhood.
In 1877 he was united in marriage
TO Miss. Francis johnson who sur
wives him after a married life lacking
only q few months of reaching so
years.
Eighteen months later the He'd
rick and their newborn son, Isaac
took the covered wagon route to
Texas where they remained for eight
years and where their SONS, Jacob,
John and Charles we're born.
In 1878 Mrs. Hedricks father,
William Johnson, accompanied by his
sons. daughters, sons in Law and
daughters in law had come up the
Missouri river to Fort Benton. Mr..
johnson took up a place in the gap
m the Highwood- Benton road, Warn
sr Johnson took up place on
Willow creek. Williarn HIN home
steaded on the Little Belt rAhch, Abe
Morris squatted at the maouth Of
Briegeman Goulse. Wiley Farmar on
Missouri Ridge and william Daniels
on Willow creek. Braxtom johnson
settled on Highwood.
Mr. Johnson wrote TO the Hedricks
IN Texas and urged them to join
the colony in this section. The He'd
ricks drove as far north as Cheyenne
when they sold their wagons and
stock and completed the journey by |
train.
Mrs. Hedrick states that when
they reached Great Falls by railroad
there was no station there, only
boxcar setting alongside the track.
The HedricIss homesteaded between
Willow creek and Little Belt where.
for many years they lived and where
their younger children were born.
A few years ago Mr.. Hedrick
bought the Mann ranch one mile
from Belt on the Great Falls road,
but increasing years led him to let
others work this place and he and
Mrs. Hedriek moved to Belt where
they have since resided.
Possessed Of a powerful and ,
rugged physique, Mr.. Hedrick mind
ed not at all the hardships of
frontier life but farmed and raised
o'clock Hundreds of friends were
ing up.
He accumulated a competence for
his old age by hard work and careful
He was respected by
Ill for his sterling manhood. His
word was good with anyone for any I
amount and we have never heard,
turing an acquaintance of thirty
Years, of any case. where he failed q
o make it good. y
He died full Of years yet when his
riends believed that he had many +.
more 10 live before the final roll call
The funeral was held from the M. E. !
hurch on Sunday morning at eleven >
clock. Hundreds of friends were
resent to pay their last respect.
sev. H. T. stOng officiated while a s.
elected choir rendered the funeral n
ymns. The paIl bearers were. A.
= Crane, s. l. Crane. N. H. Brown j
ng, Vim. vendsel. Emil johnson,
:haries Atkinson. k
A prOfusiOn Of flowers decorated
he cashet and the rail. A hundred Il
utos followed the body to its last d
esting place in Pleasant View
smetery. al
v.