My Genealogy Hound

GIDEON HEBRON. England numbers many representatives among the best class of citizens of Michigan. There is a sterling quality about the nationality that particularly fits them for pioneer life, and we, as Americans, are greatly indebted to settlers of English birth for the rapid advancement made in our civilization. He whose name is at the head of this sketch, and who is a representative citizen of Cass County, was born in Westerdale, Yorkshire, England, June 7, 1831. His parents, William and Sarah (Bulmer) Hebron, were natives of England, the father having been born in the same house where Gideon first saw the light of day. His birth occurred in 1790, and he was the son of William, Sr., and Ann (Dawson) Hebron. William, Sr., was the son of George Hebron, who was born in the same part of England in 1709, and who died there January 15, 1798, at eighty-nine years of age. He married Alice Nicholson, who died January 2, 1766, when fifty-two years of age.

The Hebron family was a noted one in the history of England and was descended from one of the royal families. William Hebron, Sr., was a man of striking personal appearance, standing six feet two inches in height and well proportioned. He had good educational advantages in youth and had more than an ordinary amount of business acumen. He followed the occupation of a farmer and stockman, became quite wealthy, and gave liberally of his means to assist the needy and distressed. It is said that every year he killed one of the finest oxen of his herd and distributed it to the poor of his parish. This made him many friends among the poor, but enemies among the wealthier classes, the latter not being so disposed. Mr. Hebron did not do this for political purposes, for he never aspired to office, and, so far as known, never held a position.

Mr. Hebron was a man of great strength and endurance, and at one time, while riding on his horse through the parish was attacked by three desperate characters. Although alone and unarmed, he struggled with these ruffians and finally put them to flight. Once, while visiting York Castle, he asked to see the irons once worn by the noted desperado, Dick Turpin. The warden asked him if he would like to put them on, and he answered in the affirmative, adding that he wished the key so that he could unlock them at will. They were of enormous weight, and he was asked if he could jump upon the window sill of the cell with them on. He answered that he thought so, and with one powerful leap landed with the irons on the sill. This was a feat often attempted by strong men, but only one other man had ever made a success of the attempt. Every member of the family was noted for his size and strength.

Mr. Hebron was a fine classical scholar and was well versed in astronomy, etc. He was three times married and was the father of fifteen children. In September, 1831, he and his wife and ten children crossed the briny deep to America, and with an ample fortune landed in the city of New York on the 1st of November. They went up the Hudson River to Albany, thence by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, where they remained during the winter, and then went by boat to Detroit, where Mr. Hebron got an ox-team to take them to Cass County. Arriving at the St. Joseph River in July, 1832, they located on Government land on section 26, range 13 west, now in Porter Township. There the mother died September 15, 1838. One of the sons, Dennison, who was born September 13, 1810, remained in England and made a fortune as a leather merchant. He died in his native country. The other children were principally farmers or farmers’ wives. Lydia, the youngest child by the third marriage and a half-sister of our subject, had good educational advantages, was a graduate of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, and of the Michigan State University, where she was for some time a teacher. At present she is principal of Mt. Pleasant High School.

Gideon Hebron was but a few months old when brought to America by his parents, and he grew to manhood in Michigan, where he had good scholastic advantages. He has been a student all his life, and when not at work invariably has a book before him. As might naturally be supposed, he is a well-informed man, and is progressive and advanced in his ideas. He has been one of the most successful farmers and stockmen in his locality and accumulated a comfortable fortune, the most of which he lost by going on the bond of a friend, whom he trusted. He was obliged to mortgage his farm to save it, but went eagerly and determinedly to work with a will to retrieve his fallen fortune. He knows no such word as “fail,” and is proof against misfortune. For many years he has been a member of the Baptist Church, and has been Deacon of the same. In politics he is a Prohibitionist and has served in various township offices. Mr. Hebron has been administrator for several estates, and has had much to do with settling estates.

On the 23d of November, 1853, our subject married Miss Elizabeth Trattles, the daughter of William and Jane (Hebron) Trattles, natives of England, in which country the Trattles were noted people. They were seafaring men, fishermen, and many of them became wealthy. Her maternal grandfather was a soldier, and was in the battle of Waterloo. Mr. Trattles came to America in 1844, and settled in Cass County, Mich., where he died a year later. Mrs. Hebron was born in England, and had seven sisters and six brothers. Her brother Daniel was a soldier in the late Civil War, was shot through the lungs and taken prisoner, being in Andersonville Prison for some time. He is yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Hebron were born five children. Blanche died when a child; Georgiana married Thomas Orr, a druggist; Nettie died when three years of age; Frank is an attorney in Nebraska; and Mark married Miss Edith Baker and lives with his parents on the farm.