George Roland Hockey was born on 17 January 1873 in England. His parents were James and Elizabeth Young Hockey who lived in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. George married Alida “Lyda” Federspiel on 27 June 1891 in Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan. Lyda's parents were John N. and Sophia Zimmerman Federspiel.

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George and Lyda had the following children:

1. Mary Edith Hockey was born 12 January 1893

2. Joseph Chester Hockey was born 5 August 1896 in Lakefield Township.

3. George William Hockey was born 5 August 1896 in Lakefield Township

4. Clarence Hockey

5. Vivian Hockey

George and Lyda owned and operated 38 acres in Section 9 on Meridian Road between Swan Creek and Roosevelt Roads in 1896. Their neighbors were Tom Gulick, David DeBar, Jacob Lauer, John Shay and Charles Eggebrecht.

George was appointed to Overseer of the Highways District #2 for Lakefield Township on April 5, 1897.

The book “Lest We Forget” written Myron F. Gulick, states: “Alida Federspiel Hockey, was the writer of “Jumbled Poems”.  She also wrote the little tributes to persons who lived near her, or she knew as friends. She was respected by all who knew her; her happy face lives with us still, and the wisdom she left us cannot be overstated."

By 1920, George and his family are living in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.  Two more children had been born.

George passed away on 29 December 1939 and Lyda on 20 July 1960. They are buried in the Lafayette Township Cemetery, Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.

SOURCES: Lakefield Township Records; 1896 Lakefield Township Plat Map; 1880, 1894, 1900, 1920 Michigan Census; Aleda Federspiel birth record; George Roland Hockey's WWI draft registration; George and Alida's marriage record; Joseph Hockey's birth record; George William Hockey's birth record; George Hockey II marriage record; George and Alida Find A Grave Website; Mary Edith Hockey Snover's Find A Grave Website..