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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     GEORGE W. HENDRICKS, who is conducting a large real estate, loan, and insurance business in Waterville, is one of the best known men in the county of Douglas, and one of the men who have unhesitatingly moved forward the car of progress in central Washington, never abating in personal effort to enhance the interests of the country in every way possible.  In fact it is said that Mr. Hendricks has been the means of bringing into Douglas county more settlers than any other person or corporation and it is true that his name appears oftener on the records than that of any other person.
     George W. Hendricks was born in Maxwell, Parry county, Ohio, on May 1, 1861, the son of John and Nancy (Hufford) Hendricks, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively.  The father served to repel Morgan in his raids into Ohio.  Hon. George W. Hendricks, state senator for many years from Parry county, Ohio, is a paternal uncle of our subject.  John Hufford, brother of our subject's mother, was a lieutenant in the Ohio volunteer forces.  After a preparation in the common schools in Tama county, Iowa, George W. studied in the high schols in Toledo, Iowa, and finally finished his investigations in the state normal at Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Following this, he taught in Iowa and later in Tennessee, filling the position of an educator for a number of years in Iowa, Tennessee and Louisiana.  Then he came to Ritzville, Washington, whence he walked over one hundred miles to Douglas, and soon was engaged in teaching.  He opened in the real estate and loan business in Waterville in the spring of 1889, and although it was hard starting, he soon became recognized as one of the leaders in this line and he has done a remarkably large business.  In 1894 he bought the county bonds of twenty thousand dollars at six per cent, thus saving the county much in interest.  In 1897, Mr.  Hendricks combined the grain buying business with his former enterprises and continued successfully in it until 1902, when he was forced by the increase in his business to drop that portion.  He bought land in the county until he had about eight thousand acres, operating in connection with Charles G. Reeder of Spokane.  Later he sold to the Washington Land Company of Iowa, taking a large share of stock in the company.  Afterward he sold his interest in the company and has since devoted himself entirely to his private business of real estate, insurance and loans.
     Mr. Hendricks has two brothers and three sisters: Daniel B., dwelling at Elgin, Oregon, where he has won great success in the lumber business; John P., a heavy promoter and secretary of the Tri-Bullion Smelting and Development Company, of Chicago; Mrs. R. M. Tindall, of Toledo, Iowa; Mrs. Etta Farris, and Mrs. Matilda McElhinney.  Mr. Hendricks is a member of the I. O. O. F. and was raised under the influence of the Dunkard church.
 
 

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