hendricksg
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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