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Historical Sketch of James HENDRICKS and Drusilla DORRIS
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The history of Drusilla Dorris Hendricks is a gem among autobiographies of early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From her earliest recollection to her final testimony, Drusilla's life is an example to all who would follow the Lord, Jesus Christ.

As Grandma Hendricks' autobiography is available in several versions and has been published multiple times, I here try to identify the various versions and ascertain how close each is to Drusilla's original. I'm grateful to LeAnn Hord for assistance in finding manuscripts, for encouragement, for ideas from her publication of this history, and for obtaining permission to use the C.C.A. Christiansen paintings.

The known versions, whether manuscript or publication:

Drusilla states that she was nearly sixty-seven years of age when she wrote her autobiography, that her hand shook so badly she could hardly write, that she was a poor penswoman, and that she had made an imperfect manuscript. One version of her autobiography states she closed her autobiography with her signature. All this indicates that she, herself wrote the original manuscript, finishing about 1877. The location of Drusilla's manuscript has remained unknown for so long, it is likely that it has perished.
About the year 2002 LeAnn Hord gave me a photocopy of a manuscript then in the possession of Mary Hart of the Henry Hendricks Family Organization. This manuscript contains the note, "Coppied [sic] by James Roskelley /from the originel work/ her Grand Son through her Daughter Rebecca. February 1904. Smithfield Utah }" The manuscript is handwritten (cursive, as I call it) with many spelling errors. It is my theory that this manuscript is the original Roskelly manuscript and that all currently known versions of Drusilla's autobiography are descendents of this manuscript.
LeAnn Hord published a book in 2002, History of James and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, that contains a transcription of the Roskelly manuscript, coupled with the footnotes, etc. that I had published here. LeAnn very kindly gave credit to me several times throughout, while down-playing her own research, transcription, and work. (History of James and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, LeAnn Hord, January, 2002, Mesa, Arizona, pp. 1-42. Prepared for the Henry Hendricks Family Organization. Copy in the possession of Robert Raymond.)/li>
There is a typescript manuscript in the Church Archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It contains the note, "1st copied by James Roskelley, her grandson, from the original work through her daughter Rebecca, February, 1904, Smithfield, Utah. 2nd copied from James Roskelley's copy by Lula Roskelley Mortensen, October, 1930, Smithfield, Utah." Lula (ROSKELLEY) MORTENSEN is the daughter of William Hendricks ROSKELLEY, who is the brother of James ROSKELLEY. ("Reminiscences of Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, 1810-1881," Church Archives, MS 8299, 24 pages.)
There is a typescript version microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah in 1943. While I've not yet examined this copy, the card catalog entry states, "1st copied by James Roskelley, her grandson, from the original work through her daughter Rebecca, February, 1904, Smithfield, Utah. 2nd copied from James Roskelley's copy by Lula Roskelley Mortensen, October, 1930, Smithfield, Utah." I assume this is the same Mortensen manuscript as MS 8299. (Historical sketch of James Hendricks and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, filmed by Genealogical Society of Utah, 1943, 23 leaves, Family History Library Film 119 Item 4.)
I think the most widely known version is that published in "the Red Book" (as Henry Hendricks Genealogy by Marguerite H. Allen has come to be known.) Allen notes that "some deletions were made by the author from the original autobiography, but it has not been edited otherwise." My guess is that Allen worked from the Mortensen manuscript. It seems to agree with Allen's text, but contains additional material, presumably the portions that Allen deleted. (Henry Hendricks Genealogy, Marguerite H. Allen, 1963 (1st edition), pp. 9-31, Family History Library 929.273 H384a or Film 928382 Item 1. 1995 (3rd edition), pp. 27-43.)
The Church Archives has a copy of pages 9-63 of the Red Book, filed under manuscript call number MS 123. ("Reminiscences of Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, 1810-," Church Archives, MS 123, 55 typescript pages.)
I have another typescript version which I probably received from LeAnn Hord. This version states, "1st copied by James Roskelley, grandson, from the original through her daughter. Rebecca, Feb 4, 1904, Smithfield Utah. / 2nd copies from James Roskelleys copy by Lula Roskelly Martanson Oct 1930 Smithfield Utah / 3rd copies from Lula Mortensons copy by Thrya Roseklly Berrett Aug 10, 1937 / 4th copy from Thrsa Roskelley Berrett July 27, 1940 by Zelda Cordingley. / 5th copies from Zelda Cordingley by James Hendricks, October 10th 1940 / These copies on onion-skin paper are in the possession of Gloria C. Atkinson. / This particular copy is a xerox of a xerox of the above onion-skin copy made by Gloria's daughter, Hollie C. Bevan"
A typescript version in the BYU Library Special Collections, MSS SC2409, includes this note indicating the descent of that manuscript: "Copied by James Roskelley from the original work, Feb. 1904. Grandson through Rebecca. Smithfield, Utah. Copied by Lela H. Johnson, Thanks, Lella. A historical sketch of James and Drucilla [sic] Dorris Hendricks. The great, great grandparents of Arthur LaMont Gifford from Lucinda Leavitt." Lucinda Alice (HENDRICKS) LEAVITT was a granddaughter of Drusilla through Joseph Smith HENDRICKS. She was a 1st cousin of James ROSKELLEY and probably had the opportunity to copy his manuscript. Lella (HALE) JOHNSON was a niece of Lucinda LEAVITT, so she may have copied Lucinda's manuscript. (Lella's mother was Elizabeth Percinda (HENDRICKS) HALE, half-sister of Lucinda LEAVITT.) I'm not certain what role Arthur Lamont Gifford played. Arthur is the son of Sarah Jane (BAINBRIDGE) GIFFORD, daughter of James Wesley BAINBRIDGE. James BAINBRIDGE is another 1st cousin of James ROSKELLEY, and I assume is the grandson that Drusilla raised after her daughter Libbie died. This manuscript seems to be more heavily edited than other surviving versions. (Historical Sketch of James Hendricks and Drusilla Dorris Hendricks, BYU Library, MSS SC2409.)
There is a version published in Our Pioneer Heritage. It has been edited to use modern grammar, spelling, and usage. (Our Pioneer Heritage, Kate B. Carter, comp., Vol. 20, 1977, p.242-272. Family History Library 979.2 H2c v. 20 or fiche 6049793.)

The text presented herein is taken from Allen, with additions from the MS 8299 manuscript. The additions are indicated by this brown color. I've added chapter divisions, headings, illustrations, photographs, and footnotes, and adjusted paragraph breaks for readability. The text of the final chapter, "Epilog," is from Heritage.

Historical Sketch of James HENDRICKS and Drusilla DORRIS
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Sunday, 08-Aug-2004 19:32:56 MDT