Biography - John R. Hendricks
JOHN R. HENDRICKS. The well-known and prominent family, of which our
subject is the representative, is sketched at length upon various pages of
this volume, but we have more to say in regard to them and especially in
regard to this branch. Our subject resides on section 24. Ridge Township,
Shelby County, and he has belonged in the county since 1831. He was born
near Indianapolis, Ind., December 23, 1828, and is a son of George and Nancy
(Brown) Hendricks, being the third child in a family of five who are as
follows: Amanda, who married twice, first to Samuel Moyer, and second to
Samuel Truitt, and now resides in Texas; Samuel, deceased; John R., our
subject; Sadie, now the widow of Caleb Crawford, residing near Shelbyville;
and Zimri, deceased.
Our subject was reared upon the farm and attended such schools as the early
settlers of the county were able to provide for their children. These did
not have so broad a curriculum as is provided by the schools of the present
day, but there was a degree of earnestness which pervaded the work of those
early schools which may well be emulated by teachers and pupils of this
decade. Such earnestness gave to the minds of the young an impression of the
value of an education and the effort necessary to attain it which proved a
desirable stimulant.
The marriage of Mr. Hendricks with Isabelle Johnson took place in 1851, and
opened up a life of mutual happiness and harmony, yet it was short in
duration. This lady, who was born in Kentucky, was a daughter of John
Johnson and came with her parents to this county, and died in 1862 leaving
four children, one of whom died in early childhood; the next, Olivia,
married John Killam, and died leaving two children; George died in Shelby
County and William resides in Okaw Township. In 1868, Mr. Hendricks was a
second time united in marriage, this time with Elizabeth Royce, a daughter
of John and Nancy (Miller) Royce, who was born in Kentucky. Her parents were
among the early pioneers of Shelby County and were representative farmers,
whose memory is cherished by all who knew them. By this union one child was
born who has passed to the other world.
The pursuit of agriculture has ever been the favorite calling of our
subject. He has felt that in the life of a farmer there was a large
compensation for whatever deprivations are incident to the seclusion of
country existence. To be out of the reach of the bustle and activities of
the world and many of the opportunities for culture and education are to him
abundantly made up by the peaceful repose and freedom from temptation which
he is able to afford his family. He now owns two hundred and sixty acres of
as fine land as is to be found in Ridge and Okaw Townships, and upon which
he has placed substantial improvements, and where he has paid particular
attention to raising cattle and mules. Both he and his good wife are earnest
and active members of the Christian Church.
The political views with which Mr. Hendricks finds himself in sympathy are
those which are expressed in the declarations and platform of the Democratic
party and he longs to have the good old days of Democratic simplicity return
again. He believes that the principles which were announced by Jefferson and
which were in vogue under the Jacksonian Administration are the ones which
are best fitted for securing the prosperity of our country.
Extracted 26 May 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 536-537.
