James Asbury Hendricks
HENDRICKS FAMILY OF VALDASTA COMMUNITY
Biography by Hester Hendricks.
James Asbury Hendricks, son of Larkin and Nancy M. Gilbreath (an English woman) was born in South Carolina. About 1850 the couple, with their nine children, moved to Collin County settling four miles east of present Anna. James Asbury, 10 years old at the time of the move, drove one of the covered wagons all the way to Texas. They brought with them a few slaves and money to buy up the rich farm land.
Near the Hendricks new home lived the Derrick family. Henry Derrick was born in Virginia in1788 and married Catherine Brammer who spoke only German. They moved to Woodville, Alabama in 1815, where he was the first Judge. Henry’s son, William M. married Cynthia Joplin and moved to Collin County in 1846, settling 2 miles east of Anna, where they reared several children. The youngest, Malina Catherine (called Sissy) was born in 1854.
In September of 1861 James Asbury Hendricks enlisted in Co. D, 2nd Cav. at Dallas, Texas at age 21. After the war he went back to school for a while and at age 30 married Sissy Derrick who was then 16 years of age. The couple bout 100 acres of land at $5 per acre and settled on the land. Just before their 11th child was born, his brother left eight orphaned children at his death, and they too came to live, making 18 children in the home. In the next year the family built a large two-story home to house the big family.
The descendants of James Asbury and Malinda Catherine Hendricks number 516. The couple lived out their life on their many acres in the Valdasta area and their youngest child, Hester Hendricks, still owns a portion of the original acreage.
Their children follow. William Larkin Hendricks married Clifford Pauline Lee. He was known as “Friday.” He and his wife bought his mother’s old homestead, the Derrick farm, and lived there the rest of their lives. The old home, over 100 years old is still occupied by members of the family. Friday and his wife have 110 descendants.
Annie Laurie Hendricks married Thomas Morgan Airhart and they were the parents of 8 children. The old Airhart home near Valdasta, with its 600 acres of rich land is still retained by members of the Airhart family. There are 110 descendants of this couple living.
John Wesley Hendricks married Louella Astin and they became the parents of 8 children. Dow, the eldest child was once Superintendent of Collin County Schools. This couple have 97 descendants living.
Hannah Catherine Hendricks married Rufus A. Long and they were the parents of 4 sons, all engineers, who built roads and bridges all over Collin County. James Long was Collin County Engineer for several years. Johnny Mae, the eldest daughter, began teaching school at age 15 and helped her brothers and sister through college. Their paternal grandfather, Dr. J. R. D. Long lived near and sold his country estate to J. Wesley Hendricks and moved to McKinney where he lived until his death.
George Hendricks married Amanda Perkins. He was a Spanish American War Veteran. He died young leaving his wife and 7 small children, living in his grandfather’s old log cabin that stood on the first 110 acres the family had cleared. His wife went ahead with their plans and built a new house, where the youngest child lives now. George has 13 living descendants.
Lula Mae Hendricks married Burl Erwin Roper and they became the parents of 10 children. Their children still retain the land owned by their forefathers and are adding to it. This couple have 88 living descendants.
Mary Elizabeth Hendricks married Leeford W. Nichols and they were the parents of a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Caldwell, and three sons. The couple has 18 living descendants.
Cleveland Hendricks married Quincy Carwell and they had seven children. Charley and Douglas, the older sons, are grain dealers and land owners. Owen, another son, operates a grocery store and the youngest son is in oil. The couple have 45 living descendants.
Henry Washington Hendricks married Goldie Tillett. He was known as Doc. A daughter, Alma, married Garnet Howell and teaches in Algeria. Betty Anderson, a daughter, is employed in the Collin County Court House. Paul, a son, recently formed a non-profit organization to train and employ handicapped workers at Renner, Texas. Virginia married a great grandson of Collin McKinney, Bill Bryant, and settled on his grandmother’s old homestead north of Anna, known as the Kelley place. The couple have 21 living descendants.
Hester Hendricks, the youngest child of the original family, and the only one living lives in McKinney, where she was a teacher until retirement. She is active in literary circles of the town and is soon to enroll at SMU in Dallas to study writing.
Uncle Jim and Aunt Sis Hendricks, as the old pioneer couple who settled in Valdasta in 1850 are known, leave a total of 516 descendants, many of them still prominent in the life of Collin County today.
Biography by Hester Hendricks.
James Asbury Hendricks, son of Larkin and Nancy M. Gilbreath (an English woman) was born in South Carolina. About 1850 the couple, with their nine children, moved to Collin County settling four miles east of present Anna. James Asbury, 10 years old at the time of the move, drove one of the covered wagons all the way to Texas. They brought with them a few slaves and money to buy up the rich farm land.
Near the Hendricks new home lived the Derrick family. Henry Derrick was born in Virginia in1788 and married Catherine Brammer who spoke only German. They moved to Woodville, Alabama in 1815, where he was the first Judge. Henry’s son, William M. married Cynthia Joplin and moved to Collin County in 1846, settling 2 miles east of Anna, where they reared several children. The youngest, Malina Catherine (called Sissy) was born in 1854.
In September of 1861 James Asbury Hendricks enlisted in Co. D, 2nd Cav. at Dallas, Texas at age 21. After the war he went back to school for a while and at age 30 married Sissy Derrick who was then 16 years of age. The couple bout 100 acres of land at $5 per acre and settled on the land. Just before their 11th child was born, his brother left eight orphaned children at his death, and they too came to live, making 18 children in the home. In the next year the family built a large two-story home to house the big family.
The descendants of James Asbury and Malinda Catherine Hendricks number 516. The couple lived out their life on their many acres in the Valdasta area and their youngest child, Hester Hendricks, still owns a portion of the original acreage.
Their children follow. William Larkin Hendricks married Clifford Pauline Lee. He was known as “Friday.” He and his wife bought his mother’s old homestead, the Derrick farm, and lived there the rest of their lives. The old home, over 100 years old is still occupied by members of the family. Friday and his wife have 110 descendants.
Annie Laurie Hendricks married Thomas Morgan Airhart and they were the parents of 8 children. The old Airhart home near Valdasta, with its 600 acres of rich land is still retained by members of the Airhart family. There are 110 descendants of this couple living.
John Wesley Hendricks married Louella Astin and they became the parents of 8 children. Dow, the eldest child was once Superintendent of Collin County Schools. This couple have 97 descendants living.
Hannah Catherine Hendricks married Rufus A. Long and they were the parents of 4 sons, all engineers, who built roads and bridges all over Collin County. James Long was Collin County Engineer for several years. Johnny Mae, the eldest daughter, began teaching school at age 15 and helped her brothers and sister through college. Their paternal grandfather, Dr. J. R. D. Long lived near and sold his country estate to J. Wesley Hendricks and moved to McKinney where he lived until his death.
George Hendricks married Amanda Perkins. He was a Spanish American War Veteran. He died young leaving his wife and 7 small children, living in his grandfather’s old log cabin that stood on the first 110 acres the family had cleared. His wife went ahead with their plans and built a new house, where the youngest child lives now. George has 13 living descendants.
Lula Mae Hendricks married Burl Erwin Roper and they became the parents of 10 children. Their children still retain the land owned by their forefathers and are adding to it. This couple have 88 living descendants.
Mary Elizabeth Hendricks married Leeford W. Nichols and they were the parents of a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Caldwell, and three sons. The couple has 18 living descendants.
Cleveland Hendricks married Quincy Carwell and they had seven children. Charley and Douglas, the older sons, are grain dealers and land owners. Owen, another son, operates a grocery store and the youngest son is in oil. The couple have 45 living descendants.
Henry Washington Hendricks married Goldie Tillett. He was known as Doc. A daughter, Alma, married Garnet Howell and teaches in Algeria. Betty Anderson, a daughter, is employed in the Collin County Court House. Paul, a son, recently formed a non-profit organization to train and employ handicapped workers at Renner, Texas. Virginia married a great grandson of Collin McKinney, Bill Bryant, and settled on his grandmother’s old homestead north of Anna, known as the Kelley place. The couple have 21 living descendants.
Hester Hendricks, the youngest child of the original family, and the only one living lives in McKinney, where she was a teacher until retirement. She is active in literary circles of the town and is soon to enroll at SMU in Dallas to study writing.
Uncle Jim and Aunt Sis Hendricks, as the old pioneer couple who settled in Valdasta in 1850 are known, leave a total of 516 descendants, many of them still prominent in the life of Collin County today.
ANNUAL REUNION DESCENDANTS JAMES ASBURY HENDRICKS IS HELD MOTHER’S DAY, MAY 8
Daily Courier-Gazette, May 12, 1938.
On Col. Tom Airhart’s Farm in New Life School Community Twelve Miles Northeast McKinney – Larkin Hendricks Native South Carolina Settled In Collin County In 1850 With Wife and Nine Children – Numerous Descendants Live In Northeastern Part of County – Some Are Prominent in Various Activities of State – County Public School Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks is Great-Grandson Larkin Hendricks Founder Family in This County Eighty-Eight Years Ago.
Sunday, May 8, was observed by between 150 and 200 children, foster-children and their descendants of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, Malinda Katherine (Derrick) Hendricks, in a beautiful Bois-d’Arc and pecan grove on the big farm of Tom Airhart in the New Life School District, about twelve miles northeast of McKinney.
A glorious brand of rather cool but clear, pretty spring weather prevailed, favoring a better attendance than usual for the occasion.
The Hendricks family is one of the most numerous, as well as one of the earliest, to settle in Collin County. James Asbury Hendricks came from South Carolina when he was only a boy in 1850. His father, Larkin Hendricks, and wife left their native state of South Carolina to settle in the Lone Star state, only four years (1850) after the latter ceased to be the Republic of Texas and become a commonwealth of the American union.
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Family Came to Collin In 1850.
Larkin Hendricks, father of James Asbury Hendricks, was born in South Carolina, May 18, 1812, and came to Texas with his family and settled in Northeast Collin, in 1850. He died at his home near Anna, November 16, 1883 at the age of 71 years, 5 months and 28 days. Larkin Hendricks was married to Miss Nancy M. Gilreath in South Carolina. To this union were born nine children as follows: James Asbury Hendricks, George Hendricks, Washington Hendricks, Mrs. Lydia Echols, Mrs. Sarah Brinlee, Mrs. Jane Sanders, Mrs. Julia Groff, Mrs. Hannah Arrington and Miss Bennie Hendricks.
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? Dinner In Grove.
Following the abundant and sumptuous repast, served at the meal hour, an enjoyable program of recitations were given by several of the younger members of the family. County Superintendent, L. Dow Hendricks presided over the program, introducing the various presentations.
The program was opened by the singing of a greeting song to the more elderly ones of group, whose names and some gracious remarks were inserted in the verse.
Miss Mignon Venable, talented daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Venable of Dallas, who is an expression pupil of Miss Hester Hendricks, gave a recitation, “The Joy Ride,” which was most appropriate for the occasion, for which she drew the plaudits of the large throng,. The little Miss mother, the former Miss Thelma Rollins also studied expression under Miss Hendricks.
A recitation, “The Old Neighborhood,” was also rendered by Miss Nell Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Y. Powell of Anna.
Col. Tom Airhart, the host for the occasion, then spoke extolling the goodness and graciousness of the senior honoree of the occasion, Mrs. Mary Hendricks. He described her life from early childhood, during the Civil War, and her contribution in the perpetuation of the Hendricks family. “At thirteen years of age, when her mother died, she became a young mother to a family of eleven children, rearing them through the hard years of the Civil War, into maturity,” said Col. Tom in his eulogy. “Later in life she reared another family, other than her own,” he added. Col. Tom also told of how the honored guest had sold bois-d’arc apples and saved the revenue from her sales, so that she might buy her first saddle and wash kettle, “which in those days had to come all the way from Jefferson, instead of some mail order house,” said the speaker, who jokingly burlesqued the younger generation of the family. He closed his short tribute by requesting the family again return as his guests for the 1939 homecoming and reunion to also be held on next Mother’s Day.
A standing note of appreciation and acceptance was tendered Col. Airhart immediately after he concluded.
Two other brief speeches entertained the gathering, by Little Miss Bonnie Ruth Caudell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Caudell of the New Life community, and Master Jimmy Briggs, son of Mr. and Mrs. Turner Briggs of Houston. Both were well received.
Immediately after the program the entire group gathered on the levee along the Sisters Grove Creek, which protects the lowlands of Col. Airhart’s fine farm, where pictures were taken by H. A. L. Greenwood, veteran McKinney photographer. It was estimated that there were more than one hundred and fifty persons included in the picture.
During the remainder of the afternoon, the men folk entertained the crowd with a hotly contested baseball game.
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The Children of James Asbury Hendricks.
The ten children of James Asbury Hendricks and wife were as follows: William Larken Hendricks, born March 10, 1871, on the place where he still lives, about two and a half miles east of Anna, in North Collin. He is a substantial farmer and influential citizen. He was married to Miss Pauline Clifford Lee, a native of Alabama. on March 8, 1892. She died May 29, 1927.
Mrs. Tom Airhart, formerly Miss Ann Hendricks, who became a bride of Tom Airhart, prominent Collin farmer, on July 30, 1890.
J. Wes Hendricks, Anna, Texas.
Mrs. Katherine Long, 1411 Harroun Avenue, McKinney.
George W. Hendricks, Route 2, Anna, who died twenty-seven years ago.
Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna.
Mrs. L. W. Nichols of Anna.
Cleveland Hendricks, Route One, Melissa.
H. W. (Doc) Hendricks, Route 2, Anna.
Miss Hester Hendricks who still claims Anna as her home but is a well known expression teacher of Dallas, who for several years conducted class in McKinney.
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Eight Foster Children.
The eight foster-children of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, all nephews and nieces, children of Washington Hendricks, who died in 1893, and whose wife passed away a year later. She was before her marriage Miss Sallie Johnson. After their parents’ death, James Asbury Hendricks brought his brother’s children to live at his home and reared them as his own children, with no distinction in the affection and comforts of life that they were given by their uncle and aunt.
There were eighteen children at the family home at one time, ten of their own and eight foster-children, the latter nephews and nieces.
Three of these nephews and nieces still live, while five are dead.
The complete list of these foster-children is as follows:
John L. Hendricks of Sherman, Texas, but until recently a resident of Kenetic, Oklahoma. He is the eldest and now blind.
Mrs. Jim Anderson, who was before her marriage, Miss Lena Hendricks. She is now deceased.
Mrs. Sam Wiseman, who was before her marriage, Miss Maggie Hendricks, and who is now deceased.
Mrs. Hawk Long, who was Miss Price Hendricks, also now deceased.
Mrs. Seiz Jones, before her marriage, Miss Rose Hendricks, now living at Trenton, Texas.
Jim Hendricks of Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma.
Mrs. Joe Geer, who was before her marriage, Miss Lillie Hendricks and who is now deceased.
Mrs. Jim Aston, who was Miss June Hendricks and is now deceased.
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Grandchildren of James Asbury Hendricks.
The children of William Larkin Hendricks and wife (Miss Pauline Clifford Lee, a native of Alabama.) who were married, October 8, 1892, the wife and mother dying May 29, 1927: Mrs. Era Powell of Anna, Mrs. Willie Jim Mackey, Mote Hendricks, Mrs. Lydia Nixon, Randell Hendricks, Mrs. Esther Lee Gracy, Bill Hooley Hendricks, Mrs. Mary Lou Barnes, Mrs. Jo Kate Griffin and Jakie Hendricks.
Children of Mrs. Tom Airhart: Mrs. George Moore, W. H. Airhart, Mrs. L. H. Caudell, Mrs. G. W. Richardson, W. E. (Jack) Airhart, Mrs. Walter Emberson, James B. Airhart, John Airhart, Mrs. G. J. Cantrell.
Children of J. Wes Hendricks: Prof. L. Dow Hendricks, County Superintendent of Schools of Collin County; George Hendricks, James Larkin Hendricks, Grady Lee Hendricks, Wayne Hendricks, Curley Fred Hendricks, Mrs. Turner Briggs, Mrs. Earl Johnson, Mrs. Joe Bryant, Miss Bonnie Hendricks.
Children of Mrs. Katherine Long: James Long, County Engineer of Collin County; Kenneth Long, William Long, Malcolm Long, Miss Johnnie Mae Long, Mrs Johnnie Collins, Miss Annie Ruby Long, Mrs. Hoyt Slater.
Children of George W. Hendricks (deceased) – Mrs. Charles Mulder, Dewey Hendricks, John Freid Hendricks, Miss Edith Hendricks, Miss Era Hendricks, G. W. Hendricks and Bill B. Hendricks.
Children of Mrs. Burl Roper: George Roper, Jim Burl Roper, Bob Roper, Jack Roper, Mrs. Herschel Webster, Mrs. H. E. Barton, Mrs. Tamladge Adams, Mrs. Burl Edmondson, Mrs. Chat Beasley, Miss Frances Roper and Miss Norma Roper.
Children of Mrs. L. W. Nichols: William Nichols, Raymond Nichols, Douglas Nichols, Mrs. Lillard Caldwell. Another son of Mrs. L. W. Nichols and husband, James Welborn Nichols, met a tragic death January 21, 1928, at their home near Melissa when he was only sixteen years old. He was kicked in the head by a mule. He was a fine specimen of well-developed boyhood weighing 160 pounds who had just made his arrangements to attend the McKinney High School when the fatal mule kick ended his young life so prematurely and so promising.
Children of Cleveland Hendricks: Charles Asbury Hendricks, Douglas Hendricks, Cardia Carol Hendricks, William Wash Hendricks, Mrs. Glen Graves, Mrs. Jas Knox and Mrs. Laura (Peggy) Marshall.
Children of H. W. (Doc) Hendricks: Leslie Hendricks, Mrs. Garnett Howell, Mrs. Billy Bryant, Paul Hendricks, Betty Jo Hendricks. Another daughter, Miss Ruby Lynn Hendricks, aged 20, while a student in the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton, was drowned on July 29, 1933 in Lake Dallas. At the same time her cousin, Miss Bobbie Dowell of McKinney, was also drowned. She was a Senior, ready to receive her Degree and under contract to teach the New Life School when her tragic death occurred.
The tenth child of Mr. and Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks is Miss Hester Hendricks, single, who is a teacher of expression in Dallas, and a former teacher of her art in McKinney.
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Mrs. Tom Airhart.
Miss Ann Hendricks, one of the ten children of James Asbury Hendricks, became the bride of Tom Airhart, prominent farmer of the New Life-Valdasta community, July 30, 1890. Rev John Sanders, Methodist preacher, performed the ceremony, the good minister was an uncle of the bride. Mrs. Airhart had made a devoted wife and mother. The nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Airhart are: Mrs. George Moore, Bryan, Texas, who was not present at the reunion; W. H. Airhart, Route One, Blue Ridge; Mrs. L. H. Caudell, wife of a Chambliss merchant; Mrs. G. W. Richardson, Tucumcari, New Mexico, who was not present; W. F. (Jack) Airhart, Route One, Blue Ridge; Mrs. Walter Emberson of Valdasta, James B. Airhart, wife and one child of Seminole, Texas, all being present; John Airhart, Route One, Blue Ridge and Mrs. G. J. Cantrell, Route One, Blue Ridge.
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J. Wes Hendricks, deceased son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, lived at Anna. His widow and ten children were all present for the reunion as follows: County Superintendent of Public Schools L. Dow Hendricks, Geo. Hendricks, Route One, Melissa; James Lark Hendricks, Kenetic, Oklahoma; Grady Lee Hendricks, Corpus Christi; Wayne Hendricks, Route 2, Anna; Curley Fred Hendricks, Anna; Mrs. Turner Briggs, Houston; Mrs. Earl Johnson, Dallas; Mrs. Joe Bryant, Anna; Miss Bonnie Hendricks, student at the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton.
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Mrs. Katherine Long, 1411 Harroun Avenue, McKinney, daughter of James Asbury Hendricks and wife. Her eight children are as follows: James Long, County Engineer of Collin County, McKinney; Kenneth Long, Marshall, Texas, not present; William Long, Mineral Wells, Texas, not present; Malcolm Long, Senior in Texas A. & M. College, this year, who came up to attend the reunion; Miss Johnnie Mae Long, teacher at the J. H. Hill (Central) War School, McKinney; Mrs. Johnnie Collins, formerly Miss Jennie Lynn Long, Eastland, Texas, not present; Miss Annie Ruby Long, teacher at Vernon Texas, not present; Mrs. Hoyt Slater, teacher at White’s Grove School, formerly Miss Pauline Long. Her husband, Prof. Hoyt Slater, teacher, at Dawson, Navarro County, was present. Prof. and Mrs. Slater plan to attend the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton this summer.
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George W. Hendricks, Route 2, Anna, deceased son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, died about twenty-seven years ago. His widow is still living. Their seven children are: Mrs. Oras Mulder, Fort Worth; Dewey Hendricks, Amarillo, Texas; John Fride Hendricks, Sedalia, Texas; Miss Edith Hendricks, Anna; Miss Era Hendricks, Anna; G. W. Hendricks, Dallas; Bill Hendricks, Fort Worth.
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Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna, daughter of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, is the mother of eleven children as follows: Geo. Roper, Caddo, Oklahoma; Jim Burl Roper, Anna; Bob Roper, Anna; Jack Roper, Anna; Mrs. Herschel Webster, Melissa; Mrs. H. E. Barton, Mount Pleasant; Mrs. Talmadge Adams, Route 3, Van Alstyne; Mrs. Burl Edmonson, Anna; Mrs. Chat Beasley, Whitewright; Miss Frances Roper, Anna; Miss Norma Roper, Anna. The mother of these eleven fine children is the former Miss Lula Mae Hendricks, who was married to Burl Roper, November 11, 1900 by the Rev. Lawler, a Methodist minister of Westminster.
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Mrs. L. W. Nichols, formerly Miss Mary Hendricks, daughter of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, and husband were both present. They were married January 27, 1907 by Rev. John Duffy. They are the parents of four living children: William Nichols, Raymond Nichols, a student in the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton; Douglas Nichols, a McKinney High School student and Mrs. Lillard Caldwell of Anna.
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Cleveland Hendricks, son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, lives on Route One, Melissa. On July 20 1903, he was married to Miss Quincy Carroll by Rev. Roy Anderson. They are the parents of seven children as follows: Charles Asbury Hendricks of Melissa; Douglas Hendricks of Melissa; Cardia Carroll Hendricks, Frost, Texas; William Wash Hendricks, a sophomore in Texas A. &. M. College; Mrs. Glen Graves, Melissa; Mrs. Joe Knox, McKinney; and Mrs. Peggy Marshall of Dallas.
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H. W. (Dock) Hendricks, son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, resides on Route 2, Anna. His wife was the former Miss Jewell Tillett. They were married in September 1907. Their five children are: Leslie Hendricks, Route One, Anna; Mrs. Garnett Howell, Idabell, Oklahoma, where she and her husband are both teaching; Mrs. Billy Bryant, Anna; Paul Hendricks, student in Anna High School; Betty Jo Hendricks, a pupil in the school at White Rock. Their daughter, Miss Ruby Lynn, 20, mentioned above was drowned in Lake Dallas, July 29, 1933; at which time her cousin Miss Bobbie Dowell, of McKinney, was also drowned.
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Miss Hester Hendricks, tenth child of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, is a successful expression teacher in the city of Dallas. She was present to do her part to make the reunion a greater success this year.
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A longtime friend of the Hendricks family is Y. H. E. Powell, a veteran citizen of Anna, in North Collin, where he had lived for the past forty-eight years. He is the father-in-law of County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks. He was present to enjoy the Hendricks family reunion in the beautiful Tom Airhart grove in Sisters grove Creek bottom on this occasion. Mr. Powell was born in Greenville, South Carolina. His wife before her marriage was Miss Carrie Johnson, also a native of Greenville, South Carolina, where they were married November 20, 1884. She died at Anna, July 20, 1925, and is buried in the Old Highland Cemetery. Mr. Powell’s seven children are: Miss Odessa Powell, a Collin County school teacher, who is now keeping house for her aged father; Shirley Powell of Tahoka, Texas; Young Powell, Anna; Mrs. Frances Howell of Anna; Mrs. L. Dow Hendricks, McKinney; Miss Ruth Powell, a teacher in the Van Alstyne City Schools; Mayse Powell, bookkeeper of the Fant Milling Company of Sherman. The old father, Y. H. E. Powell, is a brother of M. C. Powell, prominent Anna business man. These two brothers are the only surviving members of a family of thirteen children. There are no better men in the entire county that Y. H. E. Powell and his brother, M. C.
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Hendricks Family Reunion Notes.
Mrs. Era Powell and husband S. Y. Powell, of Anna, helped make the reunion a success. Mrs. Powell, daughter of William Larkin Hendricks, greatly assisted the Daily Courier-Gazette and Weekly Democrat-Gazette reporters in compiling information concerning family history and those present. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have one child, Miss Nell, who was also present.
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Mrs. and Mrs. James Mackey enjoyed the occasion. They have no children. Mrs. Mackey is the former Miss Willie Jim Hendricks, daughter of William Larkin Hendricks.
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James A. Long, County Engineer of this county, whose office is in the McKinney courthouse, and wife were present. His wife is the former Miss Maye Phillips, daughter of Mrs. Alma Phillips of Melissa. She is a teacher at Lovejoy School, this being her first year at that school. For the previous ten years she taught at the Kelly School in North Collin. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton. She is a graduate of the McKinney High School in the June Class of 1923. Her husband, James A. Long, received his college education at Texas A. & M.
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The absence of Mrs. Mary Lou Barnes and husband, Jack Barnes, was greatly regretted, but they could not get here for the occasion. Mrs. Barnes is another daughter of W. L. Hendricks.
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Mrs. Jo Kate Griffin and husband, Leon Griffin, were present to help make the day a success. Their two children, Mary Jo and Kenneth, were also present.
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The tenth child of W. L. Hendricks is Jakie Hendricks, an unmarried son, who is engaged in the grocery business at Anna.
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E. L. Hodges, wife and two of their eight children of Calera, Oklahoma, came down to attend the reunion. Their children with them were: Charles Hodges of Durant and Mrs. Opal Roper of Kenetic. The latter is the widow of L. S. Roper of Anna. E. L. Hodges and wife were both reared at Valdasta, but moved to Calera, Oklahoma in 1917. Mrs. E. L. Hodges is the former Mrs. Betsy Sportsman, daughter of the late J. J. Sportsman, and a sister of the late County Commissioner Jack Sportsman. Charles, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, is Assistant Cashier of the First National Bank of Durant. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Hodges are also the parents of six other children, besides the two that came down with them to the reunion. Their other children are: Jesse Hodges, employed in the wholesale grocery business in Chickasha, Oklahoma; Ernest Hodges of Wapanucka, Oklahoma; Fred Hodges, a student in the Southeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College at Durant; Miss Callie Marie Hodges, a Senior in the Calera High School this year; Ethel Hodges, schoolgirl; Leonard Hodges, a farmer at Calera.
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Mote Hendricks, son of W. L. Hendricks, wife and three children Jack, Lee, Tommie Ray, and Mack, were all present.
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Alton Nixon and wife, daughter of W. L. Hendricks, and four children were present as follows: Barbara Jane, R. A. Polly Ann, and Dorothy Gail.
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Randell Hendricks, wife and two children, Joan Marie and Bopeep, were active members of this big group of relatives enjoying the day.
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Mrs. Esther Lee Gracy, one of the daughter of W. L. Hendricks, her husband, Ray Gracy, and their child, Hendricks Gracy, were present to mingle with their many relatives and enjoy the day.
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Bill Hooley Hendricks, son of W. L. Hendricks, was present with his wife and two children, Jack Wendell and Mont.
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One of the most popular of recent McKinney High School graduates, Raymond (Pete) Nichols, a Freshman student at North Texas State Teachers College, at Denton and a descendant of the Hendricks family, was present for the occasion. “Pete” who was one of the best half-backs McKinney High School ever had when he was a member of the football squad, tells us that he intends to major in Mathematics at College, and although he has not participated in athletics as yet, that he may take up football or some other sport soon. If he does, we are sure that the Denton Teachers will not regret his decision, although this splendid young man’s primary purpose in attending college now is to gain an education. His brother Douglas (Little Pete) Nichols is a student of McKinney High School now and one of the most promising members of next year’s football squad. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Nichols, who reside east of Melissa in the White Rock community. Mrs. L. W. Nichols was Miss Mary Hendricks before her marriage, being one of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hendricks. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have four children – Bill Nichols of White Rock, Raymond Nichols of North Texas State Teachers College, at Denton; Douglas Nichols, a McKinney High School student, and Mrs. Lillard Caldwell of Anna, who was Miss Kathryn Nichols before her marriage. There are three members of the Hendricks family, who are now students of Denton Teachers College. They are: Miss Gwendolyne Hendricks, daughter of County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks; Miss Bonnie Hendricks, daughter of Mrs. J. W. Hendricks of Anna, and Raymond Nichols. Bill Nichols is also a McKinney High graduate.
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A guest at the big family reunion who thoroughly enjoyed the occasion was C. S. Samples, a neighbor of the Altoga community. Mr. Samples and family reside on one of the farms of Dr. J. T. Mantooth of Melissa, but formerly at Altoga. This is their second year to work the land of this popular Collin County physician. Mr. Samples and wife are much pleased over the achievement of their daughter, Miss Mary Frances, who has been declared Valedictorian of the class of ninety-nine Seniors at Olney High School, in Young County. The young daughter has been residing with her aunt, Mrs. Dr. W. J. Gearhart, sister of Mr. Samples, who was before her marriage, Miss Ila Samples of Verona. The class is to receive the diplomas in graduation exercises, May 22. Mr. and Mrs. Samples have one other child, a son Billy Sid, thirteen, who is a student of the Verona School. Mr. Samples is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Samples of Verona, where his mother was born and reared and resided until her death nine years ago.
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One fine friend, H. W. (Doc) Hendricks, a son of James Asbury and Katherine Hendricks, with his family and grandchildren were present for the delightful occasion. “Doc” is a jolly, friendly gentleman, whom we have long known and liked. He and his family reside five miles east of Anna, on Route 2. Present for the occasion were his wife and his children, Paul Hendricks; Miss Betty Hendricks; Mrs. Bill Bryant, formerly Miss Virginia Hendricks and husband of Anna; and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Hendricks and four children, Charles, Kenneth, Jennie Lou and James, also of the Anna community. Another daughter, Mrs. Garnett Howell, who with her husband, Prof. Garnett Howell, are members of the faculty of the Idabel (Oklahoma) High School could not be present because of preceding duties of their school, which is near its close. Mrs. Howell was before her marriage Miss Alma Hendricks. Also attending with Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Hendricks were Mrs. Hendricks’ two sisters, Misses Mattie Lou and Beulah Mae Aston. Leslie Hendricks, a young farmer, is now cultivating 57 acres of land owned by County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks, as well as 50 acres belonging to G. P. Collins.
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We were glad to meet up with Glen Graves, a business-like young man and farmer, residing four miles east of Melissa, whose wife was before their marriage Miss Nina Hendricks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Hendricks and granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim A. Hendricks. They have five children– Audrey Frances, a student at the White Rock School now in the fourth grade; James a member of the second grade; and Dorothy Jean, Robert and Carroll Ray, too young for school.
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A popular member of the younger group of the Hendricks family delegation present was Douglas Hendricks, son of Cleveland Hendricks, who resides four miles east of Melissa. Douglas aids his father with work on their farm. Cleveland Hendricks and wife are the parents of seven children.
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Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Lyons of Route 2, Anna, mingled with the big group present. Their daughter, formerly Miss Lorine Lyons, is the wife of Bill Hendricks, a son of W. L. Hendricks, oldest of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hendricks. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hendricks have two children, Jack and Mont. They reside on Route One, Blue Ridge, and were all present for the occasion. Mrs. Hendricks is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, who reside about two and a half miles south of Westminster. Mr. Lyons has 280 acres of land in the Westminster territory where he has been residing for twenty-two years. He is a substantial and influential farm citizen.
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The Oklahoma delegation to the reunion was made up of Jim Hendricks and family of Route One, Kenetic, Oklahoma, consisting of the young man, his wife and baby daughter, Jimmie Lou, who is four years old. Another daughter Miss Maurine, resides at Anna with his mother, Mrs. J. Wes Hendricks, and attends the Anna School. Jim Hendricks’ cousin Mote Hendricks, son of W. L. Hendricks of Anna, who resides on an adjoining farm in Oklahoma, but gets his mail out of Milburn, Oklahoma, was unable to be present. Mote Hendricks has been residing in our sister state to the north for twenty years, while Jim has been a resident there for five years. Mote has three children, Mack, Jack, and Tilda, all of school age and students in Tishomingo High School.
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G. L. Hendricks, son of Mrs. J. Wes Hendricks and brother of County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks, probably traveled as far to attend the family reunion as anyone, coming here from Corpus Christi, which is his home.
Mr. Hendricks is married and has one son, Tanny, eight years old. He is connected with the Lane Wells Oil Company, with whom he has held a position for three years. He is a graduate of Anna High School and also of the Metropolitan Business College at Dallas.
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County Auditor R. E. Beasley of McKinney was present to enjoy the friendly gathering and greet the many members of the Hendricks family. His daughter, Miss Flossie Beasley, is the wife of Charley Hendricks, son of Cleveland Hendricks, who resides on the old Jesse Martin farm, east of Melissa. Mrs. Beasley was also present.
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The family of the late Dr. W. C. Bryant of Anna and the Hendricks group are doubly related in that two of Dr. Bryant’s sons and Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks. One son, Billy Bryant took as his bride, Miss Virginia Hendricks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. (Dock) Hendricks of Anna, while Miss Annabelle Hendricks, daughter of Mrs. J. Wes Hendricks became the bride of Joe Bryant.
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We were informed that John L. Hendricks, eldest of the eight children of Washington Hendricks, who were reared by Mr. and Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks as their own children, is now residing at Sherman. He resided for a number of years at Kenetic, Oklahoma. He is one of the three surviving children of Washington Hendricks. He is now blind.
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The history of the Hendricks family in Collin County has now stretched across six generations, starting with Larkin Hendricks who came here 88 years ago and coming on down to Betty and Bobby, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Richardson. Five of these generations are still living – Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks, Mrs. Tom Airhart, Mrs. G. W. Richardson, Glen Richardson, and his young twin daughters.
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The history of the Hendricks family is inseparably entwined with the history of Northeast Collin. It is a story of pioneer achievements – developing and cleaaring the fine virgin blackland soil of Collin County and making way for modern progress. The Hendricks family has always been characterized by its strong family ties, its intense loyalty to the soil and its vigor and industry, which has come on down through the several generations that have been active in Collin’s growth and development. They have also been appreciative of education, good schools and a number of them have aspired to college training.
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Among the large crowd of relatives and friends who attended the annual Hendrick’s homecoming and reunion were Mrs. Turner Briggs and her manly little son, Jimmy of Houston. Her husband, Turner Briggs is a collector for the Haliburton Oil people in that South Texas city and was unable to attend. Son Jimmy has a distinct part on the program which was rendered by reciting a poem. Mrs. Briggs is the daughter of Mrs. J. W. Hendricks of Anna and a sister of Collin County’s Superintendent of Schools Prof. L. Dow Hendricks.
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George Moore of Bryan, Texas attended the reunion as an invited guest. He has been up here in North Texas for several days visiting his father J. M. Moore, store operator at Valdasta who has been ill for some time.
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Mrs. Mary (Granny) Bowers, one of Tom Airhart’s long time and respected neighbors, who lives at Blue Ridge, accompanied her son J. E. (Spud) Bowers of New Life and children, Syble, Margaret, Irene, Evelyn, and Sam: and their cousins Douglas and James Bowers of Blue Ridge to the reunion.
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Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie H. Caudell and family of the New Life community were present at the homecoming as guests of her father, Tom Airhart, host of the event. Before her marriage to Mr. Caudell, she was Miss Jennie Airhart. Mr. and Mrs. Caudell have a family of eight fine children as follows: Norene, Dudley, Alta Marie, Imogene, Jessie Tom, Bonnie Ruth, Leonard, and James Dow Caudell. During the reunion program little Miss Bonnie Ruth gave an excellent recital.
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Miss Hester Hendricks of Anna, daughter of Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks, was on hand for the yearly get-to-gether of her well-known family of North Collin. She is an expression teacher in Dallas, where she is enjoying success, and brought with her a star pupil little Miss Mignon Venable, ten years old of Dallas, who treated the homecomers with a splendid recitation. Mignon is the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Venable 6330 Belmont, Dallas, who are former residents of McKinney. The little lady is especially talented in readings, singing, and toe dancing. Although she did not exhibit all of her talents at the Hendricks reunion, it was discernible that she is most capable. Miss Hester also had as her guest from Dallas, Mrs. Hanna Blassingame.
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Miss Louise Hendrick, and Mrs. Juanita Butler both of McKinney enjoyed the festivities at the Hendricks reunion and homecoming.
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Mrs. Burl Roper and children, Jack, Frances, and Normagene of Anna were present at the gathering of the Hendircks descendants and friends. Mrs. Roper is a daughter of Mrs. J. A. Hendricks of Anna.
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Mrs. Dora Nichols of Stoney Point greatly enjoyed the annual affair of the relatives and friends of the Hendricks family.
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Mrs. Katherine Long of McKinney and family were attendants at the homecoming and reunion activities of the Hendricks family, Sunday. Accompanying her were her children as follows: Miss Johnnie Mae Long, McKinney school teacher; Mr. and Mrs. James A. Long, he being county engineer of Collin County; and Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt Slater of Dawson, Navarro County.
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Coming from deep East Texas, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Barton and four year old daughter, Martha Anne, of Mt. Pleasant enjoyed mingling with their relatives and acquaintances. Mrs. Barton is one of the several children of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper, Anna couple.
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Mr. and Mrs. Burl Edmondson came down from Anna to participate in the yearly homecoming and reunion,, she being another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper.
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Another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna, Mrs. M. T. Adams, her husband, and two fine sons, Sam, eleven, and Bobby, seven of Van Alstyne paid tribute to their patriarchal relative, Mrs. J. A. Hendricks, by attending the reunion.
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Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Roper and baby daughter, Joyce Elaine, of Anna helped swell the large attendance at the annual Hendricks reunion. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper.
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Mr. and Mrs. Chat Beasley and young daughter, Dora Lou, of Whitewright were guests of his sister, Mrs. Chas. Hendricks at the reunion.
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Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Noles and son, Nat, of Aubrey, Denton County, came over for the Mothers Day reunion, honoring Mrs. M. C. (J. A. ) Hendricks. They formerly resided at Valdasta, where they farmed. A son, Talmage Noles, is one of McKinney High School’s outstanding football players, having received the all-district nomination at guard in 1936.
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Enjoying the hospitality of her neighbors, the Hendricks and their relatives for years was Mrs. Beverly Greer of Valdasta at the Sunday reunion.
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The four children of Mrs. Herschel Webster of Melissa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper, who was unable to attend, were present, representing their family at the reunion celebration. They were Billy Jack, Mary Lee, Dorothy Mae and Frieda Bell Webster.
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Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Roper and daughter, Bobby Lou, of Anna mingled and re-acquainted themselves with their kin and friends at the annual Hendricks reunion this year. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna.
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Joe Knox, McKinney auto dealer, and wife enjoyed the association with their relatives and others attending the reunion. Mrs. Knox is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Hendricks, farm couple residing about half way between Melissa and Valdasta. He is a son of ? O. Knox, well-known citizen and wife of Elk Horn.
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Wallace Airhart, county agent of Palo Pinto County, West Texas, and wife drove in from Palo Pinto, county seat of that county, to be present for the reunion honoring Mrs. M. C. Hendricks, widow of James Asbury Hendricks. Wallace is a graduate of Texas A. & M. College and a grandson of Col. Tom Airhart, who was the host for the Sunday reunion. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Bunk Airhart of the New Life community.
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Malcolm Long, son of Mrs. Katherine Long of this city, came up from Texas A. & M. College to attend the homecoming reunion of the Hendricks family. He is a senior civil engineer student at that great Texas college, from which he will receive his degree this spring. It was necessary that he hurry back to studies Sunday afternoon, but never-the-less greatly enjoyed the occasion.
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Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bryant of Anna attended the reunion of the descendants of the Hendricks family and brought with them two guests. Mrs. Bryant is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doc Hendricks. Their guests were Misses Mattie Lou Aston and Beulah Aston of Anna.
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Miss Hazel Lee and Cecil Lee Hendricks, children of Mrs. and Mrs. Olyn Hendricks of Valdasta were in attendance at the reunion.
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Miss Lillie Lee Sanders of McKinney daughter of Roy Sanders, McKinney Postal carrier, and wife and Miss Billy Wallis of Melissa were the guests of Miss Babe Airhart at the annual homecoming of the Hendricks lineage.
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Misses Glenna B. Gentry and Bennie Nell Johnson of Anna were guests of Miss Bonnie Hendricks, student at North Texas State Teachers College, who came home to enjoy the reunion with her relatives.
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Guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bryant of Anna at the reunion function were Mr. and Mrs. Glen Baldwin and son, Jackie, also of Anna.
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Mr. and Mrs. John F. Collin and two sons, John F. Jr. and Chas. Malcolm, of Eastland came in to spend the Mother’s Day with their mother and grandmother, Mrs. Katherine Long of McKinney, and while in this section of the state, they attended the Hendricks homecoming and reunion.
Daily Courier-Gazette, May 12, 1938.
On Col. Tom Airhart’s Farm in New Life School Community Twelve Miles Northeast McKinney – Larkin Hendricks Native South Carolina Settled In Collin County In 1850 With Wife and Nine Children – Numerous Descendants Live In Northeastern Part of County – Some Are Prominent in Various Activities of State – County Public School Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks is Great-Grandson Larkin Hendricks Founder Family in This County Eighty-Eight Years Ago.
Sunday, May 8, was observed by between 150 and 200 children, foster-children and their descendants of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, Malinda Katherine (Derrick) Hendricks, in a beautiful Bois-d’Arc and pecan grove on the big farm of Tom Airhart in the New Life School District, about twelve miles northeast of McKinney.
A glorious brand of rather cool but clear, pretty spring weather prevailed, favoring a better attendance than usual for the occasion.
The Hendricks family is one of the most numerous, as well as one of the earliest, to settle in Collin County. James Asbury Hendricks came from South Carolina when he was only a boy in 1850. His father, Larkin Hendricks, and wife left their native state of South Carolina to settle in the Lone Star state, only four years (1850) after the latter ceased to be the Republic of Texas and become a commonwealth of the American union.
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Family Came to Collin In 1850.
Larkin Hendricks, father of James Asbury Hendricks, was born in South Carolina, May 18, 1812, and came to Texas with his family and settled in Northeast Collin, in 1850. He died at his home near Anna, November 16, 1883 at the age of 71 years, 5 months and 28 days. Larkin Hendricks was married to Miss Nancy M. Gilreath in South Carolina. To this union were born nine children as follows: James Asbury Hendricks, George Hendricks, Washington Hendricks, Mrs. Lydia Echols, Mrs. Sarah Brinlee, Mrs. Jane Sanders, Mrs. Julia Groff, Mrs. Hannah Arrington and Miss Bennie Hendricks.
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? Dinner In Grove.
Following the abundant and sumptuous repast, served at the meal hour, an enjoyable program of recitations were given by several of the younger members of the family. County Superintendent, L. Dow Hendricks presided over the program, introducing the various presentations.
The program was opened by the singing of a greeting song to the more elderly ones of group, whose names and some gracious remarks were inserted in the verse.
Miss Mignon Venable, talented daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Venable of Dallas, who is an expression pupil of Miss Hester Hendricks, gave a recitation, “The Joy Ride,” which was most appropriate for the occasion, for which she drew the plaudits of the large throng,. The little Miss mother, the former Miss Thelma Rollins also studied expression under Miss Hendricks.
A recitation, “The Old Neighborhood,” was also rendered by Miss Nell Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Y. Powell of Anna.
Col. Tom Airhart, the host for the occasion, then spoke extolling the goodness and graciousness of the senior honoree of the occasion, Mrs. Mary Hendricks. He described her life from early childhood, during the Civil War, and her contribution in the perpetuation of the Hendricks family. “At thirteen years of age, when her mother died, she became a young mother to a family of eleven children, rearing them through the hard years of the Civil War, into maturity,” said Col. Tom in his eulogy. “Later in life she reared another family, other than her own,” he added. Col. Tom also told of how the honored guest had sold bois-d’arc apples and saved the revenue from her sales, so that she might buy her first saddle and wash kettle, “which in those days had to come all the way from Jefferson, instead of some mail order house,” said the speaker, who jokingly burlesqued the younger generation of the family. He closed his short tribute by requesting the family again return as his guests for the 1939 homecoming and reunion to also be held on next Mother’s Day.
A standing note of appreciation and acceptance was tendered Col. Airhart immediately after he concluded.
Two other brief speeches entertained the gathering, by Little Miss Bonnie Ruth Caudell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Caudell of the New Life community, and Master Jimmy Briggs, son of Mr. and Mrs. Turner Briggs of Houston. Both were well received.
Immediately after the program the entire group gathered on the levee along the Sisters Grove Creek, which protects the lowlands of Col. Airhart’s fine farm, where pictures were taken by H. A. L. Greenwood, veteran McKinney photographer. It was estimated that there were more than one hundred and fifty persons included in the picture.
During the remainder of the afternoon, the men folk entertained the crowd with a hotly contested baseball game.
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The Children of James Asbury Hendricks.
The ten children of James Asbury Hendricks and wife were as follows: William Larken Hendricks, born March 10, 1871, on the place where he still lives, about two and a half miles east of Anna, in North Collin. He is a substantial farmer and influential citizen. He was married to Miss Pauline Clifford Lee, a native of Alabama. on March 8, 1892. She died May 29, 1927.
Mrs. Tom Airhart, formerly Miss Ann Hendricks, who became a bride of Tom Airhart, prominent Collin farmer, on July 30, 1890.
J. Wes Hendricks, Anna, Texas.
Mrs. Katherine Long, 1411 Harroun Avenue, McKinney.
George W. Hendricks, Route 2, Anna, who died twenty-seven years ago.
Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna.
Mrs. L. W. Nichols of Anna.
Cleveland Hendricks, Route One, Melissa.
H. W. (Doc) Hendricks, Route 2, Anna.
Miss Hester Hendricks who still claims Anna as her home but is a well known expression teacher of Dallas, who for several years conducted class in McKinney.
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Eight Foster Children.
The eight foster-children of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, all nephews and nieces, children of Washington Hendricks, who died in 1893, and whose wife passed away a year later. She was before her marriage Miss Sallie Johnson. After their parents’ death, James Asbury Hendricks brought his brother’s children to live at his home and reared them as his own children, with no distinction in the affection and comforts of life that they were given by their uncle and aunt.
There were eighteen children at the family home at one time, ten of their own and eight foster-children, the latter nephews and nieces.
Three of these nephews and nieces still live, while five are dead.
The complete list of these foster-children is as follows:
John L. Hendricks of Sherman, Texas, but until recently a resident of Kenetic, Oklahoma. He is the eldest and now blind.
Mrs. Jim Anderson, who was before her marriage, Miss Lena Hendricks. She is now deceased.
Mrs. Sam Wiseman, who was before her marriage, Miss Maggie Hendricks, and who is now deceased.
Mrs. Hawk Long, who was Miss Price Hendricks, also now deceased.
Mrs. Seiz Jones, before her marriage, Miss Rose Hendricks, now living at Trenton, Texas.
Jim Hendricks of Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma.
Mrs. Joe Geer, who was before her marriage, Miss Lillie Hendricks and who is now deceased.
Mrs. Jim Aston, who was Miss June Hendricks and is now deceased.
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Grandchildren of James Asbury Hendricks.
The children of William Larkin Hendricks and wife (Miss Pauline Clifford Lee, a native of Alabama.) who were married, October 8, 1892, the wife and mother dying May 29, 1927: Mrs. Era Powell of Anna, Mrs. Willie Jim Mackey, Mote Hendricks, Mrs. Lydia Nixon, Randell Hendricks, Mrs. Esther Lee Gracy, Bill Hooley Hendricks, Mrs. Mary Lou Barnes, Mrs. Jo Kate Griffin and Jakie Hendricks.
Children of Mrs. Tom Airhart: Mrs. George Moore, W. H. Airhart, Mrs. L. H. Caudell, Mrs. G. W. Richardson, W. E. (Jack) Airhart, Mrs. Walter Emberson, James B. Airhart, John Airhart, Mrs. G. J. Cantrell.
Children of J. Wes Hendricks: Prof. L. Dow Hendricks, County Superintendent of Schools of Collin County; George Hendricks, James Larkin Hendricks, Grady Lee Hendricks, Wayne Hendricks, Curley Fred Hendricks, Mrs. Turner Briggs, Mrs. Earl Johnson, Mrs. Joe Bryant, Miss Bonnie Hendricks.
Children of Mrs. Katherine Long: James Long, County Engineer of Collin County; Kenneth Long, William Long, Malcolm Long, Miss Johnnie Mae Long, Mrs Johnnie Collins, Miss Annie Ruby Long, Mrs. Hoyt Slater.
Children of George W. Hendricks (deceased) – Mrs. Charles Mulder, Dewey Hendricks, John Freid Hendricks, Miss Edith Hendricks, Miss Era Hendricks, G. W. Hendricks and Bill B. Hendricks.
Children of Mrs. Burl Roper: George Roper, Jim Burl Roper, Bob Roper, Jack Roper, Mrs. Herschel Webster, Mrs. H. E. Barton, Mrs. Tamladge Adams, Mrs. Burl Edmondson, Mrs. Chat Beasley, Miss Frances Roper and Miss Norma Roper.
Children of Mrs. L. W. Nichols: William Nichols, Raymond Nichols, Douglas Nichols, Mrs. Lillard Caldwell. Another son of Mrs. L. W. Nichols and husband, James Welborn Nichols, met a tragic death January 21, 1928, at their home near Melissa when he was only sixteen years old. He was kicked in the head by a mule. He was a fine specimen of well-developed boyhood weighing 160 pounds who had just made his arrangements to attend the McKinney High School when the fatal mule kick ended his young life so prematurely and so promising.
Children of Cleveland Hendricks: Charles Asbury Hendricks, Douglas Hendricks, Cardia Carol Hendricks, William Wash Hendricks, Mrs. Glen Graves, Mrs. Jas Knox and Mrs. Laura (Peggy) Marshall.
Children of H. W. (Doc) Hendricks: Leslie Hendricks, Mrs. Garnett Howell, Mrs. Billy Bryant, Paul Hendricks, Betty Jo Hendricks. Another daughter, Miss Ruby Lynn Hendricks, aged 20, while a student in the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton, was drowned on July 29, 1933 in Lake Dallas. At the same time her cousin, Miss Bobbie Dowell of McKinney, was also drowned. She was a Senior, ready to receive her Degree and under contract to teach the New Life School when her tragic death occurred.
The tenth child of Mr. and Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks is Miss Hester Hendricks, single, who is a teacher of expression in Dallas, and a former teacher of her art in McKinney.
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Mrs. Tom Airhart.
Miss Ann Hendricks, one of the ten children of James Asbury Hendricks, became the bride of Tom Airhart, prominent farmer of the New Life-Valdasta community, July 30, 1890. Rev John Sanders, Methodist preacher, performed the ceremony, the good minister was an uncle of the bride. Mrs. Airhart had made a devoted wife and mother. The nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Airhart are: Mrs. George Moore, Bryan, Texas, who was not present at the reunion; W. H. Airhart, Route One, Blue Ridge; Mrs. L. H. Caudell, wife of a Chambliss merchant; Mrs. G. W. Richardson, Tucumcari, New Mexico, who was not present; W. F. (Jack) Airhart, Route One, Blue Ridge; Mrs. Walter Emberson of Valdasta, James B. Airhart, wife and one child of Seminole, Texas, all being present; John Airhart, Route One, Blue Ridge and Mrs. G. J. Cantrell, Route One, Blue Ridge.
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J. Wes Hendricks, deceased son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, lived at Anna. His widow and ten children were all present for the reunion as follows: County Superintendent of Public Schools L. Dow Hendricks, Geo. Hendricks, Route One, Melissa; James Lark Hendricks, Kenetic, Oklahoma; Grady Lee Hendricks, Corpus Christi; Wayne Hendricks, Route 2, Anna; Curley Fred Hendricks, Anna; Mrs. Turner Briggs, Houston; Mrs. Earl Johnson, Dallas; Mrs. Joe Bryant, Anna; Miss Bonnie Hendricks, student at the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton.
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Mrs. Katherine Long, 1411 Harroun Avenue, McKinney, daughter of James Asbury Hendricks and wife. Her eight children are as follows: James Long, County Engineer of Collin County, McKinney; Kenneth Long, Marshall, Texas, not present; William Long, Mineral Wells, Texas, not present; Malcolm Long, Senior in Texas A. & M. College, this year, who came up to attend the reunion; Miss Johnnie Mae Long, teacher at the J. H. Hill (Central) War School, McKinney; Mrs. Johnnie Collins, formerly Miss Jennie Lynn Long, Eastland, Texas, not present; Miss Annie Ruby Long, teacher at Vernon Texas, not present; Mrs. Hoyt Slater, teacher at White’s Grove School, formerly Miss Pauline Long. Her husband, Prof. Hoyt Slater, teacher, at Dawson, Navarro County, was present. Prof. and Mrs. Slater plan to attend the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton this summer.
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George W. Hendricks, Route 2, Anna, deceased son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, died about twenty-seven years ago. His widow is still living. Their seven children are: Mrs. Oras Mulder, Fort Worth; Dewey Hendricks, Amarillo, Texas; John Fride Hendricks, Sedalia, Texas; Miss Edith Hendricks, Anna; Miss Era Hendricks, Anna; G. W. Hendricks, Dallas; Bill Hendricks, Fort Worth.
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Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna, daughter of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, is the mother of eleven children as follows: Geo. Roper, Caddo, Oklahoma; Jim Burl Roper, Anna; Bob Roper, Anna; Jack Roper, Anna; Mrs. Herschel Webster, Melissa; Mrs. H. E. Barton, Mount Pleasant; Mrs. Talmadge Adams, Route 3, Van Alstyne; Mrs. Burl Edmonson, Anna; Mrs. Chat Beasley, Whitewright; Miss Frances Roper, Anna; Miss Norma Roper, Anna. The mother of these eleven fine children is the former Miss Lula Mae Hendricks, who was married to Burl Roper, November 11, 1900 by the Rev. Lawler, a Methodist minister of Westminster.
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Mrs. L. W. Nichols, formerly Miss Mary Hendricks, daughter of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, and husband were both present. They were married January 27, 1907 by Rev. John Duffy. They are the parents of four living children: William Nichols, Raymond Nichols, a student in the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton; Douglas Nichols, a McKinney High School student and Mrs. Lillard Caldwell of Anna.
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Cleveland Hendricks, son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, lives on Route One, Melissa. On July 20 1903, he was married to Miss Quincy Carroll by Rev. Roy Anderson. They are the parents of seven children as follows: Charles Asbury Hendricks of Melissa; Douglas Hendricks of Melissa; Cardia Carroll Hendricks, Frost, Texas; William Wash Hendricks, a sophomore in Texas A. &. M. College; Mrs. Glen Graves, Melissa; Mrs. Joe Knox, McKinney; and Mrs. Peggy Marshall of Dallas.
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H. W. (Dock) Hendricks, son of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, resides on Route 2, Anna. His wife was the former Miss Jewell Tillett. They were married in September 1907. Their five children are: Leslie Hendricks, Route One, Anna; Mrs. Garnett Howell, Idabell, Oklahoma, where she and her husband are both teaching; Mrs. Billy Bryant, Anna; Paul Hendricks, student in Anna High School; Betty Jo Hendricks, a pupil in the school at White Rock. Their daughter, Miss Ruby Lynn, 20, mentioned above was drowned in Lake Dallas, July 29, 1933; at which time her cousin Miss Bobbie Dowell, of McKinney, was also drowned.
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Miss Hester Hendricks, tenth child of James Asbury Hendricks and wife, is a successful expression teacher in the city of Dallas. She was present to do her part to make the reunion a greater success this year.
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A longtime friend of the Hendricks family is Y. H. E. Powell, a veteran citizen of Anna, in North Collin, where he had lived for the past forty-eight years. He is the father-in-law of County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks. He was present to enjoy the Hendricks family reunion in the beautiful Tom Airhart grove in Sisters grove Creek bottom on this occasion. Mr. Powell was born in Greenville, South Carolina. His wife before her marriage was Miss Carrie Johnson, also a native of Greenville, South Carolina, where they were married November 20, 1884. She died at Anna, July 20, 1925, and is buried in the Old Highland Cemetery. Mr. Powell’s seven children are: Miss Odessa Powell, a Collin County school teacher, who is now keeping house for her aged father; Shirley Powell of Tahoka, Texas; Young Powell, Anna; Mrs. Frances Howell of Anna; Mrs. L. Dow Hendricks, McKinney; Miss Ruth Powell, a teacher in the Van Alstyne City Schools; Mayse Powell, bookkeeper of the Fant Milling Company of Sherman. The old father, Y. H. E. Powell, is a brother of M. C. Powell, prominent Anna business man. These two brothers are the only surviving members of a family of thirteen children. There are no better men in the entire county that Y. H. E. Powell and his brother, M. C.
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Hendricks Family Reunion Notes.
Mrs. Era Powell and husband S. Y. Powell, of Anna, helped make the reunion a success. Mrs. Powell, daughter of William Larkin Hendricks, greatly assisted the Daily Courier-Gazette and Weekly Democrat-Gazette reporters in compiling information concerning family history and those present. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have one child, Miss Nell, who was also present.
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Mrs. and Mrs. James Mackey enjoyed the occasion. They have no children. Mrs. Mackey is the former Miss Willie Jim Hendricks, daughter of William Larkin Hendricks.
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James A. Long, County Engineer of this county, whose office is in the McKinney courthouse, and wife were present. His wife is the former Miss Maye Phillips, daughter of Mrs. Alma Phillips of Melissa. She is a teacher at Lovejoy School, this being her first year at that school. For the previous ten years she taught at the Kelly School in North Collin. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the North Texas State Teachers College at Denton. She is a graduate of the McKinney High School in the June Class of 1923. Her husband, James A. Long, received his college education at Texas A. & M.
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The absence of Mrs. Mary Lou Barnes and husband, Jack Barnes, was greatly regretted, but they could not get here for the occasion. Mrs. Barnes is another daughter of W. L. Hendricks.
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Mrs. Jo Kate Griffin and husband, Leon Griffin, were present to help make the day a success. Their two children, Mary Jo and Kenneth, were also present.
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The tenth child of W. L. Hendricks is Jakie Hendricks, an unmarried son, who is engaged in the grocery business at Anna.
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E. L. Hodges, wife and two of their eight children of Calera, Oklahoma, came down to attend the reunion. Their children with them were: Charles Hodges of Durant and Mrs. Opal Roper of Kenetic. The latter is the widow of L. S. Roper of Anna. E. L. Hodges and wife were both reared at Valdasta, but moved to Calera, Oklahoma in 1917. Mrs. E. L. Hodges is the former Mrs. Betsy Sportsman, daughter of the late J. J. Sportsman, and a sister of the late County Commissioner Jack Sportsman. Charles, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, is Assistant Cashier of the First National Bank of Durant. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Hodges are also the parents of six other children, besides the two that came down with them to the reunion. Their other children are: Jesse Hodges, employed in the wholesale grocery business in Chickasha, Oklahoma; Ernest Hodges of Wapanucka, Oklahoma; Fred Hodges, a student in the Southeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College at Durant; Miss Callie Marie Hodges, a Senior in the Calera High School this year; Ethel Hodges, schoolgirl; Leonard Hodges, a farmer at Calera.
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Mote Hendricks, son of W. L. Hendricks, wife and three children Jack, Lee, Tommie Ray, and Mack, were all present.
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Alton Nixon and wife, daughter of W. L. Hendricks, and four children were present as follows: Barbara Jane, R. A. Polly Ann, and Dorothy Gail.
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Randell Hendricks, wife and two children, Joan Marie and Bopeep, were active members of this big group of relatives enjoying the day.
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Mrs. Esther Lee Gracy, one of the daughter of W. L. Hendricks, her husband, Ray Gracy, and their child, Hendricks Gracy, were present to mingle with their many relatives and enjoy the day.
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Bill Hooley Hendricks, son of W. L. Hendricks, was present with his wife and two children, Jack Wendell and Mont.
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One of the most popular of recent McKinney High School graduates, Raymond (Pete) Nichols, a Freshman student at North Texas State Teachers College, at Denton and a descendant of the Hendricks family, was present for the occasion. “Pete” who was one of the best half-backs McKinney High School ever had when he was a member of the football squad, tells us that he intends to major in Mathematics at College, and although he has not participated in athletics as yet, that he may take up football or some other sport soon. If he does, we are sure that the Denton Teachers will not regret his decision, although this splendid young man’s primary purpose in attending college now is to gain an education. His brother Douglas (Little Pete) Nichols is a student of McKinney High School now and one of the most promising members of next year’s football squad. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Nichols, who reside east of Melissa in the White Rock community. Mrs. L. W. Nichols was Miss Mary Hendricks before her marriage, being one of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hendricks. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have four children – Bill Nichols of White Rock, Raymond Nichols of North Texas State Teachers College, at Denton; Douglas Nichols, a McKinney High School student, and Mrs. Lillard Caldwell of Anna, who was Miss Kathryn Nichols before her marriage. There are three members of the Hendricks family, who are now students of Denton Teachers College. They are: Miss Gwendolyne Hendricks, daughter of County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks; Miss Bonnie Hendricks, daughter of Mrs. J. W. Hendricks of Anna, and Raymond Nichols. Bill Nichols is also a McKinney High graduate.
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A guest at the big family reunion who thoroughly enjoyed the occasion was C. S. Samples, a neighbor of the Altoga community. Mr. Samples and family reside on one of the farms of Dr. J. T. Mantooth of Melissa, but formerly at Altoga. This is their second year to work the land of this popular Collin County physician. Mr. Samples and wife are much pleased over the achievement of their daughter, Miss Mary Frances, who has been declared Valedictorian of the class of ninety-nine Seniors at Olney High School, in Young County. The young daughter has been residing with her aunt, Mrs. Dr. W. J. Gearhart, sister of Mr. Samples, who was before her marriage, Miss Ila Samples of Verona. The class is to receive the diplomas in graduation exercises, May 22. Mr. and Mrs. Samples have one other child, a son Billy Sid, thirteen, who is a student of the Verona School. Mr. Samples is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Samples of Verona, where his mother was born and reared and resided until her death nine years ago.
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One fine friend, H. W. (Doc) Hendricks, a son of James Asbury and Katherine Hendricks, with his family and grandchildren were present for the delightful occasion. “Doc” is a jolly, friendly gentleman, whom we have long known and liked. He and his family reside five miles east of Anna, on Route 2. Present for the occasion were his wife and his children, Paul Hendricks; Miss Betty Hendricks; Mrs. Bill Bryant, formerly Miss Virginia Hendricks and husband of Anna; and Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Hendricks and four children, Charles, Kenneth, Jennie Lou and James, also of the Anna community. Another daughter, Mrs. Garnett Howell, who with her husband, Prof. Garnett Howell, are members of the faculty of the Idabel (Oklahoma) High School could not be present because of preceding duties of their school, which is near its close. Mrs. Howell was before her marriage Miss Alma Hendricks. Also attending with Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Hendricks were Mrs. Hendricks’ two sisters, Misses Mattie Lou and Beulah Mae Aston. Leslie Hendricks, a young farmer, is now cultivating 57 acres of land owned by County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks, as well as 50 acres belonging to G. P. Collins.
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We were glad to meet up with Glen Graves, a business-like young man and farmer, residing four miles east of Melissa, whose wife was before their marriage Miss Nina Hendricks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Hendricks and granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim A. Hendricks. They have five children– Audrey Frances, a student at the White Rock School now in the fourth grade; James a member of the second grade; and Dorothy Jean, Robert and Carroll Ray, too young for school.
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A popular member of the younger group of the Hendricks family delegation present was Douglas Hendricks, son of Cleveland Hendricks, who resides four miles east of Melissa. Douglas aids his father with work on their farm. Cleveland Hendricks and wife are the parents of seven children.
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Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Lyons of Route 2, Anna, mingled with the big group present. Their daughter, formerly Miss Lorine Lyons, is the wife of Bill Hendricks, a son of W. L. Hendricks, oldest of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hendricks. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hendricks have two children, Jack and Mont. They reside on Route One, Blue Ridge, and were all present for the occasion. Mrs. Hendricks is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, who reside about two and a half miles south of Westminster. Mr. Lyons has 280 acres of land in the Westminster territory where he has been residing for twenty-two years. He is a substantial and influential farm citizen.
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The Oklahoma delegation to the reunion was made up of Jim Hendricks and family of Route One, Kenetic, Oklahoma, consisting of the young man, his wife and baby daughter, Jimmie Lou, who is four years old. Another daughter Miss Maurine, resides at Anna with his mother, Mrs. J. Wes Hendricks, and attends the Anna School. Jim Hendricks’ cousin Mote Hendricks, son of W. L. Hendricks of Anna, who resides on an adjoining farm in Oklahoma, but gets his mail out of Milburn, Oklahoma, was unable to be present. Mote Hendricks has been residing in our sister state to the north for twenty years, while Jim has been a resident there for five years. Mote has three children, Mack, Jack, and Tilda, all of school age and students in Tishomingo High School.
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G. L. Hendricks, son of Mrs. J. Wes Hendricks and brother of County Superintendent L. Dow Hendricks, probably traveled as far to attend the family reunion as anyone, coming here from Corpus Christi, which is his home.
Mr. Hendricks is married and has one son, Tanny, eight years old. He is connected with the Lane Wells Oil Company, with whom he has held a position for three years. He is a graduate of Anna High School and also of the Metropolitan Business College at Dallas.
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County Auditor R. E. Beasley of McKinney was present to enjoy the friendly gathering and greet the many members of the Hendricks family. His daughter, Miss Flossie Beasley, is the wife of Charley Hendricks, son of Cleveland Hendricks, who resides on the old Jesse Martin farm, east of Melissa. Mrs. Beasley was also present.
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The family of the late Dr. W. C. Bryant of Anna and the Hendricks group are doubly related in that two of Dr. Bryant’s sons and Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks. One son, Billy Bryant took as his bride, Miss Virginia Hendricks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. (Dock) Hendricks of Anna, while Miss Annabelle Hendricks, daughter of Mrs. J. Wes Hendricks became the bride of Joe Bryant.
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We were informed that John L. Hendricks, eldest of the eight children of Washington Hendricks, who were reared by Mr. and Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks as their own children, is now residing at Sherman. He resided for a number of years at Kenetic, Oklahoma. He is one of the three surviving children of Washington Hendricks. He is now blind.
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The history of the Hendricks family in Collin County has now stretched across six generations, starting with Larkin Hendricks who came here 88 years ago and coming on down to Betty and Bobby, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Richardson. Five of these generations are still living – Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks, Mrs. Tom Airhart, Mrs. G. W. Richardson, Glen Richardson, and his young twin daughters.
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The history of the Hendricks family is inseparably entwined with the history of Northeast Collin. It is a story of pioneer achievements – developing and cleaaring the fine virgin blackland soil of Collin County and making way for modern progress. The Hendricks family has always been characterized by its strong family ties, its intense loyalty to the soil and its vigor and industry, which has come on down through the several generations that have been active in Collin’s growth and development. They have also been appreciative of education, good schools and a number of them have aspired to college training.
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Among the large crowd of relatives and friends who attended the annual Hendrick’s homecoming and reunion were Mrs. Turner Briggs and her manly little son, Jimmy of Houston. Her husband, Turner Briggs is a collector for the Haliburton Oil people in that South Texas city and was unable to attend. Son Jimmy has a distinct part on the program which was rendered by reciting a poem. Mrs. Briggs is the daughter of Mrs. J. W. Hendricks of Anna and a sister of Collin County’s Superintendent of Schools Prof. L. Dow Hendricks.
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George Moore of Bryan, Texas attended the reunion as an invited guest. He has been up here in North Texas for several days visiting his father J. M. Moore, store operator at Valdasta who has been ill for some time.
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Mrs. Mary (Granny) Bowers, one of Tom Airhart’s long time and respected neighbors, who lives at Blue Ridge, accompanied her son J. E. (Spud) Bowers of New Life and children, Syble, Margaret, Irene, Evelyn, and Sam: and their cousins Douglas and James Bowers of Blue Ridge to the reunion.
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Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie H. Caudell and family of the New Life community were present at the homecoming as guests of her father, Tom Airhart, host of the event. Before her marriage to Mr. Caudell, she was Miss Jennie Airhart. Mr. and Mrs. Caudell have a family of eight fine children as follows: Norene, Dudley, Alta Marie, Imogene, Jessie Tom, Bonnie Ruth, Leonard, and James Dow Caudell. During the reunion program little Miss Bonnie Ruth gave an excellent recital.
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Miss Hester Hendricks of Anna, daughter of Mrs. James Asbury Hendricks, was on hand for the yearly get-to-gether of her well-known family of North Collin. She is an expression teacher in Dallas, where she is enjoying success, and brought with her a star pupil little Miss Mignon Venable, ten years old of Dallas, who treated the homecomers with a splendid recitation. Mignon is the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Venable 6330 Belmont, Dallas, who are former residents of McKinney. The little lady is especially talented in readings, singing, and toe dancing. Although she did not exhibit all of her talents at the Hendricks reunion, it was discernible that she is most capable. Miss Hester also had as her guest from Dallas, Mrs. Hanna Blassingame.
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Miss Louise Hendrick, and Mrs. Juanita Butler both of McKinney enjoyed the festivities at the Hendricks reunion and homecoming.
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Mrs. Burl Roper and children, Jack, Frances, and Normagene of Anna were present at the gathering of the Hendircks descendants and friends. Mrs. Roper is a daughter of Mrs. J. A. Hendricks of Anna.
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Mrs. Dora Nichols of Stoney Point greatly enjoyed the annual affair of the relatives and friends of the Hendricks family.
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Mrs. Katherine Long of McKinney and family were attendants at the homecoming and reunion activities of the Hendricks family, Sunday. Accompanying her were her children as follows: Miss Johnnie Mae Long, McKinney school teacher; Mr. and Mrs. James A. Long, he being county engineer of Collin County; and Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt Slater of Dawson, Navarro County.
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Coming from deep East Texas, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Barton and four year old daughter, Martha Anne, of Mt. Pleasant enjoyed mingling with their relatives and acquaintances. Mrs. Barton is one of the several children of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper, Anna couple.
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Mr. and Mrs. Burl Edmondson came down from Anna to participate in the yearly homecoming and reunion,, she being another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper.
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Another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna, Mrs. M. T. Adams, her husband, and two fine sons, Sam, eleven, and Bobby, seven of Van Alstyne paid tribute to their patriarchal relative, Mrs. J. A. Hendricks, by attending the reunion.
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Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Roper and baby daughter, Joyce Elaine, of Anna helped swell the large attendance at the annual Hendricks reunion. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper.
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Mr. and Mrs. Chat Beasley and young daughter, Dora Lou, of Whitewright were guests of his sister, Mrs. Chas. Hendricks at the reunion.
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Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Noles and son, Nat, of Aubrey, Denton County, came over for the Mothers Day reunion, honoring Mrs. M. C. (J. A. ) Hendricks. They formerly resided at Valdasta, where they farmed. A son, Talmage Noles, is one of McKinney High School’s outstanding football players, having received the all-district nomination at guard in 1936.
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Enjoying the hospitality of her neighbors, the Hendricks and their relatives for years was Mrs. Beverly Greer of Valdasta at the Sunday reunion.
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The four children of Mrs. Herschel Webster of Melissa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper, who was unable to attend, were present, representing their family at the reunion celebration. They were Billy Jack, Mary Lee, Dorothy Mae and Frieda Bell Webster.
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Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Roper and daughter, Bobby Lou, of Anna mingled and re-acquainted themselves with their kin and friends at the annual Hendricks reunion this year. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Roper of Anna.
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Joe Knox, McKinney auto dealer, and wife enjoyed the association with their relatives and others attending the reunion. Mrs. Knox is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Hendricks, farm couple residing about half way between Melissa and Valdasta. He is a son of ? O. Knox, well-known citizen and wife of Elk Horn.
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Wallace Airhart, county agent of Palo Pinto County, West Texas, and wife drove in from Palo Pinto, county seat of that county, to be present for the reunion honoring Mrs. M. C. Hendricks, widow of James Asbury Hendricks. Wallace is a graduate of Texas A. & M. College and a grandson of Col. Tom Airhart, who was the host for the Sunday reunion. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Bunk Airhart of the New Life community.
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Malcolm Long, son of Mrs. Katherine Long of this city, came up from Texas A. & M. College to attend the homecoming reunion of the Hendricks family. He is a senior civil engineer student at that great Texas college, from which he will receive his degree this spring. It was necessary that he hurry back to studies Sunday afternoon, but never-the-less greatly enjoyed the occasion.
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Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bryant of Anna attended the reunion of the descendants of the Hendricks family and brought with them two guests. Mrs. Bryant is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doc Hendricks. Their guests were Misses Mattie Lou Aston and Beulah Aston of Anna.
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Miss Hazel Lee and Cecil Lee Hendricks, children of Mrs. and Mrs. Olyn Hendricks of Valdasta were in attendance at the reunion.
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Miss Lillie Lee Sanders of McKinney daughter of Roy Sanders, McKinney Postal carrier, and wife and Miss Billy Wallis of Melissa were the guests of Miss Babe Airhart at the annual homecoming of the Hendricks lineage.
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Misses Glenna B. Gentry and Bennie Nell Johnson of Anna were guests of Miss Bonnie Hendricks, student at North Texas State Teachers College, who came home to enjoy the reunion with her relatives.
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Guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bryant of Anna at the reunion function were Mr. and Mrs. Glen Baldwin and son, Jackie, also of Anna.
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Mr. and Mrs. John F. Collin and two sons, John F. Jr. and Chas. Malcolm, of Eastland came in to spend the Mother’s Day with their mother and grandmother, Mrs. Katherine Long of McKinney, and while in this section of the state, they attended the Hendricks homecoming and reunion.
