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 OHN HENDRIX, a prosperous farmer residing in Paradise Township, is a worthy descendant of one of the pioneer families of Illinois. He was born Nov. 28, 1809, in Bath County, Ky., and is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Thompson) Hendrix. His paternal grandfather was Abraham Hendrix. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and married a Miss Goodwin, of Virginia. The maternal grandparents were natives of Virginia. Jacob Thompson was born in Pennsylvania, but his family left their home in that State, and removed to Kentucky in the early days, when Daniel Boone established himself there, and was followed by many hardy and adventurous pioneers from the Eastern States. Mr. Hendrix was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life, and struggled successfully with the many privations and disadvantages of frontier life. He became the owner of a fine farm, which by industry and energy he finally brought to a high state of cultivation, and was one of the leading citizens of the county where he resided. He subsequently moved to Ohio, and after remaining there two years came West again to Indiana. He made the latter place his home until 1842, and thence moved to Iowa, where his death occurred soon after. His widow returned to the old home and friends in Indiana, where she died in 1846. John Hendrix remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, assisting his father on the farm during the summer and attending the old log school-house of the primitive days during the long, cold winters. The educational advantages of that period were exceedingly limited, but John was a bright, intelligent boy, and acquired much general information and practical knowledge. On beginning the world for himself he obtained his first work among the farmers in the vicinity of his home, and remained in that neighborhood until he was twenty-eight years of age. at which time his marriage with Miss Nancy Goar took place. Mrs. Hendrix was the daughter of Clement and Elizabeth (Hart) Goar. Her parents were natives of Hardin County, Ky., but removed from that State at an early day. and settled in Illinois, where Mr. Goar still lives near Jacksonville, having reached the advanced age of ninety-one years. Mrs. Hendrix died Oct. 23, 1854, leaving a family of seven children, whose names are as follows: George W., Miles H., Iredell W., Samuel S., Martha E., Hiram H. and William C., all of whom are living with the exception of George, who lost his life in the service of his country during the Civil War. In 1855 Mr. Hendrix was again married, taking for his wife Miss Eliza Ann Hart, the daughter of Miles H. and Catherine (Yokum) Hart, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Kentucky. Three children were born to them Elizabeth P., Thomas S. and Nancy C., all of whom are living. Their children with one exception are all married. Miles married Miss Georgiana Hayes; Iredell W. married Miss Jane Payton; Samuel married Miss Sally E. Love; Martha E. became the wife of James R. Boone. Mr. Boone is a prosperous farmer residing in Utica, Seward Co., Neb. He and his wife are mutes, but are well educated and intelligent, and have two bright, interesting children. Hiram H. married Miss Laura A. Groves: William married Miss Alice Spellman; Elizabeth became the wife of Wilson G. Hart, and Nancy is the wife of William Surber. April 26, 1837, ,Mr. Hendrix made his first landed investment in Illinois, purchasing 170 acres of wild land on section 10, Paradise Township, to which he subsequently added thirty acres, upon which he has resided for the past fifty years. The first settlement of the county had been made but a few years previous, and brave hearts and willing hands were required to struggle successfully with the hard, rough life of the pioneer days. Cold and hunger were not the least of the difficulties to be encountered, and fathers and mothers bitterly regretted the educational privileges of which their children were deprived. School-houses were few and remotely scattered over the vast stretches of prairie, and their children were often compelled to straggle through the bitter cold and heavy snow of winter for several miles before reaching the nearest log school-house, where the barest rudiment of education could be obtained. But among the pioneers of the early days were brave men and noble women, who accepted patiently and courageously the hardships and trials of frontier life. Mr. Hendrix having come here at so early a day, has had the pleasure of witnessing the development of the country from an almost unbroken wilderness to its present state of prosperity; he has aided in making its history, and the trials and struggles of those early days now “shine at last Through memory’s sunset air. Like mountain ranges overpast In purple radiance fair.” Mr. Hendrix and his family have always been interested in promoting measures calculated to improve the political and moral status of the county. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served for many years as a Trustee. They have both been earnest workers in the church, and the Christian influence of their daily lives has extended throughout the community. Mr. Hendrix lias never sought political preferment, but always votes with the Republican party. |
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