Sussman-Laabs

A Standard History of OklahomaJoseph Bradfield ThoburnVol III, The American Historical Society, 1916 William C. Hendricks. Success to some individuals seems an evasive substance, but failure is generally found to be the result of a lack of possession of one of the qualities which may be acquired by all-persistonce, industry, enterprise and resolute purpose. An inquiry into the life records of successful men shows that these qualities have been in large measure the causation of their prosperity, and such has been the case with William C. IIendricks, of Dacoma, a successful insurance broker and dealer in real estate. Mr. Hendricks was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 22, 1861, and is a son of Sylvester and Phoebe (Pyphron) Hendricks. His father was born in 1827, in Ireland, and was fourteen years of age when he emigrated' to the United States, locating in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He continued to be an agriculturist throughout his career, and died in Ohio in September, 1869, when but fortytwo years of age. He was married in 1854 to Miss Phoebe Pyphron, who was born February 22, 1837, in Hamilton County. Ohio, a daughter of parents who were New Jerseyans. She died at Toledo, Ohio, May 18, 1913, having been the mother of four sons and three daughters: John, who is deceased; Howard, who is a merchant of Toledo, Ohio; Elizabeth, who is deceased; William C., of this review; Anna G., who is the wife of Milton Jones, a merchant of Toledo, Ohio; and Charles G. and Minnie, who are both deceased. William C. Hendricks was educated in the public schools of Hamilton County, Ohio, and his father having died when he was but eight years of age, he early learned not only to be self-supporting, but to contribute to the family income. When still a lad he secured his first business experience in the capacity of clerk in a store, and also worked on the farm, continuing to be thus engaged until 1882, when he removed to Peabody, Kansas, and there for seven years followed contracting and building. He later turned his attention to the lumber and hardware business at Lincolnville, Kansas, being thus employed for three and one-half years, and in 1893, when the Cherokee Strip was opened, came to Oklahoma and settled on a tract of Government land, three miles from the present Town of Dacoma. Mr. Hendricks continued to be personally engaged in farming and stockraising on this property for sixteen years, and brought it to a high state of cultivation, making improvements of a modern character and erecting fine and substantial buildings. In 1909 he left the farm and moved into the city, where he has since been engaged in the real estate and insurance brokerage business, although he continues to own the homestead, where operations are being carried on by his superintendent. Mr. Hendricks has been successful in building up a prosperous realty and insurance business, and has served as the medium through which some large transactions have been carried on. He is an enthusiastic booster of Dacoma and has been a largo contributor to the town's prosperity as a builder and in attracting outside capital here. It was through his individual efforts that the first rural free delivery mail route was established out of Alva, and he was one of the organizers of the Hopeton Telephone Company, which has done much to build up this locality, and of which he has been president for several years. His well-known business integrity and straightforward manner of dealing brought him favorably before the public, and in 1911 he was elected to the office of mayor of Dncoma, serving therein during 1911 and 1912 and making an excellent official under who^e administration a number of reforms were inaugurated. He is active in republican politics, having served as delegate to both county and state conventions. Fraternally, Mr. Ifendricks is affiliated with the Masons, in which he has attained to the Scott'sh Rite degree, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. With his family, he attends the United Brethren Church. Mr. Hendricks was married November 9, 1882, at Macon. Missouri, to Miss Annie M. Beeton, who was born November 2, 1861, at Cherry Grove, Ohio, daughter of Ephraim and Melisa Beeton, the former a native of England and the latter of Ohio. Mrs. Hendricks died November 7, 1910. Three children were horn to this union: Howard C., born July 29, 1884; Bessie M., born March 9, 1886; and Everett J., born June 19, 1888, who died November 24, 1912.