Hendrix, William 1838-1923

HENDRIX, WILLITS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/16/2016 at 19:27:22

Letts, Iowa, Louisa County
January 10, 1923

William Hendrix, Pioneer Resident, Passes Away

William Hendrix, fourth child of Henry Day and Theodosia Willits Hendrix, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, May 21, 1838, and died at his residence near Letts, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1923, aged 84 years, 7 months and 20 days.

When he was five years old his father and mother with the family, then consisting of six children, moved to 76 Township, Muscatine County, Iowa. Henry Hendrix, therefore, had a continuous residence in Muscatine County for over 79 years.

Five years after arriving in Muscatine County his mother died, leaving the father Henry with seven small children. In 1850 his father married to Mrs. Margaret Whittaker. Three children were born to this union.

In 1865, William Hendrix, after serving through the Civil War as a member of Co. F. 35th Iowa Infantry, including the memorable siege of Vicksburg, returned, having received an honorable discharge. He then purchased a portion of his father’s farm, which he lived upon until his death.

On June 15, 1865, he was married at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to Rebecca Charlotte Willits. To this union were born ten children—eight sons and two daughters. All except Ledru and Novella lived to mourn his death.

For fifty-seven years, through those strenuous early pioneer days and then through the quiet days of their old age, Father and Mother Hendrix patiently and cheerfully labored on raising their large family to health and years of maturity, and making real to all of them the blessed memories of Home, Sweet Home. No love on earth could exceed that which existed between Father and Mother, and when she died on January 1st his heart was broken. He survived her only nine days.

Early in life he was converted to the Christian faith, and was a loyal member of the M. E. Church. He lived as he died with a supreme faith in all-wise divine providence and the certainty that he was going home to meet his loved ones gone before and be forever with Jesus, his Master.

He lived to see his son, Edwin, serve through the Spanish-American War in 1898, and return safely. He saw his youngest son, Ledru, enter the great World War, with two grandsons, Clinton and Vernon, in 1918, and knew the sorrows of two great losses, when Ledru and Clinton made the supreme sacrifice in France.

He leaves two sisters, Mrs. Ellen Wagner, Ashland, Oregon, Mrs. Matilda Letts, Letts, Iowa, an adopted daughter, Mrs. F. E. Hendrix, Perry, Iowa, also eight surviving children, as follows: Henry C. Hendrix, of Letts, Iowa; Norbury T. Hendrix, of Clinton, Iowa; Leslie B. Hendrix, of Letts, Iowa; Mrs. Stella B. Robertson, of St. Francis, Kansas; Walter W. Hendrix, of Pittsburgh, Penn.; Edwin C. Hendrix of Norton, Kansas; L. Day Hendrix, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Wilmot C. Hendrix, of Letts, Iowa.

Services were conducted at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Letts, Iowa, at 2:00 P.M., January 12th, by Rev. R. L. LaMott, pastor, assisted by Shelby Norman. Post G. A. R. and the Women’s Relief Corps of Muscatine, Iowa. A large number of sorrowing friends and relatives followed his earthly remains to the grave in Letts cemetery and laid them tenderly beside those of his life’s mate, recently interred. Theirs was a caring and happy life together here upon earth, and they are surely translated to that Heavenly land where partings are no more.

Source: Letts, Iowa newspaper, issue dated after his death in January 1923