GEORGE M. HENDRICKSON.

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         George M. Hendrickson engages in general farming and stock-raising on an excellent homestead of two hundred and forty acres in Union township, Louisa county. He was born in this county August 23, 1869, and is a son of Austin and Mary E. (Tindall) Hendrickson. His parents are both natives of Indiana in which state they were also married, but soon thereafter they came to Iowa, locating in Union township. There Mr. Hendrickson at one time owned two hundred and forty acres of land, but at the present time he is farming on a very small scale, living practically retired. Unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson there were born eleven children: Thomas W., who lives in Columbus Junction; C. W., who is residing on the old homestead in Union township; George M.; Ira W., who makes his home in Canby, Minnesota; Milton T., who is living in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Mary, the wife of Louis Owens, of Colorado; and Minnie A., who married Edgar Todd, of Union township; and four who died in infancy.

         The public schools of Louisa county provided George M. Hendrickson with a good general knowledge of the common branches, during which time he was also becoming versed in the science of agriculture by assisting in the cultivation of the homestead. At the age of seventeen he left the parental roof and began his career as an agriculturist. For six years thereafter he farmed rented land, during which time he managed to save sufficient money to enable him to buy forty acres. This he also cultivated for six years and then disposing of it he rented the homestead of his father-in-law for three years. At the expiration of . . .

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. . . that period he bought the property, which contained one hundred and sixty acres, located on section 19, Union township, which he has ever since cultivated. Success having attended his efforts he has added to his holdings at divers times until he has acquired two hundred and forty acres of finely improved land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. In addition to the tilling of his fields Mr. Hendrickson raises and feeds stock for the market, which has proven to be a very remunerative undertaking.

         Mr. Hendrickson’s plans for a home had their culmination in his marriage on the 23d of March, 1893, to Miss Elizabeth P. Kelch. She is a native of Stark county, Illinois, her natal day having been October 3, 1876, and her parents Michael and Emma (Hampson) Kelch. The parents were born in New York but married in Illinois in 1872, and there they were residing when Mr. Kelch passed away on the 3d of January, 1881. Their family numbered four children, as follows: Sarah, the wife of Otto Schebiel, of Washington, Iowa; Minnie, who married Charles Hamilton, of Montana; Elizabeth P., now Mrs. Hendrickson; and Clara, the wife of C. N. Edwards, of Lone Tree, Iowa. On the 13th of March, 1888, Mrs. Kelch was married to Edward Harmon, of Indiana, and unto them was born one daughter, Florence, who married Lester Orr, of Union township.

         The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson has been blessed with three daughters and one son, as follows: Mabel G., who was born on the 20th of March, 1894; Emma R., who was born on the 15th of August, 1895; Jake W., who was born on the 13th of September, 1897; and Jessie L., whose birth occurred on the 25th of August, 1899. The two elder girls have attended high school.

         The family always attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church of which Mrs. Hendrickson is a member, while Mr. Hendrickson accords his political support to the republican party. He is one of the self-made men of Louisa county, for such success as he has attained in his vocation has been the direct result of his own industry and capably directed efforts.