Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1111 - 1112

 REV. W. B. HENDRYX, President and Business Manager of the Garfield Institute, at Wichita, was born in Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1835. His parents were Loren and Laura F. (Gould) Hendryx, natives respectively of New York and Vermont, and the mother closely allied to the great Gould family.  Loren Hendryx was for many years interested in  an iron furnace in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, of which State his father was one of the earliest pioneers, settling on the side of the little mountain near Painesville as early as 1714. There he engaged extensively in farming, but spent his last days and died in Cuyahoga County. His son Loren later removed to Michigan, and died in Lenawee County, that State.

             The maternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Gould by name, was born on the shores of Lake Champlain, and upon reaching manhood participated in the Indian War. W. B., the subject of this biography, was a little lad ten years of age when he was deprived of a mother's care by death, and subsequently became an inmate of the home of Mr. Adams, with whom he remained until eighteen years old. In the meantime he assisted in the various employments of the farm, and completed his education in the college at Hiram, Portage County. Subsequently he engaged as a teacher in the district schools of Fulton and other counties in Ohio, and later laid the foundation of West Royalton Academy.

             Wishing now to brighten up his intellect by additional study, Mr. Hendryx entered New York Collegiate Institute, and after emerging from this, made his way to New Jersey, where he sojourned for a time, then resumed teaching, and finally returned to West Royalton Academy, where for three years he was Principal and thirty months actually at work. This proved a severe strain upon his system, and abandoning his labors as instructor he started off upon a tour through the country, visiting the Middle and Western States, which recreation proved of great benefit.

             Mr. Hendryx was ordained to the ministry at Chicago, Ill., in 1868, although he had officiated in the pulpit for some ten years previously. He was first stationed at Huntington, Ind., where he remained two years, and afterward pursued his clerical duties in Rowland, Mich., Ligonier, Greensburg, Remington and Newville, Ind., and finally went to Cleveland, Ohio. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Clara, daughter of Dr. Stephen Houghton, of Amboy, Fulton Co., Ohio. Mrs. Hendryx was born in that county and became the mother of one child, a son, Clark M. Her death took place in 1873.

            Our subject in 1874, contracted a second marriage, with Miss Mary Wilson, a native of Decatur County, Ind., and the daughter of Justus Wilson, at that place. Of this union there have been born four children, namely: Elmer E., Addie L., Clifton J. and Shirley. 

            After leaving the city of Cleveland Mr. Hendryx was stationed first at Collinwood, then at East Cleveland, where a church was organized, and soon afterward his health entirely failed. After a season of rest and recuperation, he once more assumed his ministerial duties, taking up his abode in Mentor, and was pastor of the Garfield Church there two and one-half years. In 1885 he came to Wichita, assuming charge of the Central Church at the corner of Market and Second streets, whose interests he looked after until being honored with his present position. 

            Mr. Hendryx conscientiously supports the principles of the Republican party. His neat and comfortable residence is pleasantly located at the corner of University and Hiram avenues, while his business headquarters are at No. 205 North Main street.

[ Home ]