William S. & Margaret R. Hendricks Home

Attention

The object that is described in this article is located on private property. Trespassing is punishable by up to six months of prison time. Permission should be granted before passing on private property.

History

William Smith Hendricks was born Feb 6, 1856 to William Dorris Hendricks and Alvira Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the 1860’s, William Dorris Hendricks moved his family that consisted of 15+ individuals to Richmond for a better chance of farming and raising cattle. William Smith spent the rest of his life in Richmond.

On January 23, 1879, William Smith married Margaret “Maggie” Minerva Rainey, the daughter of David Rainey and Dorothy Dennis.

This home was constructed in phases between 1884-1911. The home is a great example of early twentieth century conversion of a nineteen century dwelling of an early bungalow. The home was used to accommodate the Hendricks family, as well as possibly leasing out rooms for hotel purposes. While William was away working for the railroad, Maggie ran the hotel and farmed for the family to provide for her family. They had eight children together.

In 1917, Maggie passed away, in the home. The hotel business presumably stopped after her death. William later died in 1923. The home was deeded to their oldest daughter, Amy Gertured Hendricks Atkinson. She sold the property to Erastus Johnson and Nellie M. Merrill in 1924. Before their passing in the 1960, they sold the north end of their lot to Adonia Johnson, their daughter, and her husband Elvin J. Dennis. They built the redbrick house that is still standing today. After Erastus death in 1963, he deeded the home to Dorina and Atta M. Eskelson.

The home was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 for its "events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history." Its areas of significance are social history, commerce and agriculture/subsistence