James Warren Hendricks

James Warren Hendricks was born Feb 11, 1854 in Salt Lake City, Utah to William Dorris and Alvira Lavona Smith. James is a Pioneer of Richmond. James is one of the founders of Black & White Days.

History

Soon after James was born, the Hendricks family moved to Richmond living in the Richmond Fort. James was gifted the nickname "Saul" while his father was reading the Bible to the family, and James went by the name the rest of his life.

In his early years, James worked on the railroad helping to build a line to Butte, Montana. A tail about his time is related:

"One morning, he arrived at the terminal early, ready to be loaded out but the man to whom he reported said he wasn't quite ready. After an hour or so, Hendricks reported again and said he was anxious to be on his way. At this the man replied, "I've had two men carrying water all morning, but I'm not quite ready." Then he learned he was being loaded with "watered whiskey" and it was noon before he was finally billed out. He thought this thing over many times on the way and wondered what the receiver on the other end would say. On arrival, he unloaded and waited. Soon the receiver came -- furiously mad. "This whiskey is all watered" and accused him of drinking it on the way and filling up the kegs with water. To this Hendricks replied, "In the first place I don't drink, I haven't touched a drip, and I ask you, could any man drink that much whiskey, drive 20 mules and two wagons and get in on time?" 

James married Frances Lucy Traveller on Jan 13, 1876 in Logan, Utah. James continued to work on the railroad for income. He worked for the railroad until 1882 when he built a home on the corner of 300 E and Highway 124 for this family in Richmond. 

James entered the practice of polygamy when he married Elizabeth Almira Merrill on Sep 5, 1887 in the Logan Utah Temple. Soon after, the Hendricks family sold their home James purchased and moved north into Cove. He began the farm for sheep and whole production, but after financial difficulty, sold his herd and went to dairy production.

He was very successful in his dairy business. In 1915, James was named "Master Farmer" and received a diploma from Utah Agriculture College for his successful dairy. 

Black & White Days

In 1912, Clarence L. Funk approached James about organizing a dairy show in Richmond and coordinated the event on the second floor of the Richmond State Bank. The show would be held at today's Harris Dairy land, off the west side of U.S. Highway 91, north of Richmond and Lee's Marketplace. They walked their cattle to the open field, and a judge on horseback rode through the crowd of cattle.

After the day was over, the men went home, waiting for another day to host another show. Unfortunately, due to a nationwide Hoof-and-Mouth Disease, the country halted all cattle, pig, horse, and sheep shows. This went on from 1913-1914. After the disease was contained and numbers were low, the first annual Western Heritage Holstein Cattle Show commenced in May of 1915. The show was later renamed to Black & White Days.

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