An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 350 WILLIS A. HENDRIX has the distinction of having been born in the Web-Foot State, where also, he has passed the years of his life, mostly. He is a son of Oregon in which the state may take pride, being one of those substantial producers, who make the strength and the stability of any good country. He was born in Yamhill county, on May 8, 1861, and his parents, Abijah and Mary J. (Dickerson) Hendrix, were worthy pioneers to this state when it was a wilderness, and when they had to endure all the hardships known on the frontier and battle with the trying opposition found so plentiful in those days and conditions. The father came to Oregon in 1843, thus being one of the first few white men who planted the stars and strips in this now great and rich territory. He was a native of Georgia and came from an old and respected American family. The trip across the plains was made with ox teams and some trouble was experienced with the Indians. The mother came across the plains with her parents in 1845, being then sixteen years of age. The Indians attacked them and they had great trials. Their stock was stolen and some died and they finally reached The Dalles with a couple of cows, having suffered from Indians, from shortage of provisions, and from cholera. She was born in Virginia, and her mother was also a native of that state. Her father was born in Kentucky. Mrs. Hendrix is now living with the son, who is the immediate subject of this article. Her husband died on the old donation claim in Yamhill county where they spent so many days of pioneer life, and the date of that sad event was July 29, 1872. It is of interest to note that when Mrs. Hendrix's parents got to The Dalles in 1845, they were not able to get over the mountains, but lashed two canoes together and thus transported what they had left to Portland. Our subject was reared and educated in the native county and on November 9, 1876 landed in Wasco county, the balance of the family coming at that time, also. He has labored here since and he now has to show a fine farm of seven hundred and twenty acres, six hundred of which are tillable, and he cut this year four hundred and fifty acres of grain. The improvements are in good taste and plenty and Mr. Hendrix is considered one of the leading farmers of this section. On December 8, 1883, at the house on the farm, Mr. Hendrix married Miss Amy F. Griffin, who was born in Lane county, Oregon, on September 1, 1861. Her father, Joseph Griffin, was one of the early pioneers to Oregon, crossing the plains with ox teams in 1852. He took a donation claim in Yamhill county and upon a trip to the east side of the mountains, his team backed off the grade and killed him on August 13, 1884. He had married Mary Mayhew, who crossed the plains with her parents in early days. Her wedding occurred in this territory and she died when Mrs. Hendrix was an infant, she being an only child. Mr. Hendrix has five brothers, Wilbur, his twin, Edward, Campbell, John, and James. To our subject and his wife three children have been born, Claud, Guy, and Harry, all at home. Mr. Hendrix is a member of the United Artisans, to which order his wife and sons Claud and Roy also belong. He is an active Republican and is frequently at the county conventions. To various offices he has given his time, but he is never reaching for the emoluments of office. Mr. Hendrix owns a cozy home in Dufur, where the family dwells about half of the time. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.