Rev. E. Lardner Hendry Family

Euliff Lardner Hendry, son of James Madison Hendry and Mary Jane (Payne) Hendry, was born October 2, 1866, either at Chicora (Bradley), Polk County, Florida or Fort Green, Manatee (now Hardee) County, Florida. In DeSoto County, Florida on April 2, 1888, he married Clara Abigail Miller, born September 14, 1867, Virginia. Rev. John W. Hendry officiated.

Clara on August 19, 1884 received her teaching certificate from Peabody Normal Teachers' Institute, Madison College, Harrisonburg, Virginia. She on September 29, 1887 signed a contract with the Board of Public Instruction of DeSoto County, Florida to teach, commencing October 3, 1887 at public school # 7 at New Zion for a term of three months for $25.00 per school month. At the time of her marriage, she was teaching and boarding with the Rev. John W. Hendry.

Lardner, as he was known, was a schoolteacher, cattleman, citrus grower, and Baptist minister. On October 27, 1881 Euliff L. Hendry of the county of Manatee, State of Fla., purchased 90.36 acres for ninety cents per acre from the Internal Improvement Fund, State of Florida, i.e., the south half of the South West quarter of section Thirty one in Township Thirty-four, South, of Range Twenty-three East. It was filed December 3, 1883 and recorded January 19, 1884 on page 102 of Record of Deeds in Manatee County, and with the creation of DeSoto County, it was filed August 4, 1891 in Deed Book 19, page 674. On October 25, 1884, James M. and Mary J. Hendry of Manatee County for $1.00 transferred to Euliff L. Hendry the South East Quarter of the North West Quarter of Section Thirty One Township Thirty four S of R twenty three East containing forty acres. Both properties are in the New Zion community.

Euliff Hendry and family were enumerated in household 113/113 in the 1900 census of DeSoto County, dated June 9. Neighbors included Burrell & Henrietta Roberts and John & Civy Hendry. In 1900 Lardner moved his family from the New Zion community (also known as Tura) to the Sandy section, near Arcadia, where he had purchased considerable property. There they lived for several years before resettling at Bee Ridge, Sarasota. There he bought additional property. Manatee County records show that E. L. Hendry was serving as a county commissioner in 1909. According to his son, Delmas, Lardner resigned after becoming a Baptist minister.

Lardner was baptized into the fellowship of New Zion Church on December 10, 1894. He was an active worker in the church and Sunday School for years before being ordained to the gospel ministry on August 7, 1910 by a presbytery consisting of Elders I. A. Redd, P. O. Miller, E. J. Barber, and W. D. Levy. Lardner and Clara had joined Friendship Baptist Church of Fruitville in 1908.

The family moved back to New Zion where Lardner died on August 12, 1914. Burial was in New Zion Cemetery.

Friendship Church eulogized: "While his pastoral labors were cut short by failing health, he was an earnest speaker and reasoner of marked ability. Brother Hendry departed this life August 12, 1914, therefore, be it resolved: Brother Hendry's family has lost a loving father, the country a worthy citizen, and the church one of its most active members."

An unidentified newspaper of Thursday, August 20, 1914 reported: "Rev. E. L. Hendry passed away on Wednesday [August 12] of last week at his home at New Zion Church near Wauchula, death being caused by paralysis. Mr. Hendry was one of DeSoto's prominent families. He leaves a wife and seven children, an aged father, Rev. J. M. Hendry, five brothers and two sisters."

Clara Hendry died on March 4, 1936, Ona. Burial was in New Zion Cemetery.

Issue of Rev. E. Lardner and Clara (Miller) Hendry:
1. Delos Virgil Hendry, born Feb. 10, 1889; died June 8, 1937; married (1) Blye Garner; (2) Effie Albritton.
2. Arthur Samuel Hendry, born March 24, 1890; died Jan. 29, 1970; married on April 22, 1916 Pearl McGullion.
3. Fairy Virginia Hendry, born Aug. 31, 1895; died Nov. 8, 1988; married (1) Feb. 24, 1915 Dwight Lyman "Bud" Garner; (2) L. E. "Bill" Bell.
4. Thurston Wesley Hendry, born June 17, 1898; died March 4, 1939; married April 19, 1917 Ruby Inez Lennon.
5. Mary J. Hendry, born Nov. 30, 1901; died Sept. 22, 1903; buried New Zion Cemetery.
6. Myra Elizabeth Hendry, born March 20, 1904; died Jan. 30, 1954; married Harry Felmon Curtis.
7. Delmas Delmar Hendry, born Feb. 21, 1907; died June 9, 1987; married on July 2, 1951 Wilma Chason Hunter.
8. Halton Lardner Hendry, born May 17, 1910; died Jan. 9, 1988; married April 1, 1932 Lillian Marie Sweany.

Holy Bible, owned by Charles Whitley Garner, copied by Evelyn Hendry Blackmon

E. Lardner Hendry & wife Clara Miller Hendry

Lardner Hendry Family, ca. 1900, Seated L-R: Delos, Lardner, Thurston, Arthur, Clara; in front: Fairy

Arthur and Pearl Hendry, wedding day, April 22, 1916, Arcadia

Arthur and Pearl Hendry, wedding day, April 22, 1916, Arcadia

Arthur S. Hendry, April 23, 1916

Ruby Lennon Hendry (1897-1977) & Thurston Hendry, April 19, 1917

L-R: Evelyn Hendry, b. 1921; Garner Roberts, b. 1922; Faustine Roberts (1923-1999); Hal Hendry (1922-1974), Ona, 1927

Ruby Lennon Hendry, 1940s

Dorothy Hendry Perkins (1918-2007), 1940s

James Hal Hendry (1922-1974), 1940

Art Hendry, cane grinding, ca. 1940

Art Hendry with turtle, 1943

Art and Pearl Hendry, 50th wedding anniversary, April 22, 1966

Art and Pearl Hendry, with snow

Cythia H. Greenleaf, John Hendry, Dorothy Hendry, Richard Hendry, Carolyn Wyatt, Wauchula, June 13, 1998

Dr. Charles Robert "Bob" Blackmon (1925-2008) & Evelyn Hendry Blackmon

Janet Beckley

L-R: Jan Beckley, Evelyn Blackmon, Megan Elizabeth Beckley, JIm Beckley 111, Sept. 3, 2002

Jennifer Wyatt at "Beethoven Blast," Wauchula Woman's Club, March 28, 2009

Joey Smith, playing "Ecossaise" at "Beethoven Blast," March 30, 209

February 27 & September 20, 2002, October 26, 2003, May 10 & Aug. 2, 2007, April 9, 2009