Though he found it to be a fair-sized city with work readily obtainable, he left at once for the unknown wilds of Alabama. Finding some rich bottom land that he hoped some day to own, he took a job in a small, isolated store and began to save his money, dreaming of the day when he would own land as well as his own store.
When news came that a settlement was to be established on a piney-woods ridge in Perry County. William set out to open the first store (*1) in the new village called Marion. He soon found that he needed a partner to share the work as well as to furnish additional operating capital, so he invited John Howse to become his partner. The name, Hendrix and Howse,(*3) was given to the new partnership.
Across the open space that was set aside as a courthouse square Thomas Oliver, a wealthy South Carolinian, built a two-story frame house that was considered a mansion in its day. William was attracted to a beautiful daughter in this family, Althea Vernon Oliver, and persuaded her to become his wife. They went to live on a plantation that his prosperous store business had enabled him to buy.
Their first child was my mother, Laura, who was in time followed by four brothers and one sister besides several babies who died in infancy. William loved plantation life, but when the children reached school age he moved the family to Marion to enter Laura in Marion Female Seminary [1836 [Harris p93] and the other children in other schools.
When Laura graduated the family returned to the plantation (*2) where she assumed much of the responsibility for the household due to the prolonged absences of her mother at health resorts. She proved to be a wonderful organizer and entertainer and was much loved by her family and the servants.
Samuel Parker, a young physician just beginning his career, wooed and won Laura. (*4) From this marriage came Mary and William Hendrix Parker. Following the death of Dr. Samuel Parker, Laura married my father, Col. James Hamner, a member of the Confederate Army.
Somebody Might Come is is written against the background of these family roots, which go deep into the history and heritage of the South. It is my belief that the finest qualities of that heritage are reflected in the very warm and wholesome life that Florence Parker Hargis and her husband, Estes, have found at Daffodil Hills.
Without years of creative development on their part, there would be no Daffodil Hills. It is to them that major credit for this book belongs, for they have created the loveliness which it depicts. My thanks to them as well as to the artists and photographers who have contributed to the book.
Amarillo, Texas , December, 1958
LAURA V HAMNER
*1 - as is usual, All information must be thoroughly checked! - According to Harris' Perry Copunty Heritage the first stores were established in th 1820's, so by the time William Hendrix came (after 1835?), many were already established. [Harris pp20-23]-fpm
*2 - Harris, p138 "William Hendrix was a planter who lived in the Radfordville Beat. In 1860, he was the owner of 26 slaves."
*3 under caption "Stores in the [18]50's, Harris, p156 states "John Howze and Lewis Tutt operated a store which offered 'Wholesale and Retail Groceries and Western Produce' This store became "Howze and Hendrix" in 1861." Harris reference is an original bill, dated 1857, in his collection. - [again, careful with memories! - fpm
*4 according to my copes of census records, the 1850 shows the family in the "Severe Beat" and Laura's age is shown as 10; the 1860 does not show her in the "Radfordsville Beat" with her parents W. M and Althea V. Hendrix. The 1860, however, shows a Saml Parker 26 Vt and Laura L, 20 and Wm H, 6 mo in the "Severe Beat".