Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 28

The popular, efficient and courageous deputy sheriff and constable at Laton, Cal., Roy Hedrick, is also the proprietor of the Laton Garage where he is building up a large and successful business in automobiles and motor trucks, being the general agent at Laton for the Chevrolet autos and trucks. He is a native of Shirley, Ind., where he was born May 7, 1883, a son of James and Mollie (Connor) Hedrick. His mother passed away when Roy was nine months old, after which he was reared in the home of his maternal step-grandparents, Hugh and Sarah Anderson, who were farmers near Shirley, Ind. Here he attended the public school of the district and, when old enough to help, assisted his grandfather with the work on his farm.

In 1903, when twenty years of age, Roy Hedrick decided to take a trip to California, where he had an uncle, David Hedrick, residing one and a half miles east of Laton, and who had encouraged his coming to the Golden State. At first he worked on farms in the vicinity and being enterprising and economical in his habits saved his money, and after a while bought a place near his uncle which he improved and later sold to his brother Charles Hedrick. Afterwards Mr. Hedrick purchased seventeen acres of land located three-quarters of a mile east of Laton, which he still owns.

In 1916 he started in the automobile repair business, leasing from Daniels and Rutherford, former proprietors of the Laton Garage, and in 1919 bought the garage, the building being formerly owned by W. H. Daniels. When Mr. Hedrick took over the garage the business had run down, bat soon afterwards, by his good management. Mr. Hedrick succeeded in building up a prosperous and successful business. He employs a competent mechanic all of the time and by thorough workmanship and prompt and efficient service he is making a name for his garage throughout this section of the county. Some idea of the magnitude to which his business has grown can be gathered from the fact that in the month of September, 1918, he sold seventeen Chevrolet touring cars. His business also includes the handling of Chevrolet motor trucks, of which he has sold several, and a general repairing business, as well as dealing in motor accessories, tires and gasoline During his fifteen years of residence at Laton, the course of his business life has been decidedly upward and during the past seven years Mr. Hedrick has held the office of constable and deputy sheriff at Laton, being elected to the former and appointed to the latter by the various sheriffs. Roy Hedrick is a large and powerful man physically and is especially endowed by nature for the position of a peace officer. He is courageous, intelligent, and possesses all other requisite qualities for the making of an ideal deputy sheriff.

In 1905, August 4, Roy Hedrick was united in marriage with Miss Susan McGuire, of Laton, and this happy union has been blessed by three children: Le Roy, Charlotte, and Naomi.

Fraternally, Mr. Hedrick is a member of Laton Lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F., of Laton, Cal. He is the owner of seven residence lots in Laton and has built a comfortable home where he and his happy family reside.