Lawrence H. Hedrick Biography


	This biography appears on pages 426-430 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				LAWRENCE H. HEDRICK. 

	Lawrence H. Hedrick, engaged in law practice at Hot Springs, was 
born in Warren county, Indiana, November 21, 1880, his parents being 
Scott L. and Ada (Pollock) Hedrick, the former born in Warren county, 
Indiana, and the latter in Cahoka, Missouri, November 22, 1859. She is 
now the wife of W. B. Craven, a banker of Ardmore, South Dakota. 

	Lawrence H. Hedrick was brought to this state in early boyhood 
and attended the public schools of Oelrichs, Dudley and Edgemont, South 
Dakota, after which he spent a short time in the Normal School at 
Spearfish and later attended Black Hills College, Hot Springs, being 
graduated in 1897 on the completion of a course in the academic 
department. In 1902 he entered the University of Missouri for the study 
of law and completed a course in the law department with the class of 
1905. Before preparing for the bar, however, he had considerable 
business experience. At the age of seventeen years he was employed as 
night clerk in a hotel at Edgemont and after remaining there for a 
short time obtained a position as bookkeeper with a railroad contractor 
on the Scott's Bluff & Nebraska branch of the Chicago. Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad. He spent five months in that connection and was then 
in the employ of the 21 Horse Ranch in Wyoming. He next accepted a 
position with E. Elsey, of Hot Springs, as clerk and bookkeeper but 
when six months had passed returned to Edgemont, where he secured a 
clerkship in a store belonging to his stepfather, D. E. Snively, one of 
the best and most favorably known men of the Black Hills country, whom 
Mr. Hedrick held in the highest esteem. Mr. Snively laid out the first 
road from Chadron, Nebraska, to Hot Springs, and was prominently 
connected with the substantial development and improvement of that 
section of the country. Mr. Hedrick continued with his stepfather for 
about eighteen months, when he temporarily accepted the position of 
cashier of the Bank of Edgemont. After a few months spent in that 
connection he entered the employ of the Burlington Railroad in the 
depot service at Newcastle, Wyoming, where he worked until he was 
compelled to return to Edgemont and take over the mercantile business 
of his stepfather, whose health had failed and who died soon afterward. 
Mr. Hedrick closed out the business in the course of a few months and 
then accepted a position with the Standard Oil Company as traveling 
salesman out of St. Joseph, Missouri. He was then about twenty years of 
age and remained with that corporation for over a year. 

	Thinking to find a broader and more congenial field in a 
professional career, Mr. Hedrick entered the law school of the 
University of Missouri and therein pursued the regular course. He 
afterward went to Kentucky on a visit and became interested in some 
coal mines in that state, there spending about six months in financing 
the mines. Because of the death of his father-in-law, W. A. Logan, in 
January, 1906, he was compelled to go to Richmond, Kentucky, to settle 
the estate and for a, year managed a large cold storage and ice plant 
there. 

	In the latter part of December, 1907, Mr. Hedrick came to Hot 
Springs and entered into a law partnership with Loomis S. Cull under 
the firm name of Cull & Hedrick, an association that was continued 
until June, 1910, at which time Mr. Cull was appointed register of the 
land office at Rapid City. Since that time Mr. Hedrick has continued in 
the practice of law alone and is now accorded a liberal clientage that 
has connected him with much important litigation. He is well known as 
an able lawyer and a brilliant orator, and he is also president of the 
Ardmore State Bank, a director of the People's National Bank at Hot 
Springs, president of the Fall River Abstract Company and a partner of 
Dr. F. E. Walker in the Walker-Hedrick Pharmacy. He is likewise 
president and manager of the Hedrick Holding Company, making 
investments in farm loans and lands at Hot Springs. The spirit of 
enterprise and progress actuates him at all times and whatever he 
undertakes he carries forward to successful completion. Until January, 
1915, he was states attorney of Fall River county, in which position he 
served four years and won an enviable reputation as a most forceful 
prosecutor; was also city attorney for two years; and for two years has 
filled the office of city auditor of Hot Springs. 

	On the 7th of September, 1905, Mr. Hedrick wedded Miss Lurline 
Logan, who was born in Madison county, Kentucky, June 23, 1881, a 
daughter of William A. and Sally (Grimes) Logan, both of whom were 
natives of Jessamine county, Kentucky, In early life the father 
followed farming but afterward became a merchant and promoter. In 1892 
he arrived in South Dakota, settling near Hill City, where he was 
engaged in the mining business. Later he went to Madison, South Dakota, 
where he conducted a dairy business, and afterward he went to Iowa, 
residing at Perry. Still later he lived at Des Moines and then returned 
to Madison county, Kentucky. There he made his home throughout his 
remaining days but passed away in Denver, Colorado, where he had gone 
for the benefit of his health. His widow now resides at Sacramento, 
California. Mrs. Hedrick, who is the oldest of their four children, was 
educated at Louisville, Kentucky, in the Black Hills College at Hot 
Springs, and at Madison, South Dakota, and Perry, Iowa, and ultimately 
was graduated from the department of music of Drake University at Des 
Moines in 1904, and was in lyceum work as a vocalist on the concert 
stage for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Hedrick have one child, Lois 
Lurline, born August 16, 1907. They own one of Hot Springs' most 
beautiful homes. 

	The family hold membership in the Episcopal church and Mr. 
Hedrick's political views are those of the republican party. He 
formerly as captain commanded a militia company at Hot Springs until it 
was disbanded and he is now regimental adjutant of the Fourth Infantry, 
South Dakota National Guard. He was secretary of the Hot Springs 
Commercial Club and was a member of its executive committee for two 
years. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks of Rapid City, holding 
a life membership; the Odd Fellows' lodge at Hot Springs; the Phi Delta 
Phi, a legal fraternity; and the Kappa Sigma. He was a member of the 
Missouri Tigers (University of Missouri varsity football team), in 1904 
and was the lightest man who ever won a varsity football M. He teas 
good property holdings in this state and elsewhere and operates a ranch 
near Hot Springs. He controls a considerable acreage of land in Fall 
River county and has business property in Illinois and residence 
property in Colorado. Professionally he is connected with the South 
Dakota Bar Association. Many and varied have been the duties which have 
come to him in the course of an active life, calling forth his latent 
powers and stimulating his ambition and his industry. He is recognized 
as a man of resolute spirit who will countenance no obstacle that can 
be overcome by determination, earnest and honorable effort. Thus it is 
that he has come to a position of leadership along various lines, while 
his social qualities are such as have won for him personal popularity.