OF TI HEIEDRY F'FMILY


of which was Punta Rassa. In 1891 he commenced closing out
his general stock business, retaining only a small number
with which he established a stock farm, where he experiment-
ed in the raising of fancy and improved stock. He intro-
duced the Jersey stock in that section, and one of the most
interesting experiments was the crossing of that famous breed
with the native stock.
 During his long and active career Francis Asbury Hen-
dry held many positions of honor and trust in the different
counties in which he resided. He was a member of one of the
first boards of county commissioners of Hillsborough County,
filling that important office in the 50's.
 During the reconstruction period that followed the war,
although the state was under the absolute control of the car-
petbaggers and their allies, the district of which Polk Coun-
ty was a part, elected him to the state senate, there being
very few white republicans or negroes in this region and al-
most the entire voting population consisting of southerners
and Democrats, though many of these -ere disfranchised.
 While he was a resident of l.onroe County he was sena-
tor from the 2tventy-fourth district, then composed of the
counties of Monroe and Manatee. After the division of Mon-
roe County and the formation of Lee out of the mainland por-
tion, he occupied the position of county commissioner of the
new county, and in 1893 was elected to the legislature from
that county, a position he retained for several terms. He
has been mayor of the town of Fort Myers and a member of the
town council. At this writing (1915) Captain Hendry and his
family are still in Fort Myers.
 On March 20, 1852, in Hillsborough County, Francis
Asbury Hendry was married to Adeline Lanier, a native of
Florida, born May 10, 1835. They have had four sons and four
daughters to grow to maturity; namely,
 (1) James Edward, who was born in Polk County in its
 early history, but removed to Lee County when still in his
 teens. He has lived in Fort Myers ever since. He was brought
 up with limited educational advantages, but grew to manhood
 well versed in the raising of stock, buying and selling of
 beef cattle, etc., and became very successful in that line
 of business. He has been conspicuous in his advocacy of the
 cause of temperance, the maintenance of good morals and the
 high standard of Lee County politics.
 (1) James Edward Hendry was born January 12, 1854, and
 on June 17, 1875, was married to Julia Frierson, the daugh-
 ter of Aaron T. and Mary (Wall) Frierson. (See Wall and
 Friorson families.) They have seven children, whose names
 are: