Frank O. Hetrick, D. D. S., a very successful practitioner in Ottawa, Kan., was born Oct. 5, 1859, in Mansfield, Ohio. He is the son of Isaac and Mary Elizabeth (Black) Hetrick, the former a native of Maryland who moved to Ohio with his parents in 1814 and at maturity engaged in farming, but later entered the Baptist ministry, having been ordained in 1865, and to that profession he devoted practically the remainder of his life. He was born in Baltimore, Md., June 15, 1810, his parents being Jacob and Sarah (Lemon) Hetrick, natives respectively of Germany and England. Jacob Hetrick engaged in farming near Baltimore for some years, then removed to Richland county, Ohio, where he followed the same occupation, and where he resided until his death at the age of eighty-six years. Sarah (Lemon) Hetrick was descended from a prominent English family, her father having been for many years a member of the house of commons in England, and speaker of that body for sixteen years. During the residence of Rev. Isaac Hetrick in Ohio, he served twenty years as justice of the peace, and also served two terms as a member of the Ohio legislature at the time that James A. Garfield belonged to the state senate. In 1867 he came to Kansas and devoted himself zealously to the profession to which he believed himself divinely called. The cause of Christ and the uplifting of his fellow man was always his greater consideration, and the remunerative reward a far less one. His field of labor was principally in Franklin county, where he established a great record of usefulness, having organized and established six churches, and having built four houses of worship. He was also chosen to serve as moderator of the Miami Baptist Association. His death occurred in Ottawa in 1891. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Hetrick was Peter Black, a wealthy merchant of Terre Haute, Ind., where he died.

Dr. Hetrick received his common and high school education in Ottawa and supplemented this training by a course in dentistry under Dr. W. J. Newton in 1878, and in this way he gained his first knowledge of the profession. He begun his practice in Ottawa in 1880 and in the profession which he selected as his life work Dr. Hetrick has attained a success that entitles him to rank among the foremost dentists of the West. His services are not confined to Ottawa and vicinity but, are sought from all over the state and even from other states. Everything pertaining to his profession enlists his sympathy and attention and he has kept in the foremost rank by taking special courses, by close reading of the best journals pertaining to dentistry, and by association with others of his profession as a member of the National and State Dental associations, the State Board of Dental Examiners, of which he has served as secretary for three years, and the National Board of Dental Examiners, having served as president of the last named organization. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and in its behalf he has acted as chairman of the Republican central committee of Franklin county. Interested in all public enterprises, Dr. Hetrick has always supported plans for the benefit of his home town and county and has ever had the esteem of his fellow citizens. In April, 1899, he was elected mayor for a term of two years, at the close of which he was reëlected for a second term. As mayor he rendered efficient service. The fraternal affiliations of Dr. Hetrick are with the Masonic order, being a member of all the branches and having served as eminent commander in the Knights Templars Commandery. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both Dr. and Mrs. Hetrick are zealous and devoted members of the Baptist church.

On Dec. 31, 1881, Dr. Hetrick married Hattie O. St. Johns, daughter of Mercena St. Johns, a native of New York state. Mr. St. Johns removed from New York state to Kansas in 1858 and continued his trade of shoemaking until 1861, when he joined the Union's defenders, enlisting in Company M, Eleventh Kansas, with which he served during the war.