Hendel, Charles August, 1886-1976

Charles A. "Charlie" Hendel was a well-known civic leader in Mineral County, Nevada and the Poet Laureate of the 45th Congress (1877-1879). Many of his writings were created under the pen name "Cinnabar Ike." He was born on December 23, 1886 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Smith Valley, Nevada in 1913 after four years in the U.S. Navy. He later moved to Weepah, Nevada where he mined and served as postmaster from 1927-1929. He moved to Hawthorne, Nevada in 1929 to take a job as an inspector of construction at the Naval Ammunition Depot. During the Second World War, Hendel organized the Seabee unit to train recruits for the USN Construction Battallions. Following the war, Hendel was involved in community organizations and government. He founded the Hawthrone Lions Club and was elected Assemblyman from Minearal County in 1950, serving 8 years in office. In 1951, Hendel was named the Poet Laureate of the Forty-fifth session of the Nevada State Legislature. He officially retired in 1973 and moved to Orlando, Florida. He died in October 1976.

Source: Mineral County Independent News, "Death Takes Two Well Known Former Officials Of Mineral County", October 6, 1976