From the GLO to Ohio — 10 Things You Didn’t Know About O. Henry
O. Henry, born William Sidney Porter, and known as “Will” to his friends, was famous for his witty, twist-filled short stories — but there’s much more to the man than just his profession.
Here are ten facts about the renowned writer that you may not know:
1. Porter moved to Texas for his health.
He developed a troublesome cough while living in North Carolina, and his family doctor believed that the climate of Texas, as well as the country lifestyle, would help cure his ailments. The two years Porter spent on a ranch owned by Richard Hall in LaSalle County improved his health and provided experience that he later used for his short stories.[1]
2. He was a political appointee at the General Land Office.
After working in Austin at a drugstore, cigar store, and a real estate firm, Porter was appointed to the position of draftsman by his friend Richard Hall, who had become Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. Porter spent four years as an assistant compiling draftsman, during which time he worked on a small handful of maps, the most notable being his 1889 map of Kent County. His skills as a cartoonist can be seen in the intricate borders and detailed country scene.[2]
3. Porter served time in prison.
After he left his position at the Land Office, Porter worked at the First National Bank of Austin. In 1894, an audit turned up evidence of foul play, and Porter was accused of embezzlement. He fled to Honduras before his trial in 1896 but returned to Austin nearly a year later. In February 1898, he was found guilty of embezzlement and sent to an Ohio penitentiary where he was incarcerated for three years. While in prison, he focused on his creative writing and coined the pen name, O. Henry.[3]
4. Porter’s first publication was a weekly newspaper entitled the Rolling Stone.
Not to be confused with the current popular magazine, Porter’s newspaper was first published in 1894 and served as the medium for many of his early works. The publication’s existence was short, however; it was shut down in 1895 due to a lack of funds resulting from Porter’s legal troubles.[4]
5. His Austin home was transformed into the O. Henry Museum.
While in Austin, Porter lived with his wife and daughter in a house on East Fourth Street. Thankfully, the house was saved from demolition, relocated to East Fifth Street, and converted into a museum in honor of the author. With free admission, the public can visit the house for a complete O. Henry experience.[5]
6. There is an annual “Pun-Off” in honor of Porter.
Since 1978, the O. Henry Museum has held an annual “O. Henry Pun-Off” for the pun-lovers and “punslingers” of Austin. Every May, people join together to celebrate O. Henry and compete with the best puns. [6]
7. The true origin of the author’s pen name is disputed among historians.
While some claim that “O. Henry” originated from the author calling for his cat, Henry, others claim that the “O” is an abbreviation. In 1909, Porter told the New York Times that the name “Henry” was found in the newspaper and the “O” was added simply because it was an easy letter to use.[7]
8. His stories are famous for his twist endings.
In his lifetime, O. Henry wrote over three hundred stories. The author wrote twist endings so often that they became his trademark — an “O. Henry Ending” can usually be expected when reading the author’s work.[8]
9. Several of his stories are based on his experiences as a GLO employee.
One of his GLO-centric stories, “Bexar Scrip No. 2692” is centered on a fictional tale of land fraud. Even though O. Henry’s tale of treachery is not possible in reality, it caused such a stir that past Commissioner J. H. Walker released a statement on the work of fiction in 1933. The testimony was placed together within the original Bexar Scrip file, which can be viewed online here.
10. His grave is often covered in pennies.
In O. Henry’s famous Christmas short story, Gift of the Magi, one of the characters only has sixty cents in pennies. It has become a tradition for visitors to leave that amount of pennies on Porter’s grave to honor the talent and rich life of O. Henry.[9]
[1] “O. Henry Bio.” The O. Henry Prize Stories. Random House LLC, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
[2] Connie Patterson, “Porter, William Sydney,” Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fpo20), accessed October 10, 2015. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. He is remembered by an “O. Henry Room” in the Texas Capitol Visitors Center, the Old Land Office Building, in Austin, where he used to work: http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/CVC/exhibits/ohenry.htmlz
[3] Martin, Jonathan. “O. Henry (1862–1910).” North Carolina History Project. John Locke Foundation, 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
[4] Patrick Cox, “Rolling Stone,” Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eer04), accessed October 10, 2015. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
[5] http://www.austintexas.gov/department/o-henry-museum
[6] “O. Henry Museum.” AustinTexas.Gov. City of Austin, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
[7] “’O. Henry’ on Himself, Life, and Other Things.” The New York Times 4 Apr. 1909: n.p. The New York Times. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
[8] Many of his works can be found at the O. Henry Collection Digital Project: http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/OHENRY/
[9] Darty, J.K. “O. Henry’s Pennies.” Historic Riverside Cemetery. Riverside Cemetery Wordpress, 08 July 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2015. More on O. Henry can be found here, at the “O. Henry in Austin” exhibit, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library: http://www.austinlibrary.com/ahc/ohenry.htm
