O. Henry

American author, one of America's favorite short story writers and one of the top selling writers of the early 20th century. His career was largely compressed into the final nine years of his life. His adaptation of his pen name, like his refusal to allow his photo to be printed and his habit of giving out false biographical information, was intended to hide from the world, and especially from his daughter Margaret, a criminal record. He had been indicted for embezzlement of bank funds in Austin, Texas and sent to a prison in Columbus, Ohio 1898 to 1901. He spent his three years in prison writing so he could earn money to support his daughter.

The second of three sons, young William was a few days past age three when his mother died of tuberculosis, with his infant brother following a few days later. He and his older brother were raised primarily by Grandma Porter, known as a local character. Their physician father was a caring parents but a bit odd, his absent mindedness apparently aided by a bit of whiskey. To supplement the family income, Will worked in the family drugstore while becoming a registered pharmacist, relishing dime-novels about cowboys, Indians and the Wild West for recreation.

In 1881, he made a trip to Texas that changed his life. He learned to ride and rope and speak Spanish with the ranch hands while writing stories in his spare time. A few years later he returned to city life and a variety of jobs, finally serving as a teller at the First National Bank of Austin, TX. He already loved a drink, card playing, and singing in the choir, and added another love to his life, that of 17-year-old Athol Estes. The couple eloped. Athol was a good influence, encouraging Will to submit his stories for publication and he began to make sales. However, Athol was weakened by two pregnancies, a boy who died and a daughter, Margaret Worth Porter.

Bored with the bank, Will went to work for the Houston Daily Post.