The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-21
Philadelphia Times

Ohio. near the city of Zlnesville, Septen-
Der Z, 1919 His father, the late Major John
Hendricks, with his family lett Ohio the
spring after Thomas was born, and settled
at Madison, Indiana. At that time Madison
was the chief city in the State and the homo
of many men who become prominent In her
history, among them William Hendricks,
an uncle of the subject of this sketch.
Major Hendricks remained at Madison
until 1922, when he removed to Shelby
county, then very sparsely settled, and
opened up a farm. 1t was located near the
center of the county, and sflerwsrd Shelby
Vile, the shire town of Shelby county, was
partly laid out upon it. Here he built a
house and established a home, and in it
placed his household goods. The house still
stands but it has passed into other hands.
It was known throughout the State as the
stopping place of the men of God as they
iourneyed through the wilderness establish
ing churches and ministerlng to the spiritual
wants of the pioneers. Although Its master
was Presbyterian of the strictest Sect its
doors opened as readily to the disciples OF
Wesley and of Williams as of Calvin. 1t
was in such home and amid such sur
roundipgs that Thomas A. Hendricks grew
TO marhood. 1t is no wonder that the intiu-
ence has not forssken him, for 1t was thrown
about him at time when life impressions
are made. 1t is. most probably, owing to
these early surroundings and influences that
his private aud public career have been so
pure. He is addicted to none OF the vices,
either great or small, that SO often beset the
public man, and his walk through lie has
been unusually oircUmspect even for one so
reared.
PRACTICING LAW.
Mr.. Hendricks com leied his education at
Hanover College one of the pioneer educa-
tional institutions of the West. After leav
ing college he studied law, and in due time
was admitted to the bar. From that time
until the present be has been in the active
practice OF his profession, excepting only
the time he was Commissioner of the general
land office and the four years he was gov
ernor ot Indiana. In 1915 Mr.. Hendricks
married Miss Eliza c. Morgan, who Is still
living. She is woman of good sense and
discretion, and has been OF great service In
furthering the political interests OF her hus-
band. She is his companion and counselor,
and 1t is his invariabIs custom to enter upon
no important undertaking without first con-
suluDg her. She is not without ambition,
and this fact no doubt had much influence
upon the career of her distinguished hus
band She Is generally present at his con-
ferences with his political friends, and often
participates in them. She accompanies him
in his travels being his companion abroad
as well as at home, and she is to him what
God designed the wife should be to the hus-
banc-his constant companion and friend.
They have no children living, the only one
corn to them-a boy-having died many
wears ego, and as they 60 through life to-
gether, hand in hand, they present one OF
the most beautiful examples OF confidence
and domestic felicity anywhere to be seen.
VARIED PUBLIC LIFE.
Mr. Hendricks public life has been long
and varied. In 1913 he was elected to the
State Legislature from his county. In 1850
he was chosen delegate to the convention
which made the present constitution of the
State, and was an active participstor in the
proceedings of that body. In 1851 he Yves
elected to Congress. and in 1852 was re-
elected to the same ofics. In 1855 he was
appointed commissioner of the general
land office, and held the position
until he resigned ii in 1859. In 1868
he wss elected a senator of the United States
ana served a full term OF six years. In 1872
he was elected governor of Indiana. and
served rs such until January, 1877, when he
was succeeded by Governor Williams, since
which time be has been private citizen. To
show the estimation in which Mr.. Hendricks
is held by the people OF Indiana, and his
great personal popularity, we deem il proper
to speak briefly of his three races for COVER
ernor. In 1860 ne ran against Henry S. Lane
and wss Dictated by O. 7j7 votes. The same
year Mr.. LincOln's ms jority in IDdisna, over
Judge Douglas, was %. 524 In 1858 Conrad
Baker, now one of his Law partners, defeated
him by l,l6i votes. The same year General
Grants majority. over Governor Seymour in
Indiana. was o $40 In 1872 his majority
over General Thomas NJ Browne, was AS.
The same year General Grants majority In
the State over Mr. Greeley was % 92f Gov
ernor Hendricks was the only man electt
on his ticket that year, excepting Professor
Hopkins, who was chosen TO non-political
Office.
In 1876 he was on the ticket with Mr..
Tilden. and carried the Safe by a msjority
of 5 $50 votes. Thus it will be seen that in
all the races he has made for office in Indi-
ana he has largely led his ticket His first
contest for governor resulted In his defeat
by 8 757 votes. and his last in his election by
msjority of ], 49, and it was uDquestiOn-
ably owing to his name on the ticket with
Mr.. Tilden that Indiana was carried for the
Democracy in 1876.
LIFE AS A LAWYER.
In Mr.. Hendricks PROFESSIONALS law
all acknowledge him to be great This is
the vocation to which nature particularly
adapted him, and II is his favorite one. He
has, since first entering public life, returned
to the practice of his profession with facility
and zeal immediately upon the termination
or inTerrnissiOn of official engagements. He
studied the Law at ChsmbersbuTg, Pa, in
the Office of his uncle, Judge Thomson, an
eminent jurist of that State. He thor
oughly mastered its elementary principles
and the Ininutie of its practice. With this
foundation, and with a natural legal mind
he Is never of loss. and Is always strong in
any cause without special book preparation.
Before court or jury he is equally at home.
In trial he is never of his guard, nor
disconcsrted by any unlocked for turn in
the fortune of case. He encounters
any such crisis with as much promptness,
fortitude and address as II it had been an.
ticipated and prepared for. Upon one noted
occasion, when Mr.. Hendricks was making
the closing argument to the jury on his side
of the case, the presiding judge interrupted
him to ask his views upon legal question,
which, IL ruled against him, would be de-
cisive intimating that be YVES against him
on the point. IL was a question which
until thas moment bad not been raised nor
suggested; therefore. Mr. Hendricks had not
anticfpa it nor made the least pre nara