Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-12-12
HISTORY OF Mr.. HENDRICKS
From His Early Struggles Down to
Ills Last Visit TO Chicago.

was born near GAINESVILLE, ONO, Sept.
Z 1919. His father, John Hendricks,
was born in western Pennsylvania,
and was q state politician. His mother
was OF Scotch descent. her maiden
name being Jane Thompson. She was
a granddaughter Of John Thompson, a
S%cotchman, who came to this country
and settled in Pennsylvania anterior to
tho revolutionary war. He gained
considerable celebrity 10y an address TO
the Scotch people, in which he set
forth what he believed to be the cd.
vantages of America rs TO soil, eli
mate and institutions.
When Thomas A. endricks was six
months old his parents removed from
hear L nesville, Ohio, to Madison. Ind
on the Ohio river. William Hendricks,
an uncle Of Thomas A., was living at
Madison, being then member Of Con
gress, and enjoying tho full esteem
and confidence Of the people Of South
Al iSN NtdiS ldlcI IO
was elected governor, and at the end
of his g~ubernatorial term he became
United States senator. His father was
appointed deputy surveyor of public
lands under General Jackson's admin
istrat'OD, and became widely known
and respected. In 1922 be removed to
the interior Of the state. and held the
first title to n quantity of land, upon "a
portion Of which Shelbyyilie is now
built.
Thomas A. Hendricks entered the
college as South Hanover. After
graduation he began the study Of law
at home under the instruction OF Judge
NJ jor. From early boyhood he had
displayed a tondness for legal dis
cussiOns, often attending court when
"A mere lad in order to rear the dis
cus,ions OF counsel. After a con-
siderable period az study at homo ho
%jOurneyed to Chambersburo, Pa,
where, liz the Office OF his uncio, Judge
Thomson, ne completed the course
necessary for admission to the bar,
AID returned home and vas admitted
TO practice at Shelbyvllio. He did not
at onca step into a large practice, but
gradually it increased ard with il bis
reputation rs u good counselor, clear
reasoner. and learned advocate. From
The year 1913 his legal life has beer
closely interviewer with his political,
and II is impossible almost to separate
the two. In that year he was elected
to the Legislature, serving one term
and declining denomination. la 1890
he was chosen delegate, without Oppo-
sition, to the convention to alter the
constitution of the state. Associated
with him as younger me nbors Of the
hody were judges Holman and
Hovey, and the late Vice President.
Schuyler ColfaX. and, like them, he
took an active and prominent part in
The dellberarive proceedings. In 1851
he was elected to Congress from the
Indianapolis district; was reelected
and in Il third canvass suffered defeat.
He had hardly settled down to the
practice of his profession after his un-
successful political campaign before
President Pierce. without solicitation
from him, appointed him commissioner
of the general land Office. This mark
OF the Presidents confidence was en-
tlrely unexpected, but lac entered upon
tho trust imposed with zeal, and al
though the duties Of the land depart
ment were at this time exceedingly
on0rouS, the sales, entries and grants
being larger than ever before in our
his DRY, his administration of the Office
was acknowledged as Being the abIe5t
in it's history.
After four years service ns commits
~i"ner he returned to Indiana, aud in
$3.50 ran Tor governor, to be beaten by
hls competitor, Colonel Henry 5 Lane.
fwo Years later. in 1862. the Demo
Gratis obtained u majority in the Lrgis
lssture. anu, in recognition Of Mr. Hem
iricks' services, elected him Unitei
- ateS Senator. His services in the Sen.
ate covered the entire war period. At
the close Of tho war he held hat at no
Time had the states in revolt been out
1T the Union. and were therefore on
titled TO full representation in Con-
gresS. He had moved in 1860 10 In
dianapolis, and in 1862 had torr8ed -
law partnership with Oscar Is. Hord,
which, in 1866, WAS extended to "a
! cousin, Colonel A. w. Hendricks. the
firm being known as Hendricks, kIord
- Hendricks. At the expiration of his
term in the Senate he returned home
to rest, hoping to quietly resume the
practice Of the profession he loved;
/ but in 1872 the Democrats nom ma ed
and elected him governor. He was
inaugurated Jan. 13, 1873, and his ad-
ministration of the office called forth
but little criticism.
In the exciting political contest of
1879 he was thu n~OnSinee Of his party
for the yice-Presideaey, carrying bis
own state by over 5000 majority.
In tbs sum aler Of 1877, Governor
Hendricks, accompanied By his wife,
made P. tour Of Great Britain, Germany
and France, and Gpon his return to
America resumed the practice OF the
law. Governor Hendricks married, IN
lS45. Miss Eliza G. Morgan, who lived
near Cincinnati. Ohio, and ~ the grand
daughter of the late DR.. Stepi.en Wood,
n prominent citizen and early settler
of Hamiltoa county. They have had
n child, q son. who lived TO 100 three
years old.
When tho last National Democratic
convention, the fourteenth, was held
in Chicago, July s. 1884, Nj. Hend-
ricks appeared or tho floor Of the con-