The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-12-03
From tie Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Career ol VIZ. Hendricks

In the death of Ex-Governor HENDRICKS a
central figure is removed from American poll
tics, although he was not a politician as poll
ticians GO to-day. He was near the ideal
statesman as any man of his time. He was a
public man without faint, and pure in every
walk of life. Few men have enjoyed the full
measure of public esteem which has been
given to him who lies dead to-day. He dies
mourned BY a nation.
THOMAS ANDREW HENDRICKS was born Sep
TENDER I, 1919, on a farm near GAINESVILLE, o.
His father, JOIN FESDaICKs. was a native of
Western Penns: lvania. The family were
among the earliest settlers of Westmoreland
County. The mother Of THOMAS HENDRICKS
was Of Scot h decent, whose maiden name was
JANE THOMPSON. " hen me subject OF this
sketch was six months old his parents remov-
ed from Ohio to Madison, Indiana, where the
childhood of THOMAS A.. HENDRICKS was pass
ed under the happiest auspices. His father
was a devoted ch~urchman, and founder and
principal support of a Presbyterian Church in
his community, while his mother is remem-
bered as a woman of gentlest nature. After at
tending the village school THOMAS was sent to
South Hanover College, where he soon ac-
quired a good, practical education, and then
began the study of law, under the instruction
of JUDGE MAJOR. The final period of study he
prosecuted under the tuition of his uncle,
JUDGE THOMAS, of Chambersburg, Penn, and
was ADMITTED to the bar at ShelbyvIlle, Ind.
He was elected to the Indiana Legislature in
1913, and since that time he has been prOmi-
nentlv Unidentified with the history of the State
and the nation. In 1850 he was appointed
without opposition, as Sentorisl delegate to
the convention empowered to amend the State
Constitution. In 1851 he was elected to Con-
gress from the indianapolis District, and was
reelected in 1852. He was again a candidate
in 1854, and was defeated. He again returned
to his profession, in which he was rapidly
I achieving eminence. when President PIERCE
appointed him Commissioner of the Genera
Land Office, a mark of Executive favor which
was unsolicited and unexpected. The wisdom
of the selection was attested by the ~satisfac-
tory manner in which the duties of the office
were discharged. At that time the business
of the Office was of the greatest Importance,
the sales, entries and grants being larger than
ever before in the history OF the country.
The term of four wears as Land Commits
sioner was followed by an unsuccessful race
for Governor in 1850, his successful COMPETE
tor being Henry S. LANE. In 1862 he took ar
active part IN the State campaign which re-
suited in a Democratic Legislature, and this
Legislature elected him Z. :. Senator by a
unanimous vote. Although the Democrats
were but a small minority in the Senate, HEN
DRICKs was the recognized leader of that body,
HIS career in the Senate is thus sketched: "He
favored the earnest prosecution of the war,
and voted for supplies to sustain the army. IL
was opposed to conscription, and favored the
enlistment of volunteers and pavment of sol
ulcIS DbulllGS. n nv u vi tue wal lie
held that the States engaged in the rebellion
had at no time been out of the Union, and were,
therefore,, entitled to full representation in
Congress. He maintained that the people of
those States should have entire control of their
respective State Governments. These views
placed him in opposition to the reconstruction
policy which was adopted by the majority in
Congress. He also opposed the constitutional
amendments, because the Southern States
were not represented, and beause, in his opin
ion, such amendments should not be made be-
fore sectional feeling had time to subside. He
held that amendments to the Constitution
should be considered only when the public is
in a cool, deliberate frame of mind"
HIS term in the Senate expired March 4,
1869, when he once more returned to the prac-
ticn of law. In 1872 he was elected Governor
Of Indiana. He was inaugurated January IL.
1873, and served a full term of four wears. His
administration was probably the wisest that
Iniiana ever had. Four wears prior to his
lection as Governor he was warmly support
! in the Democratic National Convention at
New York Cor the PreSi lercy. The Demo-
C attic National Convention held at St. Louis
in June, 1915, nominated him for the Vice
Presidency. with SAMUEL j. TILDEN as the
nominee for President. After the decision of
the Electoral Commission, Governor HEN
BRICKS, accompanied bv his wife, made a short
European tour, passing a summer in Great
Britain, Germany and France. Returning
| home, he resumed the practice of law in In
!! dianaoGliS. where his n~ractice was important
aud lucrative. The Chicago Convention as
sembled July s, 1884. Mr.. HENDRICKS was
nominated for Eiee-President of tn" United
States on the 4th day of the convention, July
IL h..
During his lifetime Governor HENDRICKS
| vas connected with hut one secret society. Re
vas one of fonr to organize a lodge of Oh '-fel-
lows at Shelbvviile, but ceased to attend or
take an active part after he attained the sec
nd degree. He was married near this cit,
September %, 1915, to Miss Eliza e. MORGAN.
III daughter of DR.. STEPHEN WooD, a nromi-
rent citizen, and one Of the pioneer settlers of
Hamilton County. One child was born to them
"a son, in 194S-thst died at the age of three
years.