, 1885-11-26

THE VICE PRESIDENT DEAD.

THE VICE PRESIDENT DEAD.
The sad news reached this city early
last evening that Vice President Hem
bricks died suddenly in Indianapolis at 4:30
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. This sud-
den death OF the second highest officer of
this nation was q surprise to everyone, as
it had not been rumored that the vice
president was in poor health. Our press
report will give the particulars OF his de-
cease.
Thomas Andrews Hendricks was born
near GAINESVILLE, o., Sept. I, 1919. He
was consequently a little over &C years of
age at his death. His father, John Hen
bricks, was one Of the early settlers Of the
Ligonier valley, o., who when his son,
Thomas, was six months old, removed to
Madison, Ind, where his brother, Will
liam. the second governor of Indiana and
its first representative in congress and
afterwards its senator IN Washington, re-
sided.
Thomas A. Hendricks attended the col
lege of South Hanover, Ind. and gradu-
ated with high honors. His success was
assured from the outset, His m~ethodical
ways, studious manners. his correct hab-
its and pleasant disposition. won him
favor in a short time, and early p~resaged
that legal prominence which he acquired,
not alone in Indiana, but throughout the
whole country.
Self made men, such as Mr.. Hendricks,
are generally the most prosperous Of all,
and certainly there are few Americans,
who were born amid the surroundings Of
his early years, who have succeeded so
well in the world as our late vice presl-
dent.
Mr.. Hendricks was married in his
twenty-ffth year to Miss Lucy C. Morgan,
the beautiful daughter of accomplished
parents, and no small part OF his success in
life has been due to the influence and
guidance of that estimable lady. Mrs.
Hendricks, who survives her lamented
husband, ever took a deep interest in
everything that concerned her distin-
guished husband, and no one was reader
han hat gentleman himself to acknowl.
edge the debt he owed to his accomplished
and practical helpmeet.
At the age of 2s years Thomas A.
Hendricks was chosen to the lower house
of the Indiana legislature, in which he
served but one year, declining a renomi-
nation which was offered him unanimous
ly. During that brief service, however,
he won for himself the reputation of be-
ing a painstaking legislator and an indus
trious representative of his constituents;
and it was during that period also that
the future vice president laid the founda-
ton of that wide popular esteem in which
he was held in Indiana and the country
at large in succeeding years.
1t is hardly necessary to say that Mr..
Hendricks has always been a Democrat in
his political belief. His Democracy was
of the sterling Andrew Jackson type, and
in fiber he was wonderfully akin to what
Silas Wright and William l.. Marcy were
in their day. Even up to the day Of his
death his political principles had not
changed in the least; and when the cleo
toral commission Of 1877 counted out the
ightfully chosen president and vice presi-
dent of the country, Mr.. Hendricks was
vehement in his de~nunciations Of that
Republican outrage.
In 1880 Mr.. Hendricks was chosen to
the constitutional convention, where he
took a leading part in debate and won
such additional fame that he was almost
Immediately after elected to a seat in con-
gress from the central district of Indiana,
by a majority over Col. Rush, of Han
cock, Of 1000 votes. He was reelected
to congress in 1852. In 1885 he accept
ed from President Pierce the position as
commissioner of the general land office, oc-
cupying it for four years, when he re-
turned to the practice Of his profession in
indianapolis. In 1862 he again returned
to official life, being chosen by the In
diana Legislature to the United States
Senate for SIX years. With his services
as senator the public is familiar. He be.
came in a great measure the leader ofthe
Democratic minority in the senate during
the closing year of his term, and his emf
nent abilities and oratorical powers were
acknowledged by his opponents. While
he was yet a senator, the Democrats of In
diana nominated him for governor, but he
was defeated by 800 majority, again in
1872 be became the standard bearer of his
party, and was triumphantly elected gov
mi by ! 200 majority. Governor Hem
bricks made an urbane, careful, thorough
and painstaking magistrate, AMI during
his term corrected many abuses, and in
troduced several reforms. which tended
greatly to improve the administration Of
state Affairs. When he retired from Office
he carried with him the respect of all per
sons, irrespective of parties, and it is adj
united in Indiana even to-day, that he
made one Of the best, if not the very best,
governor the state ever had.
This is a short aud imperfect sketch Of
Thomas A. Hendricks career as state leg.
~lslator. congressman, senator and govern.