Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-02
on the left hand. The doctor does not be-
heve an autopsy will be held.
HISTORY OF MR. HENDRICKS.
From His Early Struggles Down to His
Last Visit in Chicago.

From His Early Struggles Down to His
Last Visit in Chicago.
Mr.. Hendricks was born near Zanes-
vile, O., September z, 1919. His father,
John Hendricks, was born in Western
Pennsylvania, and was state politician.
His mother was of Scotch descent her maiden
name being Jane Thompson. She was
granddaughter of ohm Thompson, q Scotch
man, who came TO this country and settled
in Pennsylvania anterior to the revolution
airy war. He gained considerable celebrity
by an address to the Scotch people, in
which he set forth what he believed to be
the advantages of America as to soil, climate
and Institutions.
When Thomas A. Hendricks was six
months old his parents removed from near
GAINESVILLE, O., to Madison, Ind, on the
Ohio River. William Hendricks, an uncle
of Thomas A., was living at Madison, being
then member of Congress, and enjoying the
full esteem and confidence of the people OF
Southern Indiana. A few years later he
was elected governor, and st the end OF his
gubernatorial term he became United States
senator. His father was appointed deputy
surveyor Of public lands under Gen. Jack
sons administration, and became widely
known and respected. In 1922 heremoved
to the interior OF the state, and held the
first title to quantity of land, upon
portion of which Shelbyville is now built
Thomas A. Hendricks entered the college
at South Hanover. After graduation he
began the study Of law at home under the
instruction of Judge Major. From early
boyhood he had displayed fondness for
legal discussions, often attending court
when a mere lad in order to hear the dis
cussions OF counsel. After a considerable
period OF study at home he journeyed to
Chambersburg, Pa, where, in the office OF
his uncle, Judge Thomson, he completed
the course necessary for his admission to
the bar, and returned home and was adj
mitted to practice at Shelbyville. He did
not at once step into q large practice, but
gradually it increased and with it his repu-
tation as a good counselor, clear reasoner,
and learned advocate. From the year
1S4S his legal life has been closely inter
woven with his political, and it is inn
possible almost to separate the two. In
that year he was elected to the Legislature,
serving one term and declining renomina-
ton. In 1850 he was chosen delegate,
without opposition, to the convention to
alter the constitution of the state. Asso-
ciated with him as younger members Of the
body were Judges Holman and Hovey, and
the late Vice-President Schuyler Colfax,
and, like them, he took an active
and prominent part in the deliberative
proceedings. In 1851 he was elected to
Congress from the Indianapolis district;
was reelected and in third canvass suffer
ed defeat. He had hardly settled down to
the practice of his profession after his un-
successful political campaign before Presi-
dent Pierce, without solicitation from him,
appointed him commissioner of the general
land office. This mark of the Presidents
confidence was entirely unexpected, but he
entered upon the trust imposed with zeal,
and although the duties of the land depart
ment were at this time exceedingly oner-
ho oIoa or1tr md t1 hoIn
larger than ever before in our history, his
administration of the office was acknowl-
edged as being the ablest in it's history.
After four years service as commissioner
he returned to Indiana, and in 1860 ran
for governor, to be beaten by his competj-
tor, Col. Henry s. Lane. Two years later,
in 1862, the Democrats obtained MAORI
ty in the legislature, and, in recognition of
Mr.. Hendricks services, elected him United
States senator. His services in the Senate
covered the entire war period. He was on
the minority side Of the chamber, and diff
fered with the Administration on the cues
ton of CONSUMPTION, rather favoring enlist
ment and fair bounty. At the close of the
war he held that at no time had the states
in revolt been out of the Union, and were
therefore entitled to full representation in
Congress. He had moved in 1860 to In
dianapolis, and in 1862 had formed a law
partnership with Oscar B. Hord. which in
1866, was extended to cousin, Col. A. w.
Hendricks, the firm being known as Hen
bricks, Hord & Hendricks. At the expira-
ton 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, against his earnest
protest, nominated and elected him COVER
nor. He was inaugurated January 1S,
1873, and his administration of the office
called forth but little criticism, it being &C
knowledged on all sides that he was able
and honest.
In the exciting political conflict of 1879
he was the nominee of his party for the
vice-presidency, carrying his own state by
over 5000 majority. Although he and his
party believed that Tilden and Hendricks
were elected, the electoral commission,
formed to decide the question, decided that
Hayes and Wheeler were the men, to which
decision Mr.. Hendricks 'acquiesced, though
doubling it's Justice.
In the summer of 1877 Gov. Hendr tricks,
accompanied by his wife, made a tour OF
Great Britain, Germany and France, and
upon his return to America resumed the
practice of the law. Gov. Hendricks mar
ried, in 1915, Miss Eliza G. Morgan, who
lived near Cincinnati, O., and is the grand
daughter of the late DR.. Stephen Wood
prominent citizen and early settler of Ham
ilton County. They have had one child,
0Ons WIZ AFOO w NC OuIcO years OIO.
When the last National Democratic Con-
vention, the fourteenth, was held in Chica-
go, July 8, 1884, Mr.. Hendricks appeared
on the floor of the convention as delegate
at large from Indiana. He came as the
champion of Joseph E. Mcdonald, whom he
placed in nomination for the presidency.
He was prominent figure in the body, and
commanded the closest attention whenever
he arose. On the first ballot for the Pres-
dency he received 45A votes, and at one
time during the deliberations of the body it
was believed by many that he would be the
nominee, although he constantly disavowed
any intention of that kind, and never made
any movement himself or through his friends
to bring about such an end.
The last days proceedings of the conven-
ton and the manner of Mr.. Hendricks
nomination as vice-president are summar-
lied as follows:
The convention opened at Hop o'clock
in the forenoon of the 18th, with prayer by
Rev. DIR. Clinton Locke. Among the pre-
iminary business was resolution by Nor
rison Munford, of Missouri, not to allow
any change of a vote of a state on the bal
lot in progress. but defer changes to the
ho 1o% xuhi oh