Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-05
A NOTABLE CAREER.
The sketch of n Life That is lmost
Sketch of the CountrySince
1860.
From the New York WOrld.l

eight months.
William X. King, after having serv-
ed as president pro tenn. of the senate
for over two wears, was elected vice.
president in 1862. He was obliged to
sail for the Bermudas for his health,
and by special act of congress he was
permitted TO take the oath of office be-
fore the American consul there in
April 1858. He never presided over
the senate As vice-president, as he died
IN that year Henry Wilson, elected
vice president on the ticket with Grant
in 1872, died i'm office in 1875, after
two years and eight months of service.
Vice-President Hendricks was one of
the most conspicuous American states
men of his time. His political career
extends over particularly long period
of political activity-frOm lS4S, when
he first entered the Indiana legislature,
to nearly 1886. thirty-eight years of
efficient and prominent service in the
politics of his state and country. No
living politician has seen a service 80
long, so varied, and in many respects
so notable. OF these thirty-eight
years twenty-three were in public
office. And when not in congress or
in the service of the state he has been a
potent influence in moulding the
policies of his party in his state and
nation. Since the retirement of Jesse
Bright from the leadership of the
Indiana democracy, Thomas A. Hen
bricks has been easily the recognized
chief of the party there. His populari-
ty in his state was unbounded. AL
though a strong partisan, he was al
ways sure Of drawing large numbers
of republican votes. Other democrats
of ability and eloquence have attained
distinction in his state, but it is un.
questionable that none of them has
been able to wrest from him the prac-
ticai dictatorship of the Indiana
democracy, which he has exercised
since the close of the war.
AS long ago as 1851 Mr.. Hendricks
was member of congress. This was
twelve years before the aggressive
democratic leader, Samuel j. Randall
made his appearance in Washington
At that time James e. Blaine was
teaching school in Pennsylvania
Roscoe Conkling was just beginning 6
brilliant career in Utica; Thomas F.
Bayard had sixteen years to wait be.
fore he could succeed his father in thu
United States senate; John Sherman
who has had continual official life O.
thirty years, stepped into congress foul
years after the dead vice. president
Gen. Grant was an obscure officer il
the regular army; Abraham Lincoll
had yet reputation that was confined
to his own state, and Grover Cleveland
a lad of fourteen years, was clerkln&
i'm a store at Fayetteville.
| Mr.. Hendricks began his nationa
career just as Webster and Clay ant
their colleagues were about to lay dowl
the scepter of leadership. During hi
80 years of political life he has served
shoulder to shoulder with, or in honor
able antagonism to, every man OF eni
nence in the nation. In the constitu
tional convention held in Indiana il
1850, he served with Schuyler Colfax
afterwards vice president, and William
S. Holman, now leading member o
congress. In the United States senat'
he was a conspicuous opponent il
debate, together with Allan G. Thur
man,Of Charles Sumner, Roscoe COnk
Geo. f. Edmunds and Henry Wilson
A sketch of his life is almost sketcl
of the country's history for quartz
of a century. Mr.. Hendricks served a
member of the state legislature, mem
ber of congress, s,senator,gOvernOr OF hi
state and vice-president. At TIVE
national neutrality-suspicious. three
he was the next to the successful can
didate for nomination to the presiden
cy. And in 1872, after the death o
Horace Greeley, before the meeting o
the Electoral College, he received tb
votes of most of the electors chosen Ol
the Greeley and Brown ticket. IL
was twice elected vice president, bu
only once was permitted to assume tn
duties of the Office.
| AllusiOn has already been made +
his long leadership of his party in In
diana. In the nation also he had
larger personal following than perhap
any other democratic leader excep
Samuel j. Tilden.
OF GOOD STOCK.
The late vice president was borl
(like so many other eminent leaders il
various states of the West) in Ohio
His birthplace was on a farm nea
GAINESVILLE. He was born Septembe
Il, 1Sl9just siXty-six years, two month
and six days from the day of his death
He came of good stock. His father
John Hendricks, was a native of Penn
sylvania, where he was at one time
member of the state legislature. Hi
brother (uncle of the deceased) was
leading statesman in Indiana years ago
SIngularly, he filled nearly every office
except that of vice president, whic
was afterward held by his nephew
Thomas. He was Indiana's first rep
resentative in congress, her secont
governor, and for twelve years mem
ber of the United States senate
Thomas mother was grand-daughte
of John Thomson, who emigrated iron
Scotland TO Pennsylvania before tn
Revolution. When only six month
old his parents moved to Madison, In
diana, where William Hendricks, tn
uncle just spoken of, resided. Pres
dent Jackson appointed his fathe
f deputy surveyor of public lands, il
which capacity he served for lon
time. Thomas boyhood was for tn
most part spent on a farm, but in tn
: company of his father and uncle He
of course, derived much from associa
ton with men of such high intelligence
In 1887 Thomas entered Hanover Co
lege, from which he graduated in 1S4l
lie studied law in the Office of brothe
of his mothers, Judge Thomson, an
was admitted to practice in 1913. Iii
career at the bar was as successful q
it was in politics. His practice has a
, ways been one of the largest in the state
In 1915 he married Eliza e. Morgan
who survives him, and who has excl
cised peculiarly forceful intluenc
} on her husband. Their only chic
boy died in infancy.
ENTERING POLITICAL LIFE.
, In lS4S-he was then only twenty
eight years old-Mr. Hendricks wa
elected to the Indiana legislature. III
served but one term and declined a re
nomination. In 1850, however, he cor
, sented to serve in the conventio
, which framed the second and presei
constitution of the state. In 1851 h
was elected to congress from the fit
l district OF the state, defeating Co
S Rush, of Hancock, by nearly 1000 ma
jority. The following year he was re
elected. He served from 1851 to 1Si
in congress. His vote for the Nilsson
compromise caused dissatisfaction
his district, and Mr.. Hendricks faile
>, of 4 reelection. He returned to Il
d active practice of law, but in Augu
N p;or,o -, m ont,