The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-12-19
VOL. XXI.
MIR. HENDRICKS CAREER.
Conspicuous in the Politics Of his st ate
and Ofthe Union for Many Years.

on Sept, 1919. His fatler was John
Hendricks. native of Pennsylvania.
and the son of one of the earliest set
tiers Of Wcstmore!and county, who
erected mill in the Ligonier valley
in that country on a stream since known
as Hendricks Run. John Hendrick' s
father was Abraham Hendricks, sever
al times member of the Pennsylvania
Legislature. Thomas A. IIendricks's
mother was Jane Thompson, grand
daughter of John Thompson, Scotch
man, who, settling in this country in
l772. sent back to his native country
an address advocating emigration to
America. William Hendricks, an elder
brother to John. had moyelito Cincin
natl, and thence to Indiana. of which
State he became the second Governor,
and later he was electeda United States
Senator. John Hendricks, with his
newly married wife, followed in his
brothers track, and settled first near
GAINESVILLE. where his eldest son, Thom-
as A.. was born. When his son was
only 6 months old John Hendricks
moved to Indiana and settled at Madi-
son, on the Ohio River. Three years
later he moved to SheIbyville, where
he built a substantial brickhouse. in
which, amid such refnements as could
be enjoyed in those days, he reared his
family. John Hendricks was man of
considerable education, and his house
was the meeting place for the Presby-
terian clergymen of central Indiana.
He was a founder of the Presbyterian
Church in indianapolis, ard Thomas
was brought mp in the faith of that
Church
Thomas A. Hendricks attended the
village school at Shelbyvilie until he
was old enough to enter South Hano-
yer College at Madison. He was grad
uated from that institution in 1e4l,
when % years of age. and began to
study law. He attended the law school
in Chambers burg, Pa. presided over
by his mothers brother, Alexander
Thompson; for merly Judge. In 1S43
he was admitted to the bar at Shelby
vile, where he opened an office. Sue
cess came slowly, bnt after two years
he had practice sufficiently large to
permit him to marry. He married. on
Sept, 25, 1S45, Eliza G.. Morgan. by
whom he bad one son, who died in 1851,
when 3years old.
In 1913 Mr.. Hendricks. though not
2s years old, was elected to the Indiana
Legislature, where. as he said later, he
did not feel at all at home. He did not
seek reelection at the end Of his term
in 1850, but was elected to State Con-
stitutional Convention called for that
year. In the Convention with him was
William S. Holman, Schuyler Colfax,
and Robert Dale Owen. Mr.. Hendricks
took a stand in favor of system of
State banks. supporting each other in
credit, yet Independent in their busi-
ness transactions. His arguments pre-
vailed. and banks were started in the
principal towns of Indiana, with GEN.
trail bank in Indianapolis, Private
banks of Issue were started later. how
ever, and, as Mr.. Hendricks had pre-
dicted. they fell by their own weight
in the panic of 1857.
Mr.. Hendricks. in 1851. was elected
to Congress as q Democrat from the
Central district of Indiana, defeating
his Wing opponent by nearly 1900
votes. He was reelected in 1882. Du-
ring his second term the question OF re
pealing the Missouri Compromise act
came up. Congressman Hendricks
supported the repeal. Personally he |
had opposed it, but when tho repeal
was adopted. as a party measure he
threw his influence for it. His vote
On that question had much influence in
causing his defeat when he ranfor Con
gress il 1854, although the Know Moth
ing vote assisted 10 that defeat, Mr..
Hendricks returned to his law work in
Shelbyville, aud in August, 1854, was
appointed by President Pierce Commits
sloner of the General Land Office. The