Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-27
HENDRICKS FIRST CASE.
A Gossippy Friend of the vlce-President-
Elect Relates Some Anecdotes of Hem
bricks Early Life.

A Gossippy Friend of the vIce-President-
Elect Relates Some Anecdotes Of Hem
bricks Early Life.
kansas City Times.l
Il gave Tcm Hendricks his first law
case" remarked Mr.. Jacob Vernon TO a
Times reporter yesterday at Independence.
"That was away back in the forties. /
was Clerk of the Circuit Court of Shelby
County, Indiana, and young Hendricks
had just returned from law school at
Washington, Pa. He was a very indus
trious young man, and seemed to be a nat
ural- born lawyer. At the time / speak OF
a gentleman asked me in regard to a law
yer TO take charge of the settlement of an
estate l recommended Tom, and he man
aged affairs in such manner that il was
but short time until he had n well-estab-
lished practice. He soon gained such a
reputation that he was sent to the Legis-
lature as representative OF that county.
After that he was elected delegate TO the
State Constitutional Convention. Here he
gained a State reputation by his earnest
championship OF a question which came
before that assembly. | WAS present at
that Convention, and was much amused at
the interest taken in Tom by man named
Mckenzie, who was holding the position of
ioor-keeper. He came to me and asked
me who that young fellow was who was
speaking. l told him it was Tom Hen
dricks.
"Where was he raisedY asked he.
"tIa the swamps OF shelby County, an
swsred /.
A.tsWell, fhe will make his mark in this
wcrld, ifshe was raised in the swamps,' re-
marked Mckenzie, and sure enough he did,
long ago.
During Hendricks canvass for Congress
the first time | accompanied him over the
district Over in Hancock County there
was delegate elected who we thought
would not vote as he talked.
Il was clerk of the Congressional Con-
vention, and met:the delegate from Han.
cock and asked him if he would vote for
Tom.
I" "'Vote for him?' said he. Yes, and stay
here till the corn tassels to nominate him..
The fellow proved faithful, and Tom re-
ceived the nomination without any trouble.
Hendricks was one of the most success
fuI lawyers that ever went before q jury.
He probably inherited much of his good
sense from his mother whom he favored in
features and actions very much. His father,
Major Hendricks, was tanner by trade,
and carried on business at Shelby Vile.
There were four sons and two daughters
in the family. Abraham, the elder son,
was a Presbyterisr minister, and died sew
eral years age. Jams still lives at
Shelbyville, AMI | believe Is engaged in
mercantile pursuits. OF the daughters
Jennie married Dr.. Webb. Of Kentucky
who died in a sh ort time. She aftervs ard
married DR.. Pierce. of Indianapolis bu,
did not long survive this marriage About
two years after her death. DR.. Pierce
married Annie, the younger daughter
with whom he now lives Toms mother
died at his house ar indianapolis only a
few years ago.
"Tom married young lady named Miss
Eliza Nor gan. who resided near Cincin.
natl. He had been married hut few days
when he came TO my Office and asked th'
lean of 500, which amount he said he re-
quired to finish paying tor his household
effects. He iterward told me it was the
only money he mad ever borrowed in hii
| life."-Hdns1s Citg Times.