The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
COL. HENDERSON OF IOWA.
REEDS PROBABLE SUCCESSOR As
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

sional sessions Col David Bremen Henderson
virtually Speaker elect Of the House Of Repre-
sentatves lives at Dubuque. His reputation
among his ncghbors is very like his reputation In
tho House Of Representatives. He Is spoken of
a wellnigh treless worker. sympathetic and
cordial, friend TO friend and a foe TO afoe
Col Henderson has two workrooms in Du
buque, while what he calls his den is in the hotel
where he makes his home. He generally spends
the day from A. Nj to p NJ at the Office. Tn
less social engagement prevents he spends the
evening in the den. At the office he has his Con
gressonal secretary to help him; when working
in the den Mrs Henderson, who has made almost
close study Of public affairs as he, assists
him. There he docs most Of his newspaper read
ing which must necessarily be extensive. Mrs.
Henderson selects and clips all sorts Of articles
which she fances will interest him II Is in the
den that he generally writes such Of his campaign
speeches are sent out in advance. though few
Of his addresses. and in his judgment none Of
his most effective speeches, have ever been written
at all Az rule, his preparation for speech
making is confined to close reading and hard
thought He does the reading first, and when he
has acquired the information he desires no goes
to his office, locks the door. and secs until
the speech has been completely thought out Hav-
ing fixed its points in his mind, he relies almost
wholly upon the impulse OF the moment for its
form. his written references being memoranda, so
brief that they may be iotted down upon bit Of
paper little larger than a man s hand.
Col. Henderson is almost an ideal campaigner
In his stump speeches the most noticeable charac-
teristics are heartiness obvious belief in what he
says, and enthusiasm. His habit of livening
up the proceedings occasionally by asking the
audience to Join him in singing "rhe Star Spangled
Banner" Marching Through Georgia" or some
other patriotic song, has long been famous On
such occasions he leads the singing himself in
a strong and really musical voice
Personally. Col. Henderson is described by his
friends as Jolly good fellow He is taller and
heavier than the average His shoulders are
broad his chest is deep and he will be an impress
sive figure at the Speakers desk. He walks
with the aid Of a cane with limp due to the loss
Of the left leg at the knee. He was shot at the
battle Of Corlnth. His hand is a big one, and
his grasp on greeting friend is real grip His
conversational voice is pleasant, and his talk
shows wide and varied information lie is a
capital story teller and he holds pronounced views
on most topics. He doesn't like to talk about
himself No one could be with him half an hour
without percevng that he is of positive character
Yet chance has played a most important part
in his life Had not Thomas Henderson, his
father been more trustful half a century ago
than most men, David Bremen Henderson might
never have been an American citizen at all. The
course Of his whole career changed by one
act Of confidence the elder Hendersons part
For generations the Hcndcrsons dwelt in Old
Deer villagr attached To the Earl of Brohan 3
estate in Aberdeenshire. Scotland. As the
Colonel is now, was his father before him. fond
o. singing. and possessed of n voice which made
him general favorite The old Earl Of BuChan
n bachelor, who received much company and lived
high, was one Of those who took pleasure in Hen
derson's voice, and often had him at the Castle
| for the diversion Of his guests. Henderson had
| lily, and frequently composed new songs on the
spur OF tne m3mentNadapt"d them TO old airs
ndd SanE e hem l1f immense en.e,
| sion, when ilrndcrson's efforts had been partic.
ularly pleasing. the Earl told him he might oc
| rupy, a good sized strip Of land at the head OF
should rcmqin rent free 10 three generations Of
| his descendants Accordingly Henderson buil
a row Of siT small stone houses, investing viz
| tually all his savings in their erection and be
came GiI landlord landlord And man Of substance among
youngest Of the children, born in Of these
| houses on March II. 1870
deaf one night y few days later the dead Ear s
younger brother called at the Henderson home
Documents under which the land on which the
! houses stood was held But Henderson had nc
9fd never NO lGqS No s" of any
the sort the Earl had given permission for tn,
| occupation of the land SO what need was there
| for papers? Then, said the new owner the Hen
| drrSons must get out inside of two days Hen
dsrson could not b" icyc his ears, but the man
made clear to him, Henderson turned, seized the
| young gentleman. carried him TO the door anc
kicked him into the street In the mind Of Hen
derson that closed the incident but his wife knew
| better She comprehended how serious mat
ter II was for an ordinary man to commit bodily
| something must be done imprisonment m x hi
result. 50 that night she went TO the laird with
| out her husbands knowledge, and on her knees
begged Tor clcmency, promising as speedy evacua
ton OF the premises as possible without Legal
| prosecution. II took long time to move the
angered laird. but he finally rclcnlcd, and the
family embarked on the old ship Brooksby fol
The trip lasted many weeks David Bremen
the stormy VOYAGE as il I ali happ ned iasi week
| The licndersons struggled slowly 10 Chicago
When they reached thai place Thomas HendsI
SIS! left OF the money he had realized from the
sale Of his effects in Scotland with which TO be
Henderson. met the party at Chicago TO escort
them farther on their way. The young man
them the new comers finished their travels Hen
| derson buckled maniully to his task. IN less
| a big tract Of Government land in Fayette county
| IN the northeaSternmoSt corner nf Iowa and there
they settled and spread out, after american Pio
n"er fashion They named Their new place Plea
SAINT Prairie. but their ucighhnrs wouldn't have
| il 50, They renamed ii Hcnderson's Prairie
and so il is known TO the present day.
1t would be hard to conceive OF a buster boy =
| life than that Of David Is. henderson in the iOr
| home built by his father. The whole country
| abnnndel with wild game and the streams were
full OF fish, but the yuungStcr had no time to hum
| or angie Daily in the summer time unless j
| rainci, Il was his duty to begin work before sun
rise and continue until after sunset ON rainy
days, and in the winter time, he read and studied;
| in the years between s and l6 he read Shakes
| pear, Milton and other English classics On
| Sundays he went To- church, His only amusement.
| were athletics, and he was champion wrestler ri
| the region Through this the course II his liiC
| was changed almost rs completely as tn" episode
| with the Earl Of Buchan's younger brother haC
| changed the circumstances Of his father
1t came about in this way. When he 10
or II stranger who had heard Of his prowcss
as "A wrestler visited llcndcrson'S Prairie for the
| purpose Of trying conclusions with him The
stranger was taller and heavier than his boysh
| opponent, but Henderson threw him repeatedly
the stranger finally admitted that the boy was
| the better man Finally the stranger said thai
| il he could have what was called the right hand
| under hold he would try again. II was againS
| all precedent 10 give an opponent such an ad
vantage, the left hand going with the under and
the right with the upper hold but Henderson
consented and after long struggle, the stranger