Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-06-22

Wiu--The Part He Had In the Civil
war-A Man Who Has Friends in All
Parties.
Dubuque correspondence State Reg
lister: Col. David B. Henderson, of
Iowa, who now seems likely to win the
honor of being the first ans-Missis-
sippi speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives, illustrates once more the
magnificent opportunities which the
country offers in every line of effort,
to the sons of poverty and toll, whose
only capital are the ambition to mount
and the virile manhood, exhaustless
energy, sturdy judgment, and strong
will to meet the obstacles of the up
ward journey.
Col. Henderson was born in Old
Deer, Scotland, in 1910, and his par
ents, rich only in the Scotch elements
of industry and strength and love of
right, six years thereafter came to the
United States, settling in Illinois, and
three years thereafter in Iowa, open
ing a farm upon Henderson Prai-
rie," in the north part of Fayette
county. The country then was new,
neighbors few and far away, and the
life of young David was one of iso-
lation and toll of the pioneer farmer.
But fortunately his parents were ca
ger for the intellectual development
of their children, availed themselves
of all the means within reach to Sc
cure for them educational privileges.
and sent David at the age of 10 or
20 to Upper Iowa university, a Meth
ted -tt.trt liVngp
into usefulness at Fayette, in the
southern part of the county.
Young Henderson was there but
couple of years when the civil war
broke out, and Lincoln issued his call
for volunteers. The little band Of
students at Fayette college were full
of patriotism, and in the summer of
1861, when William B. Allison, now
United States senator from Iowa, but
then a young military aid to Governor
Kirkwood, was organizing the volun-
teers at Camp Franklin, Dubuque,
young Henderson appeared at the
camp at the head of company Of Fay
cite students and farmers, asking to
be mustered into the United States
service. This was the first meeting
of the two men who have honored the
state of Iowa and served the nation
with such distinguished ability. 1t
was also the beginning of personal
friendship between them that has had
no wavering throughout a third of a
century of political vicissitudes.
The sturdy manhood, innate leader
leadership and resistless energy of
Henderson was as apparent then at
Fl as his later years; and when he told
Col. Allison that if he was commits
stoned to do so he thought he could
go back to Fayette and help to fill
up other companies. Allison prompt
ly gave him the authority. He full
filled his mission, and was elected first
lieutenant of company c., Twelfth To-
wa infantry, and was mustered into
service in November, 1861.
Three months afterwards, he led his
company-his captain being disabled
cool, calm and as Indifferent as an old
veteran, through the abattis before
Fort Donelson, up the slope and to
the very top of the parapet, on which
he was shot through the head, the
ball breaking his jaw and making
what all thought was fatal wound.
age brought, however, speedy conval-
escence, and in the latter part of the
same year, while again bravely fight
ing at Corinth he had leg shatter-
ed. necessitating amputation. On his
return home he was made commiss-
Toner of the board of enrolment, on
which he served for some months, and
on the organization of the Forty-sixth
Iowa was appointed colonel, again en-
tering the field.
On the conclusion of his military
service he took up the study of law,
and subsequently became a member Of
the very prominent law firm at Du-
buque, of which United States Judge
Shiras was the head. He also served
as collector of internal revenue and
as assistant United States district at
torney, both of which positions he
voluntarily resigned. During all this
period he was a hard student, mar
velously quick of apprehension, with
taste for general reading, and thirst
for general as well as legal knowl-
edge, that made him a powerful and
ready advocate and debater.
With great aptitude for public af-
fairs and strong bent towards pub
lie career, he hesitated long before
entering upon it. But he had so en-
deared himself to thousands by his
Astounding good fellowship, his warm
hearted impulses, his intellectual
strength, his political sincerity and
tact, that he could not deny them
when they called him in 1882 to accept
the congressional nomination which
they unanimously rendered him, and
he was elected to the Forty eighth
congress by a splendid majority. 1t is
surely man of remarkable force and
tact, of sincerity, honesty and ability,
commanding the confidence as we'll as
the friendship of party friends and
constituents, who can so long over
come the natural antagonisms of OPP
posing interests, personal and politi-
cal, of his district, as to be able to
secure for nine consecutive terms, a
unanimous nomination by his party
| friends, and even more than his par
| ty strength, at each resulting election
| This Col. Henderson has done, and it
gives one indication of his fitness to
| lead and harmonic his party in the
house of representatives, should he be
elected the speaker.
| Eight are Now Dead.