The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-03-01
DEATH OF EX-SPEAkER HENDER-
SON.

DEATH OF Ex-sPEAKER HENDER-
SON.
man who played, in his time, many
parts of the highest importance and
played them all with the greatest zeal
for the country and credit to himself,
has passed away. in the death Of Ex-
Speaker David b. Henderson, who died
at Dubuque, Iowa, Feb. Is. This event
was not unexpected, as Gen. Hender-
sons condition has been such for more
than a year that his death was only a
question of time. He had been per-
ceptibly failing for years, and a recog-
milton Of this caused his retirement
from politics Though he seemed at
times recovering, these periods were
Elusive and followed by relapse into
worse conditions Last May it was
clear that he was a victim of paress,
and after that time he failed rapidly
Gen. Henderson was born at Old Deer
Scotland, March IA, 1840, and his parents
brought him to this country in 1916.
settling first in Illinois and then in
Iowa. He was the youngest of nine
children, and as the family's circum-
stances were poor it was struggle to
obtain an education. He managed to
get himself fitted for college, however
and in addition to the studies took a
deep interest in military matters and
became Drill Master of a local COM
pany while student. He was intense
ly interested in politics, and upon the
frin
speech to his fellow-students exhorting
them to enlist, which they did and
formed company of which he was
elected Captain. His brothers also en-
listed, and one of them lies in the Ma
tional Cemetery at Shiloh. His COM
pany joined the 18th Iowa and was
with Grants army in the campaign up
the tennessee, coming under fire for
the first time at Fort Henry. Thence
it marched across the Peninsula to Fort
Donelson. At Shiloh, out of a total
Of AT it took into action. it lost 127,
Of whom "a were killed. The regiment
went forward in the movement against
Corinth. and in the operations there
Capt Henderson received wound
which caused the loss of his leg. He
recovered from his wound SO as to be
able TO respond to call of the Presi-
dent for 100 days men, and returned to
the field as Colonel of the 18th Iowa.
Upon his discharge from the army he
was appointed Collector Of Internal
Revenue. which office he held four years,
when he returned to the practice of
the law, in which he had graduated,
and became very successful, especially
before jury, where his fervid elo-
quence was very convincing. He began
his notable and highly-honorably Con-
gressional career by election to the 48th
Congress. He was continuously re.
elected for 10 successive terms and
achieved such a position among his COL
leagues that upon the retirement of
Speaker Reed there was no question as
| to who should be his successor. He
served as Speaker Of the House for the
56th and 57th Congresses but declined
denomination to the 58th Congress.
He was as successful in presiding over
the House as he had been in debate
upon the floor and his committee work.
He had shown himself from the first a
ready, aggressive fighter, champion
for all that was good, and SO we'll
equipped for the fray that he more than
held his own with all the opponents
who went up against him. From the
first he was devoted friend and
| champion of his comrades, and they
hold him in grateful memory for very
effective service in their behalf. It is
remembered of him that in 1886. when
the opposition Of some Northern Repre-
sentatives to the pension bills was par
ticularly bitter, Henderson said in a
speech, which excited great attention
at the time, Il would rather spend an
eternity in He'll with Confederate who
rendered his life with his views than to
be in Heaven forever with Northern
COpperhead." The country loses q MON