New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-13
JOHN B. HENDERSON DEAD
Former u. S. Senator and Au'
thor of 18th Amendment.

Washington. April l2-John Brooks
Henderson. formerly United States Sena-
tor from Missouri. and author Of the Ihir
teenth Amendment to the Constitution OIL
the United States, died here at a hosppai
tonight from complication of disorders
He was eighty-siX years old.
Mr.. Henderson was taken seriously III
Monday, and his physicians had him re-
moved to a hospital. Mrs Henderson
who had been with him constantly, ana
his only son. John B. Henderson. jr., were
at his bedside when death came
John r. Henderson was born in PITT
sylvana County. Va, November IS. lsZo'
and when a small boy removed with MS
family TO Lincoln County, Mo. Ihere
he received common school education.
which was supplemented by his own ef-
forts with thorough training in mathe-
matics and a good knowledge of inc
classics. Before he WAS OF age Mr.. Hen
derson became school teacher, ana
while thus engaged studied law lie was
admitted to the bar in historic Pike
County i'm 1873 and settled in Louisiana.
Mo. a year later.
Ilc was elected TO the state Legislature
from Pike County in 1919 and in 1856 was
elected again. He originated many of the
Missouri railroad and banking laws. In
1860 he was nominated FOR the national
House Of Representatives, but was de-
fcated by James $. Rollins.
Mr.. Henderson was a pronounced oppo-
ncnt Of secession in the stirring days
preceding the Civil War. lie was a
Buchanan Presidential elector, and In
1850 was on the electoral ticket that car
ricd Missouri for stephen y. Douglass
for President. He was also a member or
the Missouri convention 10 determine the
question of secession.
At the outbreak Of tho Civil War the
provisional Governor of Missouri appoint
Cd Mr.. Henderson brigadier general OF
tho state militia, and he organized a bril-
gade OF troops. His pronounced Union
ism had carried him into the Republican
party. and in 1862 he was appointed
United States Senator by Lieutenant
Governor Hall to I'LL the vacancy caused
by the expulsion of Trusten Polk, a
Southern sympathizer. Following this ac-
ton. tho Missouri Legislature in 1865
elected him Senator for six years.
Probably the most memorable and his
torical single act Of Mr.. Henderson's life
was the writing of the Thirteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States. abolishing slavery.
As chairman of the Committee on
Indian Affairs and as special commits
sioncr i'm 1861 with General William Te-
cumseh Sherman and others he organ
lied the Indian Peace Commission, which
concluded a treaty with the Sioux
Cheyenncs and other hostile tribes that
had been ravaging the Missouri River
country. lie also effected the reimburse
mcnt Of the State Of Missouri for war eX-
pcndltures from the federal Treasury,
thereby re-establishing the credit OF the
state.
The political career OF Mr.. Henderson
was ruined by tho proceedings 10 i'm
peach President Andrew Johnson. lie,
with few other Republican Senators.
voted FOR the acquittal Of Johnson. and
their votes. with those OF the Democrats,
barely saved Johnson. a few months
later the Missouri Legislature refused to
| ro-olcct him to the Senate.
In 1872 he was nominated for Governor.
but was defeated. Shortly after the end
Of his Senatorial career Mr. Henderson
married Miss Mary Newton Foote. Of
New York. He returned to St Louis and
resumed the practice Of law. In which he
was immensely successful. In 1913 Presl-
dent Grant appointed him special United
states Attorney to prosecute the whiskey
ring in ST. Louis In 1854 he was chair
man Of the Republican National Conven-
ton that nominated James g. Blaine for
President.
Mr.. Henderson retired from the active
practice Of law many years ago. and with
his wife and his son. John r. Henderson.
ir.. went TO Washington TO live.
The Henderson home, at Florida avenue
and 18th street. is one Of the show places
OF Washington and has been the scene Of
many lavish entertainments. In January
Of this year Mrs. Henderson came into
the spotlight because she was summoned
to court for causing dead tree TO be
cut down in front of her house. contrary
TO the laws Of the District of Columbia
I'm the police court she pleaded guilty
but the case was dismissed.
Mrs. Henderson startled Washington
society In May, 1905. by emptying the
contents OF her husbands wine cellar in
the street in front OF Henderson Castle.
and the cutters ran with the choicest
vintages of the Old World. Several years
before both Mrs. Henderson and her hus-
band had joined the Independent order Of
Rcchabites. and when an organization
called Henderson Tent" was effected
members were invited to assist I'm the
destruction Of the vile stuff" that had
been gathering cobwebs below stairs.
COMMANDER WALTER T. FEARS