homas A. Hendricks was the son of Major John Hendricks, and the grandson of Abraham Hendricks, a descendant of the Huguenots, who emigrated to New Jersey and thence to Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolution. Abraham Hendricks was a man of remarkable force of character. He was elected to the Pennsylvania assembly first in 1792, and served four terms, the last ending in 1798. William Hendricks, second governor of Indiana, preceded his brother John in moving to this state from Ohio, and had gained much notoriety as a talented and public man when Major John finally concluded to risk his fortune in the wilds of the new west. John Hendricks, prior to 1829, resided with his family at Zanesville, Ohio. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Thompson, and a niece, were the only members of the Thompson family who emigrated west, the others remaining in Pennsylvania and other eastern states, where some of them gained enviable reputations in law, medicine, politics and ministry. Shortly after their marriage John Hendricks and wife moved to Muskingum, Ohio, where they lived for some time in a rude log house, one story, one room, one door and two windows, built of round logs and chinked and daubed after the pioneer fashion. In this little domicile were born two sons, Abraham and Thomas A. the last named, Thomas A., was born September 7, 1819. The next year, 1820, lured by the brilliant career of William Hendricks, heretofore spoken of, Major John Hendricks, with his little family, removed to Madison Indiana, then the metropolis of the state. Two years later, the family removed to Shelby County, at that time a wilderness, and settled on the present side of Shelbyville. Here the father commenced to erect a house and carve a career for their hopeful son, then scarcely three years of age. A dwelling was soon constructed, trees felled, and a farm opened, and the Hendricks housed early became a favorite stopping place for all who saw fit to accept its hospitalities. The future vice president received his early educational training in the schools of Shelbyville, and among his first teachers was the wife of Rev. Eliphalet Kent, a lady of excellent culture, fine education, graceful, and nobly consecrated to the Master, to whom Mr. Hendricks was largely indebted for much of his training and success. Having completed his course in the common schools, he entered Hanover College in 1836, where he remained for the greater part of the time until 1841. On leaving college, he returned to Shelbyville, and commenced the study of law in the office of Stephen Major, then a young lawyer of brilliant attainments and considerable tact and experience. In 1843, Mr. Hendricks went to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he entered the law school, in which Alexander was instructor, a man of distinguished ability, extensive learning and much experience as judge of the sixteenth judicial district of that state. After eight months' arduous work in this institution, he returned to Shelbyville, passed an examination, and was the same year admitted to the bar. His first case was before Squire Lee, his opponent being Nathan Powell, a young acquaintance, who had opened up an office about the same time. The case was a trivial one, yet the young attorneys worked hard and with vim of old practitioners for their respective clients. Mr. Hendricks won, and after complimenting Mr. Powell upon his effort, he gracefully served the applies which had been generously furnished by an enthusiastic spectator. Thus started the young advocate who was destined to become one of the nation's greatest and most beloved statesmen. In 1843, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Eliza Morgan, who was the daughter of a widow, living at North Bend, and two years later, September 26, 1845, the two were untied in the bonds of wedlock.

So soon as Mr. Hendricks emerged from boyhood, his success as a lawyer and public man was assured. Having established an office in Shelbyville, he gained in a short time a fair competence, and soon became one of the leading attorneys of the place. As an advocate, he had few equals, and as a safe counselor, none surpassed him at the Shelby County bar. In the year 1848, Mr. Hendricks was nominated for the lower house of the general assembly, was elected after a brilliant canvass, and served his term with marked distinction. In 1850, he was chosen a delegate to the state constitutional convention, in the deliberations of which he took an active part, having served on two very important committees, and won distinction by a brilliant speech upon the resolution relative to the abolition of the grand jury system. The following year was the beginning of Mr. Hendricks' career in national politics. He was nominated for congress at Indianapolis, May 16, 1815, over several other candidates, made a vigorous canvass, and was elected by a decided majority over Col. James P. Rush, the Whig Candidate. In congress, he progressed with signal ability, and was called to act on some of the most important committees, and soon won a national reputation. Scarce had congress adjourned when he was required to make another campaign, for the constitution had transferred the congressional elections to even years, and the month to October. The Whig candidate, John H. Bradley, of Indianapolis, was a brilliant man and a public speaker of rare attainments, which Mr. Hendricks defeated by a largely increased majority. In 1854, when the northern Whigs were in a chaotic condition, proslavery, anti-slavery, free-soilers, abolitionists, know-nothings and democrats coming in a storm of confusion a "fusion" state and congressional ticket was formed for the occasion. Opposed to Mr. Hendricks was Lucian Barbour, a talented lawyer of Indianapolis, who exerted himself to combine all the opponents of Democracy. Mr. Hendricks made a vigorous and manly contest, but was defeated, after which he retired to his profession and his home at Shelbyville. In 1855, he was appointed by President Pierce general land commissioner, in which capacity he served nearly four years, and 1860 was nominated for governor of Indiana against Henry S. Lane. After a brilliant and able canvass, during which the tow competitors spoke together in nearly every county of the state, defeat again came to Mr. Hendricks. In the same year, he moved to Indianapolis, where he lived until his death. In January 1863, he was elected to the United States senate, which position he held for six years. In 1872, he was again nominated for governor, his opponent being General Thomas Brown, a man of ability and enviable reputation. This campaign was peculiar in one particular. The republicans had infused the crusaders with the idea that they were the salvation of their cause, while the Democracy opposed all sumptuary laws. Yet, Mr. Hendricks went before the people as a temperance man -- opposed to prohibition, but willing to sign any constitutional legislation looking toward the amelioration of crime and the advancement of temperance. He was elected and kept his pledges to the letter. He always kept his pledges inviolate, and ever remained true to his friends. He had a high sense of duty, and a spirit of philanthropy pervaded his whole nature. In 1876 he was nominated for the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, and of this election it was claimed they were flagrantly defrauded by returning boards and the electoral commission. In 1880, the name of Thomas A. Hendricks was placed in nomination for the presidency at Cincinnati, by Indiana, and his nomination was strongly urged in the convention. In 1884, he was a delegate to the Chicago convention, and as chairman of the Indiana delegation presented in fitting terms and masterly manner the name of Joseph E. McDonald for the presidency. After the latter had positively refused to accept the second place on the ticket, Mr. Hendricks was unanimously chosen, and the successful ticket for 1884, the first in twenty-five years, became Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks. But few greater calamities ever befell the people than the death of Vice President Hendricks, which occurred on the 25th day of November 1885, at his home in Indianapolis, of heart disease. Mr. Hendricks was one of the nation's greatest men: deep, broad-minded, diplomatic and, above all, a true man. His acts and speeches in congress, both in the house and senate, his defense of what he conceived to be right, his labors for the poor, the oppressed and the wronged of every class in this and other countries, were of great interest to his people and worthy of emulation by all. His devotion to his party, his candor and honesty of purpose, his noble ambition to serve the people faithfully, his philanthropy and universal love of mankind, all combined to make him one of the noblest of men. Strong in his convictions, yet courteous to opponents; great in intellect, yet approachable by the humblest of men; high in position, he met every man as his equal; independent in thought, self-reliant in principle, and rich in pleasant greeting to all whom he met; though dead, he yet lives in the hearts of the people, and his noble characteristics stand out in bold relief as beacon lights to guide and direct generations yet to be.