Gov. Thomas Andrews Hendricks

About

Thomas A. Hendricks, Indiana’s sixteenth governor and nephew of former Governor William Hendricks, was born near Zanesville, Ohio, on September 7, 1819. He graduated from Hanover College in 1841, studied law in Pennsylvania, was admitted to the bar in 1843, and then established a legal practice in Shelbyville, Indiana. Hendricks entered politics in 1848, serving as a one-term member to the Indiana House of Representatives. He was a delegate to the 1850 Indiana Constitutional Convention, and served as a member to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855. He also served as commissioner of the general land office from 1855 to 1859, and was a member to the U.S. Senate, serving from 1863 to 1869. After running unsuccessfully for the governor’s office in 1860 and 1868, Hendricks finally was elected in 1872. During his tenure, the Baxter prohibition law was enacted in 1873, however, two years later it was annulled. Also, labor riots that erupted in Logansport and Clay County were effectively dealt with, and Governor Hendricks ran unsuccessfully for the vice presidency of the United States in 1876. After leaving office, Hendricks ran again for the vice presidency in 1884. He was successful, winning election on the Democratic ticket with Grover Cleveland. He served from March 4, 1885 until his death on November 25, 1885. Governor Thomas Hendricks was buried at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Source

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 1, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

Indiana Historical Society

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

• Nephew of Indiana  Governor William Hendricks