Iowa Old Press
Ottumwa Courier
Tuesday, August 14, 1900
PIONEER DEAD
Judge H. B. Hendershott Passes Away in This City
SUFFERED LONG ILLNESS
Was Closely Identified with the Early History of Iowa and Ottumwa—Was Descendant of Fine Old Family—Funeral Sunday.
[From Saturday’s Daily.]
The death of Judge H. B. Hendershott, one of the early pioneers of Iowa, occurred at the home of his son, L. C. Hendershott, 921 North Elm street, this morning at 10:30 o’clock. The deceased had been confined to his bed for the past six months and his death, tho a shock to his many friends in Ottumwa and thruout the state, is not a surprise, as his condition has been critical for a number of weeks past.
Judge Hendershott was very closely affiliated with the early history of the state of Iowa, and it was partly thru his ability and efforts that the state gained so rapidly in its popularity and importance in the government. He served four years in the senate, representing Wapello, Monroe, and Lucas counties, and took an active part in forming the code in 1851. Mr. Hendershott also served as Judge of the Third judicial district and it is said the supreme court reversed fewer of Judge Hendershott’s decisions than any other judge in the state.
Henry B. Hendershott was a descendant of excellent old Welsh and German families, and possessed in a goodly degree the worthy traits of his ancestors. He was born in Miami, Ohio, May 15, 1816; his father was a native of New Jersey and his mother a native of Ohio. Soon after the birth of their son Henry, in the autumn of the same year, they removed to the territory of Illinois and located in Madison county, where the early life of the son was passed, amid the wild scenes of a pioneer’s home. His opportunities for securing an education were very limited, he being only able to attend school during the winter season, and then often obliged to walk three or four miles in order to reach the public institution of learning.
At an early period in his life, he gave unmistakable indication of great resolution and force of character, which his later years fully established. At the age of nineteen, he started out alone and on foot for Illinois college at Jacksonville. When he reached the place he had but $2.50 in his pocket and a very scanty wardrobe. He laid his case before the faculty of the college, of which Rev. Edward Beecher was president, and they, appreciating the worthiness of his undertaking, extended to him all the encouragement in their power. At that time there was a large farm and workshop attached to the college, and during such hours as he could obtain from his studies, young Hendershott applied himself to work, receiving twelve and one-half cents per hour. He remained two years in college, alternating work with study and keeping equal pace with his classmates. At length he found it necessary to find something to do which would contribute more liberally to his support.
Mr. Hendershott, in 1837, after leaving college, proceeded westward to Burlington, Iowa. He secured a position as clerk of the postoffice, and was afterwards employed in the recorder’s office. He still continued the pursuit of his studies during his leisure moments and took up the study of law under Judge David Rorer and M. D. Browning. He had been faithful to his duties in the recorder’s office, and in 1839 was appointed deputy clerk of the district court of DesMoines county, by the Hon. Charles Mason, of that court. Here he remained for two years, in the meantime continuing his studies, and was finally admitted to the bar in 1841.
The following year he removed to Mt. Pleasant, Henry county, and soon afterwards to Fairfield, Jefferson county. Thence he went to Agency City and on May 16, 1844, came to Ottumwa, where he located permanently, being one of the most honored pioneers and the most highly respected citizens of this city.
In February, 1844, previous to being a resident here, Mr. Hendershott was appointed by Judge Mason, clerk of the district court of Wapello county, which office he held until the following September. While acting as clerk it became his duty, by an act of the legislature, to organize the county. On December 17, of the following year, he was appointed by Governor James Clark to the office of district prosecutor for the Seventh district of Iowa, and not quite a year from that time, on September 17, 1846, Governor Clark commissioned him colonel of the Second regiment, First brigade, Fourth division, Iowa militia.
On April 10, 1849, he was commissioned by Hon. George W. Jones, surveyor general of Wisconsin and Iowa, as surveyor to sectionize townships. At the September term of the United States court in 1848, he was appointed by that court to the responsible position of commissioner of Iowa, to act in conjunction with Joseph C. Brown, commissioner from Missouri, in determining the vexed question of the boundary line between those states. In the meantime Mr. Brown died, and Hon. Robert W. Wells was appointed his successor. Mr. Wells, finding that the duties of commissioner interfered with those of a judge, resigned and Hon. W. G. Miner was appointed to succeed him. The joint services of Judge Hendershott and Mr. Miner gave entire satisfaction, and their report was accepted as a final settlement of a prolonged and bitter dispute over the line.
In the summer of 1850 Judge Hendershott was elected to represent the counties of Wapello, Monroe and Lucas in the senate, where he served four years. In this body he was a member of the judiciary committee, and took an active part in forming the code of 1851. The following January he was elected member of the Iowa Historical and Geological society. He was clerk of the city council in 1852 and 1853 and again in 1855. Four years later he was a member of the city council. In the meantime, however, in 1856, Mr. Hendershott had been elected Judge of the district court for the Third judicial district, the duties of which position he performed with great credit to himself and acceptability to the bar and the people. It may be said, without disparagement to others, that the reports of cases decided by the supreme court of the state will show a less proportion of Judge Hendershott’s ruling reversed thatn those of any other judge in the state. Upon retiring from the bench the bar tendered him a complimentary supper, at which resolutions of approval of his services were passed.
For a number of years the deceased was prevented from engaging in active business affairs, owing to the infirmities of old age. Up to this period from 1850, with the exception of the time he was actually engaged in the duties of state senator and during the time he acted as judge of the district court, Mr. Hendershott was actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1876 he was the democratic nominee for congress in the Sixth district, which was then republican by 5,000 majority. Tho his defeat was to be expected, yet he ran several hundred votes ahead of his ticket, and until the nomination of Hon. A. C. Steck at the recent democratic convention in this city, bore the distinction of having been the only candidate nominated for congress by the democrats from Wapello county.
Judge Hendershott has filled many offices of responsibility and honor and always with industry, vigor and ability. He was a fluent, forcible and convincing speaker. His personal character was always above reproach, and he was a staunch friend and supporter of education, morality and sobriety. He was, in all respects, an honored representative of the pioneer element of Wapello county, and rose to his exalted position by the exercise of his own native talent and resolution.
On June 8, 1845, Judge Hendershott was united in marriage with Miss Mary W. Jeffries, of this city. She was born in Mecklinburg county, Virginia, in 1820, and still survives him. To this union seven sons and one daughter were born. The surviving members of the family are Lewis Cass, Charles, William, Henry, and LeRoy.
The funeral services will be conducted from the residence of L. C. Hendershott, on North Elm street, Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock by Rev. J. Hollister Lynch.
[transcribed by L.Z., Nov 2020]