Encyclopedia Dubuque
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HENDERSON, David B.
HENDERSON, David Bremner. (Old Deer, Scotland, Mar. 14, 1840-Dubuque, IA, Feb. 25, 1906). Henderson emigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Winnebago County, Ill., in 1846. They moved to Fayette County, Iowa. The family lived in what became known as Henderson Prairie a few miles west of Postville. (1) In 1849 he attended the common schools and then Upper Iowa University at Fayette. (2)
Henderson was a leader in organizing a company of students at the beginning of the CIVIL WAR. (3) They enlisted in the Union Army September 15, 1861, as Company C, Twelfth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Henderson was elected and commissioned first lieutenant of that company and served with it until discharged, owing to the loss of a foot, on February 26, 1863. (4) Using personal and political friendships, he was appointed commissioner of the board of enrollment of the third district of Iowa from May 1863 to June 1864. (5) He entered the Army as a Colonel of the Forty-sixth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. His regiment served near Memphis, Tennessee mostly doing guard duty along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.
Henderson studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1865. He served as the collector of internal revenue for the third district of Iowa from November 1865 to June 1869 when joined the law firm of Shiras, Van Duzee, and Bissell upon the death of Attorney General Bissell. (6) Henderson served as the assistant United States district attorney for the northern district of Iowa 1869-1871. (7)
Henderson became involved in politics at about the same time. He attended the Republican convention several times and chaired the Iowa delegation in 1880. (8) Wounded during the battle of Corinth, Henderson could always count on the veteran vote throughout his political career. He was elected as a Republican to the Forty-eighth and to the nine succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1903). (9) Henderson served as chairman, Committee on Militia (Fifty-first Congress), Committee on the Judiciary (Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses), and Committee on Rules (Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses). (10) He was seen as Speaker of the House Thomas B. Reed's right-hand man. (11) Henderson was anti-imperialist, a supporter of high protective tariffs, and believed in the gold standard--issues important at the time but in opposition to the views of many other Republicans.
By 1899 Speaker Reed had become increasingly unpopular. He was seen as domineering and his anti-imperialist beliefs were not those of the expansion-minded nation. When he resigned his seat and returned to his New York law practice, Henderson quickly moved to take the position and became the first person from states west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER to achieve the powerful position of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses). (12) Henderson openly favored members of his own political party and tended to be stern in his rulings. His withdrawal from the congressional race in 1902 was due to both local and national political pressures. He had been left off a tariff conference in Washington and resented several Waterloo progressives who attacked him for his protectionist views on tariffs. Henderson declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1902.
Henderson retired from Congress to practice law in New York City. (13) He soon returned to Dubuque where he remained until his death.
See: HENDERSON DRUM CORPS
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Source:
1. Schroeder, Stan. "Prominent People of the Pale Past," http://www.sharylscabin.com/Allamakee/history4/palepast_4.htm
2. Hudson, David; Bergman, Marvin; Horton, Loren. The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008 p. 227
3. Ibid.
4. Special Collections Department, University of Iowa. "Papers of David Bremner Henderson," http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/MSC/ToMsc100/MsC95/MsC95_hendersondavidb.html
5. Hudson, The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. p. 228
6. Ibid.
7. Oldt, Franklin T. The History of Dubuque County, Chicago: Western Historical Company,p. 804
8. Ibid.
9. Special Collections Department, University of Iowa. "Papers of David Bremner Henderson"
10. "David Bremner Henderson," Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000478
11. Hudson, The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. p. 228
12. Upper Iowa University. "UIU's First Success Stories," http://www.uiu.edu/alumni-success/first-success-stories.html
13. "History of Dubuque and Dubuque County.. Telegraph Herald, Jan. 15, 1939, p. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dtdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5766,3140247&dq=dubuque+electric+company&hl=en
