"There! I want you to make a door through that wall."

And this was done at once.

The excitement of that year attendant upon the alleged kiiling of William Morgan, in New York, reached Shelbyville, and the new party of Anti-Masons found adherents there among the proprietors of lots south of the square. Ovid Butler was one of these, and eventually secured a court house door-way in the south side of the building. Major Hendricks continued to favor the interests of Adams and Clay against the Hero of New Orleans until the magnificent statesmanship of that chieftain was shown in his veto of the Bank bill and his suppression of the nullification, when the Major became one of his stanchest supporters.

As soon as he had placed his farm in order and secured time and means for the erection of a permanent residence, Major Hendricks built a large mansion at some distance from his temporary dwelling. Perhaps no. private residence of the State has ever been better known than this, and indeed it would remain an object of popular interest had it never been designated as the childhood home of the statesman whose early years were passed beneath its roof. It still stands, essentially as first constructed, and is worthy an extended description. It rests upon a graceful knoll which rises to a height of about forty feet above the plain, facing to the westward. It is built on the plan of the old homesteads of the wealthy in the vicinity of Chambersburg and common in northern Virginia. Its front possesses the generous breadth of about fifty feet. A large door in the center, capped by a semicircular window with radiating bars, opens into a great hall, which extends through the main building, a length of thirty-five or forty feet. The ceiling is high and unornamented. On either side are two large doorways, at regular intervals, with suitable heavy casings. In the

rear, turned backward from the main door, is a flight of stairs leading to the sleeping chambers above, and almost lost in the large corridor. In such a hall it was customary to hang, high up, the old family portraits-in-oil, and to range upon the side long, old fashioned sofas. Through it passed freely the cool air in summer days. Here paused the neighbors who came on errands or for short calls. Often the hall, in such a house, is the favorite room of the household. On each side are two large rooms, scarcely less than twenty feet square. Midway in the outer wall of each is a tall, wide fire-place, with a high, deep mantel. On one side of this, extending to the wall, is that well-known compound of side-board and closet, with its turned oaken posts, paneled doors and large drawers, and its broad expanse of thick oaken board above. To the rear of the second room on the right was a kitchen of equal dimensions; and adjoining the latter, on the left, a summer kitchen of the same size.

Such was the Major's home, where his children grew to manhood and womanhood. Of the scores of sketches that have been written of the Vice-President's career, perhaps there is none that does not contain an extended reference to the influence of this home. For a generation it was the resort of the great and good who sojourned in that region. Ministers of all denominations laid down their satchels in the hall, and rested in the spacious chambers from the fatigue of travel and protracted pastoral work; and their voices blended with those of parents and children in evening hymn and prayer at the fireside. Statesmen argued upon questions of public. policy in chamber or hall, or under the mighty willow tree that stands before the house. All were welcome who came to claim the hospitality of the free-hearted Major.

The wife and mother who presided with gentle grace

and affectionate spirit over the household was a real home queen, and is remembered with every scene of life in the old mansion as the presiding genius, at once thoughtful and cheerful, serious in life's purpose and joyous hearted in the performance of life's duties.

John Hendricks loved his home. He lived for his home-not selfishly, for none could extend its enjoyments more widely, but as a type of the Home above, a sacred place, the center of his happiness, the subject of his thought and care. Major Hendricks prospered in business affairs. He loved money not for itself, but for the good it might accomplish. He cleared a large farm, and rendered it very productive. He made judicious purchases of town property, which advanced in worth. Being acquainted with the tanner's art, and seeing an opportunity for the establishment of a manufactory of leather, he established a tan-yard on his farm and built up a good trade in hides. He was a good surveyor, and possessed a fine set of instruments. His reputation for accuracy caused his services to be in general demand among land purchasers in locating their tracts. In the last years of Jackson's administration he was appointed assistant surveyor of public lands-an important office, which he discharged for some years with the highest acceptability. Our system of national surveys, it may be remarked, is a triumph of practical wisdom as admirable as our decimal system of money; and the marvels of its vastness in extent and its uniform simplicity, are matters of admiration and pride to the profession of surveyors in America. The surveyor's chain is, moreover, a remembrancer of the Father of his Country, who in youth traced the lines of old estates in Virginia.

In his later years Major Hendricks erected an elegant modern mansion in the heart of the city of Shelbyville, where he resided until the day of his death. He passed peacefully away on the 24th of August, 1866, and was

followed to the tomb by an immense concourse of people, who mourned the departure of one of the notable men of the State. Of the Major's eight children, six were born at the Shelby homestead. Two of these died in infancy, all the others grew to manhood and womanhood. Abram, the eldest, became a Presbyterian minister, and died in 1866; Jane was married to Dr. Webb, of Shelbyville, who died in 1850. She afterward became the wife of Dr. Pierce, of the same city, and they removed to New York, where she died. Anna was subsequently married to the same Dr. Pierce, who survives with her, and they are now residing in New York City. John was postmaster at Shelbyville for a number of years, and died at Delphi, O. a few years since. James, the youngest, still resides at Shelbyville, he and Mrs. Pierce being the only survivors of the family.

remarked Mr. Isaac Wilson, at the close of the address, while Mr. Hendricks was mingling with the crowd. "He has said nothing about Mr. Hawkins."

"No," remarked the Governor, "I confess I do not relish the memory of his birch rods."

Probably Mr. Hawkins was deemed a not unamiable man in his day, but it was the day of corporal punishment in all seasons and for all offenses. In beautiful contrast with the severity of discipline so nearly universal then was the sweet and gentle reign of the noble wife of the pastor.

During the Presidential canvass of 1884, Judge Sleeth and his wife met Mr. Hendricks at the capital, and the latter invited them to an " old fashioned talk," as he expressed it. "Tell me," said he to the lady, "what do you remember of the old log school house?"

"Well, Tom," said she addressing him in the manner of old school days," do you remember the time when you drank Jane's bottle of milk?"

Mr. Hendricks was thoughtful for a moment, then broke into a hearty laugh.

"I believe I do remember it," said he, though it had almost gone from me forever." And then he laughed again as the picture of old days came up before him-thedinner basket with its one bottle of milk, intended for the sister, and his mistaken appropriation of its contents to his own use; his embarrassment and chagrin at finding himself in the position of one defrauding his charge, and the utter impossibility of making any restitution at the time. The trials of childhood seem absurd in later years,. but they are great in their proportion.

The Shelby County Seminary was chartered in 1831, and the building was speedily erected. It contained a corridor, a double staircase ascending from right and left of the main entrance, and a large assembly room, in the lower story. There were four rooms on the second floor.