Franklin County, KY - Bios:  Hendrick, William Jackson
Posted by Sandi Gorin on Wed, 21 Jul 1999
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William Jackson HENDRICK 3399, Franklin Co. 

Surname: Hendrick, Darnall, Harris

Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. 
Published by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago. 
Reprinted by Southern Historical Press. p. 124. Franklin County.

WILLIAM JACKSON HENDRICK, of the Frankfort bar, was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, 
March 22, 1855. His father was Rev. James P. Hendrick, D. D., minister of the Presbyterian 
church; his mother, Sophia (Darnall) Hendrick. His education was acquired under instruction 
of private tutors and the personal care of his father until he entered Center College, 
Danville, where he graduated in 1873. He taught school and studied law until 1876, when he 
was licensed to practice and entered upon the profession at Flemingsburg. He represented his 
county in the legislature in 1881-2, was assistant elector-at-large on the Democratic ticket 
in 1884, and in 1888 elector from the ninth congressional district. In 1890 he was elected 
to the constitutional convention, where he was an active participant in the debates and an 
important factor in the formulation of the fundamental law of the commonwealth. In 1891 he 
was nominated and elected attorney general of the state, and filled the office for the term 
of four years, during a period fraught with much important litigation, the extraordinary care, 
activity and ability. The constitution of 1890 went into operation during that period and 
brought forth a number of very important questions, which it was his province to bring before 
the courts that judicial decisions might be rendered. As shown by the records his duties were 
discharged with energy and acumen. Personally popular, his genial smile, quick with and happy 
anecdote are welcomed by his professional brethren everywhere. His official service and his 
political canvasses have given him a wide acquaintance throughout the state, and his versatile 
mind, ever active, his wonderful memory of faces, names and incidents, have kept him in touch 
with the prominent men of the state. He is a speaker of great force, and his wide reading of 
the literature of the world, and his familiarity with the arts and sciences, render his 
addresses ornate, beautiful and instructive. To the education of the lawyer he has added the 
polish of the scholar. In his office he has a law library hardly second to any in the state, 
and in his beautiful home the works of the best authors of all ages are ready at hand to amuse 
and instruct. Since the close of his term as attorney-general Mr. Hendrick has represented the 
state in a number of important suits instituted during his term, several times appearing for 
Kentucky in the supreme court of the United States, where he has won some important cases. 
He has a large clientage, not confined to the state, his services being in demand in the courts 
of Washington and an important negotiations in the east. Mr. Hendrick was married September 25, 
1878, to Miss Mattie Harris, daughter of Hon. John W. Harris, of Boone county, Missouri. Mrs. 
Hendrick has added to a good education by foreign travel, and presides in her beautiful home 
dispensing its charming hospitalities with dignity and grace.