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Francis Hendricks

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Francis Hendricks (1900)

Francis Hendricks (November 23, 1834 – June 9, 1920) was an American merchant, banker and politician from New York.

Life

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Hendricks was born on November 23, 1834, in Kingston, Ulster County, New York.[1]

He attended the common schools and The Albany Academy. Then he engaged in the sale of photographic supplies in Syracuse from 1860 to 1916.[2]

He served as a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners of Syracuse from 1877 to 1878; and was Mayor of Syracuse from 1880 to 1881.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Onondaga Co., 2nd D.) in 1884 and 1885. He was a member of the New York State Senate (25th D.) from 1886 to 1891, sitting in the 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, 113th and 114th New York State Legislatures.

From September 28, 1891, to July 1893, Hendricks held the office of Collector of the Port of New York. He was also President of the State Bank of Syracuse. Governor Theodore Roosevelt appointed him as Superintendent of Insurance in February 1900, a post he held until May 1906.

In 1918, the veteran Hendricks lost the support of his ward and town leaders in the midst of the prohibition debate. After his defeat, Hendricks said he had "no desire to lead an organisation which has become the tool of the saloons."

He died on June 9, 1920, "after an illness of several weeks" in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.[1]

Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse University, 2012

Legacy

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Childless, in his will Hendricks left $500,000 to Syracuse University to build a chapel in memory of his wife, Eliza Jane. Today, Hendricks Memorial Chapel is a registered historic landmark on the university's campus.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Francis Hendricks, Politician, dies at 86" (PDF). New York Times. June 10, 1920. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b Case, Dick (5 Sep 2009). "Hendricks Photo Supply Downtown To Close". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  3. ^ Phillips, Richard L.; Wright, Donald G. (5 July 2005). Hendricks Chapel: Seventy-five Years of Service to Syracuse University. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8156-0827-1. OCLC 58729694.

Sources

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Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Syracuse, New York
1880–1881
Succeeded by
New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
Onondaga County, 2nd District

1884–1885
Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate
25th District

1886–1891
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Collector of the Port of New York
1891–1893
Succeeded by
Preceded by Superintendent of Insurance
1900–1906
Succeeded by