HENRY, John, Congress, IL (1800-1882)

HENRY, John, a Representative from Illinois; born near Stanford, Lincoln County, Ky., November 1, 1800; attended the public schools; served as a private in Captain Arnett’s company of Illinois volunteers in the Black Hawk War; member of the State house of representatives 1832-1840; was prominently identified with the construction of the first railway in Illinois in 1838; member of the State senate 1840-1847; elected as a Whig to the Twenty-ninth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Edward D. Baker and served from February 5, 1847, to March 3, 1847; was not a candidate for the Thirtieth Congress; superintendent of the State insane asylum at Jacksonville, Ill., 1850-1855; during the Civil War was connected with the Quartermaster’s Department at Jackson, Tenn., from August 25, 1862, to April 30, 1863; died in St. Louis, Mo., April 28, 1882; interment in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present