History of Washington County Kentucky United States of America

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John Hardin McHenry, representative, was born in Washington county, Ky., Oct. 13, 1797; son of the Rev. Barnabas and Sarah (Hardin) McHenry, and grandson of the Rev. Francis McHenry, who came from Ireland, settled in New Jersey and preached in Virginia, and of Col. John and Jane (Daviess) Hardin. He was educated for the law and became prominent at the bar; was a member of the state legislature from Ohio county, 1840, and a Whig representative from the second Kentucky district in the 28th and 29th congresses, 1843-47. He also represented Ohio and Hancock counties in the state constitutional convention in 1849. His eldest son, Henry D. McHenry, was a representative from his county in the state legislature; a member of the state senate; a representative in the 42d congress, 1871-73, and a member of the state constitutional convention of 1891. He was also district delegate to several Democratic national conventions, and for a number of years a member of the national executive committee. Another son, Col. John Hardin McHenry, commanded the 17th Kentucky volunteers in the U.S. army, 1801-62, gaining distinction at the battle of Fort Donelson, and was dismissed from the U.S. service, Dec. 9, 1862, for issuing an order returning slaves to their masters from his camp in violation of an additional article of war. A third son, W. Estell McHenry, represented Daviess county in the Kentucky legislature. John Hardin McHenry died in Owensboro, Ky., Nov. 1, 1871.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Washington County Kentucky

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