Henley, Thomas J.

Born: 1810-04-02 Richmond, Indiana

Died: 1865-01-02 San Francisco, California

Father of Congressman Barclay Henley, Thomas Henley attended Indiana University and studied law. He earned admittance to the bar in 1828 and commenced practice in Richmond, where he was also engaged in banking. He served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1832-1842 and served as speaker in 1840. Henley won election, as a Democrat, to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1843-1849. He moved to California in 1849 and worked in banking in Sacramento. He served as a member of California's first state House of Representatives from 1851-1853. Henley served as superintendent of Indian affairs of California from 1855-1858 and postmaster of San Francisco from 1860-1864.

Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1961), 1042; Gravestone, Santa Rosa Memorial Park, Santa Rosa, CA.