John B. Kendrick

File:WY-Sheridan-4604-82BB-10-727-A (Obverse).jpg, Series 1882 Brown Back, from the First National Bank of Sheridan, WY with the hand-signed signature of John B. Kendrick.]]

John Benjamin Kendrick was born near Rusk, Texas to John Harvey Kendrick and Anna Maye on September 6, 1857. He grew up on his family's ranch and attended a public school in Florence, Texas until the seventh grade.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42318401/hartford_courant/ |title=John B. Kendrick, Wyoming Senator, Dies Aged 76 |date=November 4, 1933 |work=Hartford Courant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115030944/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42318401/hartford_courant/ |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In March 1879 he was employed by Charles W. Wulfjen to move cattle from Texas to Wyoming.Peterson, p. 5. He arrived in the Wyoming Territory in August 1879 and settled on a ranch near Sheridan, where he raised cattle as a cowboy, ranch foreman, and later cattle company owner. In 1883 he returned to Texas and bought a cattle herd to establish his ranch in Wyoming.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42317064/the_billings_gazette/ |title=Death Claims Wyoming Senior Senator Friday |date=November 4, 1933 |work=The Billings Gazette |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115030515/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42317064/the_billings_gazette/ |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He married Eula Wulfjen on January 20, 1891.{{cite web|url= http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/WY/methodist.html|title=John Benjamin Kendrick (1857–1933)|publisher=The Political Graveyard |access-date=November 18, 2012}} In 1895 he purchased the property in Nielsen Heights for his future home, and in 1908 began construction on the home, which came to be called Trails End.{{Cite book |last=Georgen |first=Cynde A. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53485392 |title=One cowboy's dream : John B. Kendrick, his family, home, and ranching empire |date=2004 |publisher=Donning Co. Publishers |isbn=1-57864-239-6 |edition=2nd ed., rev |location=Virginia Beach |oclc=53485392}} In 1970, Trails End was added to the National Register of Historic Places; in 1982 it was donated to the state of Wyoming for operation as a museum.

Kendrick worked as foreman for his father-in-law's cattle company from 1879 until 1883. He was employed by and invested into the Lance Creek Cattle Company and the Converse Cattle Company which he later became owner of in 1897. Kendrick became president of the First National Bank of Sheridan in 1900 and served until 1902.

In 1909 he moved to Sheridan and was elected President of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42420597/the_boston_globe/ |title=Death Claims Wyoming Senior Senator Friday |date=May 18, 1922 |work=The Boston Globe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117220629/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42420597/the_boston_globe/ |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |page=76 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was a member of the Wyoming State Senate from 1910 to 1914. In 1911 he was given the Democratic Senate nomination by acclamation by other Democratic members of the legislature, but was defeated by incumbent Senator Clarence D. Clark.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42337516/natrona_county_tribune/ |title=Clark Returns to Washington |date=February 11, 1911 |work=Natrona County Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116054343/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42337516/natrona_county_tribune/ |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was given the nomination again in 1912, but was also defeated by Senator Francis E. Warren.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42338123/natrona_county_tribune/ |title=Senator F. E. Warren Wins |date=November 21, 1912 |work=Natrona County Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116054709/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42338123/natrona_county_tribune/ |archive-date=January 16, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Wyoming in 1916 and 1924.

He then served as Governor of Wyoming from 1915 until he resigned in 1917, having been elected as a Democratic candidate to the United States Senate in 1916. During Kendrick's time as governor, various labor laws were introduced.[https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/labor-legislation-1912-32-3905/labor-legislation-1915-476852 Labor Legislation of 1915 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 186, P.435-438]

Kendrick was reelected to the Senate in 1922 and 1928 and served from March 4, 1917, until his death at Sheridan, Wyoming, in 1933.{{cite web|url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_kendrick/406266|title= Sen. John Kendrick |publisher= Govtrack.us |access-date= November 18, 2012}} In 1932 he received an honorary law degree from the University of Wyoming.{{cite web|url= http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_wyoming/col2-content/main-content-list/title_kendrick_john.html|title= Wyoming Governor John Benjamin Kendrick|publisher= National Governors Association |access-date= November 18, 2012}}

{{Infobox Wyoming Cabinet

| align = none

| Name = Kendrick

| Governor = John B. Kendrick

| Governor date = 1915-1917

| State = Frank L. Houx

| State date = 1915-1917

| Auditor = Robert B. Forsyth

| Auditor date = 1915-1917

| Treasury = Herman B. Gates

| Treasury date = 1915-1917

| Superintendent of Public Instruction = Edith K. O. Clark

| Superintendent of Public Instruction date = 1915-1917

}}

He was credited with beginning the investigations into the Teapot Dome scandal, a bribery incident that took place from 1922 until 1923, and was considered as a candidate in the 1924 and 1928 presidential elections. During the 1924 presidential election, Wyoming's six Democratic delegates were instructed to vote for Kendrick at the 1924 Democratic National Convention and did so for the first three ballots.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42479027/great_falls_tribune/ |title=Wyoming First West State To Offer 'Timber' |date=May 13, 1924 |work=Great Falls Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117221930/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42479027/great_falls_tribune/ |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} During the 1928 presidential election, he was considered as a possible vice presidential nominee, but the nomination was later given to Senator Minority Leader Joseph Taylor Robinson at the convention.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42421161/the_pittsburgh_press/ |title=Consider Naming Kendrick for Vice President |date=June 23, 1928 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117220510/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42421161/the_pittsburgh_press/ |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}

He served as chairman of the Committee on Canadian Relations (Sixty-fifth Congress) and member of the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys (Seventy-third Congress).{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=k000098 |title=KENDRICK, John Benjamin, (1857–1933) |publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= November 18, 2012}} He introduced legislation that helped create the Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming.

Image:Trail End State Historic Site aka Kendrick Mansion-Sheridan WY-06-28-2011.JPG, completed in 1913, is located in Sheridan, Wyoming. Known locally as the Kendrick Mansion, it was the home of John B. Kendrick and his family. It is now a house museum operated by the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources]]

His daughter Rosa Maye married army officer Hubert Reilly Harmon.

On November 2, 1933 Kendrick fell into a coma and was initially diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage, but they later determined that he suffered a uremia and died the next day.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42319819// |title=Kendrick Dies; Rose to Senate From a Saddle |date=November 4, 1933 |work=The Times Dispatch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115032640/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42319819// |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Governor Edwin C. Johnson praised him for his service as senator and Kendrick was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery in Sheridan, Wyoming.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42318085/casper_startribune/ |title=Gov. Johnson of Colorado Praises Late Statesman |date=November 5, 1933 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115031333/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42318085/casper_startribune/ |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42280717/casper_startribune/ |title=State Of Coma Grips Veteran U.S. Senator |date=November 2, 1933 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114164913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42280717/casper_startribune/ |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} First Assistant Postmaster General Joseph C. O'Mahoney was appointed by Governor Leslie A. Miller to fill the vacancy created by Kendrick's death and won the Senate special election to fill out the rest of Kendrick's term in 1934.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42288439/jacksons_hole_courier/ |title=Miller Names O'Mahoney To Seat In Senate |date=November 16, 1933 |work=Jackson's Hole Courier |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114191726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42288439/jacksons_hole_courier/ |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Kendrick was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1958.{{cite web|url= http://www.nndb.com/people/619/000123250/|title= John Benjamin Kendrick|publisher= NNDB |access-date= November 18, 2012}}

{{hidden begin|toggle=left|title=John B. Kendrick electoral history}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1911 Wyoming Senate election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Clarence D. Clark (incumbent)

|votes = 46

|percentage = 57.50%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John B. Kendrick

|votes = 34

|percentage = 42.50%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 80

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1912 Wyoming Senate election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Francis E. Warren (incumbent)

|votes = 47

|percentage = 55.95%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John B. Kendrick

|votes = 37

|percentage = 44.05%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 84

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1916 Wyoming Senate election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John B. Kendrick

|votes = 26,324

|percentage = 51.47%

|change = +8.97%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Clarence D. Clark (incumbent)

|votes = 23,258

|percentage = 45.47%

|change = -12.03%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Socialist Party of America

|candidate = Paul L. Paulsen

|votes = 1,334

|percentage = 2.61%

|change = +2.61%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Prohibition Party

|candidate = Arthur B. Campbell

|votes = 231

|percentage = 0.45%

|change = +0.45%

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 51,057

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1922 Wyoming Senate election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John B. Kendrick (incumbent)

|votes = 35,734

|percentage = 56.75%

|change = +5.28%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Frank Wheeler Mondell

|votes = 26,627

|percentage = 42.28%

|change = -3.19%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Socialist Party of America

|candidate = William B. Guthrie

|votes = 612

|percentage = 0.97%

|change = -1.64%

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 62,973

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1928 Wyoming Senate election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John B. Kendrick (incumbent)

|votes = 43,032

|percentage = 53.50%

|change = -3.25%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Charles E. Winter

|votes = 37,076

|percentage = 46.09%

|change = +3.81%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Socialist Party of America

|candidate = W.W. Wolfe

|votes = 333

|percentage = 0.41%

|change = -0.56%

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 80,441

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{hidden end}}

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

{{reflist}}

• Georgen, Cynde. In the shadow of the Bighorns: A history of early Sheridan and the Goose Creek valley of northern Wyoming. Sheridan, Wyoming: Sheridan County Historical Society, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-9792871-7-6}}
• Georgen, Cynde A. One cowboy's dream: John B. Kendrick, his family, home, and ranching empire. 2nd edition, revised. Virginia Beach, Virginia: The Donning Company Publishers, 2004. {{ISBN|1-57864-239-6}}

{{Commons category}}

• Bartlett, Ichabod S. (1918). History of Wyoming. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. [https://books.google.com/books?id=MJo-AAAAYAAJ&dq=%22John+B.Kendrick%22&pg=PA254 History of Wyoming]
• Peterson, C.S. (1915). Men of Wyoming. Denver, CO, C.S. Peterson Publisher. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CENOAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22First+National+Bank+Sheridan%22+Kendrick&pg=PA5 Men of Wyoming: The National Newspaper Reference Book of Wyoming Containing Photographs and Biographies of Over Three Hundred Men Residents]
• [http://www.trailend.org Trail End State Historic Site (Kendrick Mansion)]
• {{find a Grave|grid=8799499|name=John Benjamin Kendrick}}
• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/WY/methodist.html The Political Graveyard: John Benjamin Kendrick (1857–1933)]
• [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_kendrick/406266 Govtrack.us: Sen. John Kendrick]
• [http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_wyoming/col2-content/main-content-list/title_kendrick_john.html National Governors Association]
• [https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv674642/op=fstyle.aspx?t=k&q=john+kendrick John B. Kendrick Papers] at the American Heritage Center

{{S-start}}

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef|before=Joseph M. Carey}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Wyoming|years=1914}}

{{s-aft|after=Frank L. Houx}}

{{s-new|first}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Wyoming
(Class 1)|years=1916, 1922, 1928}}

{{s-aft|after=Joseph C. O'Mahoney}}

{{s-off}}

{{succession box

| before=Joseph M. Carey

| title=Governor of Wyoming

| years= January 4, 1915 – February 26, 1917

| after=Frank L. Houx

}}

{{s-par|us-sen}}

{{succession box

| before=Clarence D. Clark

| title=U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Wyoming

| years=1917–1933

| after=Joseph C. O'Mahoney

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Governors of Wyoming}}

{{USSenWY}}

{{SenEnergyCommitteeChairmen}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kendrick, John B.}}

Category:1857 births

Category:1933 deaths

Category:Candidates in the 1924 United States presidential election

Category:American cattlemen

Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Wyoming

Category:Democratic Party governors of Wyoming

Category:People from Rusk, Texas

Category:People from Sheridan, Wyoming

Category:Democratic Party Wyoming state senators

Category:20th-century United States senators

Category:20th-century members of the Wyoming Legislature