Hernández was born in Taos in the New Mexico Territory to Juan J. and Maria M. Hernández as the third of 15 children, where in his early years he attended both private and public schools. As a young man he moved to Lumberton in Rio Arriba County, where he raised sheep. In 1882 he returned to Taos, where he worked as a store clerk. In 1888 he became a private merchant, and for the next few years lived in various communities in New Mexico. In 1893 he established a store in Lumberton and six years later he set up the headquarters for his business activities in Tierra Amarilla, the county seat for Rio Arriba County.
Politics career
In 1900 Hernández began his political career when he became probate clerk and recorder in Tierra Amarilla. In 1904 he was elected county sheriff of Rio Arriba County and served for two years. From 1908 to 1912 he served as county treasurer and tax collector. In 1912 he was appointed receiver in the State Land Office in Santa Fe. During his tenure as an elected county official, he also served as a delegate to numerous State Republican Conventions. He resigned from the Santa Fe post the following year and returned to his business.
In 1914 Hernández was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; he sought reelection in 1916, but was defeated by William B. Walton. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that year, as he had been at the last one. Hernández was elected to the U.S. House seat again in 1918 when Walton ran for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking reelection. During his tenure in Congress, Hernández served on the Committee on Indian Affairs, the Agriculture Committee, and the Committee on Public Lands. He showed a special interest in the construction of an infrastructure for New Mexico, including bridges, reservoirs, dams, and public buildings.
In 1921, Hernández completed his second term and returned to New Mexico. On April 22, 1921 President Warren G. Harding appointed him collector of Internal Revenue for New Mexico. Hernández held that post until the inauguration of the Democratic administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, when he resigned and retired from active political life at age seventy-one. In 1934, he became an organizer for the political advocacy group League of United Latin American Citizens.[1] During World War II he served on the Selective Service Board of New Mexico. In the early 1950s Hernández moved to Los Angeles, California, and died there at age 92.
benigno, hernández, benigno, cárdenas, hernández, february, 1862, october, 1954, first, hispanic, from, mexico, serve, full, member, congress, benigno, hernándezmember, house, representatives, from, mexico, large, districtin, office, march, 1915, march, 1917pr. Benigno Cardenas Hernandez February 13 1862 October 18 1954 was the first Hispanic from New Mexico to serve as a full member of Congress Benigno HernandezMember of the U S House of Representatives from New Mexico s at large districtIn office March 4 1915 March 3 1917Preceded byHarvey B FergussonSucceeded byWilliam B WaltonIn office March 4 1919 March 3 1921Preceded byWilliam B WaltonSucceeded byNestor MontoyaPersonal detailsBorn 1862 02 13 February 13 1862Taos New Mexico TerritoryDiedOctober 18 1954 1954 10 18 aged 92 Los Angeles CaliforniaPolitical partyRepublicanOccupationbusinessman politicianWikimedia Commons has media related to Benigno C Hernandez Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 Politics career 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditEarly years Edit Hernandez was born in Taos in the New Mexico Territory to Juan J and Maria M Hernandez as the third of 15 children where in his early years he attended both private and public schools As a young man he moved to Lumberton in Rio Arriba County where he raised sheep In 1882 he returned to Taos where he worked as a store clerk In 1888 he became a private merchant and for the next few years lived in various communities in New Mexico In 1893 he established a store in Lumberton and six years later he set up the headquarters for his business activities in Tierra Amarilla the county seat for Rio Arriba County Politics career Edit In 1900 Hernandez began his political career when he became probate clerk and recorder in Tierra Amarilla In 1904 he was elected county sheriff of Rio Arriba County and served for two years From 1908 to 1912 he served as county treasurer and tax collector In 1912 he was appointed receiver in the State Land Office in Santa Fe During his tenure as an elected county official he also served as a delegate to numerous State Republican Conventions He resigned from the Santa Fe post the following year and returned to his business In 1914 Hernandez was elected to the U S House of Representatives he sought reelection in 1916 but was defeated by William B Walton He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention that year as he had been at the last one Hernandez was elected to the U S House seat again in 1918 when Walton ran for the U S Senate instead of seeking reelection During his tenure in Congress Hernandez served on the Committee on Indian Affairs the Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Public Lands He showed a special interest in the construction of an infrastructure for New Mexico including bridges reservoirs dams and public buildings In 1921 Hernandez completed his second term and returned to New Mexico On April 22 1921 President Warren G Harding appointed him collector of Internal Revenue for New Mexico Hernandez held that post until the inauguration of the Democratic administration of Franklin D Roosevelt in 1933 when he resigned and retired from active political life at age seventy one In 1934 he became an organizer for the political advocacy group League of United Latin American Citizens 1 During World War II he served on the Selective Service Board of New Mexico In the early 1950s Hernandez moved to Los Angeles California and died there at age 92 U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byHarvey B Fergusson Member of the U S House of Representatives from New Mexico s 1st congressional districtMarch 4 1915 March 3 1917 Succeeded byWilliam Bell WaltonPreceded byWilliam Bell Walton Member of the U S House of Representatives from New Mexico s 1st congressional districtMarch 4 1919 March 3 1921 Succeeded byNestor MontoyaSee also EditList of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States CongressReferences Edit http learning sec hccs edu members james rossnazzal Hist 202380 folder 2007 05 17 3109687807 LULAC 201929 1945 20 1998 pdf permanent dead link External links EditBenigno Hernandez Hispanic Republican congressman from Michael Zak Back to Basics for the Republican PartyUnited States Congress Benigno C Hernandez id H000532 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Benigno Cardenas Hernandez biography at the LOC Hispanic Americans in Congress Benigno C Hernandez at The Political Graveyard Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benigno C Hernandez amp oldid 1106632957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
