Biography of George W. Henderson

George W. Henderson was a prominent citizen of Morris Township, known for his wealth and influence. He built a valuable farm, contributing significantly to the region’s development. Born on July 12, 1829, in Sussex County, N.J., he married three times and had four children. Henderson was active in his community, serving in various roles, including as a Sunday school superintendent and trustee. A dedicated farmer, he specialized in livestock and grain on his expansive land. He passed away, leaving a lasting legacy in his community and family.

GEORGE W. HENDERSON. This gentleman represents a large amount of wealth and influence, and is considered one of the most stirring and useful citizens of Morris Township. He has built up one of its most valuable farms and has been no unimportant factor in the growth and development of this region, having by his very example promoted, to a large extent, its material interests. He occupies a substantial modern dwelling, and has all the other necessary farm buildings, together with modern machinery and the appliances requisite for the successful prosecution of agriculture. Among the other good things which have fallen to his lot in life is the possession of an intelligent and helpful wife, who not only manages her household affairs in a most praiseworthy manner, but is at the same time the efficient helpmate of her husband in many of his business enterprises, being a safe counselor at all times. Thus, in addition to being in the enjoyment of a model home, they are most happily situated in their domestic relations. There have been born to them two children only — Marshall E., April 1, 1875, and Rose Myrtle, July 23, 1877. The son and daughter are being given a good education, including instruction in music, in which art they are quite proficient.

Mr. Henderson has made his permanent location many miles from his birthplace, which was in Sussex County, N. J., and the date thereof July 12, 1829. He was the eldest in a family of seven children, four of whom are living, the other three being located in Kansas and Iowa. The father, Eleazer, was an iron manufacturer, and like his wife, who in her girlhood was Mary Castimore, was a native of New Jersey. This branch of the Henderson family is of Irish and French descent, while the mother traced her forefathers to England and Germany.

The parents of our subject were reared and married in New Jersey, residing there until 1839. That year they removed to Pennsylvania, where they lived until 1857. Still looking Westward, they next removed across the Mississippi to Fayette County, Iowa, where the iron manufacturer changed his occupation to that of a farmer. The wife and mother departed this life at the homestead, in Fayette County, in 1876, at the age of seventy-four years. The father subsequently took up his abode with his son, George W., and died at his house, April 5, 1882, aged seventy-five years, four months and fifteen days.

After emerging from the common school, Mr. Henderson, in 1877, took a thorough course in the business college at St. Joseph, Mo. He left the parental roof when a youth of seventeen years, commencing an apprenticeship at wagon-making and wheelwrighting, at which he was employed continuously thereafter for a period of twenty years. He completed his apprenticeship in Pennsylvania, and during the years mentioned resided in that State and Illinois. In the spring of 1856 he preceded his family to Iowa, settling in Fayette County, where he followed his trade and purchased a farm, upon which he resided until 1859. He then recrossed the Father of Waters, and took up his abode in Centralia, Ill., where he sojourned until the fall of 1856. In the meantime he spent one year in the Quartermaster’s Department at Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn., employed in putting up hospitals and warehouses.

In the fall of 1865 Mr. Henderson came to Kansas, and settling in Doniphan County, engaged in farming. He lived there until 1881, and his next removal was to this county, where he secured possession of the land which he now owns and occupies. When a little over twenty-one years old he was married, January 28, 1851, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Hannah M. Venrick. The two children born of this union are sons — William, a resident of Trinidad, Col.; and Alexander, employed in the freight depot of the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Leavenworth. Mrs. Hannah M. Henderson departed this life at her home in Iowa, May 2, 1857. The second marriage of Mr. Henderson occurred August 1, 1861, with Miss Mary Beaver, and she also became the mother of two children — George L., a resident of this county; and Ella, the wife of Edward Brooks, of New Mexico. Mrs. Mary Henderson died October 23, 1873.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married, at Pana, April 22, 1874, was in her girlhood Miss Hattie L. Yeager. Her parents were Moses and Margaret (Campbell) Yeager, natives of Pennsylvania, and the father engaged in farming pursuits. They removed with their respective parents to Ohio, where they were married, and whence they emigrated to Indiana, probably fifty years ago. After a sojourn there of twenty years, they went over into Illinois, and then, in 1884, came to this State, settling in Argonia. Mr. Yeager died February 6, 1888, at the age of seventy-four years. His widow is still living, and is aged seventy-six. Four of their six children are living. Mrs. Henderson was the second, and was born March 11, 1841, in Rush County, Ind. As a child, she was bright beyond her years, made good use of her time in school, fitting herself for a teacher, and followed this profession for a period of seventeen years in Indiana and Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they have been active workers, especially in the Sunday-school, Mr. Henderson officiating as Superintendent and teacher of the Bible Class, and in the church proper he has held the offices of Class-Leader and Steward. He is rather conservative in politics and strongly in favor of prohibition. He voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, but is now rather independent, aiming to support the men whom he considers will best serve the interests of the people. For seven years he has been Treasurer of his school district. He was elected a Trustee of Morris Township, but resigned. He served at one time as Justice of the Peace in Morris Township. He belongs to the Grange, the Farmers’ Alliance and the A. H. T. A.

Mr. Henderson’s farm embraces three hundred and twenty acres of choice land, which is devoted to the raising of grain and stock, he making a specialty of cattle, horses and swine. The present residence was put up in 1881. It is handsomely finished and furnished, and is considered one of the best structures of its kind in Morris Township. Mr. Henderson is one of those men whose name will be held in remembrance long after he has been gathered to his fathers.