Born in Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee, July 26, 1819. He was seventeen years of age on the removal of the family to Illinois, and he grew to manhood in Stark County. There he was married to Miss Mary Perry, a native of Virginia. Before he attained his majority Mr. Henderson was appointed clerk of the circuit court by Judge Ford, this being a temporary appointment until he reached his twenty-first birthday. He was retained in that position for about six years, or until Judge Ford was elected governor and was succeeded by Judge Caton, who being a Democrat deposed Mr. Henderson as the latter was a Whig in politics. He was then appointed the first postmaster of the new county seat, Toulon. Later he was elected and served two years as sheriff of Stark county, and four years as recorder. He also represented the district comprising Stark, Henry and Rock Island counties in the lower house of the Illinois legislature one term, and served with distinction in that capacity. In 1853 Mr. Henderson came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchased land in the southern part of the county on the Johnson county line, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for about four years. For about the same length of time he carried on merchandising at Western College but in 1865 he sold his property there and purchased a residence in Cedar Rapids. He accepted a position with the old Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. He has been prominently identified with public affairs and served as mayor of the city two terms. He also represented his district in the state senate for eight years, and has filled other positions of honor and trust. In his social relations Mr. Henderson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowes, and is a Knight Templar Mason, and a prominent member of Crescent Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has served as treasurer since 1868.

Born in Dover, Stewart county, Tennessee, July 26, 1819. He was seventeen years of age on the removal of the family to Illinois, and he grew to manhood in Stark County. There he was married to Miss Mary Perry, a native of Virginia. Before he attained his majority Mr. Henderson was appointed clerk of the circuit court by Judge Ford, this being a temporary appointment until he reached his twenty-first birthday. He was retained in that position for about six years, or until Judge Ford was elected governor and was succeeded by Judge Caton, who being a Democrat deposed Mr. Henderson as the latter was a Whig in politics. He was then appointed the first postmaster of the new county seat, Toulon. Later he was elected and served two years as sheriff of Stark county, and four years as recorder. He also represented the district comprising Stark, Henry and Rock Island counties in the lower house of the Illinois legislature one term, and served with distinction in that capacity. In 1853 Mr. Henderson came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchased land in the southern part of the county on the Johnson county line, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for about four years. For about the same length of time he carried on merchandising at Western College but in 1865 he sold his property there and purchased a residence in Cedar Rapids. He accepted a position with the old Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. He has been prominently identified with public affairs and served as mayor of the city two terms. He also represented his district in the state senate for eight years, and has filled other positions of honor and trust. In his social relations Mr. Henderson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowes, and is a Knight Templar Mason, and a prominent member of Crescent Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has served as treasurer since 1868.

Born in Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee, July 26, 1819. He was seventeen years of age on the removal of the family to Illinois, and he grew to manhood in Stark County. There he was married to Miss Mary Perry, a native of Virginia. Before he attained his majority Mr. Henderson was appointed clerk of the circuit court by Judge Ford, this being a temporary appointment until he reached his twenty-first birthday. He was retained in that position for about six years, or until Judge Ford was elected governor and was succeeded by Judge Caton, who being a Democrat deposed Mr. Henderson as the latter was a Whig in politics. He was then appointed the first postmaster of the new county seat, Toulon. Later he was elected and served two years as sheriff of Stark county, and four years as recorder. He also represented the district comprising Stark, Henry and Rock Island counties in the lower house of the Illinois legislature one term, and served with distinction in that capacity. In 1853 Mr. Henderson came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchased land in the southern part of the county on the Johnson county line, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for about four years. For about the same length of time he carried on merchandising at Western College but in 1865 he sold his property there and purchased a residence in Cedar Rapids. He accepted a position with the old Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. He has been prominently identified with public affairs and served as mayor of the city two terms. He also represented his district in the state senate for eight years, and has filled other positions of honor and trust. In his social relations Mr. Henderson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowes, and is a Knight Templar Mason, and a prominent member of Crescent Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has served as treasurer since 1868.

Born in Dover, Stewart county, Tennessee, July 26, 1819. He was seventeen years of age on the removal of the family to Illinois, and he grew to manhood in Stark County. There he was married to Miss Mary Perry, a native of Virginia. Before he attained his majority Mr. Henderson was appointed clerk of the circuit court by Judge Ford, this being a temporary appointment until he reached his twenty-first birthday. He was retained in that position for about six years, or until Judge Ford was elected governor and was succeeded by Judge Caton, who being a Democrat deposed Mr. Henderson as the latter was a Whig in politics. He was then appointed the first postmaster of the new county seat, Toulon. Later he was elected and served two years as sheriff of Stark county, and four years as recorder. He also represented the district comprising Stark, Henry and Rock Island counties in the lower house of the Illinois legislature one term, and served with distinction in that capacity. In 1853 Mr. Henderson came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchased land in the southern part of the county on the Johnson county line, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for about four years. For about the same length of time he carried on merchandising at Western College but in 1865 he sold his property there and purchased a residence in Cedar Rapids. He accepted a position with the old Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. He has been prominently identified with public affairs and served as mayor of the city two terms. He also represented his district in the state senate for eight years, and has filled other positions of honor and trust. In his social relations Mr. Henderson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowes, and is a Knight Templar Mason, and a prominent member of Crescent Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has served as treasurer since 1868.