James Henderson

As printed in 1901

JAMES HENDERSON.

James Henderson, who is now successful engaged in general merchandising at bidder, Delaware county, Iowa, was born in llemingford; Canada, March 4, 1840, and is a representative of an old and prominent family of Linn county, being a son of William and Aley (Bursell) Henderson, natives of Scotland and Yorkshire, England, respectively, William Henderson was a lad of thirteen years when he crossed the Atlantic with his father and took up his residence on a farm in Canada, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until coming to Linn county, Iowa, in the spring of 1854.

He purchased a tract of land in Jackson township, which he cleared and improved with the assistance of his sons, and continued to engage in farming there until the death of his wife, which occurred June 30, 1874. He then removed to another farm in the same township, where he made his home until he, too, was called to his final rest on the 9th of January, 1892. After the death of the mother of our subject, he was again married, his second union being with Sarah Willis, of Jackson township, who died in July, 1892.

By the first union there were six children, namely: William, who died in the army during the Civil war; James, our subject; Peter G., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Robert, a farmer of Cedar county, Iowa, who first married Helen Brown, and after her death wedded Emma Phelps; Henry, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; and Hamiah Jane, wife of Peter T. Henderson, who is also represented elsewhere in this work.

The subject of this sketch acquired his literary education in the common schools near his old Canadian home, and at the age of fourteen he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States, the family being among the early settlers of Linn county, Iowa. Here he was first engaged in farming, and later followed the milling business in Jackson township for some time.

Mr. Henderson was married in 1863 to Miss Mary Sheldon, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of William Sheldon, who were also pioneers of Jackson township, this county, and are now deceased. Lito our subject and his wife were born three children, as follows: William married Bessie Swindle, and lied in 1897. Bert J. wedded

Mary Patton and resides in Ehler. where he is engaged in general merchandising with his father, and is also interested in farming and live stock business. lime is at home with her parents.

After his marriage Mr. Henderson continued to engage in the milling business at Coggon for four years, and then sold out and removed to Ehler. Delaware county, which is only a few miles north of the former village. Upon locating at Ehler he started a creamery and also opened a general store, which he and his son are still conducting. They carry a fine stock of merchandise, and by fair and honorable dealing have built up an excellent trade, which is constantly increasing. Our subject is also engaged in farming to some extent.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.