HENDERSON, William F.
Source: St. Paul, Kansas Journal 29 Aug 1918 (Thursday) p 1
W.F. Henderson, one of the oldest, if not the oldest
merchants in Neosho County died at Erie Thursday. He had a store in Ladore
during the balmy days of that now vanished city. He came to Osage Mission in 1871 and was in
business here until he was elected to a county office and moved to Erie. He
built the building now occupied by the Journal office in 1881. The Erie Record
gives the following history of his life: In the death of Capt. WF Henderson,
Erie has lost her pioneer merchant and the county one of her most distinguished
citizens. Capt. Henderson came to Neosho County in 1870, settling at the town
of Ladore, and from that time until his death on the morning of Thursday Aug
22, 1918, he was prominent in the affairs of his county and he could always be
found on the side of everything that went to make things better for his
community. In 1871 he moved from Ladore to Osage Mission where he continued in
the mercantile business, the same as at Ladore, until he was elected Register
of Deeds of Neosho County and moved to Erie in 1877 to assume the duties of
that office. He held this office for three terms at the expiration of which he
moved to his farm joining Erie on the east and about 1890 he again engaged in
the general merchandise business at Erie, the late Henry Lodge being associated
with him but later he continued business under the firm name of Henderson &
Co and was so engaged at the time of his death.
Capt. Henderson was one of the organizers of the Bank of Erie and served
since its foundation as one of its directors and the president of this solid financial
institution. Capt. Henderson was a Union Veteran of the Civil War and was
always proud of the service he had given his country in that war. He enlisted
in Feb 1862 in Co C 63rd Ind Infantry as 2nd Lt. He was made a First Lt in 1863 and in 1864
promoted to Capt. Which rank he held when mustered out of the service in May
1865. His regiment participated in the First Battle of Bull Run, he was with
Sherman’s Army on the way to the Sea until Atlanta fell, when his regiment was
made a part of the command under General Thomas and returned north and was in
the battles of Franklin and Nashville. From there his regiment went to Fort
Fisher and engaged in some closing engagements and skirmishes of the war. No
wonder he was so proud of his war record. Capt. WF Henderson was born in
Covington, Fountain County, Indiana in February 1844 died at his home in Erie,
Kansas Thursday, Aug 22, 1918 aged 74 years and 6 months. In 1867 he was
married to Miss Susie Cambern who survives him. To this union one son, Captain
(Dr) RC Henderson was born and for more than a year he has been serving his
country in the army, recently being transferred from the Post Hospital at Rock
Island to Camp Pike, Ark where he joins a unit for overseas service. William R. Henderson is the only grandson and
he has been in France several months in the service of his country, being with
the 139th Infantry Band. Another record that he has a right to be
proud of – his only son and grandson were in the present war. During all of his
long and useful life in Neosho County, Capt. Henderson always took an active
part in the political, as well as business affairs of the country. He was one
of the leaders of the Republican party in this county and was loyal to it, as
he was to his church – the Presbyterian – each and every day of his well spent
life. While the death of Captain Henderson was no surprise it did come as a
shock. He has been in poor health for
several years, his heart and kidneys being affected but he was generally able
to be up and around looking after his business and the week preceding his death
he had been at home most of the time but up and around the house. – kbz