Husband Hon. Joseph Washington Henderson 1 2
Born: 27 Aug 1814 - Mahoning Twp, Indiana Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 25 Feb 1896 3
Buried:
Father: John Henderson (1780-1847) 2 4
Mother: Anna Jack (1786-1869) 4 5
Marriage: 17 Feb 1840 3
Wife Nancy Wilson 1 2
Born: 25 Dec 1819 2
Christened:
Died: 28 Feb 1917 - ? Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA 3
Buried:
Father: Robert Wilson (1774-1832) 6
Mother: Sarah McConnell (1782-1823) 1
Children
1 M John Wilson Henderson 1 3
Born: 18 Dec 1840 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Joseph Buffington Henderson 1 7
Born: 14 Sep 1842 - Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA 7
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Mary S. Bennett ( - ) 8
Marr: 13 Jul 1863 8
3 M David Albert Henderson 1 3
Born: 27 Sep 1844 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Edward Benton Henderson 1 3
Born: 29 Nov 1846 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
5 F Anna Henderson 1 9
Born: 4 Feb 1849 - Jefferson Co, PA 3
Christened:
Died: Aft 1917
Buried:
Spouse: Thomas Lucas Templeton (1843-1907) 10 11 12
Marr: 4 Feb 1874 13
6 M Leander Henderson 1 3
Born: 2 Jul 1851 3
Christened:
Died: in infancy
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
7 M Robert Leroy Henderson 1 3
Born: 4 Jul 1852 3
Christened:
Died: 23 Mar 1914 3
Buried:
8 M Samuel Stewart Henderson 1 14
Born: 8 Mar 1855 - Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Annie Litch ( -1893) 15
Marr: 2 Dec 1880 15
Spouse: Anna Hjelm Craig ( - ) 15
Marr: 23 Oct 1895 - Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA 15
9 F Sarah Henderson 1 3 16
Born: 19 Feb 1858 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Robert Douglas Campbell (1854- ) 16
Marr: 1 Oct 1878 16
10 F Nancy Henderson 1 3
Born: 21 Dec 1861 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: [Unk] Maffett ( - ) 1
11 M William Wirt Henderson 3
AKA: William Wert Henderson 1
Born: 14 Aug 1864 3
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Hon. Joseph Washington Henderson
He remained with his father until he was seventeen years of age, attending school in the winters, and aiding his father on the farm and at the sawmill which his father operated on Big Mahoning. At the age of seventeen, in 1831, he engaged in the mercantile business with William Campbell, of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as clerk, remaining with him until 1836, when he was elected sheriff of Jefferson County, being the second sheriff chosen by election for the county. During his three years' term as sheriff he had many thrilling experiences. On one occasion it was necessary for him to go to Warren, the county seat of Warren county, for a prisoner. Between Brookville and Warren it was almost an unbroken wilderness. For a distance of twenty odd miles there were no roads nor beaten paths, only a blazed trail. To ride the forty-four miles during the day it was necessary for him to get through the blazed trail before dark, or he would have to spend the night in the timber. Late in the afternoon, about half way through the trail, he came to a large tree fallen across the path that his horse was unable to jump. He turned off into the timber to ride around the tree, and in wandering around through the underbrush on his horse became lost. Tying his horse to a tree and continuing his search on foot, he finally found the fallen tree and path. Being delayed by this mishap, and fearing that he would not get through before dark; he hurried to resume his journey. To his dismay he was unable to find his horse and in desperation he called loudly. Before the echo of his voice had died away the horse whinnied. He said he never heard a more welcome sound, and at once was able to find his horse and lead it back to the trail. Riding along as rapidly as he could, he succeeded in getting through the blazed trail before dark, when he came to a road through the wilderness leading to Warren. After he had gone some distance on this road it became quite dark, and going down into a deep ravine, through which a small creek flowed, he was unable to see. His horse became frightened and refused to go farther. However, with much urging he succeeded in getting him down into the stream, when, on looking up to the horizon, he saw an Indian standing on the bank of the little creek. He was terrified at seeing the Indian, as he had no thought of any danger for himself, thinking his horse had taken alarm at some animal, possibly a bear. He spoke to the Indian, asking him how far it was to Warren. The Indian told him it was quite a distance and asked him if he would not have something to eat, pointing to a small wagon filled with venison. He declined the meal, saying that he was in a hurry to get through to Warren. Bidding him good evening he rode on, and when he got over the brow of the hill ran his horse for quite a distance. On reaching Warren he told the sheriff his experience with the Indian and how frightened he had been. The sheriff said the Indians there were peaceable and he was perfectly safe in their hands. The next morning he met the Indians in Warren, where they had disposed of their venison, and they assisted him with his prisoner as far back as their home on the little creek.
At the termination of his term as sheriff Mr. Henderson was appointed marshal, and took the census of 1840. In 1843 he was elected treasurer of Jefferson County and in 1856 he was elected associate judge, serving in this capacity until 1860, when he resigned to run for prothonotary, register and recorder and clerk of the courts, to which office he was elected. In 1864 he was elected delegate to represent the Nineteenth Congressional district in the National Union convention held in Baltimore on the 7th day of June, 1864, representing Jefferson, Clearfield, Cameron, Warren and Erie counties. In this convention the delegates of every state but one cast their votes for Lincoln. The delegates from Missouri, where there had been a party split, had been instructed to vote for Grant and threw their twenty-two ballots for him. Lincoln had four hundred and eighty-four votes. On motion of a delegate from Missouri the vote was made unanimous. The choice of the vice presidential candidate was not so easily accomplished. The resolution that Lincoln and Hamlin be renominated by acclamation, previously made by Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, had been voted down. The politicians apparently wanted the old ticket nominated and were in favor of Hannibal Hamlin as vice president. Many of the delegates believed that a candidate from a border state and a Democrat would draw more votes than a Republican candidate from a Northern State, and seemed to favor Andrew Johnson, whom Lincoln had appointed military governor of Tennessee in 1862, and whose political activity had made him well known to the administration. As the ballots were being taken, when Pennsylvania was called Simon Cameron, being chairman of the delegation, voted the solid delegation for Hannibal Hamlin. On his taking his seat Mr. Henderson arose and requested nine or ten of Pennsylvania's votes withdrawn from Hannibal Hamlin and recorded for Andrew Johnson. Immediately Simon Cameron withdrew the other Pennsylvania votes cast for Hannibal Hamlin and had them recorded for Andrew Johnson. The change of Pennsylvania's votes indicating that Andrew Johnson would be nominated, the other States which had voted withdrew their votes from the other candidates, and before the result was announced Johnson was unanimously nominated. Thus Mr. Henderson was perhaps instrumental in nominating Andrew Johnson vice president. His political influence was not confined to Jefferson County. He was a member of the State Central committee of the National Union of Pennsylvania in 1863-1868, and was frequently chosen as delegate to the State conventions and alternate to the National conventions of the Republican party, and was vigorous in politics, an active partisan and firm in the faith of the G. O. P. His influence was solicited by many politicians, and among his papers were found letters from Gov. Andrew G. Curtin, United States Senator Simon Cameron, Gov. John W. Geary and Wayne McVeagh, chairman of the Union State Central committee; through him Mr. Henderson succeeded in securing Andrew G. Curtin to speak in Brookville in 1863 from the balcony on the east end of the "American House."
He was a man of very generous nature, never refusing alms to anyone, saying he would rather give to nine unworthy ones rather than to refuse one worthy person. Honorable to the highest degree himself, he appreciated this quality in others above everything. Mr. Henderson, like his wife, was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church of Brookville.
Four of Mr. Henderson's sons participated in the war of the Rebellion, viz., J. W., J. B., D. A. and E. B.