Henderson, F. P.

HENDERSON, QUAY, OPPELT, DALE, BEIGHTOL, GRAHAM, BAUMAN, PEARSON, WILLE, WOODWARD

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/23/2009 at 22:06:48

History of Hamilton County Iowa,1912, Vol. II p.96

F. P. HENDERSON

F. P. Henderson, postmaster of Kamrar and prominently connected with the furniture business in Hamilton County, was born in West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1855. He is a son of Alexander and Harriet (Quay) Henderson, the former a native of the Isle of Man and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were pioneers in Iowa, having crossed the plains to this state in early times, making the journey in a covered wagon. After his arrival the father took up land in Hamilton County and farmed successfully for a number of years. Eventually, however, he removed to Benton County, where he died in the seventy- eighth year of his age. His wife passed away in the same section of the state and was sixty-eight years old at the time of her death. In their family were eight children, all born in Pennsylvania : Mrs. Abbie Oppelt, who died in Benton county, Iowa, in 1882; William H., who died while serving his country as a member of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war: George G., who gave his services to the Federal government as a member of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry and who was drowned at Fort Kearney; L. Q., who resides in Kamrar; Joseph, of Fort Dodge; John G., who died in Kansas; F. P., of this review; and Mrs. Martha Jane Oppelt, who lives in Vinton, Benton County.

F. P. Henderson was only two years of age when his parents came to Henry County, Iowa. In 1861 they moved to Benton County and remained in that section until 1876. Consequently, Mr. Henderson's education was acquired in the public schools of that section and he followed the usual course of studies until he laid aside his books. At the age of twenty-one he came to Hamilton County and purchased land, which he developed and improved for four years. At the end of that time he gave his attention to the stone mason's trade, which he had learned in his youth, and is still active at this occupation, although he does not work at it so steadily as formerly. In April, 1910, he secured control of an excellent furniture business in Kamrar and has been managing it successfully since that time. He makes quality rather than quantity his aim in selecting his goods and has thus been unusually successful in having on hand the styles of furniture most in demand. His patronage has substantially increased during the two years of his activity, as a result of his progressive business methods and his constant courtesy.

In the same year that Mr. Henderson came to Kamrar he was appointed postmaster and has been serving since that time ably and conscientiously and to the complete satisfaction of the general public. He owns besides his furniture business his attractive home in Kamrar, which is supplied with all the appointments and comforts found in a modern dwelling.

In Homer, Hamilton County, in 1880, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Emma Dale, born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1858. With her parents, Joseph and Mary (Beightol) Dale, she came to Hamilton county in the fall of 1863 and has made this section her home since that time. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and died in Bancroft, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-three. Her mother, also a native of Pennsylvania, died near Homer, when she was fifty-one years of age. Five of the children born to their union grew to maturity, namely: William Bigler and James Buchanan, both of whom have passed away; Mary Emma, the wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. Julia Ann Graham, deceased; and Mrs. Lucretia Adella Graham, who lives in Burt, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have been born seven children, of whom four daughters and one son are living. They are: Mrs. Maude Bauman, who resides at Primghar, O'Brien County, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie Pearson, who resides near Ellsworth; Mrs. Evelyn Wille, of Buckeye, Iowa; Mrs. Adella Woodward, who makes her home at Maurice; and Harold A., who resides with his parents in Kamrar. The other children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henderson died in infancy.

Mr. Henderson gives his allegiance to the republican party and has held several important local offices, including that of township assessor of Kamrar. In this position he did successful work for six years and is serving at the present time as postmaster. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife are exemplary people, of broad and liberal interests, and constant readers of the best literature. The thirty-two years of their married life have been passed quietly and serenely in earnest work so that their fortune today is amply sufficient to give them many of the pleasures, comforts and luxuries of life.