My great grandparents

HENDERSON, GUSTAFSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Robert Henderson (email)
Date: 7/14/2009 at 11:49:27

Sometime after 1880, Charles F. Henderson (1856-?) and his new wife Clara Gustafson (1863-Jan 10, 1893) relocated from Blue Grass, IA to Keokuk, IA. Charles worked for the Keokuk Soda Factory, and Ale, Porter, Beer & Cider, Bottling Works. Charles became an alcoholic and I have lost all traces of him. His wife Clara (Gustafson) Henderson died at a young age in Keokuk and left 4 orphan children. There is some indication that Clara used the surname "Johnson" on one of the children's birth certificates. One of the children, Oscar Carl Henderson was adopted into the family of Doctor O. P. Mcdonald, who practiced in Keokuk. Another, Edward Henderson was taken in by another (Unknown) Keokuk family. The older two, Raymond Oliver Fredrick Henderson (my grandfather) and John Victor Henderson were sent to the “Swedish Lutheran Evangelical orphanage in Stanton, IA. I feel pretty sure that Clara must be buried in the local cemetery, and maybe her husband too. Charles and Clara had two other children who died very young, and they might also be buried in the Keokuk cemetery. Their names were Eleanor Henderson, and Harry Henderson. If anyone can help me unravel the mystery of what happened to Charles and Clara, My e-mail address is: hendroni@earthlink.net.