EDWARD W. HENDERSON

A farm of two hundred acres on section 4, Fremont township, is the property of Edward W. Henderson, who is classed with the active and progressive agriculturists of the community. He is yet comparatively a young man, so that undoubtedly further success awaits him in the future. Iowa claims him as one of her native sons, for his birth occurred in Linn county, December 12, 1871. His father was William Henderson, a native of Ohio, who came to Iowa when a young man and settled in Linn county, where he followed the cooper’s trade, which he had previously learned. He was married in that county to Miss Sarah Read, who was born in Ohio and reared in Cedar county, Iowa, where her father had located at an early day. Following his marriage Mr. Henderson removed to Cedar county, settling upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Fremont township. There he reared a family and carried on general agricultural pursuits for more than a quarter of a century. He afterward sold the property and removed to Mechanicsville, where he now lives retired, enjoying in the evening of life a well earned rest from labor, for his former toil had provided him with capital sufficient to meet all of his requirements.

E. W. Henderson spent his youthful days on the home farm and attended the common schools, while later he spent two years as apupil in the high school of Mechanicsville. He received practical training along business lines through the assistance which he rendered his father in carrying on the work of the fields and later he engaged in ditching and laying tile, working a gang of men for three years in Cedar and Jones counties. After his marriage he bought land where he now resides, his first investment making him the owner of eighty acres which he began to clear and develop. He later built a large two-story dwelling, supplied with furnace heat and water works. It is a thoroughly modern home and not the least of its attractive features is its warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Henderson has also put up good barns and other outbuildings upon his place, so that ample shelter is provided for grain and stock and farm machinery. From time to time he has purchased land until he now owns two hundred acres.

He possesses marked mechanical ability and has recently become interested in concrete and cement work. In 1909 he built a good bridge of those materials over the brook between his residence and the road. It is a single arch bridge and forms a part of a well kept driveway which leads from his house to the public highway. His residence stands on a hill—a natural and attractive building site—and commands a splendid view of the country for miles around. Since Mr. Henderson put in the bridge for himself he has been called upon to do much concrete and cement work for others in the neighborhood, including the building of three public bridges in Jones county. He has also built numerous foundations for houses and barns and put in a concrete foundation for a church, employing five or more men in this way. He has constructed and perfected a machine for mixing the cement and can turn off in excellent condition the work for which he takes a contract. At the same time he carefully manages his farming interests and in addition to tilling the soil is successfully engaged in raising and feeding stock, fattening for the market from two to four carloads of cattle and hogs each year. In addition to his other interests Mr. Henderson was one of the promoters of the Evergreen Telephone Company and served as its president for a number of years.

On the 14th of December, 1893, in Greenville, Iowa, Mr. Henderson was marred to Miss Anna Barr, who was born, reared and educated in Jones county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Uriah Barr, who came to this state from Ohio. In his political views Mr. Henderson has ever been a republican where national issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot, supporting the men whom he regards as best qualified for office without giving thought to party affiliation. He has been officially identified with the schools for ten years and is now serving as president of the school board.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have been born four children: Harry, who assists in carrying on the home farm; Harland; Vera; and Verna. A resident of this section of Iowa throughout his entire life, Mr. Henderson has become widely known through his business interests and social connections, and his strongly marked characteristics are those which commend him to the confidence and good will of his fellowmen who entertain for him warm regard.