supervisor and justice of the peace. He was considered a good scholar and was a surveyor of established reputation, often performing work of that kind for his neighbors. As a carpenter he assisted in erecting many of the early buildings and when living in Illinois was often called upon to make coffins for the early settlers. He passed his declining years in the town of Randall in honorable retirement, passing away in 1896, at. the age of seventy-six years. Mr. Henryson was twice married and had eight children by his first union, three of whom died in infancy. His second wife was Sarah Michaelsdatter, who survives her husband and is now living at Randall, Iowa. She is the mother of seven children, namely : M. L., of Randall; M., superintendent of the electric light and water-works of Story City; A. M., at present postmaster at Story City; Alexander, the subject of this review ; Mrs. Annie Williams, of Randall ; O. J., a successful practicing attorney, of Webster City, Iowa; and Mrs. Maggie Sowers, of Story county.
Alexander Henderson received his early education in the district schools and later attended the Story City Business College and the Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa. He was early taught the importance and value of labor and received upon the home farm a good training in agriculture and stock-raising, becoming thoroughly acquainted with all the details along those lines. In the fall of 1895 he came to Story City and for two years served as bookkeeper. In 1897 he entered the furniture and embalming business, the name of the firm for the last twelve years being Jondall & Henderson. It is the only concern of the kind in Story City and has a floor space of four thousand eight hundred square feet, two floors being well packed with a carefully selected stock. Mr. Henderson is thoroughly qualified as an embalmer, receiving a diploma in 1899, and was the first person in Story City who was thoroughly prepared to apply strictly modern methods of embalming. He is also president of the Northwestern Land Company, which controls large interests in Minnesota, town property in Story City, etc. He is a stockholder of the First National bank, has also been a director of the Story City Telephone Company and for twelve years secretary of the Story City Farmers Creamery company.
On the 28th of September, 1897, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Tendeland, who was born at Marshalltown, Iowa, and reared in Story City. Three children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Lester, Grace and Beatrice.
Mr. Henderson is an active worker in the republican party and has twice been a delegate to the republican county convention. He served for six years as alderman, being chairman of the waterworks committee and also active in other important capacities. In 1908 he was elected mayor of Story City and has since occupied that office. He has paid special attention to the promotion of good government, being a firm advocate of a business administration in municipal affairs, and as overseer of the poor has done much to relieve the unfortunate. He has been prominent in the promotion of good roads and the excellent condition of the roads in the vicinity of