Brown-Jackson County IN Archives Biographies.....Henderson, Robert 1827 - 
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Author: B. F. Bowen (1904)

ROBERT HENDERSON.

   This old and highly esteemed citizen is a native of Indiana, and during his
long period of residence in the same has seen the state advance from a sparsely
settled and imperfectly developed backwoods country to its present proud
position among its sister commonwealths of the union. He has not only been a
witness to these gradual changes and remarkable transformations, but to the best
of his ability has used his energies to bring about conditions that now obtain,
having in a modest way contributed much to the material growth and prosperity of
the county in which he resides, besides lending his influence to all progressive
measures for the general welfare of his fellow men. Robert Henderson is one of
Indiana's oldest sons now living, having been born in Jackson county on August
27, 1827. His grandfather, Joseph Henderson, a Virginian by birth, migrated to
Kentucky as early as 1810, and from that state, five years later, moved to
Lawrence county, Indiana, where he lived until changing his abode to the county
of Jackson, of which he was one of the first pioneers. The Indians being
numerous at the time of his arrival and quite hostile to the early settlers, Mr.
Henderson was obliged to take refuge in a fort, to reach which he was compelled
to travel ninety miles through a wild country beset with many vicissitudes and
dangers seen and unseen. He entered land in Jackson county and cleared a small
farm, on which he made his home until the year of 1817, when he moved his family
to another part of the state. Among the children of Joseph Henderson was a son
by the name of Robert, who accompanied the family to Indiana, being a young -man
when his parents moved to Jackson county. Like the majority of pioneers, he
became skilled in all kinds of woodcraft and for a number of years was a noted
hunter and trapper. He spent most of his time in quest of game and derived his
principal support from the sale of furs, also exchanging them for various
commodities, but having taken up a large tract of government land, about nine
hundred acres in one body, he subsequently married and settled on the same and
in due time prepared a portion of it for cultivation. The maiden name of the
lady whom Mr. Henderson chose for his wife was Miss Permillie Newkirk, a
representative of one of the pioneer families of Jackson county, her parents
moving to that part of the state when the few scattered settlements were but
niches in the surrounding forests. In one of his hunting-expeditions Mr.
Henderson pursued some game into Brown county, and, being pleased with the
country, he decided to move to the same and make it his permanent home.
Accordingly, in the year 1829, he disposed of his interest in Jackson county
and, loading his family and a few household effects on a wagon, started through
the woods to his hew destination. Before reaching it he was obliged to use the
ax quite freely in order to clear a way for the vehicle, such a thing as a road
being then unknown in the portion of the country through which he so laboriously
journeyed. Arriving at the land on which he had decided to settle and for which
he subsequently obtained patent from the government, he built a log cabin and
began life in true pioneer style, his family experiencing, during the first
years, all the hardships peculiar to the period, at the same time enjoying the
many pleasures to which the early settlers were by no means strangers. After
answering well the purpose for which intended, the cabin in the course of time
gave place to a larger and much more comfortable hewed-log dwelling, the lumber
for which was made by hand with a whip-saw, a slow, laborious process to be
sure, but also a sure one, as the strong armed pioneer addressed himself so
industriously to the work that it was not long until the necessary material was
forthcoming. Mr. Henderson cleared and developed a fine farm and became one of
the leading agriculturists of his township as well as one of its most
enterprising and praiseworthy citizens. He was a Democrat of the old Jacksonian
school, a member of the United Brethren church, and his integrity was such that
his verbal promise had all the binding force of a written obligation. He and his
faithful wife were long since called from the scenes of their earthly trials and
triumphs, but their good deeds and worthy lives and many virtues are kept alive
in the hearts and affections of the descendants, who cherish their memory as a
sacred heritage.

   Robert Henderson, the direct subject of this sketch, is the oldest of the ten
children that formerly gathered around the hearthstone of Robert and Permillie
Henderson and constituted such a happy and mutually agreeable home circle. By
reason of his being the first born, much of the labor of the farm fell to him as
soon as he was old enough to meet the requirements, consequently his educational
training was of an exceedingly meager character, being confined to a couple of
months each year at the different subscription schools which the county at that
time afforded. When a mere lad he drove oxen, cut wood, helped clear the farm,
plowed, cultivated the crops, assisted in harvesting the same and in the
discharge of many other rugged, toilsome duties, demonstrated the industry which
has always characterized his career and by means of which his success in life
has been achieved. Coming to Brown county in his third year, he has practically
spent his life within its limits, and few of its citizens at this time can claim
as long a period of continuous residence.

   In his youth Mr. Henderson drove a freight wagon from the Ohio river to
various inland points and it was while thus engaged that he saw at North Vernon
one of the first trains of the old Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, the
completion of which to the latter place dates from the year 1853. When eighteen
years of age he took charge of eighty acres of the family homestead, every acre
just as nature had made it, but, with energy born of determination to succeed,
he at once proceeded to remove the forest growth and fit the ground for tillage.
Without following in detail his subsequent career as a farmer, his labors,
struggles and ultimate triumphs, suffice it to state that in due season his
persevering efforts were crowned with abundant success, for, in addition to
reducing the original place to cultivation, he increased his real estate at
intervals, until at one time he owned eight hundred acres of good land, the
greater part of which has since been deeded to his children. Mr. Henderson has
retained for his own use two hundred acres, which, under his labors and
efficient management, is now one of the best improved and most productive farms
in the county, also one of the most beautiful of rural homes, the fine
residence, thrifty orchards, good fences and other evidences of prosperity
making it peculiarly attractive and desirable. By well directed industry and
commendable thrift, Mr. Henderson has accumulated a sufficiency of this world's
goods to make him independent for the remainder of his days, accordingly he is
now spending his closing years in restful retirement, being surrounded by many
of life's comforts and conveniences, the fruits of his years of systematic toil.
He is still active and vigorous, however, for one of his age, looks carefully
after the interests of his farm and gives the same personal attention to his
business affairs as he did in the prime of physical and mental manhood.

   Mr. Henderson, like all enterprising men and public spirited citizens, has
always taken a lively interest in politics, and for many years his influence has
done much to strengthen the Democratic party in Brown county and lead it to
victory. While never an aspirant for office, he served six years as county
commissioner, his long retention in that important position attesting the
confidence reposed in his judgment and business ability by his fellow citizens.

   In 1850 he was made a Mason and ever since that date he has been a zealous
worker in the order, filling at different times official station in the local
lodge to which he belongs.

   Miss Mary Ann Davis, who became the wife of Mr. Henderson in 1849, was born
in Jennings county, Indiana, April 16, 1829, being a daughter of John Davis, who
moved his family to Brown county when she was a child. Ten children have blessed
this marriage. namely: Eveline, James, John C, Amelia, Robert M., Benjamin F.,
Jasper H., Freeman and two that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are
respected members of the Baptist church and sufficient has been said to indicate
the high esteem in which they are held by the large circle of friends with whom
they mingle. In the peaceful quiet of their pleasant home, surrounded by
everything that can minister to their material comfort, and enjoying the love
and companionship of devoted children and the loyalty of kind neighbors, they
are gently passing down life's incline, at peace with themselves, with the
world, and with their God.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
INDIANA

INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA

ILLUSTRATED

1904

B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER


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