BIO: Milton J. HENDERSON, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ MILTON J. HENDERSON holds a good position among the agriculturists of Taylor township, Centre county, where he is engaged in general farming, and from which he derives an annually a comfortable income. He was born February 7, 1858, on the farm where he still resides - the old Henderson homestead on the Fowler road, which has been occupied by four generations of the family. David and Mary (McMamagh) Henderson, parents of our subject, were also natives of Taylor township, the father born on the old homestead October 13, 1819, where he continued to extensively engage in farming throughout life. He was drafted for the Civil war, but was released on account of being a few days too old. His death, which occurred December 23, 1886, was caused by falling in a threshing machine. He was a conscientious, earnest Christian, for forty-two years holding membership with the United Brethren Church, to which his estimable wife also belonged. She was born May 21, 1821, and departed this life September 7, 1888. Our subject is one of a family of nine children, namely: Robert, a lumberman of Clearfield county, Penn.; Eve, wife of John L. Spittler, a miner of Sandy Ridge, Centre county; Mary, wife of John Orwick, a farmer of Taylor township; Malinda, deceased wife of John Beckwith, a merchant and farmer of Hannah Furnace, Penn.; Samuel, a resident of Madera, Clearfield county; William, section foreman on the Colorado railroad; Anna, wife of John McCrawfton, of Clearfield county; Milton J.; and John, who resides with our subject and is a partner in business. Robert and Mary (Jackson) Henderson, the maternal* grandparents, were also natives of Taylor township. The grandfather was born on the old homestead, where he engaged in farming and where he died. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Stephen H. and Eve (Frantz) McMunagle, the former of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. Milton J. Henderson spent his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, becoming familiar with plowing, sowing and reaping, and amid the quiet scenes of country life grew up with a healthy constitution and a clear brain. He is indebted to the public schools for his elementary education, and by reading and observation has become a well-informed man. He remained at home until after attaining his majority, when he removed to Clearfield county, and for two years was engaged in lumbering. Returning to Taylor township, Centre county, he operated a farm for his brother Robert for two years, but during the following three years he was again engaged in lumbering in Clearfield county. He next purchased a small farm in Taylor township, which he cultivated some three years, and subsequently operated a rented tract COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 419 in Huntingdon county, Indiana, for two years. In connection with his brother John, he then purchased the old Henderson homestead, to the cultivation and improvement of which they have since devoted their time. On attaining to man's estate, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage with Miss Emma Weaver, who died in November, 1878, at the age of twenty-four years, leaving one son, Elmer, still at home. She was a daughter of David and Harriet (feaster) Weaver, the former now a resident of Tyrone, Penn., and the latter deceased. On December 23, 1882, Mr. Henderson was again married, this time to Mrs. Elizabeth (Dougherty) Parks, widow of Charles W. Parks, by whom she had one daughter, Mary A., now the wife of James Goss, a farmer residing near Hannah Furnace, Centre county. Mrs. Goss has one son, William O. Mrs. Henderson was born in Huntingdon county, Penn., August 8, 1854, a daughter of John and Hannah (Hamilton) Dougherty, both now deceased, the former dying in July, 1855, and the latter on March 15, 1891, at the age of sixty-seven years. In their family were the following children: Ann, wife of Simon Hencebanger, an undertaker of Clearfield county; Caroline, wife of Frank Pettitt, an extensive farmer of California; Susan, widow of Patrick Haulton, of Philipsburg, Penn.; James, of Clearfield county; George, deceased; Maggie, wife of Elias Miles, a railroad man of Tipton, Penn.; and Elizabeth, wife of our subject. The father of this family was a farmer of Huntingdon, Huntingdon county. Mr. Henderson is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, which he always supports by his ballot; socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, religiously, both himself and wife are esteemed members of the United Brethren Church. They are respected and valued members of the community, and possess the entire confidence and regard of their neighbors. *paternal?