BIO: Samuel T. HENDERSON, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 747 & 748.
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  SAMUEL T. HENDERSON, who has long been one of the prominent men and useful 
citizens of Houtzdale, Pa., where he started the first electric plant and now 
does business under the style of the Houtzdale Electric Light, Heat and Power 
Company, has spent the larger portion of his life in Clearfield County, but was 
born on the border of Huntingdon County, not far from Tyrone, Pa., August 18, 
1844.  He is a son of William H. and a grandson of John Henderson, the latter of 
whom spent his life in Huntingdon County.
  William H. Henderson was born in Huntingdon County and after he grew to 
manhood, operated the Tyrone saw mill for several years which was later known as 
McDonald's mill, and in 1850 moved to Janesville, where he was in a hotel 
business until he sold in 1856, when he retired to Tyrone, where he died four 
years later.  He married Elizabeth Mays, who was born in Huntingdon County, a 
daughter of Thomas and Jane (Gardner) Mays.  The following children were born to 
them:  Samuel T.; Cynthia J., who is now deceased, was the wife of Charles 
Custard, of New York; Mary A., who is the widow of John Goss, of Philipsburg, 
Pa.; Amanda, who is now deceased, was the wife of John Adams; Theresa, who is 
the widow of J. Nichols, of Osceola Mills, Pa.; William C., who formerly lived 
at Tyrone, is deceased; and Frank P., who is a resident of Ramey, Pa.  The 
mother of the above family died in 1882, at McCauley, Woodward Township, 
Clearfield County.
  Samuel T. Henderson was reared and attended school in Huntingdon and 
Clearfield Counties and was engaged in work in the woods and on farms until the 
opening of the Civil War when he began to consider entering the army and his 
arrangements were completed by August 18, 1862, when he enlisted as a member of 
Co. H, 110th Pa. Vol. Inf., contracting for three years.  This company went out 
from Tyrone and saw much hard service, participating in all the movements of the 
regiment and taking an important part at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, the Wilderness and Petersburg.  Mr. 
Henderson escaped all serious injury and was honorably discharged May 27, 1865, 
at Philadelphia, and then returned to Osceola, where he was engaged until 1876, 
in carpenter work.  From there he moved then to McCauley, in Woodward Township, 
where, for thirteen years he was engaged in a planing mill business.  In 1889 he 
retired from that and started the electric light plant, which he owns.
  Mr. Henderson was married first in 1862, to Miss Margaret Hare, who was born 
in Indiana County, Pa., and died December 25, 1869.  They had three children, 
but one of whom, Margaret, survived to be two years old, the others dying 
younger.  Mr. Henderson was married second to Mrs. Sidney C. Kephart, who was 
born in Decatur Township, Clearfield County, and was reared in Woodward 
Township.  She died June 18, 1908.  Her father was Isaac Goss and she was the 
widow of Martin V. Kephart, who was killed during the Civil War, in front of 
Petersburg.  Mrs. Kephart had two children:  Elmer E., who lives at Ashboro, N. 
C.; and Robbie J., who resides at Lancaster, Pa.  Mr. and Mrs. Henderson had 
four children, three of whom died in infancy.  One son, Samuel Ray, grew to 
manhood and was well educated.  For his many sterling traits of character he was 
admired and beloved.  His health failed and in the hope of restoring it he went 
to Denver, Col., but even that invigorating climate failed to benefit him and 
his death occurred there on January 16, 1911, at the early age of twenty-nine 
years and five months.  He is survived by his widow, who formerly was Mrs. Mary 
(Birchfield) Hatch.  He was very popular with all who knew him and the deepest 
sympathy was felt for his bereaved family.
  Samuel T. Henderson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Houtzdale.  In his political views he is a Republican.  He is identified with 
Post No. 293, G. A. R., at Houtzdale, and with Masonic Lodge No. 515, at Osceola 
Mills.