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Note: John Alexander Henderson, eldest son of James and Eliza was born on the Henderson farm in Victor Township, Illinois on November 18, 1862. In his youth, he attended PawPaw Classical Seminary, located 13 miles away from his home, but he often walked home on weekends to be with his family. He married May Jane Cooper of Somonauk, Illinois, daughter of Thaddeus and Josephine (Bond) Cooper, on December 10, 1884. They moved to a farm west of the Suydam Methodist Church in Victor Township. Aside from the land that the Simon Suydam family sold to the church and the school for $50.00, the remainder of the Suydam farm was purchased by John Alexander Henderson, who in turn sold part of the acreage to Thomas Warren. This land was part of an original federal government grant to Simon Suydam. John and Mary were breeders and exhibitors of purebred Shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses, Shropshire sheep, and Poland china hogs. Their farm was located 1/2 miles west of the Suydam church of Victor township. He was one of the Trustees of the Suydam M.E. Church of which he and his wife were active members. On February 24, 1923, John was killed while repairing an acetylene gas plant explosion on the family farm. He received a small cut under his chin, but apparently his neck was broken by a flying piece of metal. Following his death, the following appeared in the February 24, 1923, (sic: must have been after 24th) issue of the Somomauk Reville: "Last Saturday afternoon, John Alexander Henderson one of the best known farmers in Victor Township was instantly killed by an explosion on his farm. So terrific was the explosion that it was heard for mile away. Mrs. Melvin Henderson, a daughter-in-law, caught sight of the drum high in the air." (Per Death Certificate: died from a fracture of the skull due to explosion of carbide lighting plant.) A tremendous tribute to the prestige and standing of this man was paid by a long time friend: "John never ran for a political office. Hovwever, a person considering getting into politics first cleared with him as to his possible chances for the office he might be seeking." At the funeral, held on February 26, 1923, the following were pall bearers: Alvin Warren, Calvin Spengler, Burton Johnson, Arthur Maeser, Henry Miller, and Ed Schrader. Mary died November 1, 1937. Both are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery near Sandwich, Illinois. Per L. Jane Johnson telephone conversation of 4/9/02; Marion and Virginia Henderson, two of John's grandchildren were living with he and Mary Jane. They happened to be standing near a window when the tank blew and witnessed the accident. 1870 census PO Victor Center, DeKalb County, IL; J.W. Henderson, farmer, age 36, born PA; Eliza (Hipple), keeping house, age 33, born PA, Sarah L., age 11, born Illinois; Ida M. (sic N.), age 9, born Illinois; John, age 7, born Illinois; Matilda, age 5, born Illinois; James F., age 1, born Illinois. 1880 census Victor Township, DeKalb County, IL; James W. Henderson, age 45, farmer, born PA, father born (Northern) Ireland, mother born PA; Eliza (Hipple), wife, age 42, keeping house, born PA, father born PA, mother born PA; Sarah L., daughter, age 21, teaching school, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA; Ida N., daughter, age 19, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA; John A., son, age 17, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA; Matilda A, daughter, age 15, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA; James F., son, age 12, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA; Alvin C., daughter, age 7, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA; Martha A., daughter, age 4, born Illinois, father born PA, mother born PA. 1900 census Victor Township, DeKalb County, IL; John A. Henderson, born Nov. 1862, age 37, farmer, born Illinois, parents both born PA. Mary J. (Cooper), born Aug, 1860, age 39, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Elmer J., son, born Sept. 1888, age 11, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Frank H., son, born Jan. 1890, age 10, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Melvin, son, born April, 1897, age 3, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. John Dietz, servant, farm laborer, born Jan 1873, age 27. Born Germany; both parents born Germany. Arrived in US in 1895. 1910 census Victor Township, DeKalb County, IL; John A. Henderson, occupation unreadable, owner/farmer, age 47, born Illinois, parents both born PA. Mary (Jane Cooper) , wife, age 48, born Illinois, father born NY, mother born Illinois. Elmer J., son, laborer, home/farmer, age 22, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Frank H., son, laborer, home/farmer, age 20, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Melvin J., son, age 13, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Donald C., son, age 7, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. 1920 census Victor Township, DeKalb County, IL; John Henderson, age 56, farmer, born Illinois, parents both born PA. Mary (Jane Cooper), wife, age 59, born Illinois, father born NY, mother born Illinois. Donald, age 17, son, born Illinois, both parentsborn Illinois. Frank Henderson, son, farm laborer, age 30, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Lora (sic Laura) (Williams), daughter-in-law, age 23, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Marion, granddaughter, age 8, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Virginia, granddaughter, age 6, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Bruce, grandson, age 4, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Next door: Melvin Henderson, son, farm laborer, age 23, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Dorthea (Merwin), daughter-in-law, age 25, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois. Clarion, son, age 2 months, born Illinois, both parents born Illinois.
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