H. B. Henderson

H. B. HENDERSON, whose real estate, loan, rental, insurance and abstract offices are located in the Crowell Building, Columbus, Kansas, has been in business in this city since April 28, 1885. He was born October 5, 1862, at Deer Creek, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Margaret (Thomas) Henderson.

John Henderson was born in Pennsylvania and was 10 years old when his parents removed to Ohio and located in Pickaway County, where the lived until 1885. They moved thence to Bates County, Missouri, where John Henderson bought a farm. There Mr. Henderson died, April 7, 1900, aged 67 years, but his widow still resides in Bates County. Mr. Henderson was an active Democrat and, being a man of education and responsibility, was frequently elected to local offices.

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Pickaway County, Ohio, and from his 17th to his 21st year was engaged in teaching school there. Then he went to Nebraska where he was employed as a solicitor in the organ, piano and sewing machine business, and gained much necessary experience, by coming into contact with the great public. On locating at Columbus he entered upon his present line of business, and has become interested in, and identified with, a number of the successful mining operations of this section. He is secretary and treasurer of the S. H. & S. Mining Company, which has its headquarters at Columbus and its mines at Peacock, where the company has a mill and developing plant. He is also secretary and treasurer of the T. P. La Rue Investment Company, of which H. A. La Rue is president. This company was organized in April, 1902, with a capital of $12,000, and owns the Opera House Building. He is also secretary of the Electric Investment Company, organized at Columbus, with a capital of $20,000, the stock being backed by land adjoining Columbus on the east and north. Mr. Henderson also owns stock in the Cherokee County Lumber Company; he is interested in considerable oil land in Appallatchie, Oklahoma; in mining land at Galena and on Spring River at Badger and Peacock; he owns, with D. M. Bliss, 1,400 acres of farming land, which yields about 500 tons of hay, besides other farm products, and has a farm of his own, of 400 acres, in this county.

Mr. Henderson married a daughter of Lorin W. Camp, who was born and reared at Clayton, Illinois. Mr. Camp was born at Camptown, Pennsylvania, where he married a Miss Edwards, born at Laceyville, and they later removed to Illinois. Their two children were Mrs. Henderson and Dr. J. E. Camp, of Brooklyn, Illinois. Mrs. Henderson's father was a piano tuner and also a teacher of music, and for a long time was manager for the musical negro wonder, "Blind Boone." In 1887, Mr. and Mrs. Camp located at Wichita, Kansas, and in June, 1898, removed to Columbus, where Mr. Camp died November 12, 1903, at the age of 73 years. He was a man of great musical ability, and was known to the profession and the public over a large extent of country. Mrs. Camp resides with her daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have three sons, Lynn Camp, Leslie Thomas, and John, aged 14 years, nine years and one month respectively. Mr. Henderson occupies a handsome residence which he has built within a park of 15 acres, where he gratifies his taste for breeding high-grade stock and horses. Politically a Democrat, he has never accepted office beyond serving as chairman and secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee. His fraternal connections include the Knights of Pythias, of Columbus, in which he has served in all the chairs; the Modern Woodmen of America, of Columbus; and the Knights and Ladies of Security, of the same city.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, transcribed by Amanda Young, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 11-21-96.