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WILLIAM ELLIOTT HENDERSON, one of Smithfield Township's substantial and representative citizen's, residing on a valuable farm of 220 acres and also owning a farm of 120 acres which lies farther south, was born on the former property, January 3, 1850. His parents were Robert and Margaret (White) Henderson. Robert Henderson was born in Ireland in 1802, and was two years old when his parents, Robert Henderson and wife, brought him to America. It was the older Robert Henderson who secured a section of Government land in Smithfield Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, for which he paid $1.75 per acre, this being in 1814. Mr. Henderson can recall his grandfather telling of the state of wilderness that the country was then in. Dangerous streams had to be forded and a clearing cut through the forest before the team could make its way through with the wagon that had transported the family from Pennsylvania. Grandfather Henderson had a large family and many sons and all but two of these, Robert and Alexander, pressed farther west when they reached manhood. The sons who remained assisted the father to develop the farm and Robert spent his life on it, his death occurring in 1872. He married Margaret White, who was born near Fernwood, Ohio, in 1811, and died February 6, 1876. They had six children: Eleanor, Richard W., Robert F., Margaret, William Elliott and Eliza Jane, all of whom are deceased except William Elliott. The eldest daughter was the wife of W. H. Barkhurst. William Elliott Henderson has spent his life amidst the old familiar surroundings. From boyhood he has been accustomed to farm details and long before he reached manhood had mastered those problems of farming and stock raising which mark the difference between success and failure in agricultural life. Through careful cultivation and equally careful breeding, both his fields and herds have abundantly rewarded him. On June 25, 1907, Mr. Henderson was married to Miss Isabella Smith, a daughter of George W. and Deborah Smith. In politics, Mr. Henderson is a staunch Democrat.  Return to Family Tales
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