My Genealogy Hound

John Lawson Henderson, of the firm of Myrick & Henderson, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., December 24, 1841, and is a son of William and Mary (Scales) Henderson. The father was of Scotch descent, and a son of William Henderson, an early settler of Tennessee. The father was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., and was a merchant by occupation. The mother was a daughter of Joseph H. Scales, a native of North Carolina, and an early settler of Williamson County, Tenn. When sixteen years of age our subject left the paternal roof, and for some time worked as a shipping clerk in Memphis. At the commencement of the war he joined the Memphis Light Dragoons, which afterward became Company A of the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry. He served throughout the war, and surrendered with his company at Gainesville, Ala. He was wounded in the battle at Holly Springs. After the war he sold goods in Coahoma County, Miss., and subsequently went to New Orleans to accept the position of receiving teller in the United States Treasury Department. In 1871 he went to Helena, Ark., where he clerked until 1881, after which he engaged in the mercantile, flour, jobbing and commission business at Fort Smith. Upon the organization of the Ketcham Iron Company he served a year as treasurer and secretary. He is interested in the educational advancement of the county, and is a member of the school board. In politics he is a Democrat, and while in Helena he filled the office of city treasurer. He was married in Kenton, Miss., to Miss Maggie Dinkins, who died in Helena, leaving two children, John H. and Lula K., now high-school students. Mr. Henderson afterward was married in Natchez, Miss., to Miss Bessie Lambdin, who has born him three children: Maggie, Willie and E. R. DuVal. Since early manhood Mr. Henderson has been identified with the Baptist Church, and he is a member of the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A.