J. W. HENDERSON - Mr. Henderson is a native of this state, and was born in Greene county, January 6th 1831. His ancestors were early settlers of Virginia, and for many years resided in Berkeley county. His father, David Henderson, was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, about the year 1807, and was married there to Hannah Steidley. In the year 1830, a short time after this marriage, he emigrated to Illinois and settled in the neighborhood of Whitehall. The family were among the pioneer settlers of that part of Greene county. In the fall of 1832 his father moved to Macoupin county and settled on section 30 of township11, range 9. Mr. Henderson's uncle, John Henderson, came to the township at the same time and settled on section 20. These were the first two settlements made in the southwest part of Barr township. His father and mother lived where they settled nearly forty years and then moved to Greenfield and afterward to Montgomery county, where they now reside. Mr. Henderson was less than two years old when he came to Macoupin county. His education was obtained in the schools in the neighborhood of his home. When he was twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account. In November, 1855, he married Sarah J. Kidd, daughter of Benjamin Kidd. Mrs. Henderson was born in Peoria county, Illinois, and moved from there to Barr township.

After his marriage Mr. Henderson purchased land in section 16 where he lived about five years, and in 1860 moved to his present residence, in section 29. In1864, during the late war, he served between five and six months in the 133d Illinois regiment, and was stationed at Rock Island guarding rebel prisoners. His brother, John H. Henderson, served throughout the war; enlisted as sergeant of company D of the 14th Illinois regiment, and was taken prisoner near Atlanta, Georgia, while on detached service, guarding a bridge outside the lines; he died while in a rebel prison at Columbia, South Carolina. At the time of his capture he was first lieutenant, commanding his company, and was commissioned as captain while in prison. Mr. Henderson was one of the early members of the republican party in Macoupin county. When the agitation concerning slavery arose on the question of the admission of Kansas and Nebraska into the Union he was one of those who opposed the southern schemes for the extension of slavery into the territories, and one of the seven men in Barr township, who, in 1856, voted for Gen. Fremont as the republican candidate for president. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church.