BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 640-641.

JOSEPH A. HENDERSON

Joseph A. Henderson, a prominent young man of Belmont county, who received in
November 1889, the high compliment of an election as auditor of the county,
in opposition to the usual political majority, is a descendant of one of the
pioneer families of this region. His grandfather, Andrew Henderson, came to
Belmont county before the admission of the state into the Union. He was the
son of a native of Ireland. Andrew settled in Wheeling township, where his
son John was born, in 1810. The latter married Margaret Shepherd, who is of
a family prominent in early times, her great-uncle being a colonel in the war
of 1812. To these parents Joseph A. Henderson was born September 15, 1858.
He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of
seventeen years he began teaching in the common schools, and after following
that vocation five years, he entered the Lebanon Normal college. He attended
one term there and another at Hopedale, and then he took up the study of
stenography. After this he resumed teaching, and achieving a reputation for
thorough work, was in 1882, appointed school examiner for Belmont county. He
served on the board of examiners four years, and in 1883 accepted the
position of deputy auditor under Ross Barrett, which he held until his
election as auditor. In 1887 he was appointed court stenographer for the
district of Belmont and Monroe counties, and has discharged the duties of
that position in connection with the deputyship. His election in 1889 as
auditor, by a majority of 171 on the democratic ticket in the face of an
opposing majority of 356 on the general ticket, is a high compliment indeed.
He was one of two county officers elected on his ticket. Mr. Henderson was
married January 21, 1885, to Iona Metcalf, who was born in 1863, daughter
of Oliver G. and Mary A. (Hamilton) Metcalf, and he has two children, William
C. and Lawrence O. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and
he is affiliated with the Masonic order and Knights of Pythias.