Mr. A.M. Henderson
Mr. Alfred M. Henderson
In 1903, Alfred M. Henderson’s wife, Catherine, was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Marengo Public Library. Alfred Henderson held multiple jobs throughout his lifetime in Marengo. He was a Captain of the Hook and Ladder fire company in Marengo.[1] In the 1905-1906 Iowa State Gazetteer, Henderson was listed as the cashier at Marengo Savings Bank. In the 1908-1909 Iowa State Gazetteer, Henderson held the office of Mayor. Due to an arrest for “drunkenness, etc.” with charges filed in May of 1909 and an ensuing trial in August, Henderson was forced to leave his position as mayor.[2] This trial was the first of its kind following a new state law, called the Cossen Law.[3] That summer, Henderson stated that the charges stemmed from an ongoing feud between him and attorney H.N. Havner, also of Marengo.[4] Following his impeachment from office, Henderson worked in real estate until 1913.[5]
Henderson’s birth date is listed as 1850 in multiple federal censuses.[6] Henderson married Catherine Anderson on June 17, 1896.[7] The couple had two children: Clarence born 1874 and Francis born 1877.[8] In 1910, Henderson lived on Milton Street in Marengo, his native tongue was English, he owned his own home and he was literate.[9] His date of death is unknown, but his grave (with no discernable date) can be found in the IOOF Cemetery in Marengo.[10]
[1] The History of Iowa County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, its Cities, Towns, & Biographical Sketches of its Citizens, War Record of its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Iowa County, Constitution of Iowa, Miscellaneous Matters, &, Des Moines, IA, Union Historical Company, (Des Moines: Birdsall, Williams & co., 1881), p. 507.; This source did not list which years that Henderson served as a fire chief.
[2] “Henderson Trial Aug. 4th,” Humeston New Era, Humeston, IA, July 14, 1909, https://www.newspapers.com/image/36899977.
[3] “Judge Wade Lays Foundation for Appeal of Ouster Case,” The Daily Times, Davenport, IA, August 17 1909, https://www.newspapers.com/image/300874068/?terms=Henderson{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}2BMarengo{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}2Bnew{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}2Bstate{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}2Blaw.
[4] “Would Remove Marengo Mayor,” The Courier, Waterloo, IA, June 5, 1909, https://www.newspapers.com/image/356657566.
[5] Henderson’s name was no longer listed in the 1914-1915 Iowa State Gazetteer.
[6] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600-Current: Alfred M Henderson, [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117834328/alfred-m-henderson.; This website lists Henderson’s birthdate as early as 1840.
[7] Ancestry.com, Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1940 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006.
[8] Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600-Current: Alfred M Henderson, [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117834328/alfred-m-henderson.; This website lists Henderson’s birthdate as early as 1840.