Henderson Family History

The roots of  Howell Cobb Henderson were traced to South Carolina where he was born to slave parents M. Henderson & Susan. There was a Manuel Henderson in Caddo in the 1870 census that I believe is him, he was born in 1823 in South Carolina. Known brothers and sisters were: Dave, Molly, Celester, Della and Ike.  Nothing of his childhood was discovered. He migrated to Louisiana and married Phoebe Crenshaw of Waskom, Texas in 1874.

Phoebe was the second of two children (the other a son, Allen, Jr.) born to Miranda and Allen Crenshaw.  After the death of Allen, Sr., Miranda married Lias Ruth.  Two daughters were added to the family (Louvenia and Dora).  One of Louvenia’s daughters, Phoebe Taylor who was 102 years at the time of our 1982 Henderson Reunion resided in Compton, California.

Howell and Phoebe Henderson settled in the northern part of Louisiana, establishing a home in an area later known as Sojourner.  Twelve children were born to them: Signora, Nathaniel, Louvenia, Lillie Pearl, George, Lemuel, Florence, Ira, Jabez, Douglas, Alvin and Isaac.  Lillie Pearl died in early childhood, leaving no descendants.

The children were raised in a Christian atmosphere as Howell served as a Deacon and the Superintendent of the Sunday School at Republic Baptist Church.  Phoebe worked with the Mission Sisters of the church. The first U.S. Post Office in that section (Greenwood) was maintained on the Henderson property with Florence Henderson-Tyson, as the Post Master.

Signora Henderson was the “Mother away from home” to many nieces and
nephews who lived with her while attending High School in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Isaac Henderson had an interest in helping the youth and young adults, which he exhibited in his work with the Boy Scouts and by his acceptance into his home young relatives until they had become established in the city.

Douglas Henderson had an opportunity to play professional baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs, but refused because it would involve breaking the Sabbath by playing on Sunday.

Jabez Henderson was a free lance artist with the ability to sketch persons and landscape from pose, or from memory.  He had not taken lessons, but utilized a God-given talent.

Louvenia L. Henderson conducted the first Charm Class at Pine Valley School in Rodessa, Louisiana where she served as Principal and the only teacher in a one room building.

Dr. Nathaniel Howell Cobb Henderson was the first Negro to own an automobile in the city of Memphis, Tennessee where he maintained a thriving medical practice until the loss of his vision.

In research of the Henderson Family History several additional names were discovered and we are not sure how they tie into the family: Viola and Dred Butler, Laurie and Ben Benvil, Maurice and Blevia.

Henderson's & Tyson's

history and family photo submitted by Bernita Tyson-Gray

The Henderson family traced their roots to the Ashland Plantation in North Carolina. Some years ago, Henderson family members took a trip to the Carolinas, visited the genealogy library and toured the old Plantation and presented it at one of the Henderson Family Reunions. When they visited it had not been renovated and a family was living there in its original state and some of the old slave quarters were still there. Ashland Plantation is an historically significant residence sitting on 52 beautiful acres adjacent to Satterwhite Point State Park on Kerr Lake.  The home was built in 1740 by Samuel Henderson and then expanded in the 1800's. It is the childhood home of Richard Henderson, a companion of Daniel Boone, who was instrumental in the American expansion West during the mid 1700's. Ashland was a tobacco plantation and at one time totaled 1976 acres.