Margaret's great grandfather was James Adam, b. in 1723.
Margaret Ada/McDonald Adam's parents were:
William Thom Adam, b. May 7 (or 26), 1793 at Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Jan. 5 (or 15), 1875 at the ranch in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. &
Isabel (Laird) Adam, b. Dec. 15, 1794 or 1795 in Muir of Lownie, Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland and d. 1844.
(although another source says that her parents were William McDonald Adam, a highlander and Isabel (Glen) Adam, a lowlander.
William Thom Adam marr. first, Isobel Laird on Apr. 21, 1816 and second, Margaret Thomson (b. 1821) on Feb. 23, 1845.
William Thom Adam's children by his first wife, Isobel (Laird) Adam were:
1. Margaret Adam, b. Aug. 12, 1816 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and was baptized on Aug. 25, 1833, at the Old Monkland Parish in Scotland. Margaret d. Aug. 12, 1900 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino county, CA. Margaret marr. first, David Henderson and after David died, was briefly the plural wife of her brother-in-law, James Easton.
2. Janet Adam, b. Dec. 27, 1817 in Scotland, and d. 1843. Janet marr. John Flood on May 19, 1837 in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. Isobel(la) Adam, b. 1820 and d. 1848. Isobella marr. Robert Grant on Nov. 27, 1836. (They had one son, John W. Grant, who Margaret raised after he was orphaned.
4. Agnes Adam, b. Sep. 13, 1821 in Bothwell Parish, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. May 2, 1894. Buried in Dufur, Wasco County, OR. Agnes marr. James Laird Easton (b. 1823) on Jan. 7, 1844.
5. Catherine/Katherine "Katie" Adam, b. Jul. 29, 1823. Katie marr. James Patrick on Aug. 13, 1841 and remained in Scotland.
6. Mary Adam, b. Jun. 20, 1825 and d. in Scotland. Mary marr. James (or William) Hamilton. She remained behind in Scotland and the family never saw her again.
7. Dr. Charles Adam, b. Jun. 19, 1827 and d. Jun. 25, 1881 of "swelling of the brain" with his son, William T. Adam in attendance. Charles became a doctor in 1850, graduating from a physician's school in Edinburgh and practiced medicine in Coatbridge. He owned an apothecary shop in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Charles remained behind in Scotland marrying first, Margaret Bailie and second, Mary McCreath.
8. William Adam, b. Apr. 12, 1829 and died as an infant.
9. Jemima Laird Adam, b. Oct. 10, 1831 in South Lanarkshire and d. Dec. 6, 1879 in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. On May 12, 1852, Jemima marr. George Easton (1829-1903).
10. Robina Adam, b. Feb. 11, 1836 and died as an infant.
11. William Laird Adam, b. Aug. 7 (or 9), 1836 at Old Swallow Haugh near Calder Iron Works Parish in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Dec. 14, 1903 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara county, CA.. William marr. Elizabeth "Bessie" O'Connor (1838-1898).
12. Alexander 'Aleck' Adam, b. Jun. 7 (or Jul. 6), 1838/1839 in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. 1928 in Monterey County, CA.. Aleck marr. Esther Bradley sometime before 1877. (Esther was b. in London, England).
Neither Margaret's brother, Charles nor her sister, Mrs. Patrick, ever went to America.
Margaret had two step-siblings by her father's second marriage to Margaret Thomson:
1. John Robert Adam, b. 1851 or 1852 and d. 1923. John Robert Adam marr. Mahalia Haun.
2. James Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855 and d. 1923.
3. Agnes Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855. Agnes does appear in the 1860 U. S. census, but is not with her family in the 1870 U. S. census, so it is presumed that she died between 1860 and 1870.
On June 23, 1833, at the age of 17, Margaret Adam and 22 yr. old David Henderson were married in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, according to Scotland Select Marriages for 1561-1910 (Film #1066602).
At the time of their marriage, David was working at the Calder Iron Works as a collier (miner). He was injured in a fall of slate in a quarry. It is said that he never fully recovered from this injury. He also worked as a grocer.
Some time in the 1840's, David and his family came into contact with the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Mormon Church provided money for the purpose of immigrating followers of the church to the 'Land of Saints', the new home of the Mormons in Salt Lake City. Three families, connected by marriage, immigrated to America together; the Henderson, the Adam and Easton families. The reasons why David and Margaret decided to leave Scotland are probably many. This was a period of famine in Scotland and Ireland. As highlanders, they were not allowed to practice any of the Highland customs. Work and life was very hard as miners in almost slave-like conditions. It is not hard to imagine that the Henderson family wanted freedom, free land of their own in a 'God given climate' and the ability to practice their customs and religion.
They began their journey in Glasgow, sailing to Liverpool, England.
From there, on Aug. 16, 1849, according to the Liverpool Office, British Mission 1849-1851 Emigration Book "A" - P. 52,
they paid their deposit, "wishing to sail across the North Atlantic in September". They boarded the ship North America for their eight-week voyage to America. Immigration records show that 38 yr. old David, a grocer and working at the Calder Iron Works by Airdrie, Lanarkshire and his 33 yr. old wife, Margaret Henderson; sailed from Liverpool with six of their children;
14 yr. old William (McDonald) Henderson;
12 yr. old Margaret (Victoria) Henderson Jr.;
7 yr. old David (Glenn) Henderson Jr.;
5 yr. old Jeannette (Adam) Henderson;
2 yr. old Mary Adam Henderson; and
3 mth. old Charles Adam Henderson.
The eldest daughter, Isabella, stayed in Scotland, joining them when her grandfather sailed the following year. The ship crossed the Atlantic to the south of the Florida Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. Rough weather and seas, a shortage of water, typhoid and cholera made the journey a hard one according to the ship's log. Forty-three persons died en route and were buried at sea.
Landing was made in New Orleans in November of 1849 where they then traveled up the Mississippi into St. Louis. The family was to live in St. Louis for a year so that money could be saved for provisions, a wagon and a team of oxen for the trip west. It was during this time, most likely between June and September of 1849 (1850?) that David Henderson died from heat stroke (or possibly cholera) while working in the coal mines near St. Louis. He was buried in St. Louis in an area known at the time as Dogtown. He left Margaret a widow at the age of 34 with 6 children to care for.
Excerpt from the diary of Margaret's brother, William Laird Adam, who had just arrived from Scotland:
"1850-1851: Winter in Saint Louis, Thence up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, and over the Prairie and Mountains to Salt Lake City, Utah.
"The climate became cooler as we approached Saint Louis, occasionally a chilly wind being quite a contrast from the hot calms of Santo Domingo, the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and New Orleans of only some two weeks before. So along in November, we landed in Saint Louis, where our sisters, Margaret and Agness, met us. They were living at Gravois, a coal mining suburb, and father, having no other planes, we went out with them in a coal wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. There were several Scotch families there - mostly engaged in coal mining, and we were warmly welcomed. Scotch folks are proverbially clannish.
"I went on several trips with Johnny Grant to Saint Louis with his team of oxen and wagon of coal, and enjoyed the occupation hugely. He would yoke up his oxen in the morning, go to the pit and load on some 40 or 50 bushels of coal, drive into St. Louis some six miles and go to the coal dstand where people in want of coal also came. His coal was weighed at one of the city scales and each bushel was tagged with its weight. The next thing was to see how much he could get for each bushel. (My recollection was some 9 to 10 cents.) Our expenses for weighing and our dinners at Hide camps totaled 30 or 35 cents. Then we picked up two or three bushels of corn at 10 cents per bushel and would go home in the dark and cold. The poor oxen had no shelter and were very poor. They would hang around the door waiting for the next morning's meal. It was a very sorry way of getting a living - looked at from our present standpoint (*1900). However, many others were in as bad, if not worse condition. At the best the world is a fight with us all. Sister Margaret was left a widow the summer previous to our arrival. Her husband, David Henderson, had earned enough to buy this ox team and wagon, and for his work, a sunstroke resulted and carried him off. She also had the care of her own family and sister Agness and Johnny Grant, the son of my sister Isabella. Their little story was a sad one.
By the time David Henderson died in 1849/1850,
Margaret and David Henderson had seven children:
1) William McDonald Henderson, b. 1834, d. Sept. 11, 1904 . William marr. Mary J. Winn.
2) Isabel/la Henderson, b. March 1/10, 1835, d. Aug. 4, 1890 . Isabel(la) marr. William Nish, a miner from Scotland who had come to Salt Lake City. After being married in Salt Lake City, the Nishes moved by ox-teams to San Bernardino in 1854, wheretheir five surviving children were partially raised and educated. Sometime in 1867/68, William moved his family to Mt. Diablo, where he worked as superintendent of the mines until he was killed in 1872. Isabella Henderson Nish returned to San Bernardino where she lived until her death. The eldest child of Isabella and William Nish was Margaret Nish. She was born in Salt Lake City in 1852, raised in San Bernardino, and at age sixteen, was married to her grandmother's nephew, John W. Grant. She raised nine children and lived to be eighty years old.
3) Margaret Victoria Henderson, b. July 26, 1837/8 - d. Sept. 6, 1921. Margaret marr. Charles J. Mogeau and after his death, Henry C. Yager.
4) David Glenn Henderson, b.March 28, 1842, d. July 19, 1926. David marr. Matilda Caroline Hawker.
5) Jeannette Adam Henderson, b. June 7, 1844, d. Dec. 8, 1936. Jeannette marr. Thomas 'Tom' B. Walkinshaw, and later, William Brown Roberds of Corona, Ca.)
6) Mary Adam Henderson, b. May 27/31, 1848, d. May 24, 1904. Mary marr. William Roberts Levick and then Thomas H. 'Tom' Ashcroft of Corona, Ca.)
7) Charles Henderson, who died as an infant.
This was just the beginning of hard times for Margaret. The area of St. Louis was in the grip of a major cholera epidemic. Her sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, was so sick with cholera, that she was on her deathbed and burial arrangements were being made. Margaret nursed her back to health while caring for her own six children, as well as Agnes Easton's five children in St. Louis. (They were living next door to each other in the 1850 census and David is not listed.)
Another of Margaret's sisters, Isobel and Isabelle's husband Robert J. W. Grant died June 24, 1849 during the cholera epidemic. Eight of their nine children also died from cholera while in St. Louis. The lone surviving child, 10 year old Johnny Grant, was taken in and raised by Margaret Adam Henderson and her sister, Agnes Easton.
More of the Henderson/Adam/Easton clans would follow in 1850, joining Margaret in St. Louis, Missouri.
In the Oct. 24, 1850 U.S. census, 34 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland), was living in the South Half of St Louis, St Louis, MO. with her
13 yr. old daughter, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
8 yr. old son, David Henderson, b. in England (Scotland),
5 yr. old daughter, Jeannette Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
3 yr. old daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
Living next door were Margaret's 27 yr. old sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, Margaret's 27 yr. old brother-in-law and future husband, James Easton and their 2 yr. old daughter, Margaret Easton.
In the next house over were: 28 yr. old John Easton; is 21 yr. old wife, Margaret; their 11 yr. old daughter, Elizabeth; 8 yr. old daughter, Barbara; and 6 yr. old son, Robert Easton.
When Margaret's husband, David Henderson, died in St. Louis, it was the Mormon custom that no woman of age remain unmarried. Margaret Adam Henderson became the second or plural wife of John/James Easton, who was the husband of her sister, Agnes. This was most likely preferable to become married to someone she already knew well and were accustomed to rather than to have a strange man chosen for her by the Mormon Church. She never relinquished the name Henderson, however, and when their son, John, was born, he too had the surname Henderson. The rumor has it that another child was born before John, but it is not validated.
From St. Louis, some of the members of the family made the trip west to Salt Lake City in 1851. The company was then made up of the Hendersons, Burdics, Keirs, Eastons, Adam's grandfather Adam's wife Margaret Thompson, Levick, Wm. Nish, John Thompson - killed en route by Indians, and John Thompson's brother. They went up the Platte River, ferried across and went on alone, reaching Salt Lake in November.
In the spring of 1853, some of them went to open coal mines and established Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah. The families worked, were thrifty, the boys worked building a sawmill, but they resented the heavy hand of the church.
In Sept. of 1852/3, a train consisting of fifteen or sixteen wagons was made up at Cedar City to come overland to California, following the route of the Keir train. The family located in San Bernardino, in Southern California.
Margaret arrived in San Bernardino with the "Scots' Train".
Margaret's daughter, Jeanette Adam Henderson, would later tell her children that "every night on the trip from Salt Lake City, UT., to San Bernardino, the men of the wagon train would come through and empty out wagons of heaving items to lighten the load. I would go afterward and hunt until I found my precious little iron, wrap it in my apron and bring it back with me." In her son, John's memoirs, I found that he had been told that "when they reached a point where they could see San Bernardino Valley, Margaret Henderson made them halt and she repeated the 23rd Psalm." (John later was Marshal of San Bernardino and served as its Mayor for one term.)
Margaret's son by James Easton, John Alexander (Easton) Henderson was b. May 29, 1856 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. Mar. 28, 1938 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA.
Mormonism must not have agreed with Margaret, Agnes or James Easton, because they too, moved to San Bernardino, away from the Mormon stronghold. James Easton and his wife, Agnes, then moved on to Dufur, Oregon near Mt. Hood, while Margaret stayed behind in San Bernardino with her six children from David and young John Alexander (Easton) Henderson, her son, fathered by James Easton. She lived there until she died on Aug. 12, 1900.
In time, Margaret's son, John Henderson, became the 7th Mayor of San Bernardino. John married Asenia Ferrel Wilson.
Margaret Helena 'Peg' Levinson tells about a time when a small pox epidemic hit San Bernardino. She talks of a time when Margaret Adam Henderson had read quite extensively and knew there was a system called Vaccination and knew the principle of it. She found a milk cow that was infected. It is said that she found the pox and cut the pox from the udders of the cow. With the infected pus and a pen knife, she vaccinated the family and everyone else who chose to participate. They all developed a scar about an inch in diameter but none of them caught the smallpox. Margaret lived on a 40 acre ranch on the bench just north of Rialto Ave., overlooking Lytle Creek. It is said that she was crippled with arthritis in her later years.
Margaret was very much the matriarch of the modern Henderson family and one of the founding pioneers of the San Bernardino Valley. Her name is listed on a plaque in front of the San Bernardino Courthouse. Margaret's descendants settled the San Bernardino Valley and became mayors, firefighters, police officers and leaders in the community.
*Note: The portrait of Margaret Henderson as an older woman comes from the California Heritage Room of the San Bernardino City Library.
In the 1860 U.S. census, 43 yr. old Margaret Henderson, b. in Scotland, was living in San Salvador Twp., (Post office: San Bernardino), San Bernardino, CA. with her
18 yr. old (inferred) son, David Henderson, b. in Scotland
16 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Jennett Henderson, b. in Scotland
13 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in Scotland
4 yr. old (inferred) son (by James Easton), John (Alexander) Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's real estate was valued at $150 and her personal estate at $150.
In the 1880 U.S. census, 63 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, conducting a farm, b. in Scotland, was living in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA. with her
14 yr. old grandson, Alex Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's parents were both b. in Scotland
Alex's father was b. in Scotland and his mother in Australia. **Alex's parents were David Glenn Henderson and Matilda (Hawker) Henderson.
The San Bernardino Daily Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5
Tue., Aug. 14, 1900
PASSING OF A PIONEER WOMAN
Mrs. Margaret Henderson, mother of Marshall John A. Henderson, and one of the noble pioneer women of the valley, died at the residence of her son, Sunday, after a lingering illness, that had caused her untold suffering, and made her a burden to herself for many months.
Mrs. Henderson died at the advanced age of 84 years. She was a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, where she was born in 1816. In 1835, when she was 19 years old, she was married to David Henderson, and they lived for 15 years in Scotland, after they were married. In 1850 they decided to come to America, and they located at St. Louis, but three years later determined to cross the continent to California, and with ox teams they set out, arriving in San Bernardino safely in 1853, and for 47 years it has been Mrs. Henderson's home. Her husband died years ago, and recently she has made her home with her children.
Mrs. Henderson was the mother of seven children, and lived to see the fourth generation of her family, she having several great-grandchildren. Of her own, Mrs. Wm. Nish is dead, and six survive her. They are: Mrs. Margaret Yager, Mrs. Wm. Roberds, Mrs. Thos. Ashcroft of Corona, Wm. McD. Henderson of Rialto, D.G. Henderson of Etiwanda, and John A. Henderson.
Very few of the pioneer settlers were better known or more highly regarded than Mrs. Henderson. When they first arrived in the valley in 1853, they settled below what is the Raynor place. Subsequently they settled to the East of the city and made their home there for many years.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of Mrs. Yager, on the bench, just west of Lyle creek on Fourth street. Four of the grandchildren, Mrs. Margaret Levinson, Miss Belle Mogeau, and Miss Gertrude and Miss Winifred Yager, are in Portland, and it is possible that some of them may arrive for the funeral, although the telegrams as to their coming have not been entirely definite.
The Weekly Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5, Aug. 17, 1900
The funeral of Mrs. Margaret Henderson, the octogenarian and pioneer resident of this valley, who died at the residence of her son, Marshal J.A. (John Alexander) Henderson, was held from the residence of her daughter, Mrs.Margaret Yager, on West Fourth street yesterday afternoon and was attended by an immense concourse of people.
The services were conducted by Rev. Mark B. Shaw of this city, and in his remarks he called attention to the fact that Mrs. Henderson died on her 84th birthday, she having been born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, August 12, 1816.
She was the mother of 11 children, and had 39 grand-children, 62 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, there being more than 100 souls in the five generations of her family.
Cause of Death: Paralysis
Margaret Ada/McDonald Adam's parents were:
William Thom Adam, b. May 7 (or 26), 1793 at Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Jan. 5 (or 15), 1875 at the ranch in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. &
Isabel (Laird) Adam, b. Dec. 15, 1794 or 1795 in Muir of Lownie, Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland and d. 1844.
(although another source says that her parents were William McDonald Adam, a highlander and Isabel (Glen) Adam, a lowlander.
William Thom Adam marr. first, Isobel Laird on Apr. 21, 1816 and second, Margaret Thomson (b. 1821) on Feb. 23, 1845.
William Thom Adam's children by his first wife, Isobel (Laird) Adam were:
1. Margaret Adam, b. Aug. 12, 1816 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and was baptized on Aug. 25, 1833, at the Old Monkland Parish in Scotland. Margaret d. Aug. 12, 1900 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino county, CA. Margaret marr. first, David Henderson and after David died, was briefly the plural wife of her brother-in-law, James Easton.
2. Janet Adam, b. Dec. 27, 1817 in Scotland, and d. 1843. Janet marr. John Flood on May 19, 1837 in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. Isobel(la) Adam, b. 1820 and d. 1848. Isobella marr. Robert Grant on Nov. 27, 1836. (They had one son, John W. Grant, who Margaret raised after he was orphaned.
4. Agnes Adam, b. Sep. 13, 1821 in Bothwell Parish, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. May 2, 1894. Buried in Dufur, Wasco County, OR. Agnes marr. James Laird Easton (b. 1823) on Jan. 7, 1844.
5. Catherine/Katherine "Katie" Adam, b. Jul. 29, 1823. Katie marr. James Patrick on Aug. 13, 1841 and remained in Scotland.
6. Mary Adam, b. Jun. 20, 1825 and d. in Scotland. Mary marr. James (or William) Hamilton. She remained behind in Scotland and the family never saw her again.
7. Dr. Charles Adam, b. Jun. 19, 1827 and d. Jun. 25, 1881 of "swelling of the brain" with his son, William T. Adam in attendance. Charles became a doctor in 1850, graduating from a physician's school in Edinburgh and practiced medicine in Coatbridge. He owned an apothecary shop in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Charles remained behind in Scotland marrying first, Margaret Bailie and second, Mary McCreath.
8. William Adam, b. Apr. 12, 1829 and died as an infant.
9. Jemima Laird Adam, b. Oct. 10, 1831 in South Lanarkshire and d. Dec. 6, 1879 in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. On May 12, 1852, Jemima marr. George Easton (1829-1903).
10. Robina Adam, b. Feb. 11, 1836 and died as an infant.
11. William Laird Adam, b. Aug. 7 (or 9), 1836 at Old Swallow Haugh near Calder Iron Works Parish in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Dec. 14, 1903 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara county, CA.. William marr. Elizabeth "Bessie" O'Connor (1838-1898).
12. Alexander 'Aleck' Adam, b. Jun. 7 (or Jul. 6), 1838/1839 in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. 1928 in Monterey County, CA.. Aleck marr. Esther Bradley sometime before 1877. (Esther was b. in London, England).
Neither Margaret's brother, Charles nor her sister, Mrs. Patrick, ever went to America.
Margaret had two step-siblings by her father's second marriage to Margaret Thomson:
1. John Robert Adam, b. 1851 or 1852 and d. 1923. John Robert Adam marr. Mahalia Haun.
2. James Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855 and d. 1923.
3. Agnes Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855. Agnes does appear in the 1860 U. S. census, but is not with her family in the 1870 U. S. census, so it is presumed that she died between 1860 and 1870.
On June 23, 1833, at the age of 17, Margaret Adam and 22 yr. old David Henderson were married in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, according to Scotland Select Marriages for 1561-1910 (Film #1066602).
At the time of their marriage, David was working at the Calder Iron Works as a collier (miner). He was injured in a fall of slate in a quarry. It is said that he never fully recovered from this injury. He also worked as a grocer.
Some time in the 1840's, David and his family came into contact with the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Mormon Church provided money for the purpose of immigrating followers of the church to the 'Land of Saints', the new home of the Mormons in Salt Lake City. Three families, connected by marriage, immigrated to America together; the Henderson, the Adam and Easton families. The reasons why David and Margaret decided to leave Scotland are probably many. This was a period of famine in Scotland and Ireland. As highlanders, they were not allowed to practice any of the Highland customs. Work and life was very hard as miners in almost slave-like conditions. It is not hard to imagine that the Henderson family wanted freedom, free land of their own in a 'God given climate' and the ability to practice their customs and religion.
They began their journey in Glasgow, sailing to Liverpool, England.
From there, on Aug. 16, 1849, according to the Liverpool Office, British Mission 1849-1851 Emigration Book "A" - P. 52,
they paid their deposit, "wishing to sail across the North Atlantic in September". They boarded the ship North America for their eight-week voyage to America. Immigration records show that 38 yr. old David, a grocer and working at the Calder Iron Works by Airdrie, Lanarkshire and his 33 yr. old wife, Margaret Henderson; sailed from Liverpool with six of their children;
14 yr. old William (McDonald) Henderson;
12 yr. old Margaret (Victoria) Henderson Jr.;
7 yr. old David (Glenn) Henderson Jr.;
5 yr. old Jeannette (Adam) Henderson;
2 yr. old Mary Adam Henderson; and
3 mth. old Charles Adam Henderson.
The eldest daughter, Isabella, stayed in Scotland, joining them when her grandfather sailed the following year. The ship crossed the Atlantic to the south of the Florida Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. Rough weather and seas, a shortage of water, typhoid and cholera made the journey a hard one according to the ship's log. Forty-three persons died en route and were buried at sea.
Landing was made in New Orleans in November of 1849 where they then traveled up the Mississippi into St. Louis. The family was to live in St. Louis for a year so that money could be saved for provisions, a wagon and a team of oxen for the trip west. It was during this time, most likely between June and September of 1849 (1850?) that David Henderson died from heat stroke (or possibly cholera) while working in the coal mines near St. Louis. He was buried in St. Louis in an area known at the time as Dogtown. He left Margaret a widow at the age of 34 with 6 children to care for.
Excerpt from the diary of Margaret's brother, William Laird Adam, who had just arrived from Scotland:
"1850-1851: Winter in Saint Louis, Thence up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, and over the Prairie and Mountains to Salt Lake City, Utah.
"The climate became cooler as we approached Saint Louis, occasionally a chilly wind being quite a contrast from the hot calms of Santo Domingo, the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and New Orleans of only some two weeks before. So along in November, we landed in Saint Louis, where our sisters, Margaret and Agness, met us. They were living at Gravois, a coal mining suburb, and father, having no other planes, we went out with them in a coal wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. There were several Scotch families there - mostly engaged in coal mining, and we were warmly welcomed. Scotch folks are proverbially clannish.
"I went on several trips with Johnny Grant to Saint Louis with his team of oxen and wagon of coal, and enjoyed the occupation hugely. He would yoke up his oxen in the morning, go to the pit and load on some 40 or 50 bushels of coal, drive into St. Louis some six miles and go to the coal dstand where people in want of coal also came. His coal was weighed at one of the city scales and each bushel was tagged with its weight. The next thing was to see how much he could get for each bushel. (My recollection was some 9 to 10 cents.) Our expenses for weighing and our dinners at Hide camps totaled 30 or 35 cents. Then we picked up two or three bushels of corn at 10 cents per bushel and would go home in the dark and cold. The poor oxen had no shelter and were very poor. They would hang around the door waiting for the next morning's meal. It was a very sorry way of getting a living - looked at from our present standpoint (*1900). However, many others were in as bad, if not worse condition. At the best the world is a fight with us all. Sister Margaret was left a widow the summer previous to our arrival. Her husband, David Henderson, had earned enough to buy this ox team and wagon, and for his work, a sunstroke resulted and carried him off. She also had the care of her own family and sister Agness and Johnny Grant, the son of my sister Isabella. Their little story was a sad one.
By the time David Henderson died in 1849/1850,
Margaret and David Henderson had seven children:
1) William McDonald Henderson, b. 1834, d. Sept. 11, 1904 . William marr. Mary J. Winn.
2) Isabel/la Henderson, b. March 1/10, 1835, d. Aug. 4, 1890 . Isabel(la) marr. William Nish, a miner from Scotland who had come to Salt Lake City. After being married in Salt Lake City, the Nishes moved by ox-teams to San Bernardino in 1854, wheretheir five surviving children were partially raised and educated. Sometime in 1867/68, William moved his family to Mt. Diablo, where he worked as superintendent of the mines until he was killed in 1872. Isabella Henderson Nish returned to San Bernardino where she lived until her death. The eldest child of Isabella and William Nish was Margaret Nish. She was born in Salt Lake City in 1852, raised in San Bernardino, and at age sixteen, was married to her grandmother's nephew, John W. Grant. She raised nine children and lived to be eighty years old.
3) Margaret Victoria Henderson, b. July 26, 1837/8 - d. Sept. 6, 1921. Margaret marr. Charles J. Mogeau and after his death, Henry C. Yager.
4) David Glenn Henderson, b.March 28, 1842, d. July 19, 1926. David marr. Matilda Caroline Hawker.
5) Jeannette Adam Henderson, b. June 7, 1844, d. Dec. 8, 1936. Jeannette marr. Thomas 'Tom' B. Walkinshaw, and later, William Brown Roberds of Corona, Ca.)
6) Mary Adam Henderson, b. May 27/31, 1848, d. May 24, 1904. Mary marr. William Roberts Levick and then Thomas H. 'Tom' Ashcroft of Corona, Ca.)
7) Charles Henderson, who died as an infant.
This was just the beginning of hard times for Margaret. The area of St. Louis was in the grip of a major cholera epidemic. Her sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, was so sick with cholera, that she was on her deathbed and burial arrangements were being made. Margaret nursed her back to health while caring for her own six children, as well as Agnes Easton's five children in St. Louis. (They were living next door to each other in the 1850 census and David is not listed.)
Another of Margaret's sisters, Isobel and Isabelle's husband Robert J. W. Grant died June 24, 1849 during the cholera epidemic. Eight of their nine children also died from cholera while in St. Louis. The lone surviving child, 10 year old Johnny Grant, was taken in and raised by Margaret Adam Henderson and her sister, Agnes Easton.
More of the Henderson/Adam/Easton clans would follow in 1850, joining Margaret in St. Louis, Missouri.
In the Oct. 24, 1850 U.S. census, 34 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland), was living in the South Half of St Louis, St Louis, MO. with her
13 yr. old daughter, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
8 yr. old son, David Henderson, b. in England (Scotland),
5 yr. old daughter, Jeannette Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
3 yr. old daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
Living next door were Margaret's 27 yr. old sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, Margaret's 27 yr. old brother-in-law and future husband, James Easton and their 2 yr. old daughter, Margaret Easton.
In the next house over were: 28 yr. old John Easton; is 21 yr. old wife, Margaret; their 11 yr. old daughter, Elizabeth; 8 yr. old daughter, Barbara; and 6 yr. old son, Robert Easton.
When Margaret's husband, David Henderson, died in St. Louis, it was the Mormon custom that no woman of age remain unmarried. Margaret Adam Henderson became the second or plural wife of John/James Easton, who was the husband of her sister, Agnes. This was most likely preferable to become married to someone she already knew well and were accustomed to rather than to have a strange man chosen for her by the Mormon Church. She never relinquished the name Henderson, however, and when their son, John, was born, he too had the surname Henderson. The rumor has it that another child was born before John, but it is not validated.
From St. Louis, some of the members of the family made the trip west to Salt Lake City in 1851. The company was then made up of the Hendersons, Burdics, Keirs, Eastons, Adam's grandfather Adam's wife Margaret Thompson, Levick, Wm. Nish, John Thompson - killed en route by Indians, and John Thompson's brother. They went up the Platte River, ferried across and went on alone, reaching Salt Lake in November.
In the spring of 1853, some of them went to open coal mines and established Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah. The families worked, were thrifty, the boys worked building a sawmill, but they resented the heavy hand of the church.
In Sept. of 1852/3, a train consisting of fifteen or sixteen wagons was made up at Cedar City to come overland to California, following the route of the Keir train. The family located in San Bernardino, in Southern California.
Margaret arrived in San Bernardino with the "Scots' Train".
Margaret's daughter, Jeanette Adam Henderson, would later tell her children that "every night on the trip from Salt Lake City, UT., to San Bernardino, the men of the wagon train would come through and empty out wagons of heaving items to lighten the load. I would go afterward and hunt until I found my precious little iron, wrap it in my apron and bring it back with me." In her son, John's memoirs, I found that he had been told that "when they reached a point where they could see San Bernardino Valley, Margaret Henderson made them halt and she repeated the 23rd Psalm." (John later was Marshal of San Bernardino and served as its Mayor for one term.)
Margaret's son by James Easton, John Alexander (Easton) Henderson was b. May 29, 1856 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. Mar. 28, 1938 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA.
Mormonism must not have agreed with Margaret, Agnes or James Easton, because they too, moved to San Bernardino, away from the Mormon stronghold. James Easton and his wife, Agnes, then moved on to Dufur, Oregon near Mt. Hood, while Margaret stayed behind in San Bernardino with her six children from David and young John Alexander (Easton) Henderson, her son, fathered by James Easton. She lived there until she died on Aug. 12, 1900.
In time, Margaret's son, John Henderson, became the 7th Mayor of San Bernardino. John married Asenia Ferrel Wilson.
Margaret Helena 'Peg' Levinson tells about a time when a small pox epidemic hit San Bernardino. She talks of a time when Margaret Adam Henderson had read quite extensively and knew there was a system called Vaccination and knew the principle of it. She found a milk cow that was infected. It is said that she found the pox and cut the pox from the udders of the cow. With the infected pus and a pen knife, she vaccinated the family and everyone else who chose to participate. They all developed a scar about an inch in diameter but none of them caught the smallpox. Margaret lived on a 40 acre ranch on the bench just north of Rialto Ave., overlooking Lytle Creek. It is said that she was crippled with arthritis in her later years.
Margaret was very much the matriarch of the modern Henderson family and one of the founding pioneers of the San Bernardino Valley. Her name is listed on a plaque in front of the San Bernardino Courthouse. Margaret's descendants settled the San Bernardino Valley and became mayors, firefighters, police officers and leaders in the community.
*Note: The portrait of Margaret Henderson as an older woman comes from the California Heritage Room of the San Bernardino City Library.
In the 1860 U.S. census, 43 yr. old Margaret Henderson, b. in Scotland, was living in San Salvador Twp., (Post office: San Bernardino), San Bernardino, CA. with her
18 yr. old (inferred) son, David Henderson, b. in Scotland
16 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Jennett Henderson, b. in Scotland
13 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in Scotland
4 yr. old (inferred) son (by James Easton), John (Alexander) Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's real estate was valued at $150 and her personal estate at $150.
In the 1880 U.S. census, 63 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, conducting a farm, b. in Scotland, was living in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA. with her
14 yr. old grandson, Alex Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's parents were both b. in Scotland
Alex's father was b. in Scotland and his mother in Australia. **Alex's parents were David Glenn Henderson and Matilda (Hawker) Henderson.
The San Bernardino Daily Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5
Tue., Aug. 14, 1900
PASSING OF A PIONEER WOMAN
Mrs. Margaret Henderson, mother of Marshall John A. Henderson, and one of the noble pioneer women of the valley, died at the residence of her son, Sunday, after a lingering illness, that had caused her untold suffering, and made her a burden to herself for many months.
Mrs. Henderson died at the advanced age of 84 years. She was a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, where she was born in 1816. In 1835, when she was 19 years old, she was married to David Henderson, and they lived for 15 years in Scotland, after they were married. In 1850 they decided to come to America, and they located at St. Louis, but three years later determined to cross the continent to California, and with ox teams they set out, arriving in San Bernardino safely in 1853, and for 47 years it has been Mrs. Henderson's home. Her husband died years ago, and recently she has made her home with her children.
Mrs. Henderson was the mother of seven children, and lived to see the fourth generation of her family, she having several great-grandchildren. Of her own, Mrs. Wm. Nish is dead, and six survive her. They are: Mrs. Margaret Yager, Mrs. Wm. Roberds, Mrs. Thos. Ashcroft of Corona, Wm. McD. Henderson of Rialto, D.G. Henderson of Etiwanda, and John A. Henderson.
Very few of the pioneer settlers were better known or more highly regarded than Mrs. Henderson. When they first arrived in the valley in 1853, they settled below what is the Raynor place. Subsequently they settled to the East of the city and made their home there for many years.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of Mrs. Yager, on the bench, just west of Lyle creek on Fourth street. Four of the grandchildren, Mrs. Margaret Levinson, Miss Belle Mogeau, and Miss Gertrude and Miss Winifred Yager, are in Portland, and it is possible that some of them may arrive for the funeral, although the telegrams as to their coming have not been entirely definite.
The Weekly Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5, Aug. 17, 1900
The funeral of Mrs. Margaret Henderson, the octogenarian and pioneer resident of this valley, who died at the residence of her son, Marshal J.A. (John Alexander) Henderson, was held from the residence of her daughter, Mrs.Margaret Yager, on West Fourth street yesterday afternoon and was attended by an immense concourse of people.
The services were conducted by Rev. Mark B. Shaw of this city, and in his remarks he called attention to the fact that Mrs. Henderson died on her 84th birthday, she having been born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, August 12, 1816.
She was the mother of 11 children, and had 39 grand-children, 62 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, there being more than 100 souls in the five generations of her family.
Cause of Death: Paralysis
Margaret's great grandfather was James Adam, b. in 1723.
Margaret Ada/McDonald Adam's parents were:
William Thom Adam, b. May 7 (or 26), 1793 at Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Jan. 5 (or 15), 1875 at the ranch in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. &
Isabel (Laird) Adam, b. Dec. 15, 1794 or 1795 in Muir of Lownie, Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland and d. 1844.
(although another source says that her parents were William McDonald Adam, a highlander and Isabel (Glen) Adam, a lowlander.
William Thom Adam marr. first, Isobel Laird on Apr. 21, 1816 and second, Margaret Thomson (b. 1821) on Feb. 23, 1845.
William Thom Adam's children by his first wife, Isobel (Laird) Adam were:
1. Margaret Adam, b. Aug. 12, 1816 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and was baptized on Aug. 25, 1833, at the Old Monkland Parish in Scotland. Margaret d. Aug. 12, 1900 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino county, CA. Margaret marr. first, David Henderson and after David died, was briefly the plural wife of her brother-in-law, James Easton.
2. Janet Adam, b. Dec. 27, 1817 in Scotland, and d. 1843. Janet marr. John Flood on May 19, 1837 in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. Isobel(la) Adam, b. 1820 and d. 1848. Isobella marr. Robert Grant on Nov. 27, 1836. (They had one son, John W. Grant, who Margaret raised after he was orphaned.
4. Agnes Adam, b. Sep. 13, 1821 in Bothwell Parish, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. May 2, 1894. Buried in Dufur, Wasco County, OR. Agnes marr. James Laird Easton (b. 1823) on Jan. 7, 1844.
5. Catherine/Katherine "Katie" Adam, b. Jul. 29, 1823. Katie marr. James Patrick on Aug. 13, 1841 and remained in Scotland.
6. Mary Adam, b. Jun. 20, 1825 and d. in Scotland. Mary marr. James (or William) Hamilton. She remained behind in Scotland and the family never saw her again.
7. Dr. Charles Adam, b. Jun. 19, 1827 and d. Jun. 25, 1881 of "swelling of the brain" with his son, William T. Adam in attendance. Charles became a doctor in 1850, graduating from a physician's school in Edinburgh and practiced medicine in Coatbridge. He owned an apothecary shop in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Charles remained behind in Scotland marrying first, Margaret Bailie and second, Mary McCreath.
8. William Adam, b. Apr. 12, 1829 and died as an infant.
9. Jemima Laird Adam, b. Oct. 10, 1831 in South Lanarkshire and d. Dec. 6, 1879 in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. On May 12, 1852, Jemima marr. George Easton (1829-1903).
10. Robina Adam, b. Feb. 11, 1836 and died as an infant.
11. William Laird Adam, b. Aug. 7 (or 9), 1836 at Old Swallow Haugh near Calder Iron Works Parish in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Dec. 14, 1903 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara county, CA.. William marr. Elizabeth "Bessie" O'Connor (1838-1898).
12. Alexander 'Aleck' Adam, b. Jun. 7 (or Jul. 6), 1838/1839 in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. 1928 in Monterey County, CA.. Aleck marr. Esther Bradley sometime before 1877. (Esther was b. in London, England).
Neither Margaret's brother, Charles nor her sister, Mrs. Patrick, ever went to America.
Margaret had two step-siblings by her father's second marriage to Margaret Thomson:
1. John Robert Adam, b. 1851 or 1852 and d. 1923. John Robert Adam marr. Mahalia Haun.
2. James Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855 and d. 1923.
3. Agnes Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855. Agnes does appear in the 1860 U. S. census, but is not with her family in the 1870 U. S. census, so it is presumed that she died between 1860 and 1870.
On June 23, 1833, at the age of 17, Margaret Adam and 22 yr. old David Henderson were married in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, according to Scotland Select Marriages for 1561-1910 (Film #1066602).
At the time of their marriage, David was working at the Calder Iron Works as a collier (miner). He was injured in a fall of slate in a quarry. It is said that he never fully recovered from this injury. He also worked as a grocer.
Some time in the 1840's, David and his family came into contact with the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Mormon Church provided money for the purpose of immigrating followers of the church to the 'Land of Saints', the new home of the Mormons in Salt Lake City. Three families, connected by marriage, immigrated to America together; the Henderson, the Adam and Easton families. The reasons why David and Margaret decided to leave Scotland are probably many. This was a period of famine in Scotland and Ireland. As highlanders, they were not allowed to practice any of the Highland customs. Work and life was very hard as miners in almost slave-like conditions. It is not hard to imagine that the Henderson family wanted freedom, free land of their own in a 'God given climate' and the ability to practice their customs and religion.
They began their journey in Glasgow, sailing to Liverpool, England.
From there, on Aug. 16, 1849, according to the Liverpool Office, British Mission 1849-1851 Emigration Book "A" - P. 52,
they paid their deposit, "wishing to sail across the North Atlantic in September". They boarded the ship North America for their eight-week voyage to America. Immigration records show that 38 yr. old David, a grocer and working at the Calder Iron Works by Airdrie, Lanarkshire and his 33 yr. old wife, Margaret Henderson; sailed from Liverpool with six of their children;
14 yr. old William (McDonald) Henderson;
12 yr. old Margaret (Victoria) Henderson Jr.;
7 yr. old David (Glenn) Henderson Jr.;
5 yr. old Jeannette (Adam) Henderson;
2 yr. old Mary Adam Henderson; and
3 mth. old Charles Adam Henderson.
The eldest daughter, Isabella, stayed in Scotland, joining them when her grandfather sailed the following year. The ship crossed the Atlantic to the south of the Florida Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. Rough weather and seas, a shortage of water, typhoid and cholera made the journey a hard one according to the ship's log. Forty-three persons died en route and were buried at sea.
Landing was made in New Orleans in November of 1849 where they then traveled up the Mississippi into St. Louis. The family was to live in St. Louis for a year so that money could be saved for provisions, a wagon and a team of oxen for the trip west. It was during this time, most likely between June and September of 1849 (1850?) that David Henderson died from heat stroke (or possibly cholera) while working in the coal mines near St. Louis. He was buried in St. Louis in an area known at the time as Dogtown. He left Margaret a widow at the age of 34 with 6 children to care for.
Excerpt from the diary of Margaret's brother, William Laird Adam, who had just arrived from Scotland:
"1850-1851: Winter in Saint Louis, Thence up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, and over the Prairie and Mountains to Salt Lake City, Utah.
"The climate became cooler as we approached Saint Louis, occasionally a chilly wind being quite a contrast from the hot calms of Santo Domingo, the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and New Orleans of only some two weeks before. So along in November, we landed in Saint Louis, where our sisters, Margaret and Agness, met us. They were living at Gravois, a coal mining suburb, and father, having no other planes, we went out with them in a coal wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. There were several Scotch families there - mostly engaged in coal mining, and we were warmly welcomed. Scotch folks are proverbially clannish.
"I went on several trips with Johnny Grant to Saint Louis with his team of oxen and wagon of coal, and enjoyed the occupation hugely. He would yoke up his oxen in the morning, go to the pit and load on some 40 or 50 bushels of coal, drive into St. Louis some six miles and go to the coal dstand where people in want of coal also came. His coal was weighed at one of the city scales and each bushel was tagged with its weight. The next thing was to see how much he could get for each bushel. (My recollection was some 9 to 10 cents.) Our expenses for weighing and our dinners at Hide camps totaled 30 or 35 cents. Then we picked up two or three bushels of corn at 10 cents per bushel and would go home in the dark and cold. The poor oxen had no shelter and were very poor. They would hang around the door waiting for the next morning's meal. It was a very sorry way of getting a living - looked at from our present standpoint (*1900). However, many others were in as bad, if not worse condition. At the best the world is a fight with us all. Sister Margaret was left a widow the summer previous to our arrival. Her husband, David Henderson, had earned enough to buy this ox team and wagon, and for his work, a sunstroke resulted and carried him off. She also had the care of her own family and sister Agness and Johnny Grant, the son of my sister Isabella. Their little story was a sad one.
By the time David Henderson died in 1849/1850,
Margaret and David Henderson had seven children:
1) William McDonald Henderson, b. 1834, d. Sept. 11, 1904 . William marr. Mary J. Winn.
2) Isabel/la Henderson, b. March 1/10, 1835, d. Aug. 4, 1890 . Isabel(la) marr. William Nish, a miner from Scotland who had come to Salt Lake City. After being married in Salt Lake City, the Nishes moved by ox-teams to San Bernardino in 1854, wheretheir five surviving children were partially raised and educated. Sometime in 1867/68, William moved his family to Mt. Diablo, where he worked as superintendent of the mines until he was killed in 1872. Isabella Henderson Nish returned to San Bernardino where she lived until her death. The eldest child of Isabella and William Nish was Margaret Nish. She was born in Salt Lake City in 1852, raised in San Bernardino, and at age sixteen, was married to her grandmother's nephew, John W. Grant. She raised nine children and lived to be eighty years old.
3) Margaret Victoria Henderson, b. July 26, 1837/8 - d. Sept. 6, 1921. Margaret marr. Charles J. Mogeau and after his death, Henry C. Yager.
4) David Glenn Henderson, b.March 28, 1842, d. July 19, 1926. David marr. Matilda Caroline Hawker.
5) Jeannette Adam Henderson, b. June 7, 1844, d. Dec. 8, 1936. Jeannette marr. Thomas 'Tom' B. Walkinshaw, and later, William Brown Roberds of Corona, Ca.)
6) Mary Adam Henderson, b. May 27/31, 1848, d. May 24, 1904. Mary marr. William Roberts Levick and then Thomas H. 'Tom' Ashcroft of Corona, Ca.)
7) Charles Henderson, who died as an infant.
This was just the beginning of hard times for Margaret. The area of St. Louis was in the grip of a major cholera epidemic. Her sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, was so sick with cholera, that she was on her deathbed and burial arrangements were being made. Margaret nursed her back to health while caring for her own six children, as well as Agnes Easton's five children in St. Louis. (They were living next door to each other in the 1850 census and David is not listed.)
Another of Margaret's sisters, Isobel and Isabelle's husband Robert J. W. Grant died June 24, 1849 during the cholera epidemic. Eight of their nine children also died from cholera while in St. Louis. The lone surviving child, 10 year old Johnny Grant, was taken in and raised by Margaret Adam Henderson and her sister, Agnes Easton.
More of the Henderson/Adam/Easton clans would follow in 1850, joining Margaret in St. Louis, Missouri.
In the Oct. 24, 1850 U.S. census, 34 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland), was living in the South Half of St Louis, St Louis, MO. with her
13 yr. old daughter, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
8 yr. old son, David Henderson, b. in England (Scotland),
5 yr. old daughter, Jeannette Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
3 yr. old daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
Living next door were Margaret's 27 yr. old sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, Margaret's 27 yr. old brother-in-law and future husband, James Easton and their 2 yr. old daughter, Margaret Easton.
In the next house over were: 28 yr. old John Easton; is 21 yr. old wife, Margaret; their 11 yr. old daughter, Elizabeth; 8 yr. old daughter, Barbara; and 6 yr. old son, Robert Easton.
When Margaret's husband, David Henderson, died in St. Louis, it was the Mormon custom that no woman of age remain unmarried. Margaret Adam Henderson became the second or plural wife of John/James Easton, who was the husband of her sister, Agnes. This was most likely preferable to become married to someone she already knew well and were accustomed to rather than to have a strange man chosen for her by the Mormon Church. She never relinquished the name Henderson, however, and when their son, John, was born, he too had the surname Henderson. The rumor has it that another child was born before John, but it is not validated.
From St. Louis, some of the members of the family made the trip west to Salt Lake City in 1851. The company was then made up of the Hendersons, Burdics, Keirs, Eastons, Adam's grandfather Adam's wife Margaret Thompson, Levick, Wm. Nish, John Thompson - killed en route by Indians, and John Thompson's brother. They went up the Platte River, ferried across and went on alone, reaching Salt Lake in November.
In the spring of 1853, some of them went to open coal mines and established Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah. The families worked, were thrifty, the boys worked building a sawmill, but they resented the heavy hand of the church.
In Sept. of 1852/3, a train consisting of fifteen or sixteen wagons was made up at Cedar City to come overland to California, following the route of the Keir train. The family located in San Bernardino, in Southern California.
Margaret arrived in San Bernardino with the "Scots' Train".
Margaret's daughter, Jeanette Adam Henderson, would later tell her children that "every night on the trip from Salt Lake City, UT., to San Bernardino, the men of the wagon train would come through and empty out wagons of heaving items to lighten the load. I would go afterward and hunt until I found my precious little iron, wrap it in my apron and bring it back with me." In her son, John's memoirs, I found that he had been told that "when they reached a point where they could see San Bernardino Valley, Margaret Henderson made them halt and she repeated the 23rd Psalm." (John later was Marshal of San Bernardino and served as its Mayor for one term.)
Margaret's son by James Easton, John Alexander (Easton) Henderson was b. May 29, 1856 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. Mar. 28, 1938 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA.
Mormonism must not have agreed with Margaret, Agnes or James Easton, because they too, moved to San Bernardino, away from the Mormon stronghold. James Easton and his wife, Agnes, then moved on to Dufur, Oregon near Mt. Hood, while Margaret stayed behind in San Bernardino with her six children from David and young John Alexander (Easton) Henderson, her son, fathered by James Easton. She lived there until she died on Aug. 12, 1900.
In time, Margaret's son, John Henderson, became the 7th Mayor of San Bernardino. John married Asenia Ferrel Wilson.
Margaret Helena 'Peg' Levinson tells about a time when a small pox epidemic hit San Bernardino. She talks of a time when Margaret Adam Henderson had read quite extensively and knew there was a system called Vaccination and knew the principle of it. She found a milk cow that was infected. It is said that she found the pox and cut the pox from the udders of the cow. With the infected pus and a pen knife, she vaccinated the family and everyone else who chose to participate. They all developed a scar about an inch in diameter but none of them caught the smallpox. Margaret lived on a 40 acre ranch on the bench just north of Rialto Ave., overlooking Lytle Creek. It is said that she was crippled with arthritis in her later years.
Margaret was very much the matriarch of the modern Henderson family and one of the founding pioneers of the San Bernardino Valley. Her name is listed on a plaque in front of the San Bernardino Courthouse. Margaret's descendants settled the San Bernardino Valley and became mayors, firefighters, police officers and leaders in the community.
*Note: The portrait of Margaret Henderson as an older woman comes from the California Heritage Room of the San Bernardino City Library.
In the 1860 U.S. census, 43 yr. old Margaret Henderson, b. in Scotland, was living in San Salvador Twp., (Post office: San Bernardino), San Bernardino, CA. with her
18 yr. old (inferred) son, David Henderson, b. in Scotland
16 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Jennett Henderson, b. in Scotland
13 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in Scotland
4 yr. old (inferred) son (by James Easton), John (Alexander) Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's real estate was valued at $150 and her personal estate at $150.
In the 1880 U.S. census, 63 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, conducting a farm, b. in Scotland, was living in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA. with her
14 yr. old grandson, Alex Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's parents were both b. in Scotland
Alex's father was b. in Scotland and his mother in Australia. **Alex's parents were David Glenn Henderson and Matilda (Hawker) Henderson.
The San Bernardino Daily Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5
Tue., Aug. 14, 1900
PASSING OF A PIONEER WOMAN
Mrs. Margaret Henderson, mother of Marshall John A. Henderson, and one of the noble pioneer women of the valley, died at the residence of her son, Sunday, after a lingering illness, that had caused her untold suffering, and made her a burden to herself for many months.
Mrs. Henderson died at the advanced age of 84 years. She was a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, where she was born in 1816. In 1835, when she was 19 years old, she was married to David Henderson, and they lived for 15 years in Scotland, after they were married. In 1850 they decided to come to America, and they located at St. Louis, but three years later determined to cross the continent to California, and with ox teams they set out, arriving in San Bernardino safely in 1853, and for 47 years it has been Mrs. Henderson's home. Her husband died years ago, and recently she has made her home with her children.
Mrs. Henderson was the mother of seven children, and lived to see the fourth generation of her family, she having several great-grandchildren. Of her own, Mrs. Wm. Nish is dead, and six survive her. They are: Mrs. Margaret Yager, Mrs. Wm. Roberds, Mrs. Thos. Ashcroft of Corona, Wm. McD. Henderson of Rialto, D.G. Henderson of Etiwanda, and John A. Henderson.
Very few of the pioneer settlers were better known or more highly regarded than Mrs. Henderson. When they first arrived in the valley in 1853, they settled below what is the Raynor place. Subsequently they settled to the East of the city and made their home there for many years.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of Mrs. Yager, on the bench, just west of Lyle creek on Fourth street. Four of the grandchildren, Mrs. Margaret Levinson, Miss Belle Mogeau, and Miss Gertrude and Miss Winifred Yager, are in Portland, and it is possible that some of them may arrive for the funeral, although the telegrams as to their coming have not been entirely definite.
The Weekly Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5, Aug. 17, 1900
The funeral of Mrs. Margaret Henderson, the octogenarian and pioneer resident of this valley, who died at the residence of her son, Marshal J.A. (John Alexander) Henderson, was held from the residence of her daughter, Mrs.Margaret Yager, on West Fourth street yesterday afternoon and was attended by an immense concourse of people.
The services were conducted by Rev. Mark B. Shaw of this city, and in his remarks he called attention to the fact that Mrs. Henderson died on her 84th birthday, she having been born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, August 12, 1816.
She was the mother of 11 children, and had 39 grand-children, 62 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, there being more than 100 souls in the five generations of her family.
Cause of Death: Paralysis
Margaret Ada/McDonald Adam's parents were:
William Thom Adam, b. May 7 (or 26), 1793 at Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Jan. 5 (or 15), 1875 at the ranch in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. &
Isabel (Laird) Adam, b. Dec. 15, 1794 or 1795 in Muir of Lownie, Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland and d. 1844.
(although another source says that her parents were William McDonald Adam, a highlander and Isabel (Glen) Adam, a lowlander.
William Thom Adam marr. first, Isobel Laird on Apr. 21, 1816 and second, Margaret Thomson (b. 1821) on Feb. 23, 1845.
William Thom Adam's children by his first wife, Isobel (Laird) Adam were:
1. Margaret Adam, b. Aug. 12, 1816 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and was baptized on Aug. 25, 1833, at the Old Monkland Parish in Scotland. Margaret d. Aug. 12, 1900 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino county, CA. Margaret marr. first, David Henderson and after David died, was briefly the plural wife of her brother-in-law, James Easton.
2. Janet Adam, b. Dec. 27, 1817 in Scotland, and d. 1843. Janet marr. John Flood on May 19, 1837 in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
3. Isobel(la) Adam, b. 1820 and d. 1848. Isobella marr. Robert Grant on Nov. 27, 1836. (They had one son, John W. Grant, who Margaret raised after he was orphaned.
4. Agnes Adam, b. Sep. 13, 1821 in Bothwell Parish, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. May 2, 1894. Buried in Dufur, Wasco County, OR. Agnes marr. James Laird Easton (b. 1823) on Jan. 7, 1844.
5. Catherine/Katherine "Katie" Adam, b. Jul. 29, 1823. Katie marr. James Patrick on Aug. 13, 1841 and remained in Scotland.
6. Mary Adam, b. Jun. 20, 1825 and d. in Scotland. Mary marr. James (or William) Hamilton. She remained behind in Scotland and the family never saw her again.
7. Dr. Charles Adam, b. Jun. 19, 1827 and d. Jun. 25, 1881 of "swelling of the brain" with his son, William T. Adam in attendance. Charles became a doctor in 1850, graduating from a physician's school in Edinburgh and practiced medicine in Coatbridge. He owned an apothecary shop in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Charles remained behind in Scotland marrying first, Margaret Bailie and second, Mary McCreath.
8. William Adam, b. Apr. 12, 1829 and died as an infant.
9. Jemima Laird Adam, b. Oct. 10, 1831 in South Lanarkshire and d. Dec. 6, 1879 in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, CA. On May 12, 1852, Jemima marr. George Easton (1829-1903).
10. Robina Adam, b. Feb. 11, 1836 and died as an infant.
11. William Laird Adam, b. Aug. 7 (or 9), 1836 at Old Swallow Haugh near Calder Iron Works Parish in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. Dec. 14, 1903 in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara county, CA.. William marr. Elizabeth "Bessie" O'Connor (1838-1898).
12. Alexander 'Aleck' Adam, b. Jun. 7 (or Jul. 6), 1838/1839 in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and d. 1928 in Monterey County, CA.. Aleck marr. Esther Bradley sometime before 1877. (Esther was b. in London, England).
Neither Margaret's brother, Charles nor her sister, Mrs. Patrick, ever went to America.
Margaret had two step-siblings by her father's second marriage to Margaret Thomson:
1. John Robert Adam, b. 1851 or 1852 and d. 1923. John Robert Adam marr. Mahalia Haun.
2. James Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855 and d. 1923.
3. Agnes Adam, b. abt. 1854 or 1855. Agnes does appear in the 1860 U. S. census, but is not with her family in the 1870 U. S. census, so it is presumed that she died between 1860 and 1870.
On June 23, 1833, at the age of 17, Margaret Adam and 22 yr. old David Henderson were married in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, according to Scotland Select Marriages for 1561-1910 (Film #1066602).
At the time of their marriage, David was working at the Calder Iron Works as a collier (miner). He was injured in a fall of slate in a quarry. It is said that he never fully recovered from this injury. He also worked as a grocer.
Some time in the 1840's, David and his family came into contact with the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Mormon Church provided money for the purpose of immigrating followers of the church to the 'Land of Saints', the new home of the Mormons in Salt Lake City. Three families, connected by marriage, immigrated to America together; the Henderson, the Adam and Easton families. The reasons why David and Margaret decided to leave Scotland are probably many. This was a period of famine in Scotland and Ireland. As highlanders, they were not allowed to practice any of the Highland customs. Work and life was very hard as miners in almost slave-like conditions. It is not hard to imagine that the Henderson family wanted freedom, free land of their own in a 'God given climate' and the ability to practice their customs and religion.
They began their journey in Glasgow, sailing to Liverpool, England.
From there, on Aug. 16, 1849, according to the Liverpool Office, British Mission 1849-1851 Emigration Book "A" - P. 52,
they paid their deposit, "wishing to sail across the North Atlantic in September". They boarded the ship North America for their eight-week voyage to America. Immigration records show that 38 yr. old David, a grocer and working at the Calder Iron Works by Airdrie, Lanarkshire and his 33 yr. old wife, Margaret Henderson; sailed from Liverpool with six of their children;
14 yr. old William (McDonald) Henderson;
12 yr. old Margaret (Victoria) Henderson Jr.;
7 yr. old David (Glenn) Henderson Jr.;
5 yr. old Jeannette (Adam) Henderson;
2 yr. old Mary Adam Henderson; and
3 mth. old Charles Adam Henderson.
The eldest daughter, Isabella, stayed in Scotland, joining them when her grandfather sailed the following year. The ship crossed the Atlantic to the south of the Florida Peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. Rough weather and seas, a shortage of water, typhoid and cholera made the journey a hard one according to the ship's log. Forty-three persons died en route and were buried at sea.
Landing was made in New Orleans in November of 1849 where they then traveled up the Mississippi into St. Louis. The family was to live in St. Louis for a year so that money could be saved for provisions, a wagon and a team of oxen for the trip west. It was during this time, most likely between June and September of 1849 (1850?) that David Henderson died from heat stroke (or possibly cholera) while working in the coal mines near St. Louis. He was buried in St. Louis in an area known at the time as Dogtown. He left Margaret a widow at the age of 34 with 6 children to care for.
Excerpt from the diary of Margaret's brother, William Laird Adam, who had just arrived from Scotland:
"1850-1851: Winter in Saint Louis, Thence up the Missouri River to Council Bluffs, and over the Prairie and Mountains to Salt Lake City, Utah.
"The climate became cooler as we approached Saint Louis, occasionally a chilly wind being quite a contrast from the hot calms of Santo Domingo, the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and New Orleans of only some two weeks before. So along in November, we landed in Saint Louis, where our sisters, Margaret and Agness, met us. They were living at Gravois, a coal mining suburb, and father, having no other planes, we went out with them in a coal wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. There were several Scotch families there - mostly engaged in coal mining, and we were warmly welcomed. Scotch folks are proverbially clannish.
"I went on several trips with Johnny Grant to Saint Louis with his team of oxen and wagon of coal, and enjoyed the occupation hugely. He would yoke up his oxen in the morning, go to the pit and load on some 40 or 50 bushels of coal, drive into St. Louis some six miles and go to the coal dstand where people in want of coal also came. His coal was weighed at one of the city scales and each bushel was tagged with its weight. The next thing was to see how much he could get for each bushel. (My recollection was some 9 to 10 cents.) Our expenses for weighing and our dinners at Hide camps totaled 30 or 35 cents. Then we picked up two or three bushels of corn at 10 cents per bushel and would go home in the dark and cold. The poor oxen had no shelter and were very poor. They would hang around the door waiting for the next morning's meal. It was a very sorry way of getting a living - looked at from our present standpoint (*1900). However, many others were in as bad, if not worse condition. At the best the world is a fight with us all. Sister Margaret was left a widow the summer previous to our arrival. Her husband, David Henderson, had earned enough to buy this ox team and wagon, and for his work, a sunstroke resulted and carried him off. She also had the care of her own family and sister Agness and Johnny Grant, the son of my sister Isabella. Their little story was a sad one.
By the time David Henderson died in 1849/1850,
Margaret and David Henderson had seven children:
1) William McDonald Henderson, b. 1834, d. Sept. 11, 1904 . William marr. Mary J. Winn.
2) Isabel/la Henderson, b. March 1/10, 1835, d. Aug. 4, 1890 . Isabel(la) marr. William Nish, a miner from Scotland who had come to Salt Lake City. After being married in Salt Lake City, the Nishes moved by ox-teams to San Bernardino in 1854, wheretheir five surviving children were partially raised and educated. Sometime in 1867/68, William moved his family to Mt. Diablo, where he worked as superintendent of the mines until he was killed in 1872. Isabella Henderson Nish returned to San Bernardino where she lived until her death. The eldest child of Isabella and William Nish was Margaret Nish. She was born in Salt Lake City in 1852, raised in San Bernardino, and at age sixteen, was married to her grandmother's nephew, John W. Grant. She raised nine children and lived to be eighty years old.
3) Margaret Victoria Henderson, b. July 26, 1837/8 - d. Sept. 6, 1921. Margaret marr. Charles J. Mogeau and after his death, Henry C. Yager.
4) David Glenn Henderson, b.March 28, 1842, d. July 19, 1926. David marr. Matilda Caroline Hawker.
5) Jeannette Adam Henderson, b. June 7, 1844, d. Dec. 8, 1936. Jeannette marr. Thomas 'Tom' B. Walkinshaw, and later, William Brown Roberds of Corona, Ca.)
6) Mary Adam Henderson, b. May 27/31, 1848, d. May 24, 1904. Mary marr. William Roberts Levick and then Thomas H. 'Tom' Ashcroft of Corona, Ca.)
7) Charles Henderson, who died as an infant.
This was just the beginning of hard times for Margaret. The area of St. Louis was in the grip of a major cholera epidemic. Her sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, was so sick with cholera, that she was on her deathbed and burial arrangements were being made. Margaret nursed her back to health while caring for her own six children, as well as Agnes Easton's five children in St. Louis. (They were living next door to each other in the 1850 census and David is not listed.)
Another of Margaret's sisters, Isobel and Isabelle's husband Robert J. W. Grant died June 24, 1849 during the cholera epidemic. Eight of their nine children also died from cholera while in St. Louis. The lone surviving child, 10 year old Johnny Grant, was taken in and raised by Margaret Adam Henderson and her sister, Agnes Easton.
More of the Henderson/Adam/Easton clans would follow in 1850, joining Margaret in St. Louis, Missouri.
In the Oct. 24, 1850 U.S. census, 34 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland), was living in the South Half of St Louis, St Louis, MO. with her
13 yr. old daughter, Margaret Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
8 yr. old son, David Henderson, b. in England (Scotland),
5 yr. old daughter, Jeannette Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
3 yr. old daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in England (Scotland)
Living next door were Margaret's 27 yr. old sister, Agnes (Adam) Easton, Margaret's 27 yr. old brother-in-law and future husband, James Easton and their 2 yr. old daughter, Margaret Easton.
In the next house over were: 28 yr. old John Easton; is 21 yr. old wife, Margaret; their 11 yr. old daughter, Elizabeth; 8 yr. old daughter, Barbara; and 6 yr. old son, Robert Easton.
When Margaret's husband, David Henderson, died in St. Louis, it was the Mormon custom that no woman of age remain unmarried. Margaret Adam Henderson became the second or plural wife of John/James Easton, who was the husband of her sister, Agnes. This was most likely preferable to become married to someone she already knew well and were accustomed to rather than to have a strange man chosen for her by the Mormon Church. She never relinquished the name Henderson, however, and when their son, John, was born, he too had the surname Henderson. The rumor has it that another child was born before John, but it is not validated.
From St. Louis, some of the members of the family made the trip west to Salt Lake City in 1851. The company was then made up of the Hendersons, Burdics, Keirs, Eastons, Adam's grandfather Adam's wife Margaret Thompson, Levick, Wm. Nish, John Thompson - killed en route by Indians, and John Thompson's brother. They went up the Platte River, ferried across and went on alone, reaching Salt Lake in November.
In the spring of 1853, some of them went to open coal mines and established Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah. The families worked, were thrifty, the boys worked building a sawmill, but they resented the heavy hand of the church.
In Sept. of 1852/3, a train consisting of fifteen or sixteen wagons was made up at Cedar City to come overland to California, following the route of the Keir train. The family located in San Bernardino, in Southern California.
Margaret arrived in San Bernardino with the "Scots' Train".
Margaret's daughter, Jeanette Adam Henderson, would later tell her children that "every night on the trip from Salt Lake City, UT., to San Bernardino, the men of the wagon train would come through and empty out wagons of heaving items to lighten the load. I would go afterward and hunt until I found my precious little iron, wrap it in my apron and bring it back with me." In her son, John's memoirs, I found that he had been told that "when they reached a point where they could see San Bernardino Valley, Margaret Henderson made them halt and she repeated the 23rd Psalm." (John later was Marshal of San Bernardino and served as its Mayor for one term.)
Margaret's son by James Easton, John Alexander (Easton) Henderson was b. May 29, 1856 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. Mar. 28, 1938 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA.
Mormonism must not have agreed with Margaret, Agnes or James Easton, because they too, moved to San Bernardino, away from the Mormon stronghold. James Easton and his wife, Agnes, then moved on to Dufur, Oregon near Mt. Hood, while Margaret stayed behind in San Bernardino with her six children from David and young John Alexander (Easton) Henderson, her son, fathered by James Easton. She lived there until she died on Aug. 12, 1900.
In time, Margaret's son, John Henderson, became the 7th Mayor of San Bernardino. John married Asenia Ferrel Wilson.
Margaret Helena 'Peg' Levinson tells about a time when a small pox epidemic hit San Bernardino. She talks of a time when Margaret Adam Henderson had read quite extensively and knew there was a system called Vaccination and knew the principle of it. She found a milk cow that was infected. It is said that she found the pox and cut the pox from the udders of the cow. With the infected pus and a pen knife, she vaccinated the family and everyone else who chose to participate. They all developed a scar about an inch in diameter but none of them caught the smallpox. Margaret lived on a 40 acre ranch on the bench just north of Rialto Ave., overlooking Lytle Creek. It is said that she was crippled with arthritis in her later years.
Margaret was very much the matriarch of the modern Henderson family and one of the founding pioneers of the San Bernardino Valley. Her name is listed on a plaque in front of the San Bernardino Courthouse. Margaret's descendants settled the San Bernardino Valley and became mayors, firefighters, police officers and leaders in the community.
*Note: The portrait of Margaret Henderson as an older woman comes from the California Heritage Room of the San Bernardino City Library.
In the 1860 U.S. census, 43 yr. old Margaret Henderson, b. in Scotland, was living in San Salvador Twp., (Post office: San Bernardino), San Bernardino, CA. with her
18 yr. old (inferred) son, David Henderson, b. in Scotland
16 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Jennett Henderson, b. in Scotland
13 yr. old (inferred) daughter, Mary Henderson, b. in Scotland
4 yr. old (inferred) son (by James Easton), John (Alexander) Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's real estate was valued at $150 and her personal estate at $150.
In the 1880 U.S. census, 63 yr. old widow, Margaret Henderson, conducting a farm, b. in Scotland, was living in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA. with her
14 yr. old grandson, Alex Henderson, b. in CA.
Margaret's parents were both b. in Scotland
Alex's father was b. in Scotland and his mother in Australia. **Alex's parents were David Glenn Henderson and Matilda (Hawker) Henderson.
The San Bernardino Daily Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5
Tue., Aug. 14, 1900
PASSING OF A PIONEER WOMAN
Mrs. Margaret Henderson, mother of Marshall John A. Henderson, and one of the noble pioneer women of the valley, died at the residence of her son, Sunday, after a lingering illness, that had caused her untold suffering, and made her a burden to herself for many months.
Mrs. Henderson died at the advanced age of 84 years. She was a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, where she was born in 1816. In 1835, when she was 19 years old, she was married to David Henderson, and they lived for 15 years in Scotland, after they were married. In 1850 they decided to come to America, and they located at St. Louis, but three years later determined to cross the continent to California, and with ox teams they set out, arriving in San Bernardino safely in 1853, and for 47 years it has been Mrs. Henderson's home. Her husband died years ago, and recently she has made her home with her children.
Mrs. Henderson was the mother of seven children, and lived to see the fourth generation of her family, she having several great-grandchildren. Of her own, Mrs. Wm. Nish is dead, and six survive her. They are: Mrs. Margaret Yager, Mrs. Wm. Roberds, Mrs. Thos. Ashcroft of Corona, Wm. McD. Henderson of Rialto, D.G. Henderson of Etiwanda, and John A. Henderson.
Very few of the pioneer settlers were better known or more highly regarded than Mrs. Henderson. When they first arrived in the valley in 1853, they settled below what is the Raynor place. Subsequently they settled to the East of the city and made their home there for many years.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence of Mrs. Yager, on the bench, just west of Lyle creek on Fourth street. Four of the grandchildren, Mrs. Margaret Levinson, Miss Belle Mogeau, and Miss Gertrude and Miss Winifred Yager, are in Portland, and it is possible that some of them may arrive for the funeral, although the telegrams as to their coming have not been entirely definite.
The Weekly Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 5, Aug. 17, 1900
The funeral of Mrs. Margaret Henderson, the octogenarian and pioneer resident of this valley, who died at the residence of her son, Marshal J.A. (John Alexander) Henderson, was held from the residence of her daughter, Mrs.Margaret Yager, on West Fourth street yesterday afternoon and was attended by an immense concourse of people.
The services were conducted by Rev. Mark B. Shaw of this city, and in his remarks he called attention to the fact that Mrs. Henderson died on her 84th birthday, she having been born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, August 12, 1816.
She was the mother of 11 children, and had 39 grand-children, 62 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, there being more than 100 souls in the five generations of her family.
Cause of Death: Paralysis
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