Charles was the son of William & Sarah A. HENDERSON. His father, William, was an immigrant from England. Charles' only sibling (that is known of at this time) was Joseph H. HENDERSON born circa 1840 in Michigan and died in 1879. Joseph served in the Union Army in the Civil War as did Charles. Charles was the father of 18 children, 9 by his first wife and 9 by his second wife.

Charles first married Sophia C. WEHR on Nov. 30, 1858 in Olivet, Eaton Co., Michigan. She was born about 1839 but the place of her birth was sometimes confused in records of her. She said she was born in Germany but records filled out by her parents say she was born in St. Petersburgh, Russia. Sophia died Sep 13, 1875 or 1876 in Brookfield, Eaton Co., Michigan. She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. August & Elizabeth WEHR.

Charles and Sohpia had 9 children, but 7 of them died as children around the same few years as Sophia died. It's believed by some family members that they may have died of a diphtheria outbreak.

All of Charles & Sophia's children were born in Brookfield, Eaton Co., Michigan. Seven of them died in Brookfield. All but George and William. It's been hard to find many records on them for two reasons: 1. because the Eaton County records burned long ago, and 2. because 7 of them died so young.
Their HENDERSON children that are not listed below are:
Emelia, b. c. 1859, d. 1875-1876 under age 16. And one other whose name is unknown and possibly was stillborn or died as an infant.

Charles served in the Union Army in the Civil War in Co. E, 20th Michigan Infantry. He was wounded in the eye and was permanently blind in that eye, in the Battle of the Wilderness. He was a life long member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

After his first wife Sophia died Charles married Mary Matilda COOK, on Dec. 30, 1876 in Charlotte, Eaton Co., Michigan. Mary was born July 3, 1860 in Saginaw Co., Michigan. She was the daughter of VanRansler COOK, and his wife Emma Jane SHERMAN.

Charles and Mary had 9 children. They were all also born in Brookfield, Eaton Co., Michigan although some of them thought they were born in Charlotte, Eaton Co., MI, but records indicate they were all born in Brookfield.

Charles is buried beside his second wife Mary at Pomona Cemetery, Pomona, California.