JOHN HENDERSON

John Henderson gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. 1826 in New York
D. January 24, 1865 in Lake County, IL (gravestone states 1863)
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Wife: Susan Jane (Kapple) (Henderson) Foster born August 9, 1832 in Lake County, OH, daughter of Rev. James Kapple (1795-1871) and Dorothy (Clarke) Kapple (1791-1876); married (1) John Henderson (1830-1865) on October 4, 1856 in Lake County, IL; married (2) Alonzo John Foster (1841-1914) on January 11, 1873 in Buchanan County, IA as his second wife, son of Elisha Foster (1804-1875) and Sarah (Lane) Foster (1807-1862); Alonzo married (1) Mary Bishop on October 16, 1861 in Kane County, IL; Alonzo was a Civil War Veteran, Sergeant, Company C, 52nd Illinois Infantry; Susan died December 18, 1925; Susan and Alonzo are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Winthrop, Buchanan County, IA

According to the Courier (Waterloo IA) Tuesday, February 17, 1914, page 6:

“Obituary. – Alonzo Foster was born in Parkman, Me., February 22, 1841, and died at his home in Winthrop, Ia., February 7, 1914, at the age of 72 years, 11 months and 16 days. At the age of four years he went with his parents to Been county, Ill., where he resided about ten years, then with his parents removed to De Kalb county, Ill., where he resided until 1868, except for the time he was in the army. He enlisted in Company C, Fifty-second Illinois infantry in the fall of 1861 as a private, was promoted to the office of second sergeant and afterward to orderly and was honorably discharged on account of sickness after he had served nine months. In 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Bishop, who died in May, 1870. Three children were born to this union, all of whom have passed away. He was married to Mrs. Susan Henderson Jan. 11, 1873. To this union were born two sons, Frank C., now residing on the old home farm, and John W., who passed away several years ago. Mr. Foster leaves to mourn his loss a loving wife, one son, Fred Foster, of this place; one stepson, James Henderson, of San Diego, Cal.; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Nora Seymore, of Sigourney, Ia., and Mrs. Lizzie Allen of this place; two sisters, thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a member of the G. A. R. and the I. O. O. F. At an early age he united with the Methodist Episcopal church and served on the official board and as class leader for many years. A good man, an earnest and devoted Christian, has gone to his well-earned reward. Those from out of town who attended the funeral of the late A. J. Foster Monday were: E. Townsand, Lake City; George Lane and wife, Judson Lane and family, Miss Kate Singer, Miss Matie Allyn, Manchester; Albert Lane, Ida Lane, George Denson and wife, Frank Childs and family, George Lane, jr., and wife, Hart Allyn, Eddie Lane and wife and John Decker of Masonville; Mrs. John Seymore, Sigourney; Miss Bessie Seymore, Chicago; Miss Mary Henderson, Vermillion, S. D.; Miss Clara Henderson, Cedar Falls; E. O. Craigg and wife, Independence; E. Heacock and wife and Harrison Blank, Quasqueton, Nelson Bennett of Spokane, Wash.”

  • Children:
    1. Mary Winona “Nora” (Henderson) Seymour born 1857 in Minnesota; married John Fellows Seymour (1852-1939) in 1877, son of Robert Weir Seymour (1823-1892) and Lucy Ingersoll (Perkins) Seymour (1829-1895); Mary died in December 1933 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI; Mary and John are buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Sigourney, Keokuk County, IA

According to the Quad-City Times (Davenport IA) Tuesday, December 26, 1933, page 5:

“MRS. SEYMOUR, 76, SIGOURNEY, IS SUMMONED – Sigourney, Ia., Dec. 26. – Mr. (sic) John Seymour, aged 76 years, died in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joe Peck, Milwaukee, where she had gone to spend the holidays. Mrs. Seymour was an active worker in the Presbyterian church and was a past noble grand, Rebekah lodge. She was born in Minnesota and was formerly Winona Henderson. She had lived in Sigourney 44 years. Mr. Seymour and she would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary Jan. 4. She is survived by her husband, two children, Robert Seymour, Eldorado, Mrs. Peck and four grandchildren.”

2. James Kapple Henderson born February 8, 1860 in Minnesota; married (1) Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Vernay (1857-1905), daughter of James David Vernay (1834-1918) and Cynthia (Wilcox) Vernay (1836-1882); married (2) Anna M. Barney (1866-1938) on November 7, 1908 in Buchanan County, IA; James died December 5, 1943 in San Diego County, CA; James and Anna are buried in Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory, San Diego, San Diego County, CA; Mary is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Winthrop, Buchanan County, IA

3. Elizabeth M. “Lizzie” (Henderson) Allen born June 30, 1862 in St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN; married Albert Allen (1859-1947) on December 5, 1888 in Buchanan County, IA, son of Washington Allen and Lourette (Cornick) Allen (1830-1897); Elizabeth died July 25, 1955 in Winthrop, Buchanan County, IA; Elizabeth and Albert are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Winthrop, Buchanan County, IA

According to the Bulletin-Journal (Independence IA) Friday, July 29, 1955, page 1:

“Elizabeth Allen Services Are Held – Mrs. Elizabeth Allen, 93, a Winthrop resident since 1937, died Monday afternoon at her home. She was born June 30, 1862, at St. Paul, Minn., a daughter of John and Susan Coppel (sic) Henderson. Her husband, Albert Allen, died in 1947. She is survived by three daughters: Mrs. Susie Smith of Iowa City, Mrs. Bessie McFarland of Cedar Rapids and Mrs. Lynn Ferrin of Eureka, Calif. Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Thursday at Fawcett Funeral home in Winthrop with burial in Fairview cemetery. The Rev. Leslie J. Faris of the Winthrop Methodist church officiated.”

4. John C. Henderson born December 9, 1864; John died June 25, 1866 in Buchanan County, IA; buried in Quasqueton Cemetery, Quasqueton, Buchanan County, IA

  • Step Children of Susan Jane Kapple and Alonzo John Foster:
    1. Fred Clark Foster born December 11, 1873 in Middlefield Township, Buchanan County, IA; married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Overbaugh (1874-1944) on March 21, 1894 in Buchanan County, IA, daughter of Thereon M. Overbaugh (1844-1892) and Anna Belle (Watson) Overbaugh Bissell (1845-1904); Fred died June 10, 1939 in Liberty Township, Buchanan County, IA; Fred and Elizabeth are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Winthrop, Buchanan County, IA

According to the Courier (Waterloo IA) Monday, June 12, 1939, page 5:

“Fred C. Foster, 65, farmer of Liberty township, at his home Saturday of a heart attack; funeral at the Methodist church at Winthrop at 2 p. m. Wednesday; burial in Fairview cemetery there; body is at Swan & Leytze funeral home here; burn in Middlefield township, Buchanan county, Dec. 11, 1873, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo J. Foster lived in that vicinity all his life except for 14 years when he conducted a general store at Winthrop, from which he retired and went to farming six years ago; married in 1894 to Miss Lizzie Overbaugh; leaves wife, two sons, A. J., Rowley, and Carl, Middlefield township; a daughter, Mrs. Homer Lewis, Winthrop and 10 grandchildren; one daughter and one son preceded him.”

2. John W. Foster born September 5, 1875 in Buchanan County, IA; John died December 8, 1892 in Belvidere, Boone County, IL; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Winthrop, Buchanan County, IA

Additional Information:

According to “A History of Lake County, Illinois” by John J. Halsey, LL.D., 1912, page 98 under the section titled “More Newspapers”:

“John Henderson, publisher, and N. W. Fuller, editor, conducted the Waukegan “Free Democrat” from August 1, 1849, to the end of January, 1850.”

According to the 1860 U.S. Census for Oshawa Township, Nicolett County, Minnesota with a Saint Peter post office the household members were:

“John Henderson, age 32, occupation: printer, born in New York; Susan J. Henderson, age 26, born in Ohio; Mary W. Henderson, age 2, born in Minnesota, James C. Henderson, age 4/12, born in Minnestoa; Mary Kilgren, age 19, occupation: help, born in Luxemberg Germany; John Abraham, age 25, occupation: farmer laborer, born in Sweden; Wm. Johnson, age 20, occupation: farmer laborer, born in Sweden”

According to the U.S., Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865; Schedule II – Consolidated List of all persons of Class II, subject to do military duty in the Second Congressional District, consisting of the Counties of Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Kane and DeKalb, State of Illinois, enumerated during the month of July, 1863, under the direction of Captain Amos B. Coon, Provost Marshal:

“Residence: Avon, Lake, Ill; Name: Henderson John;  Age 1st July, 1863: 38; White or Colored: White; Profession, Occupation or Trade: Printer; Place of Birth: N. Y.; Remarks: In Chicago Ill”

According to the Chicago Tribune (Chicago IL) Tuesday, January 31, 1865, page 4:

“Frozen to Death. – John Henderson, a printer, employed in Chicago, but residing with his father-in-law at Hainesville, ten miles from Waukegan, was overcome by the cold on Tuesday evening last, while walking from Waukegan homeward and died; his body was found by two brothers of his wife, as they were on their way to school the next morning. The Waukegan Gazette says: “From the appearance of the snow immediately around the body, it was plain to perceive that he had wrestled strongly with death for the mastery, but his benumbed limbs refused their office. Every effort to regain his feet proved of no avail, and he succumbed to the dread victor. It is thought that Mr. Henderson may have been seized with a sort of vertigo, which occasioned his loss of self-command and endurance to exposure, which he ever possessed. Extreme cold sometimes effects the brain very much as extreme heat does, and we incline to the opinion that Mr. Henderson’ death may be attributed to such an agency.”

The deceased was son-in-law of Rev. James Kapple of Hainesville. He was aged thirty-eight years and leaves a family to mourn his loss.”

According to the Summit County Beacon (Akron OH) Thursday, February 2, 1865, page 3:

“Melancholly Death.

   We learn from the Waukegan (Ill) Gazette, that Mr. John Henderson, a printer, formerly in our employ, in this city, wile processing from that city to the residence of his father-in-law, Rev. James Kapple, about ten miles distant, on Tuesday evening last, was overcome by the cold, and frozen to death, when within about one mile of his destination.  The deceased was 38 years of age. sprightly and intelligent, having traveled over the larger portion of the world, and held several important positions in Minnesota, where up to the Indian massacres about a year and a half ago he had for several years resided.  He was a native, we believe, of Lake County, having commenced his trade in the office of the Painesville Telegraph.”

(NOTE: In 1870, Susan Henderson and her three children were living with her parents, James and Dorothy Kapple in Iowa)

According to the 1870 U.S. Census for Middlefield Township, Buchanan County, Iowa with a Quasynedtore post office the household members were:

“James Kapple, age 74, occupation: farmer, born in Connecticut; Dorothy Kapple, age 79, occupation: keeping house, born in Connecticut; Susan Henderson, age 37, occupation: keeping house, born in Ohio; Mary Henderson, age 12, born in Minnesota; James Henderson, age 10, born in Minnesota; Elizabeth Henderson, age 8, born in Minnesota”

According to the Chicago Tribune (Chicago IL) Tuesday, January 31, 1865, page 4:

   “FROZEN TO DEATH. – John Henderson, a printer, employed in Chicago, but residing with his father-in-law at Hainesville, ten miles from Waukegan, was overcome by the cold on Tuesday evening last, while walking from Waukegan homeward and died; his body found by two brothers of his wife, as they were on their way to school the next morning.  The Waukegan Gazette says: “From the appearance of the snow immediately around the body, it was plain to perceive that he had wrestled strongly with the death for the mastery, but his benumbed limbs refused their office.  Every effort to regain his feet proved of no avail, and he succumbed to the dread victor.  It is thought that Mr. Henderson may have been seized with a sort of vertigo, which occassioned his loss of self-command and endurance to exposure, which he ever possessed.  Extreme cold sometimes effects the brain very much as extreme heat does, and we incline to the opinion that Mr. Henderson’s death may be attributed to such an agency.”
   The deceased was son-in-law of Rev. James Kapple of Hainesville.  He was aged thirty-eight years and leaves a family to mourn his loss.”