BIO: Milton J. HENDERSON, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  MILTON J. HENDERSON holds a good position among the agriculturists of 
Taylor township, Centre county, where he is engaged in general farming, 
and from which he derives an annually a comfortable income. He was born 
February 7, 1858, on the farm where he still resides - the old 
Henderson homestead on the Fowler road, which has been occupied by four 
generations of the family.
  David and Mary (McMamagh) Henderson, parents of our subject, were 
also natives of Taylor township, the father born on the old homestead 
October 13, 1819, where he continued to extensively engage in farming 
throughout life. He was drafted for the Civil war, but was released on 
account of being a few days too old. His death, which occurred December 
23, 1886, was caused by falling in a threshing machine. He was a 
conscientious, earnest Christian, for forty-two years holding 
membership with the United Brethren Church, to which his estimable wife 
also belonged. She was born May 21, 1821, and departed this life 
September 7, 1888.
  Our subject is one of a family of nine children, namely: Robert, a 
lumberman of Clearfield county, Penn.; Eve, wife of John L. Spittler, a 
miner of Sandy Ridge, Centre county; Mary, wife of John Orwick, a 
farmer of Taylor township; Malinda, deceased wife of John Beckwith, a 
merchant and farmer of Hannah Furnace, Penn.; Samuel, a resident of 
Madera, Clearfield county; William, section foreman on the Colorado 
railroad; Anna, wife of John McCrawfton, of Clearfield county; Milton 
J.; and John, who resides with our subject and is a partner in 
business.
  Robert and Mary (Jackson) Henderson, the maternal* grandparents, were 
also natives of Taylor township. The grandfather was born on the old 
homestead, where he engaged in farming and where he died. The maternal 
grandparents of our subject were Stephen H. and Eve (Frantz) McMunagle, 
the former of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent.
  Milton J. Henderson spent his boyhood and youth after the manner of 
most farmers' sons, becoming familiar with plowing, sowing and reaping, 
and amid the quiet scenes of country life grew up with a healthy 
constitution and a clear brain. He is indebted to the public schools 
for his elementary education, and by reading and observation has become 
a well-informed man. He remained at home until after attaining his 
majority, when he removed to Clearfield county, and for two years was 
engaged in lumbering. Returning to Taylor township, Centre county, he 
operated a farm for his brother Robert for two years, but during the 
following three years he was again engaged in lumbering in Clearfield 
county. He next purchased a small farm in Taylor township, which he 
cultivated some three years, and subsequently operated a rented tract 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  419

in Huntingdon county, Indiana, for two years. In connection with his 
brother John, he then purchased the old Henderson homestead, to the 
cultivation and improvement of which they have since devoted their 
time.
  On attaining to man's estate, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage 
with Miss Emma Weaver, who died in November, 1878, at the age of 
twenty-four years, leaving one son, Elmer, still at home. She was a 
daughter of David and Harriet (feaster) Weaver, the former now a 
resident of Tyrone, Penn., and the latter deceased. On December 23, 
1882, Mr. Henderson was again married, this time to Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Dougherty) Parks, widow of Charles W. Parks, by whom she had one 
daughter, Mary A., now the wife of James Goss, a farmer residing near 
Hannah Furnace, Centre county. Mrs. Goss has one son, William O. Mrs. 
Henderson was born in Huntingdon county, Penn., August 8, 1854, a 
daughter of John and Hannah (Hamilton) Dougherty, both now deceased, 
the former dying in July, 1855, and the latter on March 15, 1891, at 
the age of sixty-seven years. In their family were the following 
children: Ann, wife of Simon Hencebanger, an undertaker of Clearfield 
county; Caroline, wife of Frank Pettitt, an extensive farmer of 
California; Susan, widow of Patrick Haulton, of Philipsburg, Penn.; 
James, of Clearfield county; George, deceased; Maggie, wife of Elias 
Miles, a railroad man of Tipton, Penn.; and Elizabeth, wife of our 
subject. The father of this family was a farmer of Huntingdon, 
Huntingdon county.
  Mr. Henderson is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican 
party, which he always supports by his ballot; socially he is connected 
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, religiously, both 
himself and wife are esteemed members of the United Brethren Church. 
They are respected and valued members of the community, and possess the 
entire confidence and regard of their neighbors.

*paternal?