EDWARD HENDERSON

Wainfleet News

[Welland Tribune, 28 January 1898]

On Thursday of last week, Jan. 20, one of the oldest and best known citizens of the Niagara peninsula, in the person of Edward Henderson, of the township of Wainfleet, passed over to the silent majority at the good old age of 95 years.

Deceased was born in the county of Sligo, near the city of Sligo, Ireland, in the year 1802. Coming to Quebec in the year 1829, he pushed his way up the great lakes and through the lone and desert wilderness of Upper and Lower Canada to the Niagara peninsula. At that time the Welland canal was being constructed, and during the years 1830, 31-32 he was being engaged as foreman on the said canal between Welland Junction and Port Colborne.  Later Mr. Henderson and the late Arch. Galbraith of Stromness, father of T.J. Galbraith of Port Colborne, were foremen and contractors on the Welland Canal feeder under the firm of Collier & Bate. The firm met with financial difficulties and were unable to make payments leaving Mr. Henderson heavily indebted to the farmers of the surrounding district. However, being successful at all times, he soon discharged this embarrassment. In the latter part of 1833 he went to Toronto, known only at that time as Little York, where he met and married Jane Irwin, who died Aug. 16, 1874. This union proved an exceedingly happy one, and as a result ten children were born, eight of whom, six sons and two daughters, are still living. Leaving Toronto our subject traveled to Lockport, N.Y., where he was employed as foreman for Judge, Bissell & Clarke, merchant millers.

In the year 1837 he came to Wainfleet, thence to Marshville, when he was again on the survey of the Welland canal, and in this place he opened and taught in later years the first school. After the completion of the Welland canal feeder the Government of Upper Canada, recognizing his sterling worth and great ability, offered him the superintendency of the same, a position held at present by John Scott of Dunnville, but Mr. Henderson refused to accept and nominated therefor Frank Ramsey. During the summers of 1839-40 he was employed as culler of staves for Calvin, Cook & Counter of Kingston. Leaving Marshville again, in 1850, he purchased the farm where he lived until his demise, making as great a success of this profession as of others. Deceased was appointed bailiff of the second division court of the county of Welland in the year 1856, which post he held about thirty years, and at the time of his retirement was considered one of the oldest division court bailiffs in Ontario.

He was a life-long Conservative, had witnessed the rise and fall of many governments, both in this land and the old, and had seen four monarchs occupy the throne of Great Britain. His house was forever known throughout the county for its hospitality and the liberality of its master. His hand was always ready to assist the poor. Yet this remarkable man, who was more “bent to raise the wretched than to rise,” had accumulated sufficient of this world’s good and much more to give him comfort in his latter days. Until the last few weeks deceased enjoyed good health, when he was attacked by the grip, to which diseased he succumbed in the early hours of the 20^th of January. The funeral was held on Saturday from his late residence and was largely attended testifying to the esteem and respect in which the aged gentleman was held.

The funeral obsequies were conducted by the Rev. A. Bonny, service being held in Christ church, Marshville, and interment taking place in the English church burying ground, Welland, where he was borne and laid to rest by his six sons. There were many beautiful flora offerings, including a pillow, an anchor, a cross and other designs –from the sons and daughters and other relatives and friends.

The surviving and mourning family consist of Edward Henderson of Ancaster, John Joseph, Charles, Richard and Robert Henderson of Wainfleet; Mrs. T.J. O’Neil of Port Colborne, and Miss Jane Henderson, who resided with her father.