Alexander Shillington Henderson--Part 3

"It might be interesting to relate a little experience Grandfather had on an occasion. He was coming from Riverton to Granger one evening when suddenly, out of no where a man appeared by his wagon and asked for a ride, also for night’s lodging. Grandfather didn’t dare take him home, because at this time he was being watched by the U.S. Marshals. He didn’t know but what the stranger could be one of these. However, when he let the man from his wagon, he immediately and completely disappeared. This troubled Grandpa, he always thought he had been privileged to associate that short time with one of the 3 Nephites.

On another occasion, while he and Grandma were visiting Aunt Minnie and family in Riverton, he became very ill and requested all his children to come so he could bid them goodbye as he knew he was going to die. Shortly he seemed to have passed away. His family was all crying in deep grief, when he opened his eyes and said, “I’ve come back”. He told them afterward that he could see his body lying on the bed and all of them crying and it seemed that some great power brought him back.

In the spring of 1892 Grandpa bought a farm in Riverton or South Jordan and moved Grandma and her family there. Her Alma John was born 11 Oct 1894. Twins, Harvey and Earl were born 23 April 1896.

Grandpa and his boys worked harmoniously together. He was always considerate of their opinions. He believed that they should have time off for pleasures, and a reward for work well done on the farm. Uncle Clarence recently related how his father taught him early in life how to plow a straight furrow in the field. To select a goal ahead and plow straight for it, never look back, but always forward and straight ahead.

He taught his children the value of money by letting them select and pay for their own clothes. He believed in buying good clothing and shoes. He had a cobbling outfit and repaired the family’s shoes.

His daughters were very special to him too, in fact it could be said that he spoiled his little daughter Ella. He used to wash and dress her each morning. One morning he wanted to get an early start to Bingham, and went out without dressing her. She screamed so loud when her sister Rosa tried to dress her that her father stopped the horses, got down off the wagon and came back into the house and dressed her.

A friend, Oley Peterson, persuaded Grandpa to market his farm, garden and diary products in Bingham as he did. It was soon found that he did get much better cash returns to peddle his produce at the mines. So Grandpa continued this employment for years.

Grandma became seriously ill and died Nov. 29, 1896 at the age of 38. (She most likely died of appendicitis. See “Come After Us” by Melvin Banner, page 403-404 for more of this story.) This was a hard blow to the family. Grandfather was inconsolable. He closed her bedroom and wouldn’t let any one go in there thought they needed the room badly. It gave the children a strange feeling of death.

Of course, dear Aunt Minnie brought her 9 children and moved right in to take care of Grandma’s 11, the twins were just babies. It made 20 children for her to supervise and mother. In Jan of 1898 an epidemic of Black Measles hit the town, the twins and Aunt Minnie’s little Parley all died at the same time.

Time moved along and Aunt Minnie died in 1901. Again, Grandpa needed a mother for his children. He met a fine widow woman, Treena Christensen as he went about his work securing produce. She lived in Pleasant Grove. He presented his domestic problems to her in such a way that she was willing to marry him and help out the children yet at home. Their marriage date was 12 Feb 1902, the same as my mother and father’s, Rosa Henderson and Edwin Oliver.

I remember Grandfather as a good, kind man. He was very tender hearted. His bushy, curly hair of his younger years was thin and gray. He was quite hard of hearing, and we had to speak real loud in order for him to hear us. He didn’t take a very active part in Church affairs. His religion was not the Church going kind. He was very generous to his fellow men in need. He never turned anyone away from his door whom he could help. He taught his children honesty, industry and kindness, and many attributes pertaining to a good life. As a granddaughter I feel very proud to be numbered among his descendants. He died Feb 8 1917 at his home in Riverton at the age of 73 years. "


This history of Alexander Shillington Henderson was written by one of his granddaughters, Marie Oliver Winter. The original copy can be found at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers in Salt Lake City. I have made some grammatical and spelling changes. Other additional information I have added is in italics. All of the pictures and graphics I have added as well.