John Brooks Henderson

Much of my information came from the work of Bob La Loge of Springfield MO. He wrote a book about John Brooks Henderson. I received a letter from him in 1987 and at the time the book could be purchased from Queen City Publications, PO Box 8626, Springfield, MO 65801.

He says James Henderson was the father of John Brooks Henderson born in 1826 in Pittslyvania County VA. James Henderson was born in Jefferson County TN and her was a son of William and Mary (George) Henderson they were from Pittslyvania County VA where another James was the father of William as proved in William's Will of 1814 in Jefferson County TN.

James Henderson II grew to manhood in VA where he met and married Jane Dawson. They moved to Missouri in 1832 in Lincoln County, where they settled. When John Books Henderson was 9 years old his parents died, leaving one brother and two sisters younger than himself. In 1848 he was admitted to the Bar in Pike County MO. Between 1849 and 1861 he practiced law in Louisians MO. He was elected to office in 1856. He was appointed Brigadier-General in 1861. About this same time he was appointed to fill a unexpired term as U. S. Senator for Missouri. He was Chairman of Indian Affairs. In 1868 while in the Senate he married Miss Mary Newton Foote a daughter of Judge Elisha Foote of New York. In 1870 John Brooks Henderson removed to St Louis MO where he practiced law. (Scharf II Bench and Bar page 1497-98 in History of St Louis.