Henderson

Rev. John Hampstone of the Lafayette Avenue Baptist church officiating. The
couple entered the parlor to the strains of Mendelssohns Wedding March,
played by Miss Laura Lake. Mr. John D. Schuller acted as best man and the
maid of honor was Miss Sadie Brown. The bride wore a costume of pearl silk,
and entrains, and carried a bouquet of pink roses. She was given away by her
brother, William Brown. An informal reception followed, during which the newly
married couple departed on an extensive honeymoon to Canada and other
objective points. Among the quests at the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Henderson, Mr. And Mrs. Charles Hendrickson, Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Wilcox, and M.
Henderson
Ella and Alexander Henderson rented a brownstone house in the Flatbush
District of Brooklyn; in the area where Captain Joseph had first established a
residence and where Alexander had grown up. It was a three-story brownstone
house at 142 Midwick Street in Brooklyn. The kitchen, as true of most
brownstones, was on the second floor, the parlor and the entrance to the house
were on the first floor, and the bedrooms were all on the third floor.
On January 4, 1893, their first child was born and he was named, Joseph
Dawson Henderson. He was baptized on April 2, 1893, which was sponsored by
Angelina A. Henderson and Mr. Brown.
32
According to Jerry, As a baby his mother would put him in the highchair at the
breakfast table, and she, my father, and the baby would have breakfast together.
When it came time for my father for work secretary at the New York City
warehouse, he would go downstairs to go out of the house. His wife Ella would
always go downstairs with him to kiss him goodbye at the front door before he
left. They would leave the little baby in his highchair, on the second floor. One
day the baby apparently wiggled out of his highchair when he was left alone and
hung himself on his bib. When my mother came back to the kitchen the baby was
dead.
This was their first child and was a traumatic experience for a young married
couple. On November 9, 1893, their first son, Joseph D. Henderson, was buried
in the family plot, lot 13244, and section 88, at the Green-Wood Cemetery. His
tombstone reads:
DAWSON
JOSEPH DAWSON HENDERSON
ELDEST SON OF
ALEXANDER D. AND ELLA B.
HENDERSON
BORN JAN. 4, 1893
DIED NOV. 15, 1893
32
St. Matthew Church Records from the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew
Page xxix
,
In 1898, the California Perfume Company had 5,000 women going door to door,
selling perfumes and other cosmetics, cookbooks, moth repellents, shoe and
furniture polishes, shaving soaps, and headache cures. The company expanded
to New Jersey and in 1898 saw the opening of the San Francisco office.
By 1900, 48 Traveling Agents recruited and trained over 6,500 door-to-door
Sales Managers. Agents were selling perfumes, extracts, vegetable colorings,
tooth tablets, shampoo, witch hazel and almond balm creams, baking powder,
olive oil, silver polish, and furniture polish.
In 1903, the Kansas City Branch was opened. In 1905, the first print ads were
published in the Good Housekeeping Magazine. The first color catalog was
produced in October 1905.
In 1909, the New York City offices were moved to 29-31 Park Place, at the
corner of Church Street in the heart of Manhattan Island
Prizes were given to representatives the highest monthly orders. For example, in
July 1911, CPC offered a brush Runabout automobile to the representative with
the highest six-month sales record. Effie Miller of Stayton, Oregon won the
Runabout on $1,088.43 of CPC sales.
In 1914, the first international office was opened in Montreal, Canada.
On May 7, 1915
The New York Times
39
announced new incorporations, which
included the California Perfumery Co., Jersey City, to deal in perfumery, toilet
preparations, $5,000: Alexander D. Henderson, William Scheele, William H.
Carey, all of Jersey City. The CPC Company Officials were: William Scheele
CPC Secretary and General Manager, Alexander D. Henderson CPC Treasurer,
and David Hall McConnell CPC President.
In 1915, William Scheele, CPCs general manager, designed a new Color Plate
Catalog, which cost over $10,000, a large amount for a small company. The
catalog displayed products in full size and exact packaging.
It must have been interesting to work in a company and watch it grow. The CPC
was a family company and there is no doubt that Mr. McConnell and Mr.
Henderson were the architects of it. The company was expanding, and more
capital was required to keep up with this rapid growth.
In January 1916, when Mr. McConnell needed to raise more capital to handle the
expansion of the business, Mr. Henderson Sr. offered to invest his own money
into the business. He invested $25,000 in company and acquired one-quarter of
39
ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times, pg. 17
Page xxxiv
126 Chambers..................xxxii, xxxvi
126 Chambers Manhattan.........xxxvi
141 E. 72 Street.......................xli, xlv
142 Midwick.................................xxix
16 Gates Avenue...........................xiii
171 Midwood Street.............xxxvi, 50
173 South Monsey Road..........xxxviii
174 Pulaski Street......xxxv, xxxvi, xlii
200 Hart Street.................................x
260 Quincy Street......................xxviii
260 Schermerhorn Street...............xii
277 Park Avenue.............................xl
283 Hart Street.................................x
309 Water Street............................vii
31 Park Place.............................xxxiv
32 West Side Avenue.....................xii
342 Madison Avenue.....................51
358 Washington Street............xiv, xv
36 Greene Avenue.........................xiii
37 South Street...............................vii
618 Bramhall Avenue.....................xii
633 Willoughby Avenue.......xxiii, xxiv
639 Willoughby..............viii, x, xiv, xv
66 Bond Street...............................xiii
69 South Street..............................viii
93 Roosevelt Avenue.....................vii
953 Greene Avenue.........................x
983 Myrtle Avenue..........viii, xxi, xxvi
A. Douglas Henderson.....................v
Abraham & Straus....................xxxviii
Alarm Corporation....................59, 60
Alexander Cowan...........................52
Alexander D Henderson University49
Alexander D. Henderson......xii, xxvii,
xxxi, xxxiii, xxxiv, xxxviii, xlii, xliii,
xlv, 50, 54, 55
Alexander D. Henderson Foundation
....................................................48
Alexander D. Henderson III.ii, iii, xliv,
53
Alexander D. Henderson Jr.v, xxxviii,
xliv
Alexander Dawson Foundation.....58,
61, 75, 76
Alexander Dawson Henderson....xvii,
xxvi, xxx, xxxvi, xxxix, xlii, xliv, 50,
61, 63
Alexander Dawson Inc.....xlvi, 54, 55,
56
Alexander Dawson School.......63, 76
Alexander Trust Company.......70, 79
Allen Paulson.................................70
Allied Products Inc.......54, 55, 56, 58
American, No. 21.........................xxiii
Angelina A. Wilcox.....ix, xvi, xvii, xxv
Angelina Annetta Weavervii, xxvi, 77
Anna Mae Henderson....................xiv
Avon Allied Products Inc................58
Avon by the Sea...........................xlvii
Avon Products................................58
Avon Products Ltd. of Canada.......56
Bill McPheeters .............................60
Bing Crosby....................................61
Blue Channel Seafood Company..65
Bob Walker.....................................53
Brent Holcomb.................................v
Brooklyn Daily Eaglexi, xvi, xxiii, xxv,
xxx, xli
Brooklyn Trust Company.........54, 55
Bud Ozmun....................................71
California Perfume Company....xxxv,
xxxviii, xli, 79
Cappy Martin..................................59
Capt. Thompson.............................xx
Carl S. Rohr...................................60
Cecil Peak Station..........................74
Chaney Silk Company...................51
Charles Edward Russell.................xx
Charles Hendrickson...xiv, xxiv, xxvii,
xxix
Charles Leonard Lathrop..............xlvi
Charles Lindberg............................52
Cherry Lane...................................xlv
Christine McConnell.......................57
Index
Love for Aviation
pastor
wrote a 46 books. One was The Power of Positive Thinking. He was in Las Vegas several
times for seminars, which Jerry and Farrow Smith went.
By 1928, Jerry quit his job at Club Aluminum and took a job with a stock
brokerage firm in Patterson, New Jersey at $115 a week. On the strength of this
job Jerry got married. Jerry married Theodora Gregson Huntington from Spring
Valley, New York, a town five miles north of Suffern. Her nickname was Theo.
Theodora was born on March 2, 1904 in Mt. Vernon, New York.
In 1929, the stock market crashed on Black Friday. The brokerage firm cut back
and Jerry lost his job. This was another traumatic experience. The stock market
crash wiped out Jerrys assets including his home, which he had a $18,000
mortgage. It was sold at auction for $9,000. The bank also sued him for the
deficiency. Jerry considered filling for bankruptcy, however the family attorney,
John G. Turnbull, advised him against it. Mr. Turnbull was also Jerrys attorney
until Mr. Turnbulls death sometime in the mid to late 1960s.
According to Jerrys autobiography, he said, My God, Ill get even with the New
York Stock Exchange some day. Some day Im going to buy not just one seat on
the New York Stock Exchange, Im going to buy two seats and make a couch out
of them and lie there and laugh like Hell at these bastards!
Jerry friend, Elliot Reid, referred him to a fiend, Henry Kiesel, who introduced
Jerry to Alexander Cowan who was head of the New York branch for the Phoenix
Mutual Insurance Company.
Jerry took the job selling life insurance for Alexander Cowan at the Phoenix
Mutual Insurance Company on Madison Avenue in New York City. He became
very successful in the life insurance business and was soon selling million dollar
policies. Jerry had a salesmans natural charm and became known as a million-
dollar-man.
Jerry and Theo had two daughters. Theodora G. Henderson, was born in
Brownsville, New York in January 25, 1928. Dariel Henderson was born in
Mahwah, New Jersey on February 7, 1933.
Both Jerry and Theo were members of a Marble Collegiate Church on Riverside
Drive in New York City. Jerry taught Sunday school at this church. The
for
52 years was Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, who Jerry new very well. Dr. Peale
They were also personal
friends of Dr. Fosdick. Was this Harry Emerson Fosdick?
Charles Lindberg who made the famous nonstop flight from New York to Paris in
1927 had a great influenced on Jerry. This was a milestone in the history of
Page ii
S
TORM
K
ING
S
CHOOL
...............................................................................................................................
......51
J
ERRY
E
NTERS

THE
W
ORK
F
ORCE
....................................................................................................................51
L
OVE

FOR
A
VIATION
...............................................................................................................................
........52
H
ENDERSON
M
OTOR
C
O
...............................................................................................................................
..53
A
LEXANDER
D
AWSON
I
NC
...............................................................................................................................
54
M
AHWAH
, N
EW
J
ERSEY
...............................................................................................................................
...57
L
AUREL
H
ILL
P
LANTATION
..............................................................................................................................5
7
A
VON
P
RODUCTS
...............................................................................................................................
............58
T
HE
A
LARM
C
OMPANY

AND
MPTV................................................................................................................59
T
HIRSTY
T
HURSDAY
C
LUB
..............................................................................................................................6
1
A
LEXANDER
D
AWSON
F
OUNDATION
..................................................................................................................61
S
TAPPS
L
AKE
R
ANCH
..............................................................................................................................
......62
T
HE
C
OLORADO
J
UNIOR
R
EPUBLIC
S
CHOOL
- C
OLORADO
....................................................................................63
C
OLORADO
H
EALTH
E
DUCATION
C
ENTER
..........................................................................................................64
N
EW
Y
ORK
W
ORLDS
F
AIR
..............................................................................................................................6
4
T
IME
M
AGAZINE
...............................................................................................................................
.............65
B
LUE
C
HANNEL
S
EAFOOD
C
OMPANY
................................................................................................................65
B
OATING
...............................................................................................................................
........................66
L
AS
V
EGAS
...............................................................................................................................
....................66
T
HEODORA
H
OLDING
C
ORPORATION
.................................................................................................................67
T
RIP
T
O
E
UROPE
...............................................................................................................................
.............68
C
OLORADO
A
ERO
T
ECH
...............................................................................................................................
...69
A
LEXANDER
T
RUST
C
OMPANY
.........................................................................................................................70
G
ULFSTREAM
A
MERICAN
C
ORPORATION
............................................................................................................70
A
MERICAN
J
ET
...............................................................................................................................
................70
G
RIZZLY
R
IDERS
...............................................................................................................................
.............71
U
NDERGROUND
H
OUSES
...............................................................................................................................
...71
M
Y
V
ISIT
W
ITH
U
NCLE
J
ERRY
........................................................................................................................72
T
URN

THE
C
LOCK
B
ACK
S
AM
..........................................................................................................................73
C
ECIL
P
EAK
S
TATION
...............................................................................................................................
......74
J
ERRY

S
P
ASSING
A
WAY
...............................................................................................................................
..75
A
LEXANDER
D
AWSON
S
CHOOLS
.......................................................................................................................76
CHAPTER 4
GIRARD BROWN HENDERSON.........................................................................................................
....50
DESCENDANT CHART..............................................................................................................
..............77
BIBLIOGRAPHY
...............................................................................................................................
.........................................79
INDEX.........................................................................................................................
.................................81
Club Aluminum Company..............51
Colorado Junior Republic........62, 63
Dariel Henderson...........................52
David H. McConnell........xxxiii, xxxviii
David Hall McConnell.................xxxiii
David McConnell......................53, 58
Dawson Aviation......................69, 79
Dawson Yacht Corporation......66, 79
Doug Henderson...........................xxi
Dr. Hans Nieper.............................69
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.......58, 73
E. B. Bartlett........................xxx, xxxiii
Ed Pardi.........................................69
Elijah H. May..............................xxxiii
Elizabeth L. Henderson..................xii
Ella B. Henderson..........xxxix, 54, 55
Elwood Walter..............................xviii
Ernest Gordon Pratt.....53, 59, 60, 79
Farrow Smith.................................66
Farrow J. Smith......xxxviii, 56, 61, 75
Farrow Smith..................................75
Franklyn Avenue............................viii
Freda A. Willey.............................xxiii
From Sandy Hook to 62...........xx, 79
George A. Wilhelm........................xxi
George B. Abbott..........................xxv
Girard B. Henderson............v, 55, 75
Green-Wood Cemetery...iv, ix, xi, xii,
xiii, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, xxiii, xxv
Hank Ketchum...............................61
Henderson Hall..............................49
Henderson Motor Co......................53
Hill Grove Lodge..........................xxiii
Hillsboro Country Day School......xlvii
Houvenkopf County Club..........xxxvii
Hurdman and Cranstoun............xxxv
Jack Lawrence.........................62, 63
Jane Eccles......................................v
Jewell Smith.............................63, 72
John D. Schuller.................xxvii, xxix
John G. Turnbull................52, 54, 55
John H. Wells...................................x
John OBrien..................................61
Joseph Dawson Henderson........xxix
Joseph Henderson.....iv, xii, xxiii, xxv
Judson D. Tiffany.......................xxxiii
Kenneth Burnham....................53, 62
Kenneth Swayze......................64, 71
Lafayette Theater.....................xxxviii
Laura Josephine Frontgous...........xlv
Laura Lake...................................xxix
Lucia Maria Ernst....................xlvi, 77
Lucy E. Henderson..................49, 56
Margaret G. Lamb......................xxviii
Mary A. Lathrop..........................v, 79
Mary Ann Hendrickson.......viii, ix, xvi
Mary Barnes Anthony...................xliv
Mary Ella Henderson....................xliv
Mary Emma Jones..........................xii
Mary Henderson...............xlvi, 58, 72
Mary Hollingsworth..................61, 62
Maurice D. Weaver.................vii, xxv
Myrtle Avenue................................viii
Nyack Turnpike........xxxvii, xl, xli, xliii
Owen Patrick......................57, 59, 60
Panama Pacific Exposition........xxxix
Patricia Ford..................................xlv
Pet 9....................................xix, xxxvii
Pet, No. 9......................................xxii
Pet, No. 9,..............................xix, xxiii
Puritan Congregational Church.....xvi
Ramapo Valley Independent.....xxxvii
Rev. Dr. Morrison................xxiv, xxxi
Rev. F. W. Norris.............................ix
Rev. John Hampstone.......xxviii, xxix
Robert B. Henderson..xii, xiii, xiv, xxv
Roosterfish...............................66, 79
Roy Hollingsworth..........................56
Sadie Brown................................xxix
Saint Andrew's School...................48
Samuel F. B. Morse.......................60
Sandy Hook Pilots...................iv, xxiii
Sandy Hook Pilots Association....xviii
Sarah E. Brown............................xlvii
Sarah R. Henderson..................ix, 77
Seamans Institute..........................xx
Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus......51
St. Matthew.............ix, xxiv, xxx, xxxi
St. Matthew's Church..............ix, xxxi
Statue of Liberty............................xxii
Storm King School.........................51
Stuart Walter Hinrichs....................xlv
In 1915, Mr. Henderson took the train to San Francisco to set up a booth to
advertise and exhibit the perfume products at the 1914-1915 Panama-Pacific
International Exposition in San Francisco, California. By train, it took 4 days to
get to San Francisco.
This was a Worlds fair, and prizes were given for the best products exhibited.
The entire line of perfumes, toilet articles, and household products was entered
in the competition. The perfume won a Blue ribbon and a Gold Medal was
awarded for the quality of the products and the beauty of the packaging.
Winning the Gold Meal gave the perfume company a great deal of recognition.
The Gold Medal appeared on all packaging and product brochures until 1931,
when the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval replaced it. In 1931 the Good
Housekeeping Seal was awarded to 11 CPC products.
On January 5, 1925, while still working for CPC, Alexander D. Henderson Sr.
died at age 59, in Suffern, New York after a very short illness. During this time
the directors were putting all the money back into the business. Mr. Henderson
was receiving a salary of $50,000 a year. This was a good amount in 1925.
When Mr. Henderson died, Mr. McConnell paid $50,000 to Mrs. Henderson for
one year after his death. Mrs. Henderson had no other income. For the second
time, the family was faced with no income.
His son Alexander Henderson Jr. signed his death certificate number 5375. The
death certificate listed N.Y. & N.J. Cremation Co., and the date of burial was
Jan. 8, 1925. The N. J. Mortuary in Suffern was also listed.
Alexander Dawson Henderson's obituary
42
appeared in the Jan 6, 1925 N.Y.
Times and had the following announcement: "HENDERSON-Alexander Dawson,
on Jan. 5, 1925, in his 60th year, beloved husband of Ella B. Henderson.
Services Wednesday evening, 8 o'clock, Jan 7, at Suffern, N. Y."
His family and associates truly mourned him. Mr. Henderson helped shape
CPCs policies and assist in its growth. It was a great loss for the company and
his wife was honored with a resolution from the Board of Directors. The
resolution was adopted and recorded in the minutes by the Board of Directors
and officers of the California Perfume Company, attesting to the invaluable work
done by Alexander Dawson Henderson. An engrossed copy of the resolution
42
ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times, pg. 25
Page xxxix
Panama Pacific Exposition
The CPC Resolution
Storm King School
Jerry Enters the Work Force
In 1912, Jerry went to the Suffern Grammar School and later went to a Catholic
convent school called the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. In Jerry's
autobiography he says, The Catholic Sisters were highly educated and I got a
very fine basic education in mathematics, arithmetic, reading, and penmanship.
Jerry attended Ridgewood School, a private school in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
In 1916, he became a boarder at the Storm School, later called Storm King
School in Cornwall On The Hudson, New York, which was a preparatory school
through high school. He was captain of the football team and received letters
from the basketball and baseball teams. He graduated in the class of 1923. Jerry
said, I liked the Storm King mountain where the school was located. I liked to
walk on the trails through the woods there.
While in high school at Storm King School, Jerry attended his brothers wedding
on February 14, 1920. It was the middle of winter and the drifts of snow were ten
feet around the school. No roads were open for automobile traffic. So, Jerry skied
down the mountain from the school carrying a little suitcase to the railroad
station, which was at least eight miles from the school. He then took the train
down to Suffern, New York to attend his brothers wedding.
Later in life, Jerry accepted an offer to be a trustee of the school. He had the
opportunity to give substantial gifts to the school for buildings and educational
programs. He dedicated buildings that are there today, such as the J. C. Clark
Building and the Izeman Building. The Henderson Outdoor Program at Storm
King School is named for Girard Henderson (Class '23) and generously
supported by Alexander Dawson, Inc., which supports the School's recreational
athletic program.
In 1924, Jerry spent one year at Dartmouth College before dropping out. His
brother introduced me to a friend by the name of Elliot Reid. He was able to help
Jerry get a job for the Chaney Silk Company in New York City at 342 Madison
Avenue. This was his first commercial job and he got paid $15.00 dollars a week.
He stood on his feet eight hours a day cutting and filling orders for silk. The
Chaney Silk Company was a very successful company supplying dress
manufacturers and department stores.
In 1925, Jerry started selling pots and pans of cast aluminum door-to-door for the
Club Aluminum Company. He learned to cook and did cooking demonstrations in
his home for groups. He even borrowed his Mothers butler to help in these
presentations. He became very successful at it.
Vice President California Perfume Company
Mary-Ella Henderson married Stuart Walter Hinrichs on October 23, 1943, at the
Saint James Church, Madison Avenue, New York. Alexander D. Henderson
married Patricia Ford on February 17, 1951, at his mother-in-laws ranch in
Carmel Valley, California.
Alexander D. Henderson Jr. started working for the California Perfume Company
in 1919. He and his father followed a daily routine. They were driven by his
father's car and chauffeur after an early breakfast, first to the CPC plant in
Suffern. They were then driven to the train station to take the train to the New
York offices. They played cards on the train, the same foursome at bridge,
morning and night.
After his father died in 1925, Mr. Henderson became Vice President of
Purchases. He would buy the ingredients from which everything in the CPC line
was made. "As such, he is, of course, a most important factor in the maintaining
the high quality and low prices of the products you sell.
44
"
In 1929, the family moved from Suffern to a large two-story home in Tallman,
New York. They lived in Tallman for four years. They had a chauffeur, cook, and
an upstairs maid. His polo pony, Ginger, was kept in the barn. The 5-acre
property had an apple orchard. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Laura Josephine
Frontgous-Anthony had a lovely cottage on the property (behind the orchard).
They also had a red setter named "Ciders".
When the depression hit in 1930, Mr. McConnell cancelled the dividends on the
Common stock of the California Perfume Company, and Mr. Hendersons income
was cut in half.
The 1930 New York Social Blue Book directory listed Mr. and Mrs. Henderson I,
living at 141 E. 72 Street, New York.
The April 3, 1930 U.S. Census lists Alexander D. Henderson (35), Nonny (30),
Mary Ella (7), Alexander (5) and Laura J Anthony (60), living on Cherry Lane in
Ramapo, Rockland, New York. Alex III remembers his grandmother living in the
cottage. She was sick and needed a room ventilator to help her breathe.
In 1933, the family spent winters in Palm Beach, Florida. There is a photo of Mr.
Henderson, Jr. and his son Alex III on the beach in Florida.
In 1933, the family moved to the Hudson View Gardens duplex apartment at
1836 Pinehurst Avenue, apartment D21 overlooking the Hudson River in New
York (near 186th Street).
44
Introducing You To The CPC booklet.
Page xlv
The Colorado Junior Republic School - Colorado
The entrance was built to look like a mineshaft. The house was completely
underground and included 4 bedrooms, a swimming pool, and murals of the
skyline of San Francisco on one side and New York on the other side. American
artist, Jewell Smith, hand-painted the murals. Lighting in the house could be
adjusted to make it appear that the sun was rising over New York and setting
over San Francisco. The underground home had a helicopter pad on top for
quick getaways.
In 1967, the Alexander Dawson Foundation established the Colorado Junior
Republic School at Stapps Lake, Colorado. The private school had its own
money system, laws and courts. It grew its own food and supplied its own water.
It had an airport where small airplanes could land. The school started as a
summer school for underprivileged children. Jack Lawrence, one of Hendersons
long-time friends said Henderson got the idea from the George Junior Republic
in Freeville, New York
48
, which catered to underprivileged children.
According to Gordon Pratt, Jerry made a deal with the New York City Police
Commissioner who would select the most incorrigible, the toughest juvenile
delinquents that New York City produced. These were the lads that were
selected for Jerrys school. There was but one requirement and that was that the
boy had to have above average intelligence. Jerry would talk with the boy and
hed promise the lad, if the boy would come out to this school, all of the lads
expenses through high school, college, and even to a doctorate if the boy so
chose, would be paid by Jerry. The boy was promised a horse of his own, a
private room, special teachers and each year at roundup the boys would spend
one entire month on the open range.
In 1970, the school moved to Lafayette. Colorado. The school was later
expanded into a year-round school, and then in 1980 was converted to a college
preparatory program. The campus is now approximately 77 acres.
In 1978, Jerry found oil on school property in Colorado. There was both oil and
natural gas on the property. Jerry inspected his first oil well and drilling rig. He
was very proud of the fact that he had struck oil.
In 1980, the school changed its name from Colorado Junior Republic to the
Alexander Dawson School after Henderson's father, Alexander Dawson
Henderson.
After the school moved to Lafayette, there was no need for the large ranch.
Following Jerrys death in November 1983, Stapps Lake Ranch was placed on
the market and in 1986; Previews Inc. in Denver, Colorado listed the property for
48
Colorados Mystery Millionaire, 1983, Louis Kilzer, Denver Post
Gordon goes on to talk about Jerry, he had a home in Sea Island, Georgia and
an apartment in New York City. He held a 9% interest in the stock of Avon
Products. He had a major interest in the Flying Tiger airline and an interest in one
of the largest trucking companies in the United States.
In 1950, Jerry had another idea. Television was just coming in at this time, but
Carmel could not get a good picture because a hill in Pebble Beach blocked the
signal coming from San Francisco. The MP-TV (Monterey Peninsula Television)
Company was created in Carmel, with offices located on 7th and Lincoln Street.
The company provided underground cable service to Carmel residents. All of the
corporate stock for MPTV was issued in the name of Alarm Corporation.
MP-TV had its receiving antenna site on the high ground of Pebble Beach at
Huckleberry Hill. Jerry and his crew placed an antenna on a balloon and
searched for the best signal from San Francisco. He was able to purchase this
property and built a "shack" for the equipment. The signal was sent from here by
coaxial cable to the homes in Monterrey and Carmel.
Jerry worked out a contract with Samuel F. B. Morse (cousin of the inventor of
the telegraph and Morse code) who owned the Pebble Beach Lodge. Mr.
Henderson put cable in each room in the Lodge, which proved to be a great
success. There was a success party at the Del Monte Lodge afterwards.
Bill McPheeters joined the company to assist Owen. He later became President
and stayed until the company was sold. Gordon, after a couple of years, left the
company to raise and sell Orchids. About 5 years after Gordon left the company,
Owen Patrick left to teach electronics technology at Monterey Peninsula College
(MPC). Owen stayed at MPC for over 25 years. Owen and Gordon remained
board members at MPTV.
Carl S. Rohr Electric advertised, By using a scientifically located central receiver
and amplifiers, clear signals are received by individual sets through an
underground cable. For an initial installation cost and small monthly payments,
people in Pebble Beach and Carmel now, or soon, will be able to receive
excellent television programs.
According to Ernest Gordon Pratt, there were a lot of problems at Alarm Corp;
sometimes they seemed absolutely overwhelming. Antennas, miles of special
cable, amplifiers to buy, county franchises to negotiate, city franchises for
Carmel, Monterey, Seaside, Pacific Grove, and then there were building permits,
zoning regulations, new employees to hire, technical instruments and just plain
trucks to buy.
On May 1953, Girard Henderson (48) and his wife Theodora (49) took a long
cruise and tour of the world. They were listed as passengers arriving in the port
The Civil War (1861-1865)
.
633 Willoughby Avenue
I received this spoon from A. Douglas Henderson who received it from Jerry
Henderson.
The author, Charles Edward Russell, wrote about Joseph Henderson and the
Sandy Hook men during the Civil War. In his book he said: Among the valuable
services performed by the Sandy Hook men in that contest was the guiding of
naval vessels through the intricate channels of southern waters, conspicuously
Albermarle and Pamlico Sounds.
In 1862 he [Joseph Henderson] was snapped up by the Federal Government to
do pilot work on the southern sounds with which, it is said, he had some youthful
acquaintance. His work for the Government was so valuable, ingenious, and
efficient that he received not only thanks but unusual reward in bankable funds.
The moment he had the funds in hand he went forth and invested them with
singular skill and foresight, so that by 1867 he had a small but competent fortune
and need not thereafter have labored at anything. Instead of a life of ease, which
he might reasonably have regarded as his portion, Mr. Henderson insisted upon
continuing his labors as a pilot which he did.
On another occasion during the Civil War, the pilot-boat William Bell No. 24,
ventured too far out to sea and was captured and burned by the Confederate
raiding steamer the Tallahassee
On June 5, 1883, Pilot Joseph Henderson was
compensated for $6,170.31, as he owned 5/16 shares in the William Bell
27
.
(1880-1920)
On April 24, 1874, the County Court of Kings County filed a pursuance of
judgment of foreclosure and sale of a portion of a large piece of ground (Ward
21) which Joseph Henderson and Angelina A. Henderson owned, granted and
conveyed unto behalf of George A. Wilhelm, his heirs and assigns
28
.
In 1879, Joseph and Angelina moved from the 983 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn
address into the brownstone house on 633 Willoughby Avenue in the Flatbush
district. From 1879 to 1890, Joseph was listed as living at 633 Willoughby Ave.
29
27
"The William Bell, A New York Pilot Boat", the 1969 issue of The Log of Mystic
Seaport, PG 17.
28
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Newspaper, pg. 4, May 13, 1874.
29
Mary's Family Connections, 1979, pg. 100
Page xxi
The Alarm Company and MPTV
On March 27 1946, Avon Allied Products, Inc., of New York City registered
37,220 shares of preferred stock and 100,000 shares of common stock. This was
the companys first over-the-counter offering of stock to the public. Avon was not
listed on the New York Stock Exchange until April 20, 1964.
The first television advertising was launched in 1953.
In 1972, sales of Avon reached $1 billion.
In 1975, Mr. Henderson retired as a member of the Avon Board of Directors. In
his 35 years on the board, he participated in many important, far-reaching
decisions, which helped shape Avon.
In 1945, Jerry came to Carmel by the Sea in California with his wife and family.
They both fell in love with the Carmel village and bought a house overlooking the
Carmel Mission. The Hollywood actor, Melvin Douglas, previously owned the
house. The address was 2756 Mission Road. Jerry lived in this house with his
wife and his two daughters.
In 1948, Jerry met Ruben Tice who owned an electrical supply store in Monterey.
Jerry worked for Tice Electric "for free" where he met Owen Patrick, who worked
as a radio repair technician.
According to Owen Patrick, Jerry came to the door of the repair shop looking for
all the world like a farmer that had just plowed the back forty. He said Im Jerry
Henderson, and I want to learn something about electronics. Ill sort resistors,
and other parts, and Ill even sweep the floors. My price is right; Ill work for
nothing. I said without hesitation youre hired. He did everything he promised
and then some.
While working for Tice Electric, Jerry created the Alarm Corporation because
somebody had stolen a potted geranium from his front porch in Carmel. Jerry
and Owen Patrick developed, in Jerrys garage, a silent burglar alarm system
that would phone the police and a prerecorded message would tell the police that
a burglar had just entered. Owen Patrick became Vice President and engineer of
the Alarm Corporation.
Ernest Gordon Pratt, who was living on the James estate in the Carmel
Highlands, helped setup the books and organized the company as a California
corporation. According to Gordon, Cappy Martin, a local political lawyer, handled
the incorporation and various franchises. He was the Alarm Corp. attorney for 22
years
Most of what we know about Joseph Henderson was passed down through
family legend, using federal and state census records, and from newspaper
stories. There is still some debate as to who Josephs parents were and how he
got to New York. Josephs grandson, Girard Brown Henderson, wrote in his
autobiography the following perspective: It is alleged by my father and my aunts
and uncles that Joseph Henderson was an orphan raised by a mean uncle. He
ran away at sixteen to become a cabin boy and changed his name. He retained
his given name Joseph, but whatever his family name was he didnt like it and
changed it to Henderson.
3

In 1842, at sixteen years old, Joseph Henderson left Charleston, South Carolina
to find passage to New York as a cabin boy on a ship traveling to New York City.
By the age of twenty-one, he was captain of his own schooner and a New York
Sandy Hook pilot. This was quite an accomplishment for someone in those days.
Mary A. Lathrop, first wife of Alexander D. Henderson Jr, wrote in her book,
Marys Family Connections
, the following account, which was told to her by Jerry
Henderson: that he was raised in the Carolinas by foster parents, running away
as a teenager to sea as a cabin boy, and becoming a sea captain at the age of
twenty-one.
4
Josephs great-grandson, Allen Douglas Henderson, did research into the family
history in 1993. He hired a certified genealogist, Brent Holcomb, who reported; I
think that we have a very good case for Alexander Henderson as the father of
Joseph Henderson. This statement was based on ship and marriage records.
Ship records indicate that a passenger arrived in 1821, at the port of Charleston
on the ship Jane. He was Alexander Henderson, age 21, Male, Laborer, from
Liverpool, to inhabit the United States.
5
The 1825 Charleston City Directory lists Alexander Henderson as living at 84
Queen Street, Charleston, South Carolina. He was also listed as a watchmaker.
Marriage records from the St Phillips Church in Charleston indicate, that
Alexander Henderson married Mrs. Jane Eccles on July 18, 1822
6
.
Alexander Henderson died on March 4, 1826
7
. Since Joseph Henderson was
born on September 9, 1826, it is possible that he was conceived before his father
died. If the connection with Alexander Henderson is correct, Joseph Hendersons
ancestry can be traced back to Monaghan, Ireland. Alexander Hendersons
tombstone inscription reads: To the memory of Alexander Henderson a native of
3
Jerrys autobiography, So Long, It's Been Good To Know You
, page 1
4
Marys Family Connections
, Mary Anthony Lathrop, Page 99
5
The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Volume XIX, Number 1
6
Register of St Phillips Church Charleston, South Carolina
7
Marriage and Death Notices from the Southern Patriot, 1815-1830
Page v
The Union Warehouse
Census. The 1880 census lists Alexander D. Henderson as sixteen years old,
going to school and living with his parents at 983 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, New
York. Sometime after 1880 the family moved to the 633 Willoughby Avenue
address.
On November 28, 1886, the opening reception of The Orchis was held at the
residence of Mr. Alexander D. Henderson, 633 Willoughby Avenue at 9 oclock in
the evening. Mr. A. D. Henderson was the chairman of the Reception Committee.
The event included dancing, music, and refreshments. Among those present
were: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Henderson, Mr. Maurice Henderson, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Hendrickson, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wilcox. Miss Sadie E. Schuller
and Mr. John D. Schuller also attended the party.
Mr. Henderson was twenty-five when his father died. He continued to live with his
mother at the family home on 633 Willoughby Avenue in Brooklyn.
The 1888-1890 Brooklyn, New York Directories state that Alexander D.
Henderson was living at 633 Willoughby Avenue. His occupation was listed as
clerk. The same New York directory and address listed his father as pilot and
Maurice D. Henderson as clerk.
In 1890, the year his father died, Mr. Henderson invested his $25,000 inheritance
in the Union Warehouse owned by Mr. W. B. Bartlett with three other men. He
was made Secretary of the group. The Union Warehouse was a very large
building located in New York City, worth over $100,000.00. His salary was
$100.00 a week. This was a large amount of money in those days.
During this time, Mr. Henderson was devoted to his mother and had breakfast
with her before he went to work. He was also the advisor and management force
behind his mothers fortune and she relied chiefly upon him. The money
invested in the Warehouse was family money, which he inherited when his
father died, but was actually in his mothers name.
Page xxvii
On February 17, 1892, on the strength of his salary, at age 26, Alexander D.
Henderson married Ella Margaret Brown, age 23, from Washington D.C. She is
the daughter of William L. Brown and Margaret G. Lamb. Ella Brown was born in
the District of Columbia in 1869.
Ella Margaret Brown
1869 1940
According to the Brooklyn License Bureau, Reverend Hampstone of the
Emmanuel Baptist Church on 291 Ryerson Street in Brooklyn, New York, married
the Hendersons. The marriage announcement appeared in the Brooklyn Daily
Eagle Newspaper. The announcement read:
HENDERSON-BROWN. Miss Ella B. Brown, niece of the late United States
Marshal Daniel Lake, was married yesterday afternoon, at 2 oclock, to Mr.
Alexander Henderson, private secretary to Mr. W. B. Bartlett of this city. The
ceremonies were held in the parlors of the brides parents, 260 Quincy Street, the
Page xxviii
Ella Margaret Brown
.
,
Captain Joseph Hendersons Pilot Schooner Pet 9
The pilot boat Pet is also listed in the book
Pilots and Pilot Boats of Boston

Harbor
. In the book the following information is listed about the pilot boat, The
Pet, a boat of 54 tons, steered by means of a tiller, was built in 1866 by Edward
E. Costigan at Charlestown, Mass, for Pilot Captain Abel T. Hayden. She was in
service for a number of years and was considered a very handsome pilot boat.
On Nov 5, 1872, Joseph Henderson spoke at a meeting of the Board of
Commissioners of Pilots in their office, No. 75 South Street, in the City of New
York, about how he rescued the crew of the brig Emily
Joseph said in his
statement:
Gentlemen: I respectfully report that on Monday Oct. 28, Block Island bearing
north, forty miles distant, the pilot-boat Pet, No. 9, it blowing a gale of wind east
by north-east, fell in with the brig Emily, from Jacksonville, bound to Boston, in a
sinking condition, colors flying union down: went to her and spoke to her; the
master wished to abandon the vessel as the sea was making a clean breach
over her and she could not float much longer. I therefore lay by her about one
and a half or two hours, and succeeded in getting the crew and officers safely on
board the Pet; timber was washing off and knocking around furiously all the time,
rendering it difficult to use the boats safely; lay by the wreck till 7 P. M., 29
th
,
Page xix
Sarah R. Henderson
School 5, in Throop Avenue, Brooklyn. Two sons and two daughters survive
her."
10
On June 4, 1909, funeral services took place for Angelina A. Henderson at St.
Matthew's Church, McDonough Street and Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.
The Rev. Fredric W. Norris officiated. She was buried in the family plot, Lot
13244 at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. A tombstone was
erected, with the following names carved in the headstone: Captain Joseph
Henderson, Angelina A. Henderson, and their daughter Angelina A. Wilcox.
According to Jerrys autobiography, when Angelina died, her four surviving
children each received an inheritance of $25,000. In those days there was no
inheritance tax, so each child received $25,000 free and clear of taxes.
According to Jerry Henderson, Sarah R. Wells allegedly lost all her inheritance
to Stanley Wilcox who allegedly was a con man. Interesting enough, the 1930
US Federal Census record lists Stanley L. Wilcox, age 45, as an Inmate in
Middletown, Orange, New York. His birth year was 1885 and birthplace was New
York.
Maurice lost his money by investing in several different losing businesses, and
Mary Ann Hendrickson put her money into her husbands wholesale produce
business. Alexander invested his inheritance in a New York City warehouse.
In the next several sections, we will review the lives of Joseph and Angelinas six
children and then focus on Alexander D. Henderson, who later invested in the
California Perfume Company, which later became Avon Products.
Joseph and Angelinas first child was a girl. Her name was Sarah R. Henderson
and she was born on May 12, 1850 in New York City
11
. According to the
Doggetts New York City directory, her family was living at 93 Roosevelt Avenue.
The family did not move to Brooklyn, New York until around 1853.
The October 15, 1850 U.S. Federal Census lists Pilot Joseph Henderson, age
23, born in South Carolina; Angelina A. Henderson, age 18, born in New York;
and Sarah R. Henderson as only 5 Months old. They were living in New York
City, Ward 4, which is on the East side of Manhattan Island near the waterfront.
10
ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times pg. 9
11
1900 U.S. Census for Brooklyn, New York, Kings County, Series: T623 Roll:
1058 Page: 109.
Page ix
Mary Ann Henderson

cemetery. Robert B. Henderson III was living at 346 Hamilton Avenue Brooklyn,
New York on August 8, 1958 when the affidavit was signed.
Anna Mae Henderson died on October 30, 1962 and was living at 196 Clinton
Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. at the time of her death.
Anna Mae Henderson is buried
in the Henderson family plot, Lot 13244 Section 88, at the Green-Wood
Cemetery. Her grave is listed as in the rear right corner of the lot. According to
the Green-Wood Cemetery records, Anna Mae Henderson was a widow when
she died and is the mother of part owner Robert B. Henderson.
22

Mary Ann Henderson was born in 1860 in Brooklyn, New York. She was also
known as Mamie A. Henderson.
Mamie A. Henderson married Charles Smith Hendrickson on October 21, 1882 at
the St. Mathews Church in Brooklyn, New York. The marriage was recorded in
the Certificate of Marriage, Brooklyn #3306. Witnesses to the marriage were Mrs.
Joseph Angelina Henderson and Mr. Nicholas S. Hendrickson.
Charles S. Hendrickson was a wholesale produce merchant at 358 Washington
Street, in downtown New York. They had a daughter Angelina (Angie)
Hendrickson who was born in July 1886.
From 1887 to 1920, Charles S. Hendrickson was listed at the 639 Willoughby
address. This would indicate that the family was living near Joseph and
Angelinas home during this time.
The 1890 New York City directory listed, Hendrickson Charles S. produce, 196
Duane, h 639 Willoughby Ave. B'klyn.
The 1897 Brooklyn directory listed, HENDRICKSON Chas. S. com mer 198
Duane N. Y. h 639 Wil'by ave.
The 1900 U.S. Census lists Charles S. Hendrickson (41), Mary (39), and
Angelina (13), living at 639 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.
Charles Hendrickson was listed in the 1910 Brooklyn City directory as, "Chas.
Hendrickson com mer Duane c Washn Mhtn h 639 Wilby av. The 1910 U.S.
Census lists Charles S. Hendrickson (50), Mary (49), and Angelina (23), living at
639 Willoughby Avenue.
22
Green-Wood Cemetery record for Anna Mae Henderson
Page xiv

Page ii
Dedicated to my parents, Alexander Dawson Henderson III
and Patricia Ford Crass
Printed on
June 18, 2007
World War I
In 1909, the family had moved to Suffern, New York. Young Alexander spent
most of his early life in Suffern. His father built a large and substantial Georgian
type house on the hill fronting the Nyack Turnpike in New York.
The 1910 U.S. Census lists the Henderson family living at 142 Midwood Street,
Brooklyn, New York: Alexander Sr. (45), Ella B. (42) Alexander Jr. (15), and
Girard B. (5).
From 1912-1915, Alexander attended the New York Military Academy, a
boarding school at Cornwell-On-The-Hudson, just south of Newburg, New York.
The 1915 "Shrapnel" Year Book included the graduating class of the New York
Military Academy, with a page dedicated to each student. His record indicates
he was captain of the Football, Basketball, and Tennis teams. His history said If
Hendy missed getting any honor or job in the gift of the cadets, it was an
oversight. Quiet and unassuming in manner, modest in speech, but all there in
action, the list of his friends is a roster of the corps. He is a splendid athlete, a
good soldier and a staunch friend. It goes without saying that, so far as the girls
are concerned, he is a heart masher and a social bear.
In 1914, when Alexander was 19, the family took a two-month vacation-business
trip to buy "essential oils from the French." The family visited the oil factories that
made the perfume and see the beautiful fields of flowers in France.
At the time Alexander was attending the New York Military Academy, he met
Mary Barnes Anthony at a costume party given by Mrs. Elmer Snow for her son
Jack and daughter Olive, at Millers Inn in Mahwah, New Jersey. Mrs. Snow later
invited Mary to a dance at the Houvenkopf Country Club in Suffern.
In 1916, Alexander attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, Mary went to the National Park Seminary at Forest Glen, Maryland,
just outside of Washington D.C. While at College, Alexander continued to see
Mary. By midyear, he decided to volunteer for the U.S. Army.
In 1917, at age 22, Alexander D. Henderson Jr. of Rockland, New York, signed a
World War 1 Draft Registration Card at the Student Officer Training Camp in the
Ramapo, Rockland, New York Precinct.
Because of his military experience at the New York Military Academy, Mr.
Henderson was able to become a Lieutenant in the Calvary, stationed at Fort
Dix, New Jersey, which was a training camp for embarkation overseas. He later
became Captain there.
Page xliii
Roosterfish
Dawson 26
Boating
Las Vegas
Blue Channel Corporation was originally a Maryland corporation and later
became a division of ADI. They had seafood plants in Port Royal, S.C. and
Belhaven, N.C.
Farrow J. Smith became associated with Jerry in 1963 when he was with Blue
Channel Corporation in Port Royal, S.C. He came out to Las Vegas in 1970 to
work for Jerry. Willie Scheper was a Director and also became President of Blue
Channel Corporation.
Jerry owned Blue Channel for approximately 15 years before selling it to Borden
Foods who closed it after about two years of operation.
In 1990, the foundation made a contribution to the Beaufort County Library. The
funds were used to furnish a meeting room. There is a memorial to Jerry in the
Beaufort County Library, which was presented on February 1993 along with one
for Walter Zachowski, who was the president of Blue Channel Corporation in Port
Royal, SC and served as a Director for ADI for several years.
Jerry was commodore of the 85-foot yacht called the
. The yacht
featured spacious luxury for entertaining or relaxing in the "Deck House" plus a
21" Color TV set. It was advertised in a brochure for Dawson Boat Sales,
Mahwah, New Jersey
I remember when Jerry brought this boat to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to visit my
father and our family. We all went out on the boat for a ride. It had a color TV,
nice rooms, and was big as a house! We enjoyed our Uncle taking us for a ride.
Jerry created the
, which was a popular boat sold by the Dawson
Yacht Corporation. The company was located at 1208 Wagner Avenue, North
Las Vegas, Nevada. A company brochure titled, Story of the Windship Prodigal,
talks about Bob Lengyels three-week journey on his Dawson 26 Prodigal, which
went began June, 1975, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and completed the voyage
in September at Plymouth, England. Earlier he had competed in the One Person
Race from Plymouth, England to Newport, Rhode Island.
In 1969, Jerry moved ADI and his headquarters from Mahwah, New Jersey to
Las Vegas, Nevada.
http://www.panix.com/~cassidy/stlles/episcopalchurches.html#stmatthews
St. Matthews Episcopal Church
Another misfortune occurred on June 8, 1894 when Mr. Edward B. Bartlett of the
Union Warehouse died. The headlines in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle read: "A BIG
BROOKLYN FIRM FAILS" and said that Mr. E. B. Bartlett had died two weeks
earlier, which resulted in the Union Warehouse going into debt to its creditors,
including the loans made to Mr. Henderson in 1891. The insurance company
refused to honor the loss claim, resulting in Mr. Henderson losing his $25,000
investment in the warehouse and his position as secretary.
Mr. Henderson was left with no job, a wife and a child to support. Jerrys mother
told Jerry that his fathers hair turned white over night. For the first time, the
family was faced with no income.
Jerry Henderson said that his father learned a lesson from this experience and
had the following expression, You will never be out of work, you will always have
a job even if you are only shoveling coal down a chute, if you keep one eye on
the coal shovel and the other eye out looking for a better job.
Eventually, on February 16, 1995, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson had their second
child, which was a boy. He was named Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr. After
the sad experience of their first baby, they were even more careful and watched
over, loved, and cherished this second child.
The Church of St. Matthew was organized as a parish on May 25th, 1859 and
was located on Throop Avenue, in the Ninth ward of Brooklyn. It was located in a
neighborhood where according to records, the streets were not yet graded,
cornfields were common, although buildings were multiplying and population fast
growing. In June 1859, a gift was made for a lot, which was located on the
southeast corner of Throop Avenue and Pulaski Street, on which to erect a
church. However, the money necessary for a building was not received until April
15
th
1860, which included a lot on Myrtle Avenue. The building was first opened
for worship on February 1861. About the same time, an amalgam bell was
received from the New York pilots, at Sandy Hook, through the Rev. I. F. Cox.
Various friends and members provided other articles of furniture.
St. Matthew's was a frame building, forty-five feet wide by eighty feet deep; in
gothic style with bell tower twelve feet square and spire one hundred and thirty
feet high, and will seat four hundred and fifty persons. It cost $9,209.64.
33
Joseph and Angelina Henderson were one of the earliest members of the
Episcopal Church of St. Matthew at McDonough Street and Tompkins Avenue in
Brooklyn, New York.
33

Page xxx

The Green-Wood Cemetery
both of us are to be accounted as a part of my estate, and the amount received
by each child shall be subtracted from his or her share.
In witness, whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of
April, 1887. The will was signed Joseph Henderson.
The entire estate was a considerable one, and according to family record,
consisted principally of cash in various savings accounts in Brooklyn and New
York banks. The amount was around $100,000.00.
On October 27, 1890, Angelina gave several notices in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
newspaper for any persons having claims against the late Joseph Henderson, in
pursuance of an order of the Hon. George B. Abbott, Surrogate of the County of
Kings. They had until May 1, 1891 to make such claims.
On June 8, 1900, the
U.S. Census was conducted and listed Angelina A.
Henderson, age 68, daughter, Angelina A. Wilcox age 38, son, Morris J., age 46,
and nephew, Stanley W. Wilcox, age 17, living in at 633 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, New York. Angelinas father was listed as being born in Italy.
The Green-Wood Cemetery is a beautiful burial ground located in Brooklyn, New
York. There is a long list of relatives buried in the family plot, Lot 13244, Section
88 from the years 1862 through 1962.
The Green-Wood Cemetery records indicate that Captain Joseph Henderson
purchased Lot 13244 on January 7, 1862, for Angelinas half brother, Maurice D.
Weaver. Based on Green-Wood Cemetery records Maurice D. Weavers remains
were placed in a receiving tomb on January 10, 1861 and then removed to and
interned in Lot 13244 on January 7, 1862.
When Captain Joseph Henderson died in 1890, title to the cemetery lot passed to
his children. Then, on May 28, 1942, according to a Green-Wood Cemetery
sworn affidavit, title to Lot 13244 was transferred to Joseph Henderson Jr.s two
surviving heirs, Joseph and Robert B. Henderson.
The Green-Wood Cemetery has sent me pictures of the family cemetery plot and
tombstones, which include a large tombstone for Captain Joseph Henderson, his
wife, and daughter Angelina A. Wilcox. They have been very helpful in providing
additional research material regarding the current title and a list of family
members interned in the cemetery lot.
Page xxv

983 Myrtle Avenue
In the 1853 New York City directory, Joseph was listed as working at 69 South
Street, New York City and his home was listed in Brooklyn, New York. In the
1954 city directory, the family was listed at Franklyn Avenue between Willoughby
and DeKalb Avenues in Brooklyn, New York.
(1859-1880)
By 1859, the family moved again, this time to Myrtle Avenue, at the corner of
Throop Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. They were listed in the Brooklyn City
Directory as: "Jos. Henderson pilot, h. Myrtle av. c. Throop.
9
The June 10, 1865 New York State Census lists Joseph Henderson (40),
Angelina (32), Sarah (15), Maurice (13), Joseph (11), Mary (5), Angelina (2),
Hannah (Alexander) Henderson (4 mo.) and Mary Ann Fray (servant) as living in
Ward 9
of Brooklyn in Kings County. Joseph noted his own birthplace as
Charleston, South Carolina.
The July 26, 1870 US Federal Census lists Joseph Henderson (46), Angeline
(36) living in Ward 21 in Brooklyn with their three daughters and three sons:
Sarah R. (20), Morris D. (18), Joseph (16), Mary A. (10), Angelina A. (8),
Alexander D. (6), and servant, Mary Moaner (25). Josephs birthplace is listed as
South Carolina and his occupation is listed as Pilot. His wife was listed as
housekeeper and his children were all listed at home.
The 1880 U.S. Census, in Ward 21 on 983 Myrtle Avenue, was the first census to
list where the father and mother of the head of the household were born. Joseph
Henderson noted South Carolina as the birthplace of both his father and mother.
Angelina noted that her father was born in Italy and her mother in Pennsylvania.
The census lists the entire Henderson family: Joseph (52) and Angelina (48)
living at home with their three daughters, Sarah R. (30), Mary A. (20), Angelina
A. (18), and their three sons, Morris (28), Joseph (26), Alexander (15) and Barbra
Stroller (20) Servant. Joseph Sr. was listed as "Pilot", Morris was listed as a
sailmaker, and Joseph Jr. as a broker and married. Alexander was still at school.
On June 1, 1909, Angelina died at the age of 76, in the residence of her daughter
Mary Ann Hendrickson at 639 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. The New
York Death certificate (No. 10534) listed the cause of death as "chronic
endocarditis - senility," which was heart related. She was not well for several
years.
On June 3, 1909, her obituary was posted in the New York Times. It read:
"Angelina A. Henderson, widow of Capt. Joseph Henderson, an old-time Sandy
Hook pilot, died at her home, 639 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, on Tuesday.
She was 77 years old. For several years she was the manager of Industrial
9
HEARNE'S 1859-60 BROOKLYN CITY DIRECTORY
Page viii
Thirsty Thursday Club
Alexander Dawson Foundation
of San Francisco on the ship, President Cleveland. Their address was listed as
Mahwah, New Jersey. Jerry came back to California but Theo went to Seattle. In
1955, Girard B. Henderson and his then wife, Theodora G. Henderson, entered
into a separation agreement.
In 1954, MP-TV moved to Monterey next to the Monterey airport. A Street called
"Henderson Way went to the MP-TV headquarters and is still there today.
The cable TV company was the second cable company in the country. The first
one was in Lansford, Pennsylvania. In 1972, the company sold for 5 million
dollars to the Oakland Chronicle Publishing Company.
In 1980, Jerry bought Clearwater Communications, Inc., Coeur dAlene, ID,
which was a cable TV company. Ted Hughett, who formerly worked for Jerry at
MPTV, later bought this company.
According to Owen Patrick, the Thirsty Thursday club, as he called it, met each
Thursday evening in Pebble Beach at Jimmy Hatlos home named Wits End.
He was a syndicated cartoonist that did a comic strip called Little Iodine. Hank
Ketchum, also a cartoonist, famous for his strip Dennis the Menace, and Bing
Crosby, who had a home near Hatlos place, would occasionally join in the poker
party. They played table stakes, which can be a vicious form of betting.
Jerry created the Alexander Dawson Foundation in 1957. It was named after his
father, Alexander Dawson Henderson. Jerry dropped "Henderson" from the
foundation's name to deflect attention from him. The Foundation is a non-profit
charitable trust and is dedicated to education. This Foundation was setup by
Jerry as a tax-exempt organization. The Alexander Dawson Foundation is now
the parent organization.
Today, the Alexander Dawson Foundation Board of Trustees includes: Mario P.
Borini, John D. OBrien, Oswald Gutsche, Joseph C. Borini, and Farrow J. Smith.
John OBrien has been Jerrys lawyer since 1972.
Jerry divorced his wife Theodora G. Henderson in 1960 and married his second
wife, Mary Hollingsworth in 1964. Theodora G. Henderson died in 1979. Jerry
and Farrow J. Smith went to the services in New York. She owned one-quarter
interest in ADI, which was given to her by Jerry at the time or before they
separated.
My Visit With Uncle Jerry
The underground home was featured on the Travel Channel in 2003. The show
featured the Ten Best Bathrooms in Vegas. Mrs. Henderson had an all-pink
bathroom and it was listed as number 3. The Home and Garden Television
station also carried an episode on the underground home in Las Vegas.
Jewell Smith painted the murals of outdoor scenery on the perimeter of the
home. They illustrate four areas of the word that were important to Jerry: the New
Zealand countryside, a ranch he owned in Colorado, a view of Beverly Hills, and
his childhood home in the New Jersey countryside.
After Jerry died, Mary Henderson lived in the underground house. She later took
out the false rock structure and built a small two-story home on top to do bead
work and play cards with friends.
Mary Henderson died on October 1, 1988 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is buried in
Santa Monica at the Woodlawn cemetery.
Tex Edmonson (second husband to Lucy Henderson) purchased the
underground property from Marys estate under the Tex-Tex Corporation. The
house above ground was expanded and used as a caretakers house. The
underground home was sometimes rented out for corporate parties. You now go
into the courtyard and take the elevator to the underground home.
In March 1980, my wife and I flew down to Las Vegas to visit Uncle Jerry and
Aunt Mary. When we arrived at the Las Vegas airport, Jerry was already waiting
for me near the baggage claim area. He wore a white suite and cowboy hat and
seemed happy to see me. I introduced him to my wife and we then got our bags.
Jerry drove us to his underground home in his white Cadillac.
When we arrived at his home, all we could see was a mound of boulders. One of
the boulders worked like an electric door, which would open into an elevator that
led down to the main area of the underground house. It was exciting to see how
a mound of boulders led to underground residence. There was a guesthouse,
swimming pool, putting green, and main house. There were murals on the walls
depicting city and county scenes. There was a mural of Jerrys New Zealand
farm, his parents home in Suffern, New York. There were even murals done of a
San Francisco landscape on one side of the house and New York on the other.
At some point in the visit his doctor came to check his blood pressure (Jerry had
had a stroke in the May 1978). He was paralyzed on the left side, but with
therapy recovered most of his physical problems. I remember him saying that he
wished he started eating right at my age.
Mr. Henderson was elected Mayor of Hillsboro Beach, Florida for six years
(1956-1964). He died while still in office. After Mr. Henderson died, the Hillsboro
Town Commission held a reorganization meeting to appoint a successor as
mayor so that someone could fill out Henderson's unexpired commission term.
Alexander and Lucy Henderson made significant contributions needed to start
the Saint Andrew's School an Episcopal School for Boys in Boca Raton, Florida.
Mr. Henderson was also a Trustee at the St. Andrew's School. Founded by
people of Scottish heritage, Saint Andrew's School was named for the patron
saint of Scotland, Saint Andrew. Douglas Henderson was a 1964 graduate of
Saint Andrews School.
Today, the Schools Web site has a history page that says: The Episcopal
School Foundation chartered Saint Andrew's School in 1961. The Rev. Hunter
Wyatt-Brown, Jr. (Headmaster from 1962-63) and Eugene Curtis, Jr.
(Headmaster from 1964-71) led the effort to secure the land and funds necessary
to build the school. Many in the community came forward to support the project,
most notably Lucy and Alexander Henderson, who gave the majority of the funds
needed to start the school.
In 1959, Mr. Henderson established the Alexander D. Henderson Foundation.
The Foundation continues to support efforts furthering the goals of family
planning, affordable day care and education for all children. The Foundation
provides ongoing grants in South Florida and Vermont. Today, A. Douglas
Henderson runs the foundation along with a Board of Directors.
On July 9, 1964, at age 69, Alexander D. Henderson Jr. died at the New England
Deaconess Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts of a
blood disease.
The Kraeer Funeral Home in Pompano Beach was in charge of funeral
arrangements. The service was held at St. Martins-in-the Field Episcopal Church
Hillsboro Mayor
Saint Andrew's School
Alexander D. Henderson Foundation
Funeral and Obituary
Colorado Health Education Center
New York Worlds Fair
$1,5 million. In June 1988, it was sold for 1.17 million to a religious group called
the Truth Consciousness organization of Sacred Mountain Ashram.
Jerry was a strong-willed and decisive man who is quoted as saying, There are
not delinquent children, only delinquent parents". Jerry believed in the philosophy
of Love Of The Land and Nothing Without Labor as the basic nucleus to the
building of character of future leading citizens of society.
Jerry became interested in the Pritikin Health Diet and established a nutrition
clinic on the school campus in Lafayette, Colorado. This clinic was called the
Colorado Health Education Center (CHEC). It had a staff of doctors, lab for blood
work, etc. They had classes on food preparation and the proper diets, etc. The
four major elements in CHECs program were: Education, Diet, Exercise, and
Stress Management.
Following Jerry's death, the center was closed and converted to the main
administration building for the school.
Kenneth and Jay Swayze formed a company called Underground World Homes
and designed several full-sized underground homes. Jerry bought 51 percent
share of the Underground World Home Corporation. The Underground World
Home Corporation was located in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Swayze was convinced the surface of the earth would one day not be inhabitable
and proposed everything from underground homes to underground schools and
shopping malls. Kenneth Swayze wrote in his book Underground Gardens and
Homes published in 1980, The nuclear age was upon us, and long-range
planning was necessary to protect humanity from possible ill effects.
49
Jerry pioneered underground living and sponsored the Underground Home
exhibit at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. The exhibit covered such topics
as Why live underground? and How to build underground.
Underground living was advertised as a way to control the climate, atmosphere,
sound, security, and privacy of your home. The brochure given out at the exhibit
advertised A few feet underground can give an island unto himself; a place
where he controls his own world a world of total ease and comfort, of security,
safety, and above all, privacy.
49
Michelle Dearmond, Associated Press Writer, Las Vegas.

Girard Brown Henderson was the third son of Alexander Dawson Henderson and
Ella Brown Henderson. Girard was born at 171 Midwood Street in Brooklyn, New
York on February 25, 1905
45
. He was ten years younger than his brother,
Alexander D. Henderson. He liked to be called Jerry.
Girard Brown Henderson
1905 1983
In 1909, his parents moved to Suffern, New York to be near the California
Perfume Company factory. He lived with his mother and father in their house in
Suffern, New York up until he was married.
45
State of New York Certificate of Record of Birth
Chapter 4
Girard Brown Henderson
The Sandy Hook Pilots Association has been the governing body for the New
York pilots since 1694
25
. The Association still exists and has provided valuable
research information referenced in this book.
Joseph Henderson was one of the original members of the New York and Sandy
Hook Pilots Association. Joseph received his license as a branch pilot on the
pilot boat Elwood Walter on September 13, 1853, from the Board of
Commissioners of Pilots. He kept his license until his death in 1890. In 1859, the
Board of Pilot Commissioners was listed in the New York City directory on 69
South Street. Sandy Hook pilots were listed on 179 South Street.
Joseph Henderson was listed as one of the pilots and owners of the pilot boat
Elwood Walter, No. 7, belonging to the Merchant Pilot Association. The pilot boat
was named after the president of the Mercantile Insurance Company, and was
built by Mr. Edward T. Williams, of Green Point.
He worked for the Sandy Hook Pilots Association bringing in steamboats into and
out of the New York harbor. He was well known to all of the large steamship
owners both in New York and abroad. He was allotted the task, an honor he was
proud of, to take the US Cruiser Baltimore safely out to sea when she carried
inventor Ericssons remains to their final resting place in Sweden.
It was common practice for Joseph to stay onboard an outgoing vessel during
heavy storms that prevented him from returning to his boat after the outer bay
was reached. On one occasion in 1886, he was taken out to sea on the
steamship Celtic under storm conditions, and while abroad visited every foreign
steamship agent. During his visits abroad he formed many acquaintances, which
gave him a material advantage in his business over his brother pilots.
Josephs ships were registered in the New York Record of American and Foreign
Shipping from 1876 to 1885. For fourteen years he was commander of the pilot
boat Pet. In 1881, the pilot manual listed his pilot boat Pet as, Official No. and
Signal letters, 399-20-175; Name of Vessel and Master: Pet, Jos. Henderson; rig,
schooner; length, 54; Hailing Port, Savannah; Breadth, 21.6, depth, 8.3; tons 56;
when built, 1867; where built, Charlestown, Mass.; Owners, New York Pilots;
Remarks: 0; lcf; M5, 79; last survey, New York 5, 1879.
25

HISTORY OF THE SANDY HOOK PILOTS,
HTTP
://
WWW
.
SANDYHOOKPILOTS
.
COM
/
HISTORY
.
ASP
Page xviii
Sandy Hook Pilots Association
Turn the Clock Back Sam
We had dinner in a room that was designed for the future. Again, Jerry did things
a little different. He used an early version of a projection TV, where the picture
was displayed on the wall in front of you. That night we talked a lot and Jerry
recited a poem for us. Later that night, we went to a Las Vegas show. When we
arrived at the casino, an usher walked us up to the front row near the stage and I
remember Uncle Jerry giving the usher a fifty-dollar casino chip for giving us
such good seats. The show was great with sexy showgirl customs and dancing
on stage.
We spent the night in the underground house, which had a comfortable
guesthouse. The next day, Jerry was leaving to fly up to San Francisco on
business. He offered us a ride. This was another surprise, as it was to be a ride
in his very own jet! Before we left for the airport, Mary showed my wife her
beaded ornament collection. Mary gave her one to take back home.
The ride back to San Francisco was exciting. Jerry sat facing us so we could talk.
We could hear the quite hum of the engines. I looked out the cabin window and
could see the brown desert landscape and thinking that Las Vegas was really a
desert. It was excited to be flying with my uncle in his private jet. At the SF
airport, we said our goodbyes and went home to our ordinary life.
Uncle Jerry was truly an amazing man. He had all the money he ever needed yet
he was humble and straight thinking. He made money on his own and knew how
to use it.
In 1981, Jerry wrote the book Turn the Clock Back Sam
, which is about having
less federal government and raising fewer taxes. Jerry's long time friend, Dr.
Norman Vincent Peale, wrote the Foreword to the book. Jerry published the book
himself.
Jerry said in his book People prosper when they are free and deteriorate when
they surrender to a powerful government. I have watched our country change
over the last 70 years. The unmistakable drift in this country is toward a stronger
central government, more and more taxes and above all, less freedom. The sole
role of a legitimate democratic government founded upon natural law is to
provide for common activities, such as defense, police, and court, that individuals
cannot easily provide for themselves.
Jerry had become a Libertarian and supported Libertarian candidates and
causes across the nation.

On January 14, 1943 the annual meeting of stockholders for Alexander Dawson
Inc., was held at room 2707, 111 John Street, New York City. The minutes note a
motion that was made and seconded to elect four directors for one year: A. D.
Henderson, G. B. Henderson, Lucy B. Henderson, and Theodora Henderson. In
addition the minutes state the amount of shares each stockholder owned:
A. D. Henderson 1,250 shares preferred & 300 shares common
G. B. Henderson 1,250 shares preferred & 338 shares common
Trustees of E. B. Henderson 500 shares preferred stock
Lucy E. Henderson 200 shares common stock
T. G. Henderson (Mrs.)65 shares common stock
T. G. Henderson (Miss)48 shares common stock
D. A. Henderson48 shares common stock
On January 13, 1944 the annual meeting of stockholders for Alexander Dawson
Inc., was held at Colony Gardens, Beaufort, South Carolina. The minutes show
that the bylaws were amended to provide that meetings of the stockholders could
be held anywhere in continental United States. The Corporation accountant was
noted as Mr. Adolph Manson, who prepared the 1943 balance sheet and the
Profit and Loss statement.
On January 9, 1945, of the annual meeting of stockholders for Alexander
Dawson Inc., was held at Colony Gardens, Beaufort, South Carolina. The
minutes state that that the Chairman announced that he and the Secretary had
acted during the past year as the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
They had declared dividends to be paid on the preferred and common stock and
had attended all the stockholders meetings at Allied Products Inc, and Avon
Products Ltd. of Canada and voted the stock held by the Corporation. The
Chairman authorized G. B. Henderson to vote all the stock held by this
Corporation at such stockholders meetings.
Sometime after 1945, Jerrys brother resigned from the ADI. The two wanted to
go their separate ways. Jerry moved to California and his brother stayed in New
York and later moved to Florida.
The ADI
Company held almost all of Jerrys assets, including his stock in Avon.
Later, according to Louis Kilzer, More than 14 million shares of the preferred
stock in the company were set-aside in 1979 by Jerry for the Foundation.
Farrow J. Smith was Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President of the company.
Jerrys stepson, Roy Hollingsworth was Executive Vice President at ADI. During
1972, Roy, whose background was with the movie industry, left the Company
after buying an interest in a company in California that made television
commercials.
named Joseph Henderson, who was the third Joseph Henderson and the
grandson to Captain Joseph Henderson. Joseph was born in
1876
in New York.
Their second son, Robert B. Henderson Sr. was born in New York on July 25,
1879. So, by this time, Joseph and Angelina Henderson were proud
grandparents and had two grandchildren.
We also know from Church records that Joseph Henderson III, grandchild to
Captain Joseph Henderson and Angelina Henderson, was baptized at the St.
Matthew Church in Brooklyn, NY on August 1, 1877.
16

The four are listed in the 1880 US Census for Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey
as: Joseph Jr. (28), Mary (25), Joseph (4), and Robert (2). Joseph Jr.s
occupation was listed as Clerk. His fathers birthplace was listed as Charleston.
The family was living on 32 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey.
According to the Green-Wood Cemetery burial

records, their third son, Alexander
D. Henderson, who was born in 1880 in Jersey City, New Jersey and died from
drowning on May 17, 1890. He was only 9 when he died. At the time of their
sons death the family was living at 618 Bramhall Avenue, Jersey City, New
Jersey. On May 20, 1890, the remains of Alexander D. Henderson were interned
in the family plot, Lot 13244 Section 88 at the Green-Wood Cemetery in
Brooklyn, New York.
The June 5, 1900 US Census listed Robert B. Henderson Sr. (20) Elizabeth L.
Henderson (20), and son Robert B. Henderson
17
Jr., (1 month) living with his
wifes parents, Mr. and Mrs. Castell on 260 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New
York.
On March 23, 1908, Joseph Henderson Jr. died of pneumonia
18
at the St. John's
Hospital in Kings County, New York. He was only 54 years old. His mother,
Angelina, was still living at the time of his death. His occupation was listed as
Insurance Agent. His last residence was at 260 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn,
New York. On March 25, 1908 Joseph was buried in the family plot, Lot #13244
and Section #88 at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
The New York Times included a March 25, 1908 obituary for Joseph Henderson,
which read HENDERSON At 260 Schermerhorn Street, March 23, Joseph
Henderson. Funeral today.
Josephs wife, Mary Emma Henderson, remarried in 1910 to a Mr. Jones. There
is also a Mary E. Jones listed in the 1910 US Federal Census for Kings County,
New York.
16
Church Records from the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew
17
Robert B. Henderson is listed under births reported in 1900, Borough of Brooklyn. Certificate
Number 8516.
18
New York Death Certificate Number #6101
Page xii
Alexander Dawson Henderson
refused payment. Mrs. Wilcox says that since 1888 she has supported herself
and her child by typewriting."

Two weeks later, Frederick W. Wilcox paid $4,500
in alimony, from November 1888 to 1900 to stay out of jail. Papers were filed in
the County Clerk's office.
The 1900 US Census listed Angelina Wilcox (38) her mother Mrs. Angelina
Henderson (68), her brother Morris Henderson (46), and son Stanley W. Wilcox
(17) living at the 633 Willoughby Avenue address. Angelina Wilcoxs occupation
was listed as stenographer.
On September 14, 1901, and an article appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
which talked about the Young Peoples League of the Puritan Church on
Lafayette and Marcy Avenues. Stanley L. Wilcox of 633 Willoughby Avenue was
described as the person to exchange church publications between the Puritan
Church and other church publications.
On September 26, 1901, an advertisement appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
which read: "Select Academy, Shorthand and typewriting. 633 Willoughby
Avenue near Tompkins, $5. Both sexes. Individual and class instruction.
Complete preparation. Send for catalogue.
At age 40, Angelina died on June 10, 1903, at her parents 633 Willoughby
Avenue home of tuberculosis. Her death certificate number is 10085, which is
listed in the Italian Genealogy Group database. She is listed as Angelina A.
Wilcox, Kings County.
On June 13
th
, she was buried in the family plot at the Green-Wood Cemetery. A
tombstone was later erected, with the following names carved in the headstone:
Captain Joseph Henderson, Angelina A. Henderson, and their daughter Angelina
A. Wilcox.
On June 14, 1903, the New York Times included the following obituary,
WILCOX, June 10, at 633 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, Mrs. Angelina A.
Wilcox, youngest daughter of the late Capt. Joseph Henderson.
Alexander Dawson Henderson Sr. was born on February 28, 1865 in Brooklyn,
New York. See chapter 2, which provides a detailed account of his life and his
association with the California Perfume Company, which later became Avon
Products.
Page xvii
Hillsboro Country Day School
grandfathers house and open presents that his wife, Lucy handed to us. The
presents were always very special and we looked forward to opening them each
year. We would then have a delicious Christmas dinner. The children ate at a
card table while the adults ate at a long dinning room table. My grandfathers
sister-in-law, Sarah E. Brown came to Christmas too. We called her Aunt Sadie.
She was very old and I was too young to appreciate the history she might have
taught us.
In 1956, Mr. Henderson founded the Hillsboro Country Day School in Pompano
Beach, Florida. The school held classes from Nursery School through Eighth
grade. Mr. Henderson devoted his vast energies and considerable financial
resources to the operation of this school. He acquired the Avon by the Sea

apartments across the street from the Hillsboro Country Day School. When we
moved to Florida from California, we stayed at these apartments while our new
house was being built in Pompano Beach, Florida. We even planted some
coconuts near our apartment as a reminder of our visit.
As children, living in Florida, we went to my grandfathers school. I went to the
Hillsboro Country Day School when I was five years old. I went from Nursery
School through the Seventh Grade. I remember seeing my grandfather while he
was running the day-to-day affairs of the school. Once a year he held a carnival
at the school (I think on his birthday). There was a cakewalk, train rides, and
game booths. There was a raffle at the end of the day to give out door prizes. I
remember winning one of the prizes at the raffle. It was a black & white television
set.
The school also held a Halloween Costume party every year. We would dress up
and each classroom would come out and demonstrate their costumes by walking
around in a circle. As you walked around in a circle, you had a chance to show
off your costume. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson gave prizes for the best costume for
each class. My Mom would help us make the customs and did all the sewing,
padding, and create things using Papier-mch.
Page xlvii
Joseph Henderson Jr.
On November 17, 1923, Maurices younger brother, Alexander D. Henderson
wrote a letter to the Green-Wood Cemetery. The letter was written from Suffern,
New York on First Baptist Church stationary, which was in Bloomfield, New
Jersey. The letter directed the Green-Wood Cemetery to bury his brother in the
family plot at the cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. In the letter he wrote,
Gentlemen, Please open grave for remains of my brother Maurice Henderson in
lot no. 13244 for Saturday Nov 17, 1923 at 11:30 A. M. The letter was signed A.
D. Henderson.
Maurice was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery in the family plot, lot #13244
and Section #88.
Joseph and Angelinas third child and second son was Joseph Henderson Jr. He
was born in 1854 in Brooklyn, New York. According to the New York City
Directory, Josephs parents were living on Franklyn Avenue, between Willoughby
and DeKalb Avenues.
The July 12, 1860, US Federal Census listed Joseph Henderson Jr., as age 6,
living with his parents and older sister Sarah (10) and brother Maurice (8), at 983
Myrtle Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York.
Joseph Henderson Jr. was listed as 11 years old in the 1865 New York State
Census and 16 years old in the 1870 US Federal Census. The family was still
living at 983 Myrtle Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York.
On January 6, 1876, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper carried Josephs
marriage announcement, which read, The Rev. Win. Platts married Minnie E.
Duryea and Joseph Henderson, Jr., in Brooklyn, New York. Minnie Duryea was
the eldest daughter of Elbert P. Duryea of Brooklyn. Long Island papers copy.
There is also an account of this marriage in the New York City Brides Record
Index. The marriage certificate number is 41 in Kings County. The marriage
certificate lists Mary Emma Duryea as the bride and Joseph Henderson as the
groom. It also lists Marys mother as Alma J. Seaman and her father as Elbert P.
Duryea. Mary Emma Duryea was born in Islip, Long Island on December 10,
1858.
According to the New Jersey June 15, 1880 US Census
14
and Green-Wood
Cemetery documents
15
, Joseph and Mary had three children. Their first child was
14
1880 US Federal Census for Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Roll: T9_783; Family History
Film: 1254783; Page: 116.2000; Enumeration District: 24; Image: 0502.
15
Green-Wood Cemetery documents list the heirs of Joseph Henderson who was part owner of
Lot No 13244 in the Green-Wood Cemetery.
Page xi
On May 8, 1887, Pilot Joseph Henderson was listed in a U.S. Supreme Court
libel for a collision between the American Barkentine Freda A. Willey and the
British steamship Martello. The suit said "Henderson has been a New York and
Sandy Hook pilot for nearly forty-two years."
On November 20, 1889, Joseph was commander of the pilot boat Pet, No. 9,
which was lost in Newport Road Island harbor. The New York Times reported:
"A PILOT BOAT ASHORE. Pilot boat Pet, No. 9, of New York went ashore this
morning on the east side of Canonicut Island, half way between Beaver Tail and
Mackerel Cove. She left here at 3 oclock and when, well over to the west side of
the channel passage, the wind died out. She let go her anchor, but it would not
hold, and the heavy sea drove her boat on the rocks. The sea broke over her and
she filled and sank. Capt. Joseph Henderson and Pilots William V. Germond and
Bernard Brady, and all six of her crew came ashore in the vessels boats. As
soon as the sea subsides the Captain will go off and strip her and wreckers will
try and get her off tomorrow. The boat is a bad situation and may be a total loss.
In what would become Josephs last outing, on Saturday, October 4, 1890,
Joseph left home in his usual good health and sailed to Sandy Hook on board his
pilot boat American, No. 21. During this trip, he became ill and was brought home
to New York. Peritonitis set in on Monday.
On Tuesday, October 7, 1890, at age sixty-four, Captain Joseph Henderson died
in his family home at 633 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, New York of a
strangulated hernia to the groin for which, after three days, he was operated on
by Dr. William Fowler of 302 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn. The death
certificate no. 15592 says Captain Henderson died from the shock of the
operation.
On Wednesday, October 8, 1890, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper carried a
notice of Joseph Henderson's death, stating the funeral services from "his late
residence, 633 Willoughby Avenue, would be held Thursday evening at 8:00
o'clock. New York and Sandy Hook Pilots are respectively invited to attend.
Charleston and New Orleans papers please copy."
Joseph was a prominent free mason and was a member of Hill Grove Lodge No.
540 in Brooklyn, New York. Members of the lodge were summoned to attend the
funeral services.
On Thursday, October 9th, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper carried a front-
page article titled: "CAPTAIN JOSEPH HENDERSON DEAD - An Old Pilot and a
Long Resident of Brooklyn Passes Away.
30
" The newspaper account described
the life of Captain Joseph Henderson and his service as a New York Sandy Hook
pilot.
30
Brooklyn Daily Eagle Newspaper, page 1
Page xxiii

This story begins with Joseph Henderson who became a sea captain and a
notable Sandy Hook pilot in the New York harbor and along the Atlantic Coast
during the Civil War. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina on September 9,
1826.
1

Captain Joseph Henderson
2
1826 - 1890
1
Josephs birth date is from the Green-Wood cemetery tombstone inscription
and his birth place comes from the 1865 NY State Census.
2
The Sandy Hook Pilots Association provided this picture of Joseph Henderson,
which came from an album of Sandy Hook pilots.
Page iv
Chapter 1
Captain Joseph Henderson
The California Perfume Company
daughter Sarah R. Wells and a Communion Service, which was given in memory
of Captain Joseph Henderson.
35
Today, the St. Matthew Church is part of the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew,
which is at 520 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.
Mr. David H. McConnell, born in Oswego, New York, started his business as a
drummer, which means a salesman who would peddle merchandise from a
wagon, door-to-door, farm to farm. He began working for a small company in
Manhattan called the Union Publishing Company in 1877. He traveled New
England on horseback selling Pilgrims Progress and The American Book of
Home Nursing, according to the New York Times.
According to Katina L. Manko, in 1886, Mr. McConnell purchased half of Union
Publishing for $500 when one of its owners moved south.
While selling books from house to house, Mr. McConnell had discovered, as a
means of getting his foot in the door, that by offering prospective clients a small
vial of perfume he attracted immediate attention. In fact, the perfume attracted
more attention than the books.
The company dates back to 1886 when Mr. McConnell first started the business
in a small office at 126 Chambers Street, in lower New York City. The business
grew rapidly and soon two floors were occupied in the building on Chambers
Street.
Mr. McConnell had a sizable sales force peddling books, so in 1892, he asked
them to help introduce a new scheme for selling perfumes and extracts. To help
distinguish his company and representatives from drummers and peddlers,
McConnell created an all-female sales force, which worked and sell in their own
towns. They were called Depot Agents, because they often lived in towns with a
railroad depot. Most of the agents were married and needed flexible hours and
extra income. Each Agent was paid a straight 40% commission.
Mrs. P.F.E. Albee of Winchester, New Hampshire was the first sales
representative and pioneered the companys now famous direct selling method.
In 1892, Mr. McConnell changed the company name when his business partner,
who was living in California, suggested that he call the business the California
Perfume Company, because of the great abundance of flowers in California.
36
35
Church bulletin from the records of the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew
36
Quote from an interview with David McConnell, Sr., April 15, 1936. Avon
Achieves, IE7, 1936.
Page xxxii
Time Magazine
Blue Channel Seafood Company
After the Worlds Fair the company disbanded. According to Kenneth Swayze,
We split up, and there wasnt enough market for the thing.
On Friday, June 17, 1968, Time magazine came out with an article about Jerry
that read, Avon Paying Girard Brown Henderson, a director of Avon Products
Inc., owes his wealth to the cosmetics firms cheery, door-to-door sales
technique, but he is not the kind of fellow that a stranger comes calling on. A 5-
ft. 6-in., onetime barnstorming pilot, Henderson at 61 is one of the richest men in
the U.S., and one of the most secretive.
Though he has interests in half a dozen businesses ranging from investment
companies to a community antenna television outfit in California and is a member
of the New York Stock Exchange, he is rarely seen at his Wall Street office. His
addresses in Mahwah, N.J., and Las Vegas are mere post-office box numbers;
another residence, just west of Boulder, Colo., is entirely underground.
Henderson, whose Underground World Home Corp. showed off a model house
at the New York Worlds Fair last year, likes subterranean living.
Last week the New York Stock Exchange issued an Insiders Stockholdings
report that told a lot about Hendersons financial condition. In a deal closed two
months ago, one of his holding companies-in which he has a 49% interest-sold
271,455 shares of Avon stock, worth $23 million. Spokesmen for the exchange
and the Securities and Exchange Commission called it a normal market
transaction. Even after that deal, Henderson still indirectly owned 1,035,410
Avon shares, worth $88 million; these are also held in the name of his holding
company.
How did he get so much in this day of soaring taxes? The stake came from his
father, who at the turn of the century invested in Avon Founder David
McConnells struggling perfume business-and watched it grow. In the last
decade, Avons earnings have ballooned 485%, to $47.5 million in 1965, and its
stock, after allowing for several splits, has gone up 19,000%.
Jerry got involved in the Blue Channel Seafood Company in Port Royal, South
Carolina in 1964 and acquired full ownership in 1968. Sterling Harris, the founder
and president, was looking for financial assistance and contacted Jerry in
California. They had become acquainted while Jerry was living in Beaufort during
WW II.
Little Dot
Perfume Set,
On May 30, 1895, after the warehouse company went bankrupt, Mr. Henderson
answered an advertisement in the New York Times for a job as a bookkeeper for
David Hall McConnell. Mr. Henderson was hired at a salary of $15.00 a week.
This was a lot less than the $100.00 a week he had been receiving as secretary
of the Union Warehouse.
In 1896, one of the first products that was produced was called the
which included five fragrances: Violet, White Rose, Heliotrope, Lily-
of-the-Valley, and Hyacinth. They soon added flavoring extracts to the line, which
were produced with the same chemical process used to make perfumes. Some
of the flavoring extracts were vanilla, peppermint, and almond. The first all text
catalog was produced on November 2, 1896.
By 1897, the company occupied the entire four-story warehouse for offices and
shipping rooms used to manufacture the perfume. A chemist, William Getting,
mixed the essential oils and alcohol to assemble the vials of perfume. All the
perfumes and extracts were manufactured, packaged, and shipped from the
office on Chambers Street in New York City.
On July 30, 1897, the New York Times announced the Mutual Manufacturing
Company of New York City, to manufacture jewelry, silverware, and household
articles; capital stock, $3,000. The directors were: Alexander D. Henderson,
Elijah H. May of Brooklyn, and David H. McConnell of Suffern.
37
The rapid growth of the company necessitated the establishment of branch
offices and warehouses. Mr. Judson D. Tiffany offered to pay Mr. McConnell a
royalty fee to operate the perfume business in the state of Pennsylvania. In 1895,
the Luzerne, PA branch was opened with J. D. Tiffany in charge.
A small factory was built in Suffern, New York in 1897. See the section, Suffern,
New York for more details about this factory. The first $500 day was recorded in
December 1897.
By December 15, 1897, the money invested with Mr. Bartlett and the Union
Warehouse was recovered by winning the suit
38
. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
carried an article that read: In the suit of Angelina A. Henderson against Maria
H. M. Bartlett, window of the late E. B. Bartlett of the Union Warehouse, tried
before Justice Jesse Johnson and a jury in the Supreme Court, to recover
$25,000 and interest for loans to Mr. Bartlett, the jury at 6 oclock last evening
returned with a verdict for $30,300, the amount claimed. The plaintiff alleged that
her son, A. D. Henderson, an employee at the Union Warehouse Company, as
agent for her, loaned $15,000 to Mr. Bartlett on March 15, 1891, and $10,000 on
March 24 of the same year.
37
ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times, pg. 2
38
Brooklyn Eagle Newspaper, pg 4.
Page xxxiii
Stapps Lake Ranch
Dariel, his youngest daughter died at Friday Harbor, WA, on Sutton Place.
Mary got cancer of the salivary glands later in life. Jerry took her to doctors who
specialized in that type of cancer at the M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, TX.
Finally, they ended up with Dr. Hans Nieper in Hanover, Germany who treated
her with Laetrile, which saved her life. She made a complete recovery.
Jerry personally and through ADI, made a series of donations to the Alexander
Dawson Foundation. The donations ranged in value from $27,923 to $467,750,
and occurred from 1960 through 1966. The foundation used the funds to support
the activities at the Colorado Junior Republic School. The ADI shareholders
approved each of these donations.
In 1958, Jerry bought a 320-acre ranch at Stapps Lake northwest of the historic
mining town of Ward CO, in the middle of the Roosevelt National Forest 9,400
feet high in the Colorado Rockies on the Continental Divide. According to
Kenneth Burnham, Jerry wanted to find a permanent place in Colorado and, with
Burnhams help, they scouted out a spot near Ward. He came with a woman he
would marry six years later, Mary Hollingsworth.
Jerry was the second owner of Stapps Lake Ranch, which was named for the
Stapps Brothers who had homesteaded it through a Federal Land Grant. Teddy
Roosevelt enjoyed hunting and fishing there prior to becoming President. After
becoming President the surrounding area was the first national forest authorized
by Congress, which was named the Roosevelt National Forest. Stapps Lake is in
the middle of the Roosevelt National Forest. The ranch was one of the nations
first dude ranches, which had a lodge, several cabins, lakes, and 320 acres of
forestland.
Jerry liked to spend his summers at the ranch. He rode horses, fished, and
boated on the property. Jerry hired Jack Lawrence and his wife to work on the
ranch.
Jerry contacted Kenneth and Jay Swayze of Plainview, Texas when he read
about the underground homes they were building in Plainview.
In 1964, Kenneth and his brother Jay built the spacious 3,400 Sq. ft.
underground house on the Stapps Lake Ranch in Colorado. Jerry spent
$104,000 on the hydroelectric plant that supplied the house with power. The
home is enclosed in a weatherproof concrete shell, under a man-made hill at the
edge of Big Lake.

Jerry established an office and home in Mahwah, New Jersey. After Jerry moved
to California, the house, according to Owen Patrick, became a place for him to
live during his monthly trips to his Avon board meetings. The double wall
insulated construction was to provide a quiet and dark place to sleep in, and to
make it as impenetrable as possible to avoid vandalism. The added result of this
kind of construction was that it was easy to heat.
Christine McConnell ran the office in Mahwah, and when her husband retired,
Jerry moved them and the office to Las Vegas.
In 1939, Jerry sailed a 77 ft. two-masted schooner called Zora from New Jersey
to Beaufort, South Carolina. The reason he chose Beaufort was he knew a Dr.
Pratt, a medical doctor originally from New Jersey and whose son became a
prominent Veterinarian in Beaufort.
Before coming to Beaufort, S.C., Jerry had purchased the Zora from the Bromo
Seltzer heir who had a very unpleasant experience at sea and was anxious to
sell his boat. At the beginning of World War II, Jerry and his family sailed from
New Jersey to Beaufort where they settled until the end of the War.
Jerry formed a Sea Scout Troop of teen-age boys to help him sail the boat and
patrol the Carolina coast for U-boats during World War II.
According to an interview with Willie Scheper
of Beaufort, S.C., Jerry, was a
staunch supporter of the community especially in the area of the Sea Scouts,
where Willie was a scout and Jerry was Scout Commander. He taught them how
to sail aboard the Zora."
On Lady's Island, Jerry built a house of concrete blocks, which were mixed on
site and poured in molds to make concrete blocks. Jerry's home was on the East
side of Sam's Point Road. According to Jerry's daughter (Terry), the doors and
stain-glass windows from his parents house in Suffern were used in this house.
The house was 100 feet long and had 7 fireplaces. According Willie Scheper,
Jerry brought his moms home in Suffern, New York to Ladys Island piecemeal
and re-assembled it around a block frame.
During the War, a unit of Marines knocked on his door one night and told him
they had a report of a German submarine in St. Helenas Sound. They asked if
they could use Jerrys motorboat and for him to show them around. They did not
find any U-boats and soon left.
Mahwah, New Jersey
Laurel Hill Plantation
Joseph Henderson
& Angelina Annetta Weaver
|Sarah R. Henderson
|& John H. Wells
|Maurice D. Henderson
|Joseph Henderson Jr.
|& Minnie E. Duryea
||Robert B. Henderson Sr.
||& Lillie Elizabeth Castell
|||Robert B. Henderson Jr.
|||& Anna Mae Snell
||Joseph Henderson
||& Jennie [Henderson]
||Alexander D. Henderson
|Mary Ann Henderson
|& Charles Smith Hendrickson
||Angelina Hendrickson
|Angelina A. Henderson
|& Frederick W. Wilcox
|Alexander Dawson Henderson Sr.
|& Ella Margaret Brown
||Joseph D. Henderson
||Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr.*
||& Lucia Maria Ernst
|||Allen Douglas Henderson*
|||& Barbara Henderson
|||Allen Douglas Henderson*
|||& Cassandra Northway
||Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr.*
||& Mary Barnes Anthony
|||Mary-Ella Henderson*
|||& Stuart Walter Hinrichs
|||Mary-Ella Henderson*
|||& John Sloane Griswold
|||Alexander Dawson Henderson III*
|||& Donna Medonna Schaffner
|||Alexander Dawson Henderson III*
|||& Patricia Reid Ford
||Girard Brown Henderson*
||& Mary Franklin
||Girard Brown Henderson*
||& Theodora Gregson Huntington
|||Dariel A. Henderson
Descendant Chart
Mary and Mr. Henderson were separated in 1934 and divorced in Las Vegas in
1935.
On December 17, 1935, Mrs. Ella B. Henderson, Alexander, and his brother,
Girard, created a company called the Alexander Dawson Inc, which was named
after his father, Alexander Dawson Henderson Sr. See Chapter 4, Girard Brown
Henderson, section Alexander Dawson Inc. for more details about this
company.
In 1936, Mr. Henderson married Lucia Maria Ernst, whom he met at Avon. We
called her Aunt Lucy. I did not meet her until much later when they moved to
Florida. In 1963, Lucy and gave me a book on my birthday. There was an
inscription inside the book that reads: To Gregory, Happy Birthday, Aunt Lucy &
Grampy, Sept. 27, 1963. The title of the book is Railroads in the Days of Steam
,
which I still have today.
Mary Henderson later married Charles Leonard Lathrop whom she met on a
cruise. They lived on Lathrop Farm in Lebanon, Connecticut. They spent their
summers in Lebanon and their winters in New York. Mr. Lathrop died in 1980.
Mary died on June 3, 2000 in Greenwich, CT. She was one hundred years old
when she died.
Alex Henderson Jr. loved to play golf and was listed in the New York Times on
several occasions. On May 29, 1937, he was listed in the paper as, Henderson
Makes First Flight With 83 - Alex Henderson of Pelham, N. Y., former
Houvenkopf champion and holder of the course amateur record of 71, qualified in
the first flight with an 83.
On September 16, 1939, Mr. Henderson was listed in the New York Times sports
section. It read Alex D. Henderson, 1938 victors, that advanced in golf
tournament at Tamarack Country Club in Port Chester, New York.
On March 9, 1946, Allen Douglas Henderson was born in New York City. Doug is
my Uncle and my fathers half-brother. I remember him while we were growing up
in Florida and when he came for family visits. Once, he came to stay with us
when we rented a house in Connecticut for the summer.
In 1954, Mr. Henderson retired from Avon and moved with his family to Hillsboro
Beach, Broward County, Florida. They lived in a white two-story house on 1011
Hillsboro Mile (A1A). The house had a beautiful ocean view, a pool, and a
guesthouse.
I remember my grandfather very well. He would at times come over for dinner
and play bridge with my Mother, Father, and Aunt Lucy. On Christmas day we
would open our presents at our house and then get dressed and go to my
Page xlvi
The Alexander Trust Company was incorporated in Zurich, Switzerland, and
operated under Swiss law. Its aim was to give to a limited number of clients an
efficient and personal service in the field of investment banking with particular
emphasis on the management of customers portfolios, the trading on behalf of
clients in securities, precious metals, commodities, and foreign exchange. The
company purchased silver bullion and Swiss francs.
The Alexander Trust Company was sold about the same time as the Cecil Peak
Station in 1987. It was sold to an Arab Sheik from Saudi Arabia. Both Fritz
Haueter and Inge continued with them until their retirement.
In 1978, Jerrys love of flying encouraged him to buy and become chairman of
Gulfstream American Corporation, the manufacturer of the executive Gulfstream
jet series, in Savannah, Georgia.
Jerry bought the Gulfstream Aerospace jet division from Grumman Aviation
Corporation. In the 1980s the company sold the popular Gulfstream III jet. He
more than doubled his $20 million investment when he sold his interest in
Gulfstream about 18 months later. Jerry had invested approximately 25 million
dollars and sold it for $75 million dollars. Allen Paulson was able to secure
financing from a Chicago bank and get a loan and bough Jerrys interest in
Gulfstream for approximately three times the original investment. However, the
two were not getting along so Allen later sold if for may times more than his cost.
The American Jet was another company that Jerry created in the 1970s, which
emerged into a full-scale airframe manufacturer and was a leading innovator and
developer of specialized military, business and commercial aircraft.
Jerry read about Allen Paulson developing the Hustler in Van Nuys, CA. He
always interested in anything innovative, especially with aircraft. Allen had
company at the Van Nuys Airport that converted passenger airplanes to cargo
airplanes. In 1978, Allen had exhausted his sources for financing and Jerry
approached him at the right time for Allen. Jerry invested in the company. The
Hustler Model 400 was a turboprop fanjet airplane. The company had a 40-acre
facility located in Van Nuys, California.
Alexander Trust Company
Gulfstream American Corporation
American Jet
Maurice D. Henderson
Sarah married John H. Wells on August 15, 1880 in Brooklyn, New York.
12
They
had no children. The 1900 US Census listed John H. Wells (54, salesman) and
wife, Sarah R. (50), living on 200 Hart Street in Brooklyn. According to the New
York Death Index, John H. Wells died on August 4, 1909 (Death Certificate No.
14733). The 1910 US Census listed Sarah R. Wells, age 59, as a widow living as
a lodger at a home on 283 Hart Street in Brooklyn, New York.
On August 18, 1919, at age 69, Sarah died and was buried in the family plot at
the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
On August 19, 1919, a notice of her death appeared in the New Jersey Asbury
Park Evening Press. It reads: Wells, Sarah R. (Henderson) 72, 8/19/19.
13
The next day, the Brooklyn Daily Standard Union wrote "Sarah R. Wells, widow
of John H. Wells and daughter of the late Capt. Joseph Henderson, died Sunday
at her home, 953 Greene Avenue (Brooklyn). She had lived in Brooklyn
practically all her life. Funeral services were held this afternoon at her late home.
Interment at Greenwood Cemetery."
In the St. Matthew Church 1931-1932 church bulletin, a Memorial section listed
that Sarah R. Wells, who gave a table in memory of Angelina A. Henderson.
Joseph and Angelina Henderson had five other children. In 1851, Maurice D.
Henderson, the oldest son, was born in New York City, most likely near
Roosevelt Avenue.
Maurice, who never married, lived with his mother at 633 Willoughby Avenue in
Brooklyn most of his life. His occupations included sailmaker and real estate
broker.
The 1910 Brooklyn Directory listed Maurice Henderson as: "M. Henderson real
estate 320 Tpkins Ave. h 639 Wilby Ave".
The 1920 U.S. Census lists Maurice Henderson (60) as brother-in-law living at
639 Willoughby Avenue, in Brooklyn, with his sister, Mary Hendrickson (50), her
daughter Angelina Hendrickson (30), and brother-in-law, Charles S. Hendrickson
(52).
According to the Green-Wood Cemetery Catalog of Heirs, Maurice D. Henderson
died on November 15, 1923.
12
New York Brides Record Index Results: Certificate Number 2138
13
Microfilm at the Alexander Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Page x

Trip To Europe

value of $15,675,000. Mr. Henderson by his holdings of common and preferred
stock of Alexander Dawson, Inc., had a net worth of approximately
$150,000,000.
On December 8, 1967, it was alleged Girard B. Henderson, by virtue of his voting
control over the affairs of Alexander Dawson, Inc., caused the board of directors
to be reduced in number from eight to three persons, namely himself, the
defendant Bengt Ljunggren, and Mr. Henderson's daughter, Theodora H. Ives.
That same month, it was alleged that Mr. Henderson (over the objection of the
director, Mrs. Ives) caused the board and the majority of the voting stock of
Alexander Dawson, Inc., to improperly contribute $528,000 to the Alexander
Dawson Foundation.
As of September 30, 1968, Theodora G. Henderson in addition to her interest in
the Theodora Holding Corporation, was the holder of the following shares of
preferred stock of the Alexander Dawson, Inc., namely, 3,000 of first preferred,
12,000 of second preferred and 22,000 of third preferred.
In 1969, the judged ruled, The gift here under attack was made from gross
income and had a value as of the time of giving of $523,000 in a year in which
Alexander Dawson, Inc.'s total income was $19,144,229.06, or well within the
federal tax deduction limitation of 5% of such income. It is accordingly obvious, in
my opinion, that the relatively small loss of immediate income otherwise payable
to plaintiff and the corporate defendant's other stockholders, had it not been for
the gift in question, is far outweighed by the overall benefits flowing from the
placing of such gift in channels where it serves to benefit those in need of
philanthropic or educational support, thus providing justification for large private
holdings, thereby benefiting plaintiff in the long run. Finally, the fact that the
interests of the Alexander Dawson Foundation
appear to be increasingly directed
towards the rehabilitation and education of deprived but deserving young people
is peculiarly appropriate in an age when a large segment of youth is alienated
even from parents who are not entirely satisfied with our present social and
economic system.
In August 1973, Jerry and four others flew to Europe on his King Air 300 airplane.
Bill Falconer was the pilot. Mario Borini, Jerry, Farrow Smith, and Oz Gutsche
were passengers. For safety reasons, the pilot made refueling stops half the
range of the airplane. They started August 13, 1973 and returned home August
25, 1973.
They started in Denver, Colorado with the following stops: Montreal, Canada
(where they met up with Lucy and Tex); Sept-les, Canada; Frobisher Bay
and
By 1870, the St. Matthews P.E. Church was at the corner of Pulaski Street. On
April 24, 1874, Mrs. Joseph Henderson was on the committee in charge of a
strawberry church festival that was given in the Sunday school room of the St.
Matthew's P.E. Church on Throop Avenue and Pulaski Street.
On March 25, 1899, The Brooklyn Eagle published a notice about the St.
Matthews Episcopal Church on Throop Avenue and Pulaski Street. It said that
with the endorsement and approval of the Rev. A. A. Morrison, rector of St.
Matthews Episcopal Church, the young men of the church had formed a new
association called the Young Mens Association of St. Matthews Church. One
of the members was Joseph Henderson, probably the son great-grandson of
Captain Joseph Henderson and son of Joseph Henderson Jr.
Membership in this church must have been important since Josephs son
Alexander was also a member. On April 5, 1899, the New York Times
announced that Alexander D. Henderson became Vestryman of the St.
Matthew's Church in Brooklyn during the Easter Vestry Elections.
On June 7, 1890, Alexander Henderson was listed as one of the members of the
St. Matthews P.E. Church in Brooklyn who arranged the reception held in honor
of the Rev. Fredric W. Norris as the new Pastor of the Church. The article said,
The room was very prettily decorated with American flags, palms, flowers and
Chinese lanterns. The Rev. and Mrs. Norris received the guests at the left of the
main entrance and under a bower of palms and plants.
Rev. Dr. Morrison, of the St. Matthews Church, conducted the funeral services
for Captain Joseph Henderson from the family home on October 9, 1890.
On various Easter church elections from 1901-1903, the New York Times
announced that Alexander D. Henderson of the St. Matthew's Church became
Vestryman.
Funeral services took place for Angelina A. Henderson at the St. Matthew's
Church on June 4, 1909.
The March 25, 1919 St. Matthew Church bulletin describes the 60th Anniversary
of the church. "The rector stated that so far as he was able to discover, two
persons only, whose wills have been probated, have devised and bequeathed
legacies to the church. They are Angelina A. Henderson and Margarita S.
Demarest. Funds in varying amounts have been contributed to the church by the
living in memory of the departed, and they are not forgotten. Mrs. A. D.
Henderson was listed."
34

The St. Matthew church bulletin for Easter 1932 had a memorial section, which
listed that a table was given in memory of Angelina A. Henderson by her
34
Church Notes from the records of the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew
Page xxxi
,
On May 27, 1914. Mary Emma Jones died. She was 53 years old. Mary Emma
Jones was listed as married and her late residence was at 800 East 179
th
Street,
Borough of Bronx, New York City.
19
The New York State death certificate number
for Mary Emma Jones is #3551
20
. This death certificate lists her mother as Alma
J. Seaman and her father as Elbert P. Duryea{ XE Elbert P. Duryea }.
On May 30, 1914, her remains were interred in the Henderson family plot, Lot
13244 Section 88, front left corner grave, at the Green-Wood Cemetery in
Brooklyn. Her obituary was listed in the New York Times as Jones, Mary E., 800
West 179
th
St., May 27.
21
Their son Robert is listed in the 1910 US Census for Brooklyn, Kings County,
New York as: Robert B. Henderson (31), Lilly E. (31), and Robert B. (9), living
with the Castell family at 260 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY. The 1910
Brooklyn City Directory lists Robt B, Laundry 87 Nevins, home 260
Schermerhorn.
The 1920 US Census for Brooklyn, New York lists Robert B. Henderson Sr. (40 -
waiter in restaurant), married to Lilly E. Henderson (40), and Robert Henderson
Jr. (19) living at 260 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY.
The 1930 US Census for Brooklyn, New York lists Robert B. Henderson (51 -
waiter at hotel), his wife Lillie Henderson (51), and their son Robert B. Henderson
Jr., (30), living on 36 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
The May 28, 1942 Green-Wood Cemetery affidavit listed the addresses and
names of Joseph Henderson Jr.s two sons, who were married and both living in
Brooklyn, New York. Robert B. Henderson Sr. was living at 16 Gates Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York. He was married to Lillie (Castell) Henderson. Joseph
Henderson III was living at 66 Bond Street, Brooklyn, New York. He was married
to Jennie Henderson.
On September 3,1938, Robert B. Henderson Jr. married Anna Mae Snell who
was born in Peckville
Pennsylvania on June 4,1920. Robert and Anna Mae had
a son named Robert Boyd Henderson who was born in Brooklyn, New York on
June 10, 1941. As of this writing Robert is still living in Brooklyn, New York. He is
a retired sales manager.
On March 8, 1956, at 77, Robert B. Henderson Sr. died, per a Green-Wood
cemetery Sworn Affidavit #46847. His grandson, Robert B. Henderson III, is
listed as part owner and heir to the Henderson family plot in the Green-Wood
19

The Green-Wood Cemetery records
20

NYC Death Index Results, Certificate Number 3551
21

May 30, 1914; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003), pg. 11
Page xiii
Alexander Dawson Henderson, Jr., was born in Brooklyn, New York on February
16, 1895. He is the son of Alexander D. Henderson, Sr., and Mrs. Ella Brown
Henderson. During this time the Hendersons were living on 174 Pulaski Street,
Brooklyn, NY.
Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr.
1895 1964
The 1900 U.S. Census for New York lists the Henderson family living on 174
Pulaski Street in Brooklyn, New York: Alexander Sr. (36), Ella B. (35), Alexander
Jr. (5), and servant Mary Kiley (23).
Page xlii
Chapter 3
Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr.
Colorado Aero Tech


Baffin Island, Canada; Sndre Strmfjord, Greenland (where they had to chase a
caribou off the runway so they could land); Reykjavk, Iceland; Inverness,
Scotland; Zrich, Switzerland; Naples and the Isle of Ischia, Italy.
The return trip was from Frankfort, Germany; Hanover, Germany (where Jerry
met with Dr. Hans Nieper who was in alternative medicines such as Laetrile and
had cured Mary Henderson of throat cancer after the M D. Anderson Hospital in
Houston had given up); Dundee, Scotland; Reykjavk, Iceland; Narssaq,
Greenland; Sept-les, Canada, New York City (to drop off Mario Borini); Denver,
and home to Las Vegas.
The two main stops were Naples and the Isle of Ischia, Italy where Jerry knew
someone originally from Carmel. The other stop was to visit his friends with
Swiss Bank Corporation, as Jerry had not thought of establishing his own
operation at that time.
Jerry and Mario played cards almost the entire trip while on the airplane,
especially poker, but whenever he played he never raised the stakes beyond the
means of his friends.
Oswald Gutsches father was a Messerschmidt (sp) test pilot in Luftwaffe and
was killed in a crash testing a new airplane around 1944 or 1945.
Jerry had an airframe and power plant school, Colorado Aero Tech, located on
one end of the Jefferson County Airport at Broomfield, Colorado, which was a
school for aircraft mechanics. He also had a fixed base operation at this airport
to service aircraft.
Jerry learned to fly a helicopter at age 72. To help pay for his hobby he said he
liked making "Uncle Sam his partner." That way he could charge everything to
the business including depreciation. Jerry formed
the
High Country Helicopters
Company near the school in Lafayette, Colorado, which did work for the utility
companies, taking skiers to high altitudes to ski back, etc. This company was
personally owned by Jerry and had 4 or 5 helicopters. Jerry did not learn
instruments and IFR, to him, meant "I Follow Roads". He was an excellent pilot
and not afraid of anything.
He had another company in Las Vegas, until shortly after his death, called
Dawson Aviation. The company was an aircraft broker as well as buying and
selling used airplanes. Ed Pardi ran this company. Ed also worked for Jerry in
Bloomfield, Colorado.
Alexander Dawson Schools

just, and if your request is reasonable you cannot be denied." There are large
oak trees with moss around the chapel, which is on the bank of a large pond with
several kinds of birds.
Inside the chapel are some beautiful paintings from the Old Testament in the
Bible, painted by Jerrys friend, Jewell Smith. Many of the paintings are from
book of Exodus. These paintings are fastened to both sides of the ceiling and on
the walls. Jewell Smith also did the paintings for the Underground Homes in
Colorado, Las Vegas, and the New York Worlds Fair exhibit.
Sometime following his death the Corporation (ADI) sold Laurel Hill Plantation
with the exception of one acre for the chapel and retained the rights of ingress
and egress. There is a cemetery adjacent to this one-acre that has been there
for many years and ADI also retains the right of access.
Jerrys Will left an estimated $57 million in trust for the foundation that runs the
Alexander Dawson Schools. In his will, Jerry directed that the remaining assets
not bequeathed to any person or organization would go to the Alexander Dawson
Foundation.
A group of foundation trustees, former employees, and friends return to Jerrys
Chapel in S.C. every two years and pay respects. On April 9, 1995, Tom Collins
and Walter Sarad paid homage to Jerry by playing the Taps and the Turn the
Clock Back Sam, a tune based on Jerrys book.
On March 31, 1999, the Alexander Dawson Foundation
completed a second
private school at a cost of approximately $30 million on West Desert Inn Road in
Las Vegas, Nevada. The school offers a rigorous, traditional liberal arts
curriculum.
The Alexander Dawson School in Las Vegas is impressive. The architecture of
the buildings was designed to blend in with the desert landscape with rich red,
brown, and yellow colors. The school was built after Jerrys death by the schools
board of trustees, most of who knew Jerry and continue to promote his mission.
The Alexander Dawson School in Las Vegas is located at 10845 West Desert Inn
Road, Las Vegas, Nevada. The Board of Trustees of the philanthropic Alexander
Dawson Foundation continue to run the Alexander Dawson Schools and the
Alexander Dawson Foundation from the Dawson Buildings at 4045 South
Spencer Street in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On January 25, 2005, the Board of Trustees celebrated the 100th anniversary of
Jerry's birthday at the Alexander Dawson School in Colorado.
Jerry discovered the Cecil Peak Station sheep ranch while on vacation in New
Zealand during the late 1960s. In 1976 Jerry loaned Pop Eye Lucas, the owner
of the Cecil Peak Station, money secured by the station. Pop Eye was a WW II
pilot and war hero whom Jerry liked. The station was on Lake Wakatipu across
from Queenstown, New Zealand (South Island). The only access was either by
boat or the grass landing strip Jerry built.
Jerry had to foreclose because Mr. Lucas had breached the agreement by letting
the property run down and selling the cattle and sheep far below the minimum
stated in the loan agreement. The foreclosure became a political issue in New
Zealand and made all the national and local news. It was finally settled in Jerrys
favor. The New Zealand government then passed a law that no foreigner could
own more than five acres of land without prior government approval.
Jerry built an octagonal home on the Cecil Peak Station prior to ADI acquiring it.
The Cecil Peak Station was sold in 1986. It was over 34,000 acres. At one point
it had 10,000 sheep, 1,000 cattle, and 200 red deer in addition to the tourist
attraction.
The Cecil Peak Sheep Station tour was advertised as running twice a day. A
66-passenger boat would arrive at the wharf at Collins Bay, Cecil Peak. Visitors
would then board two diesel buses in route to the 100 year-old homestead. Part
of the visit was a chance to watch a sheep dog at work, rounding up sheep, and
bringing them close for visitors to touch and photograph.
Around 1977, Jerry flew a Convair 580 turbo prop airplane, which was originally
built for Bethlehem Steel Corporation for corporate use. Jerry took off for New
Zealand with only Jerry, Farrow Smith, Bill Falconer the pilot, and the co-pilot.
According to Farrow Smith, We landed in Honolulu and since it had a bed Jerry
decided we would spend the night on the airplane. The pilot was sleeping below
in the cargo bay and during the night a security guard was riding his bicycle
across the runway and asked how we could afford the fuel if we could not afford
hotel rooms. We left that evening for Bora Bora and landed with approximately
one hour of fuel on board. The galley was well equipped and Jerry decided to
roast a chicken that was immediately confiscated by customs in Auckland, which
upset Jerry since he did not like losing money.
On the return trip we landed in Honolulu and the crew did not take into account
that this is a Landing Rights Airport which required prior permission. Jerry did
not seem concerned when Customs was going to charge the crew but came alive
when he heard they were going to impound his airplane. I do not know what he
did or said but he took off like a bolt and went inside. He came back with
everything straightened out.
Cecil Peak Station
Tallahassee...................................xxi
Tamarack Country Club................xlvi
Ted Hughett...................................61
Theodora G. Henderson................61
Theodora Gregson Huntington......52
Theodora H. Ives...........................68
Time magazine..............................65
Union Warehouse......xxvii, xxx, xxxiii
US Cruiser Baltimore...................xviii
Van Tassel & Roy...........................xv
W. B. Bartlett...............................xxvii
William Bell....................................xxi
William Brown..............................xxix
William Getting...........................xxxiii
William H. Carey........................xxxiv
William L. Brown........................xxviii
William Scheele.........................xxxiv
Willie Scheper................................57
Jerry was alert mentally right up to the end. The previous stroke had affected him
physically only. Farrow J. Smith was in his underground home in Las Vegas the
evening the doctor thought he should go to the hospital. The husband of a couple
he had working in his home and Farrow formed a seat with their hands and
carried him outside to the car and drove him to the hospital. On November 16,
1983, at age 78, Girard B. Henderson died in Las Vegas, Nevada of a heart
attack.
Jerry always quoted "The Song of the Mary Glouster" from memory and originally
wanted to be buried somewhere off the coast of Borneo, Southeast Asia. In fact
his Will stated the exact coordinates from this poem. After starting the Chapel in
SC, he changed his will and left out the part about the deep freeze and Borneo,
but left the part about not wanting to be cremated and that he wanted to be
dressed in a brown suit with a narrow green tie.
According to Louis Kilzer from the Denver Post, Jerrys 1982 will filed in Boulder
County said I direct that my body be dressed in a brown suit, white shirt and
narrow green tie, be deep-frozen and placed in a deep-freeze box and that I be
buried in a mausoleum on Laurel Hill Plantation, Ladies Island. As it turned out,
the body was not frozen because it was not practical to be buried on an Island in
South Carolina.
Farrow J. Smith had to take the special clothing items mentioned in the will to the
mortuary. He also found out it was illegal to ship a body across state lines that
had not been cremated. So, they chartered a corporate airplane from one of the
casinos that had been converted from a passenger airplane and was large
enough to take all the family and a few friends. The casket was sealed and could
not be opened.
On November 18
th
, services were held at the Palm Valley View Chapel in Las
Vegas. The next day his body was then flown out in a private jet, to Beaufort,
South Carolina. There was also a barbeque dinner at the Laurel Hill Plantation.
On a wet November 20
th
, funeral services were then held at the Laurel Hill
Plantation on Ladys Island near Beaufort. There was music, the poem If by
Rudyard Kipling read by Mark Ives, the Encomium read by John D. OBrien, and
the Eulogy read by Mario Barini.
Jerry Henderson is buried inside a chapel on a one-acre plot of land on Laurel
Hill Plantation, which is in the name of the Alexander Dawson Foundation. On
the bottom of Jerry's headstone reads: "If your hands are clean, your cause is
Jerrys Passing Away
Alexander D Henderson University
in Pompano Beach at 10 a.m., Monday. The family requested that contributions
be made to the Debbie-Rand Foundation, Inc. in Boca Raton, Florida.
On July 10, 1964, the Sun Sentinel newspaper of Pompano Beach, Florida and
the New York Times covered his death. The New York Times ran an obituary that
read, Alexander D. Henderson, Avon Products Director - Alexander D.
Henderson of Hillsboro Beach, Fla., a director and former vice president of Avon
Products, inc., cosmetics company, died Wednesday in New England Deaconess
Hospital in Boston. He was 69 years old. Mr. Henderson, a native of Brooklyn,
spent most of his early life in Suffern, N. Y. He had lived in Hillsboro Beach since
1951 and had been Major there for the last six years.
In August 1964, the Bagpiper of Saint Andrew's School paid tribute to him in their
newspaper and in a "Henderson Memorial Resolution," which recognized his as
a "good citizen, a man of outstandingly successful in his career, a devoted public
servant, a generous benefactor, and most important of all, a staunch and loyal
friend."
On September 23, 1964, Avon Products inc., announced it had filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission a proposal for the sale of 720,000 shares
of capital stock by the estate of Alexander D. Henderson, director of the
cosmetics company.
Lucy Henderson married Thomas E. "Tex" Edmondson in 1968 and later moved
to Boca Raton, Florida.
On December 1, 1968, the dedication of the Alexander D Henderson University
School and special convocation was held in Boca Raton, Florida. The school was
made possible by a gift of $1,350,000 to the State and Florida Atlantic University
from his wife, Lucy E. Henderson. Lucy received an honorary degree of Doctor of
Humane Letters. Countless generations of school children will benefit from this
generosity.
His wife, Mrs. Lucy Henderson Edmondson, established the Alexander D.
Henderson Memorial Scholarship. In addition, Henderson Hall is named for Mr.
Henderson, and the Chapel of Saint Andrew the Apostle is a memorial to him.
On April 18, 1969, The E. B. R. Corporation bought the property of the Hillsboro
Country Day School and Avon Apartments. Lucy E. Henderson sold the property
for $975,000.
Theodora Holding Corporation
Jerry, at first, lived in a home in Las Vegas, which was partially underground.
This became the offices for ADI. Farrow sent me photos of this yellow colored
house. The photos are dated September 1971.
Jerry also had a home on Doheny Drive in Los Angeles, as Mary loved Los
Angeles and especially Beverly Hills. To avoid California taxes, the Doheny Drive
home was in her son, Roy Hollingsworths name. Jerry kept a diary to prove he
spent less than 50% of his time in California to avoid inheritance and income
taxes.
Jerry later built the Alexander Dawson Building, an office complex on 4045
Spencer Street and Flamingo Road in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was later expanded
into two office buildings side by side and renamed the Dawson Buildings.
The South Wing was built first in 1971 and is two stories with approximately
40,000 square feet. The North Wing was started around 1973 and has two floors
underground and four floors above ground. Jerry had a restaurant in the office
building called Alexander's.
ADI leased the entire bottom or underground floor on B Level of the North Wing
to the Summa Corporation, which was owned by the recluse Howard Hughes.
They liked it for security reasons since it had two underground floors. Other
tenants occupied the underground A Level and the remaining four floors above
ground.
There was a restaurant in the office building called Alexanders. The restaurant
was doing well until the local Culinary Union became involved and caused
problems. It was later sold and eventually closed.
Jerry had the only private aircraft hanger at the Las Vegas airport. All other
private aircraft either leased tie downs spaces or hangers. Jerry built the hangar
on land leased from the county with the cooperation of Hughes Aviation. After his
death ADI was able to sell the hangar and get out of the leas for the land.
In 1969, there was a public suite between Jerry and his former wife, Theodora G.
Henderson for an accounting by the defendant for losses sustained as a result of
certain business transactions. This case is recognized as classic in the
development of the law permitting a corporation to make reasonable gifts for
worthy charitable purposes. The suite uncovered the following facts:
On May 3, 1967, the plaintiff Theodora Holding Corporation became owner of
Mrs. Henderson's 11,000 of the 40,500 issued shares of common stock of the
defendant Alexander Dawson, Inc. At that time, her shares had a fair market
Avon Products
While Jerry was In Beaufort he was a member of St. Helena Episcopal Church,
which dates back to the early 1700s and was commissioned by the King of
England. He also taught Sunday school in Dr. Norman Vincent Peales church in
New York City.
Jerry was the distributor for liquid toothpaste in Virginia. When he stopped selling
it he brought the remaining stock to his home in South Carolina, which he stored
above his garage. He also distributed the Pronto Pup cord dogs.
At the end of the War they moved to California. The property where Jerry built his
home in Beaufort was sold at the time he relocated to California. Across the road
and West of this property is the Laurel Hill Plantation, which was owned by the
Corporation and consisted of approximately 200 acres and is also on Lady's
Island.
Not long before his death he constructed a small "Chapel" where he wished to be
buried upon his death. There was enough space for two, however Mary
Henderson was buried in California. The Alexander Dawson Foundation owns
the property the Chapel is on.
The trade name Avon was adopted in 1929 in tribute to David McConnell's
favorite playwright, William Shakespeare and Stratford on Avon. For example,
Avon Talc for Men sold for 37 cents per can in 1935, and offered an "essentially
masculine" smell, according to a 1935 advertisement of the California Perfume
Company.
By 1935, the California Perfume Company had changed its name to Allied
Products Inc., and later Avon Allied Products Inc., with the following subsidiaries:
Avon Products, Inc., distributors of Avon cosmetics and toiletries; Perfection
Household Products; Avon Products of Canada, Ltd., Hinz Ambrosia, Inc., and
Technical Laboratories, Inc.
The California Perfume Company name did not change to Avon Products Inc.
until October 6, 1939.
In 1940, Jerry Henderson was elected to serve on the board of directors for Avon
Products and served for 35 years. His brother, Alexander Henderson, was Vice
President of Purchasing. Together, by 1961, they owned over 1 million Avon
shares, worth $88 million dollars.
In 1942, during World War II, 40 percent of Sufferns output was devoted to a war
contract for military manufacturing. This expanded to 50 percent in 1943.
,
174 Pulaski Street
the entire stock. This was a very good investment as both men, and their families
prospered.
On January 28, 1916
the California Perfume Company was incorporated in New
York State. Before this it was a sole proprietorship. An announcement was
placed in New York Times that read: California Perfume Co., Suffern, perfumes,
cosmetics, flavoring, extracts, fruit juices, household supplies, carry on business
with $75,000: W. Scheele, A. D. Henderson, D. H. McConnell, Suffern.
In 1920, CPC reached $1 million in sales. On May 3, 1923, the auditing firm,
Hurdman and Cranstoun issued a report on the books and records of the
California Perfume Company. At the end of 1922, CPC was earning $280,000 on
sales of $1,205,000, giving them net earnings of $215,000. In this report, under
Accounts Receivable, A D Henderson, Sr., was listed with an account receivable
for $2,000.00.
On December 11, 1924, Mr. William Scheele died, which was a great loss for the
company. As General Sales Manager, he was in charge of all sales for CPC.
According to Jerry, he was a young man in his thirties, and died of an operation
for appendicitis. Mr. Alonzo E. Williams, Manager Western Division New York
Office, succeeded him as Secretary.
In 1928, CPC introduced its first Avon brand products. This included a
toothbrush, powdered cleanser, vanity sets, and talcum powder. Sales
representatives were active in all 48 states of the United States.
In 1929, CPC reached $2,500,000 in sales. The number of sales representatives
grew from 16,000 in 1920 to 25,000 in 1929. CPC had created a complete Avon
line. Each package had a blue and silver package design.
Today, sales representatives number about five million. Avon products are sold
in over 100 countries around the world.
Mr. Henderson Sr. and his family lived at 174 Pulaski Street for about eight
years, from 1897 to 1905.
The 1897 and 1898 LAIN'S DIRECTORY Brooklyn Directory listed Mr.
Henderson as: HENDERSON Alex. D. mgr. h 174 Pulaski.
The 1900 U.S. Federal Census listed the Henderson family as living on 174
Pulaski Street in Brooklyn, New York: Alexander Sr. (36) and Ella B. (35),
Alexander Jr. (5), and servant Mary Kiley (23).
Page xxxv
This article also stated, Funeral services will be held this evening over the
remains of Captain Joseph Henderson, one of the oldest New York and Sandy
Hook pilots, who died suddenly of peritonitis, in his 65
th
year, at his home, 633
Willoughby avenue, on Tuesday. Captain Henderson had been a resident of the
twenty-first ward of this city for over thirty-five years.
The same day, the Rev. Dr. A. Morrison, rector of St. Matthews Episcopal
Church, conducted the funeral services from the family home on 633 Willoughby
Avenue.
On Friday, October 10, 1890, Captain Joseph Henderson was buried in the
family plot, lot #13244 section 88, in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New
York.
On Sunday, October 12, 1890, Joseph's obituary appeared in the New Orleans
Daily Picayune. It read: "DIED: HENDERSON - In New York city on Tuesday,
Oct. 7, 1890, Captain Joseph Henderson New York and Sandy Hook pilot age 64
years 29 days."
Josephs Will dated April 11, 1887, left his entire estate to his window, Angelina,
with his six children as contingent legatees. In his Will, Joseph states, I Joseph
Henderson of the city of Brooklyn do make publish and declare this to be my last
will and testament. I revoke all other former wills by me. I direct my Executor to
pay all my just debts and funeral expenses. I give desire and bequeath all my
estate real and personal to my wife Angelina A. Henderson to her and her heirs
and assignees forever.
I appoint my said wife Angelina to be sole Executor of this my last will and
testament and authorize and empower her to sell any and all of my real estate
and good and sufficient deeds to give therefore.
In case, however I survive my said wife my will is as follows. I appoint the Bank
and Trust Company a corporation located in the city of Brooklyn to be sole
Executor of my last will and testament and direct it to pay all and just debts and
funeral expenses.
I give, bequeath and desire all my estate both real and personal to each of my
six children, Maurice D., Joseph, Alexander D., Sarah R. Wells, wife of John H.
Wells, Mary Hendrickson, wife of Charles Hendrickson, and Angelina A Wilcox,
wife of Frederick Wilcox as shall service me, to them and their heirs and
assignees forever, equally, share and share alike.
Joseph goes on to say, My wife and I have from time to time made deposits in
various savings Banks as trustees for our children. The amounts so deposited by
Page xxiv

Joseph married an Italian woman by the name of Angelina Annetta Weaver in
New York City on February 13, 1849. The marriage ID 2220312882 is available
on microfilm at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah and in the Index
to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald by James P. Maher. She was
the daughter of Joseph Weaver and Mary Ann Diackery, both of Brooklyn, New
York. She was born on February 11, 1833 in New York City.
Angelina Annetta Weaver
1849 1909
Joseph Henderson was listed as living at 93 Roosevelt
Avenue
in the 1852 New
York City Directory and in the 1849-1850 edition of the Doggetts New York City
Directory. Josephs occupation was noted as Pilot. Angelinas half brother,
Maurice D. Weaver, was also listed as Pilot at 309 Water Street and his home
was also at 93 Roosevelt Avenue. He was later listed at 37 South Street.
Page vii
Angelina Annetta Weaver




Charles Wannamaker and was completed in 1910.
According to the 1920
Census, the house was located at 173 South
Monsey
Road
, Suffern, New York.
The house was a large Georgian type house, which sat on the hill near the Nyack
Turnpike in Suffern, New York. A butler and household cook accommodated the
household. Mrs. Henderson (Ella Brown) had a fourteen-acre working farm with a
dairy cow, large vegetable garden, icehouse, stocked fish, and a huge
greenhouse. She ran a well-appointed house in the manner of the day, with fine
silver, crystal, dishes, the best of linen, and oriental rugs.
In Mrs. Hendersons room, in Suffern, there was a picture of Captain Joseph
Henderson in a large gold frame on the wall. He apparently looked like Andrew
Carnegie. He had a square face and wore sideburns and chin whiskers. There
was also an oil painting in the downstairs hall over the fireplace of the schooner
Pet 9. The hall was large enough to sit in.
Mr. Henderson and Mr. McConnell worked well together. They both had a
religious background, a compulsive sense of ethics, known in the Protestant
concept of religion as a dedication to good works, and they both had a
sympathetic regard for others, especially people who worked for them. They
believed in the value of work themselves, and promoted the idea in others.
There was no playing baseball on the Hendersons front lawn on Sundays, or any
playing of cards in the house. This was also true of the McConnells.
In January 1914, the Hendersons and the McConnells went to Florida for a two-
week vacation. Mr. McConnell and Mr. Henderson were ardent golfers and
thoroughly enjoyed playing the game. The children stayed in New York as
boarders in school.
According to the Suffern newspaper, when Mr. Henderson selected Suffern as
his permanent home, he became interested in every movement that spelt
progress for the community. He was for many years a member of the vestry of
Christ Church in Suffern. He
was a member of the Board of Governors of the
Houvenkopf County Club, president of the Rockland Country Branch of the State
Charities Aid Association, and was interested in the American Red Cross, giving
it much time and thought.
Mr. Henderson believed in a good local newspaper and became treasurer and
director of the Ramapo Valley Independent when the old Suffern Independent
was sold.
He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Houvenkopf Country Club,
president of the Rockland County Branch of the State Charities Aid Association,
and was interested in the American Red Cross. His son, Alex Henderson,
played golf at the club and later held the course amateur champion record.
Page xxxvii
The second meeting of the board of directors for Alexander Dawson, Inc. was
held the following year, on January 21, 1936. In this meeting it was resolved that
the funds of the Corporation be deposited with the Brooklyn Trust Company,
Brooklyn, New York.
On December 31, 1936 a meeting of the board of directors for Alexander
Dawson Inc., was held at the home of Mrs. Ella B. Henderson in Suffern, New
York. In this meeting, they elected John G. Turnbull as a fourth director of the
Company to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, the
income of the Company was examined and it was found that sufficient income
was available to pay a dividend of its preferred and common stock to
stockholders of record.
On March 1, 1940 a special meeting of the board of directors for Alexander
Dawson Inc., was held at room 2707, 111 John Street, Borough of Manhattan,
New York City. At this meeting it was announced, With deep sorrow, the death
of Mrs. Ella B. Henderson on January 17, 1940, was recorded. The board voted
and elected Alexander D. Henderson as President of the Corporation and Girard
B. Henderson was elected as Vice President and Treasurer.
On March 29, 1940 a special meeting of the board of directors for Alexander
Dawson Inc., was held at room 2707, 111 John Street, New York City. It was
decided at this meeting to open an account with the Chase National Bank of New
York, at the Rockefeller Center Branch so that dividends from Allied Products
Inc., could be deposited. In addition, it was declared that the company provides
a dividend on shares of its preferred stock, payable on April 15, 1940; and that
yearly salaries be made to the President and Vice-President.
On October 29, 1940, a special meeting of the board of directors for Alexander
Dawson, Inc. was held at room 2707, 111 John Street, New York City. It was
resolved at this meeting that a dividend of $5.00 a share be declared on the
common stock of the Company to be paid October 29, 1940, to stockholders of
record of that date. Mr. Turnbull reported that securities recently sold to the
Company by the Executors of the Estate of Ella B. Henderson had been
transferred to the Company. Jerry Henderson stated that he was going to
Suffern, New York, and that he would cancel the lease of the safe deposit box at
the Lafayette Bank & Trust Company and withdraw all of the securities.
On December 26, 1940, a special meeting of the board of directors for Alexander
Dawson, Inc. was held at room 2707, 111 John Street, New York City. It was
resolved at this meeting that a dividend of $22.00 a share on the common stock
of the Company ($22,000) to be paid to stockholders of record of that date. In
addition, it was decided to close the Estate of Ella B. Henderson and that
Alexander D. Henderson and Girard B. Henderson assume payment of loads
totaling $56,000 to the Estate.
Grizzly Riders
Underground Houses
They began looking for a place to manufacture the airplane, which is how we
acquired Gulfstream. Gulfstream then became his primary interest and the
Hustler was never built commercially.
In 1980, He and Jerry could not get along and Allen was able to get financing
and purchased ADIs interest for three times Jerrys investment.
Jerry played the washboard with the Grizzly Rider band at Bud Ozmuns ranch
near Missoula, Montana. He played the washboard with a set of thimbles on his
fingers. He was a member of the Grizzly Riders, which was part of a Foundation
associated with the University of Montana. They would camp and ride in the
wilderness for several days each year and would invite alumni and supporters.
Jerry was also a member of the Roundup Riders of the Rockies in Colorado.
They would ride during the day and at the end of the day a camp was set up for
them to sleep and have meals. Jerry would ride a mule instead of a horse.
Jerry was a lifelong learner. He learned to fly a helicopter in his 70s and he
started learning to play the organ. Jerry had an organ in both his home and office
where a music teacher came in almost daily to give him lessons as therapy
following his stroke.
In 1978, Jerry built a 6,000 square foot luxurious underground home within a
15,000 square foot shell, near the Alexander Dawson buildings in Las Vegas
where he lived. You took an elevator down into the underground home 25 feet
below ground. There was a main two-bedroom house, heated swimming pool
with cascading waterfall, a guesthouse and "outdoor" walkways. It had a remote-
controlled lighting system, which could turn a starry night sky into a beautiful
sunrise - all with a push of a button! The underground house is surrounded by an
Astroturf lawn, fake trees, and a fireplace designed to send smoke through the
trunk and tree limbs of a false tree on the surface.
The Las Vegas underground home was modeled after others built by the Jim
Swayze, a Plainview Texas building contractor.
Jerry had discussed the idea of constructing a tunnel to connect his home across
the street with his office, which was never done. There were many rumors to the
contrary. The home has its own underground generator and fuel tank and is
designed to sustain life for about a year.
This book is about the Henderson family and their involvement in the California
Perfume Company, which later became Avon Products, Inc. in 1939.
When I was a teenager, I was told that my grandfather worked for a cosmetics
company called Avon and that he was on the board of directors. I became
curious about this and soon found out that his father started as a bookkeeper for
the company and later became Vice President and Treasurer; and that his
brother (my great-uncle) was also a stockholder and director.
As more information came my way, I realized how lucky I was to have this
interesting history in our family. This motivated me to write down the genealogy
of my family and their involvement with Avon Products.
I will begin this story with my great-great grandfather, Captain Joseph
Henderson, who had the good fortune to acquire the means to pass down
enough money so that one of his sons could invest in a company that would grow
and become one of the largest cosmetics companies in the world.
I would like to thank the following people for helping me write this book: Allen
Douglas Henderson, Farrow J. Smith, Bernice Pratt, Owen Patrick, Robert B.
Henderson III, Alexander Dawson Henderson III, and Patricia Ford Crass. I want
to especially thank my wife, Louise, and my family for putting up with my long
hours of research that went into writing this book.
Page iii
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Alexander Dawson Henderson Sr. was the sixth child of Captain Joseph
Henderson and Angelina Annetta Weaver. He was born at 983 Myrtle Avenue
and Throop Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, on February 28, 1865
31
.
Alexander Dawson Henderson Sr.
1865 1925
Not much is known of his early childhood. He is listed as only four months old in
the 1865 New York State Census and six years old in the 1870 US Federal
31
June 1865 State Census for Brooklyn, New York. Alex Henderson was listed
as four months old.
Page xxvi
Chapter 2
Alexander Dawson Henderson Senior
The April 15, 1930 U.S. Census lists Ella B. Henderson (63), and James and
Lucinda Winne as her servants living at Nyack Turnpike in Ramapo, Rockland,
New York. The value of her home was listed at $100,000. The census included
that Mrs. Henderson owned a radio set.
On May 25, 1930, an ad was placed in the New York Times advertising the
Suffern home for rent during the summer. It read: SUFFERN--For rent, furnished,
from June 1 - Oct. 1, 18-room residence, with servants quarters, 4-car garage;
grounds beautifully landscaped; 30 miles from New York City; estate 1 mile from
main line Erie Railroad station. Replies to secretary of Mrs. A. D. Henderson Sr.,
114 5
th
Av.
The 1930 New York Social Blue Book directory listed Mr. and Mrs. Henderson I,
living at 141 E. 72 Street, New York.
During the depression, Mr. McConnell cancelled the common stock dividends.
Mrs. Henderson, without Mr. Hendersons former salary, felt the pinch seriously
and spoke to Mr. McConnell about the possibility of receiving some sort of
pension or annuity income from the company. Mr. McConnell felt that this was
not possible, but told her he would be glad to buy her stock in the company. Mrs.
Henderson replied, her husband had told her never to sell it.
By 1930, Mr. McConnell started to take a back set to corporate decision-making.
His son, David McConnell, Jr., took over as Vice President after his graduation
from Princeton. Mr. D. H. McConnell, Sr., died in 1938.
At 72, On January 17, 1940, Mrs. Ella Brown Henderson died at her home,
Nyack Turnpike, Suffern, New York. Her obituary in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
read, HENDERSON-Ella B., wife of the late Alexander D. Henderson, suddenly,
at her home, Nyack Turnpike, Suffern, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1940, in her seventy-
second year. Funeral services will be held at her home Jan. 19, 1940 at 2 P. M.
Internment will be at the convenience of the family.
According to her son, Jerry Henderson, in her Will she asked that the house be
burned or destroyed. Jerry saved a door with the family coat of arms on a glass
panel. This was later placed in the underground home in Las Vegas and is now
owned by Theodora Henderson-Ives.
Page xli
Turn the Clock Back Sam
, Jerry Henderson, 1982
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Sailor, Bob Lengyel
The Story Of Perfumery and the CPC, William Scheele, 1916
United States Coast Pilot Atlantic Coast Section B Cape Cod to Sandy Hook

1933, US Government Printing Office
|||& Bertram Robert Firestone
|||Theodora (Terry) G. Henderson
|||& Don Ives
,

,
The 1920 U.S. Census lists Charles S. Hendrickson (62), Mary (60), Angelina
(30), and Maurice Henderson (60) as brother-in-law, living at 639 Willoughby

Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.
Soon after her brother, Maurice D. Henderson died in 1923, the Hendrickson
family moved to New Jersey.
The April 8, 1930 US Federal Census record lists Chas S. Hendrickson (71),
Mary A. (69), and Angeline (43) as living on 76 Sherman Avenue in New Jersey.
Charles was listed as proprietor, Wholesale Produce.
At age 44, their daughter Angie Hendrickson died. On October 12, 1930, she was
buried in the family plot at the Green-Wood Cemetery. That same day, Mrs.
Hendrickson wrote a letter to the Green-Wood Cemetery on Van Tassel & Roy,
Inc. Funeral Home stationary (Bloomfield, N.J.), instructing the Green-Wood
Cemetery to: "Kindly arrange to open grave #8 in lot #13244 for interment of my
daughter Angelina Hendrickson, as per instructions of Van Tassel & Roy, Inc."
The letter was signed, Mary Henderson Hendrickson.
On January
7, 1934
Charles Smith Hendrickson died. The next day, Mrs.
Hendrickson wrote a letter to the Green-Wood Cemetery on Van Tassel & Roy,
Inc. Funeral Home stationary (Bloomfield, N.J.). She wrote: "Gentlemen: Kindly
arrange to re-open grave in which the remains of Angelina Hendrickson, placed,
Oct. 12, 1930, in lot #13244, for interment of my husband, Charles S.
Hendrickson. We are planning to arrive at cemetery office Wednesday morning,
am. 10th between 10:30 and 10:45 o'clock."
On January 8
th
, a special report was featured in the New York Times, which said
Charles Smith Hendrickson, for half a century a wholesale produce merchant at
358 Washington Street, New York, died here today at his home after a long
illness. He was born 74 years ago in New York and for the last fourteen years
had resided here. Mr. Hendrickson was prominent in Masonic circles. A widow
survives.
On January 8
th
, The New York Times obituary stated HENDRICKSON At Glen
Ridge, N. J., Jan 7, 1934, Charles Smith, husband of Mary A. Hendrickson.
Funeral services at his home, 76 Sherman Av., Glen Ridge, on Tuesday evening,
Jan 9, at 8 oclock. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, at convenience
of family.
On January 9
th
, Funeral services were conducted at their home, 76 Sherman
Avenue, Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
On November 1, 1944
Mrs. Mary A. Hendrickson, of 9 Woodland Road, Glen
Ridge, N. J., wrote a letter to the Green-Wood Cemetery on George Van Tassel
Community Funeral Home stationary (Bloomfield, N. J.), saying: "This will confirm
Page xv
THE HENDERSON
FAMILY
AND THE CALIFORNIA PERFUME COMPANY
Gregory Ford Henderson
was issued to Mrs. Henderson. Mr. D. H. McConnell (President) and Alonzo E.
Williams (Secretary) signed the resolution.
The resolution included the following text: At a meeting of the Board of Directors
of the California Perfume Company held January eighth, one thousand nine
hundred and twenty five, it was unanimously resolved that the Directors enter
upon the minutes of this meeting the following expression of their regard for Mr.
Alexander Dawson Henderson whose death occurred on January 5
th
1925.
Since he joined our organization on May 30
th
, 1895, our association with
Alexander Dawson Henderson has been close and intimate to a degree that
lends keenness to our sense of loss and bereavement at this time.
Mr. Henderson began his work with us as a bookkeeper and ever since the early
months of his career with the California Perfume Company he had the
accounting and financial branch of our business under his special charge and
oversight. He became our Vice President and Treasurer at the time of our
incorporation and held these offices continuously until his death. He had largely
to do with our finances and with the successful working out of our banking and
financial problems.
Mr. Henderson was a man who inspired, and who was entitled to the confidence
of everyone with whom he was associated. His wonderful ability and tact won for
him and for our company, through our different banking associations a position of
high trust and respect. A man of action always looking forward and planning
ahead, he possessed the sprit of progress and advance which we, as individuals,
and our organization as a whole will ever seek to emulate.
Further Resolved, that the Directors and Officers express their profound
sympathy to the family of Mr. Henderson, and that the Secretary transmit an
engrossed copy of this resolution to Mrs. Henderson.
The following is another statement about Mr. Henderson: Generous in his living,
scrupulous in his work; above all a family man, essentially a man of deeds,
beloved, respected, admired-and mourned. Taken in the fullness of his prime at
the height of a long and useful career, ending an illness mercifully swift.
43
Mrs. Ella Henderson stayed in Suffern in the large house on the Nyack Turnpike.
CPC had not paid any dividends.
The 1930 New York Social Blue Book directory listed Mrs. A. D. Henderson living
at Nyack Turnpike, Suffern, New York. Mrs. Henderson lived part of her time at
277 Park Avenue, New York, and the rest of the time at her house in Suffern.
43
January 5, 1925 newspaper
Page xl
Atlantic
The Brooklyn Bridge
Statue of Liberty
Adventures at Sea
Joseph lived at the Willoughby address until his death in 1890. His wife and other
family members continued to lived at the 633 Willoughby address into the 1920s.
According to the New York Times, Captain Joseph Henderson was called upon
as an expert seaman to determine the height of the water span of the Brooklyn
Bridge. This was a new bridge from Brooklyn to New York City. Before the
bridge was built, people used ferryboats to get back and forth.
On June 20, 1885, Joseph Henderson was expressly selected to escort the
French Steamer Isr, laden with the Statue of Liberty into the New York Harbor
to Bedloe's Island.
This event and Joseph Henderson's appearance was printed in the New York
Times. An excerpt from this article said: Welcoming the Statue A Brilliant
Scene on the Waters of the Harbor. The statue of liberty, after many weary years
of delay, reached Bedloes Island at 1 oclock yesterday afternoon, snugly
packed in the hold of the French transport Isr. The transport was met off
Sandy Hook by a flotilla of American craft that dotted the waters of the Upper and
Lower Bays from the light of the cape to the buoy at City Point, and from
Governors Island far out into the blue Atlantic.
It was 15 minutes after the vessels came together before a bridge was secured,
and the only man that got aboard the Isr from the
before that was Old
Pilot Henderson, who jumped from the skylight down on the quarter deck,
between Admiral Lacombe, Capt. De Saulne, and Lieut. Amet. Pilot Henderson,
not speaking French, was somewhat embarrassed when the officers, who do not
speak English, took off their caps to him, and he looked wistfully back to the
Atlantic, but Capt. De Saulne slapped him on the back, and then the old pilot
went aft to find a sailor who could speak French."
On March 11, 1885, the New York Times printed an article that read: A PILOT
BOAT ASHORE. The New York pilot boat Pet, No. 9, misstayed in coming into
the harbor last night during a heavy blow and went ashore in the upper harbor,
near Fort Green, where she remains broadside on, exposed to the fury of the
westerly gale.
Page xxii
Alexander Dawson Inc.
auto agency afloat. He told me how in one terrible period he had gone directly to
Walter Chrysler himself in effort to change certain policies that were pushing
Jerry to the wall.
According to Farrow Smith, Jerry borrowed $500 from his mother and bought a
used Dodge truck from a sheriffs sale. He then joined the Teamsters Union and
started working around the docks in New York City. This grew into a fleet of
trucks. He had the rights from the I
nterstate Commerce Act (
ICC) in all the
states.
Jerry later landed a contract to truck materials for Avon from New York City to
Suffern. According to Burnham, Hendersons mother, who was a major
stockholder in Avon at the time, arranged the deal.
The Henderson Motor Company and the Henderson Trucking Company may
have been separate companies. Farrow Smith says that Jerry did not sell his
interest in the trucking company until early 1970s.
On December 17-18, 1935, Ella B. Henderson and her two sons, created a
holding company called the Alexander Dawson Inc., which was named after
Jerrys father, Alexander Dawson Henderson. Mrs. Henderson transferred 5,000
shares of Avon stock (at that time called Allied Products Inc.), along with other
securities to the company in exchange for shares of preferred and common stock
in this new company
46
. The Certification of Incorporation included a trust fund
between the Brooklyn Trust Company and Mrs. Henderson, which was dated
April 22, 1929.
The first meeting and minutes of incorporation for the Alexander Dawson Inc.,
(ADI company was recorded on December 18, 1935 at 111 John Street, Borough
of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York. The family attorney, Mr. John
G. Turnbull presided. In this meeting Mr. Turnbull stated that the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company had been filed and recorded in the office of the
County Clerk of Bergen County on December 17
th
, 1935, and that the said
Certificate had been filed with the Secretary of State at Trenton, New Jersey, on
December 18
th
, 1935. At this meeting there was an election of directors. Ella B.
Henderson became president, Alexander D. Henderson was elected Vice-
President, and Jerry was voted as Secretary
47
.
46
The transfer of Mrs. Hendersons stock was listed in the Certificate of
Incorporation for the Alexander Dawson Inc., December 17, 1935.
47
From the Minutes and Meeting of Incorporators, Alexander Dawson Inc.,
December 18, 1935.

Seamans Institute
From Sandy Hook to 62
The Silver Spoon


,
when spoke to steamer Italy, and on reporting to Capt. Thompson, he very kindly
waited to receive the shipwrecked crew and brought them to New York.
26
Josephs effort was acknowledged by the Board of Pilot Commissioners with a
resolution, which granted that a reward, for such acts of personal risk, be paid to
the pilots for a sum of $250.
There was a room in the Seamans Institute in New York City named the Joseph
Henderson room, and the history of Joseph Henderson was properly
documented in the achieves.
The contents of these rooms have since been packed up and moved to its
current location on 241 Water Street in New York City. What remains are some
photographs of the room plagues and about 30 achieved boxes.
The most interesting story of Captain Hendersons experiences and exploits was
written in 1929 by Charles Edward Russell, From Sandy Hook to 62


, published
by the Century Co., New York.
Russell gives an especially good picture of the times when he writes in his book
about Joseph Henderson, Almost at once he began to attract attention for his
skill at his craft, which did not fall short of genius, and for his perfectly reckless
spirit of the daredevil. The courage of Joseph Henderson was in the marrow of
his bones and thence all the way out. He was of the rare but veritable genus of
the human species that literally does not grasp the concept of fear.
A silver spoon, believed to have belonged to Joseph Henderson, was passed
down as a family heirloom. The name Henderson appears on the spoon handle
and the inscription on the back reads "Wm Carrington & Co."
In
1830 William Carrington arrived in Charleston, South Carolina and around
1838 he founded his own firm, W. Carrington & Co
which remained independent
until 1872.
26

ProQuest Historical Newspapers, The New York Times, Nov. 5, 1872, pg. 2
Page xx
Henderson Motor Co.
aviation. Jerry watched the parade up Broadway when Lindberg came back from
Paris by boat and landed at the Battery Plaza in New York City with his plane,
the Spirit of St. Louis.
Jerry said, I went up to see my friend Bob Walker because I knew he had a
window in his office that overlooked Broadway. There I watched the parade. The
streets were mobbed. It was exciting seeing people throw papers from the
windows. Lindberg was sitting in a car with the Mayor of New York. I was truly
impressed with all this fanfare for him. It was at that time I decided that I was
going to get into aviation.
Jerry learned to fly at the Newark Airport. He was one of the nations earliest
pilots, earning his license in 1929. This was the beginning of his romance with
aviation and became a life-long passion. These were the days of barnstorming!
In 1929, while he was working for Phoenix Mutual Insurance Company, Jerry
bought an airplane in Marshall, Missouri. It was a two-seat, open cockpit, low-
wing model plane called the Nicholas-Bea
sley. The pilot sat in the rear and the
mechanic up front. The plane had a Pratt & Whitney Whirlwind engine, which
took off at 90 MPH, flew at 90 MPH, and landed at 90 MPH. Jerry loved this
airplane.
Jerry talked Mr. McConnells son, David, who he had known since growing up,
into having the company charter Jerrys plane to transport executives going from
Philadelphia and Albany on business. He worked the airplane business along
with the life insurance business.
During the 1930s, David McConnell Jr. had become the president of CPC and
bought cabin planes, which were much better, and cost $10,000. Jerry became
the pilot of a beautiful Stagger Wing Beechcraft airplane used by Mr. McConnell.
During Prohibition he would fly up to Canada and buy two cases of whiskey,
which he would sit on and left the seats behind.
In 1934, Jerry took his nephew, Alexander D. Henderson III up in his two-seater
open cockpit airplane from Suffern.
In 1933, Jerry opened the Henderson Motor Co., in Suffern, New York with
Kenneth Burnham, Jerry's life-long friend. The company was a Chrysler Dodge
dealership.
Ernest Gordon Pratt, in his book Life of an Unknown Man
, said: He told me
stories of the early 30s when he was struggling desperately to keep his Chrysler
Angelina A. Henderson
my instructions to George Van Tassel, director of the Community Funeral Home,
in Bloomfield, N. J., that upon my death my remains are to be placed in the grave
with my late husband, Charles S. Hendrickson and late daughter, Angelina
Hendrickson in lot #13244 in Greenwood cemetery, Brooklyn, N. Y." The letter
was signed Mary Henderson Hendrickson.
Mary Ann Hendrickson died on February 28, 1947 and the next day was buried,
as instructed, with her late husband and daughter, in the family plot at the Green-
Wood Cemetery. A tombstone was erected, with the following names carved in
headstone: Charles S. Hendrickson, Mary A. Hendrickson, and Angelina
Hendrickson.
Angelina A. Henderson, the youngest daughter of Captain Joseph Henderson,
was born on January 1861 in Brooklyn, New York.
23

She married Mr. Frederick W. Wilcox on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1880.
They were prominent members of the Puritan Congregational Church in
Brooklyn. Mr. Wilcox had two sons from a previous marriage. The June 4, 1880
US Census lists Fredk. W. Wilcox (29) Box manufacturer, living in Kings County,
Brooklyn, NY with his two sons, Fredk W. Jr. (8) and Jas A. (3).
On November 09, 1888, Angelina A. Wilcox asked for a separation from
Frederick W. Wilcox. An article appeared in the Daily Eagle newspaper, which
read: "MRS. WILCOX WANTS A SEPARATION. She makes allegations of
inhuman treatment against her husband. The suit for a separation brought by
Angelina A. Wilcox against Frederick W. Wilcox, was set for trial this morning
before Chief Judge Clement in the city court.
24

A week later, Chief Judge Clement granted a separation brought by Angelina
Wilcox against her husband, Frederick W. Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox had two sons from
a former marriage, one age 8 and the other 12 years of age.
On January 18, 1894, Angelina filed a bill in the Circuit Court for a divorce from
Mr. Wilcox, who was president of the F. W. Wilcox Paper Box Company of
Chicago and New York. She charged her husband with cruelty, and said that on
numerous occasions she was beaten and kicked by him.
On June 13, 1890, a newspaper article appears in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

saying "Angelina Wilcox is seeking to recover over $4,000 in accrued alimony
and for the custody of their child. Her brother, Alexander D. Henderson, on April
4th demanded from Wilcox all of the alimony to Mrs. Wilcox, but

Mr. Wilcox
23
Tombstone at Green-Wood Cemetery
24
November 9, 1888, Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper
Page xvi
Page i

A
NGELINA
A
NNETTA
W
EAVER
.........................................................................................................................
VII
983 M
YRTLE
A
VENUE
(1859-1880)
...............................................................................................................................
....................................
VIII
S
ARAH
R. H
ENDERSON
...............................................................................................................................
.....
IX
M
AURICE
D. H
ENDERSON
...............................................................................................................................
..
X
J
OSEPH
H
ENDERSON
J
R
...............................................................................................................................
......
XI
M
ARY
A
NN
H
ENDERSON
...............................................................................................................................
.
XIV
A
NGELINA
A. H
ENDERSON
.............................................................................................................................
XVI
A
LEXANDER
D
AWSON
H
ENDERSON
.................................................................................................................
XVII
S
ANDY
H
OOK
P
ILOTS
A
SSOCIATION
...............................................................................................................
XVIII
S
EAMAN

S
I
NSTITUTE
...............................................................................................................................
.......
XX
F
ROM
S
ANDY
H
OOK

TO
62
............................................................................................................................
XX
T
HE
S
ILVER
S
POON
...............................................................................................................................
.........
XX
T
HE
C
IVIL
W
AR
(1861-1865)...................................................................................................................
...
XXI
633 W
ILLOUGHBY
A
VENUE
(1880-1920).......................................................................................................
XXI
T
HE
B
ROOKLYN
B
RIDGE
...............................................................................................................................
.
XXII
S
TATUE

OF
L
IBERTY
...............................................................................................................................
.......
XXII
A
DVENTURES

AT
S
EA
...............................................................................................................................
.....
XXII
T
HE
G
REEN
-W
OOD
C
EMETERY
......................................................................................................................
XXV
T
HE
U
NION
W
AREHOUSE
.............................................................................................................................
XXVII
E
LLA
M
ARGARET
B
ROWN
...........................................................................................................................
XXVIII
S
T
. M
ATTHEW

S
E
PISCOPAL
C
HURCH
..............................................................................................................
XXX
T
HE
C
ALIFORNIA
P
ERFUME
C
OMPANY
...........................................................................................................
XXXII
174 P
ULASKI
S
TREET
...............................................................................................................................
...
XXXV
M
IDWOOD
S
TREET
...............................................................................................................................
......
XXXVI
S
UFFERN
, N
EW
Y
ORK
...............................................................................................................................
.
XXXVI
T
HE
T
RIP

TO
E
UROPE
...............................................................................................................................
XXXVIII
P
ANAMA
P
ACIFIC
E
XPOSITION
......................................................................................................................
XXXIX
T
HE
CPC R
ESOLUTION
..............................................................................................................................
XXXIX
W
ORLD
W
AR
I.............................................................................................................................
...............
XLIII
M
ARY
B
ARNES
A
NTHONY
.............................................................................................................................
XLIV
V
ICE
P
RESIDENT
C
ALIFORNIA
P
ERFUME
C
OMPANY
.........................................................................................
XLV
H
ILLSBORO
C
OUNTRY
D
AY
S
CHOOL
..............................................................................................................
XLVII
H
ILLSBORO
M
AYOR
...............................................................................................................................
.........48
S
AINT
A
NDREW
'
S
S
CHOOL
...............................................................................................................................
48
A
LEXANDER
D. H
ENDERSON
F
OUNDATION
........................................................................................................48
F
UNERAL

AND
O
BITUARY
...............................................................................................................................
.48
A
LEXANDER
D H
ENDERSON
U
NIVERSITY
...........................................................................................................49
FOREWORD......................................................................................................................
.........................III
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...............................................................................................................
...........III
CHAPTER 1
CAPTAIN JOSEPH HENDERSON.......................................................................................................
....IV
CHAPTER 2
ALEXANDER DAWSON HENDERSON SENIOR...........................................................................XXVI
CHAPTER 3
ALEXANDER DAWSON HENDERSON JR.......................................................................................XLII
Table of Contents

,

Mary Barnes Anthony

During the War, he wrote a letter to his mother describing his military command
and his desire to buy Mary Anthony an engagement ring. The letter was written
from Co. D, Hughes High School, in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 5, 1918.
In this letter he wrote, I have spoken with Mary and we both feel that perhaps
this time next year we will decide on something definite. And I think that when I
come home the first of September, if I do, I shall get Mary an engagement ring. I
want her to have it and I know she wants it. The letter was signed, Your Loving
Son, Alexander
The February
11
1920 U.S. Census lists Mr. Alexander D. Henderson Jr., (25)
living with his parents at the 173 South Monsey
Road address in Suffern, NY.
According to the June 10, 1922 New Incorporations notice in the New York
Times, A. D. Henderson Jr., was involved in the following corporation, New York
& Suffern Express, Suffern, $10,000; W. V. A. Clark, A. D. Henderson Jr., L.
Riley. (Attorney, M. Lexow, Suffern).
Alexander married Mary Barnes Anthony on Valentines Day, February 14, 1920.
The wedding took place in Marys family house in Ridgewood, NJ. At their
wedding, Marys father had a room on the third floor, where drinks were served
covertly out of respect for the senior Hendersons.
Alexanders father built the couple a house in Suffern, New York, across the road
from their own house on 173 South Monsey
Road.
Mary remembers, Mrs. Hendrickson (Aunt Mamie) with her husband, Charles,
and their daughter Angie, and with Uncle Maurice. They would come to the
Hendersons in Suffern for Thanksgiving.
Mr. and Mrs. Henderson had two children. Their first child was Mary-Ella
Henderson who was born on April 17, 1922. She was named after her mother
Mary and her grandmother Mrs. Ella Henderson. Mr. Henderson was delighted
to have a granddaughter and was greatly attached to her during her first years.
Their second child was Alexander Dawson Henderson III, born at the Fifth
Avenue Hospital in New York City on March 26, 1924. He was born not quite a
year before his grandfather died, but old enough for his grandfather to know that
he had a namesake and an heir. There is a picture of Mr. Henderson Sr., and Mr.
Henderson Jr., holding his newborn son Alexander D. Henderson III in front of
the Suffern house. Alexander Henderson III is my father. He married his second
wife Madonna Marie Schaffner in 1970 and is now living in Carmel Valley.
Page xliv


Suffern, New York
In 1904, Alexander Dawson Henderson was listed in the Brooklyn Directory as
"Manager" at 38 Murray Street, Manhattan, New York. His residence was listed
at 174 Pulaski Street Brooklyn, New York.
Midwood Street
On February 25, 1905, Girard Brown Henderson was born. The family had
moved from 174 Pulaski Street to 171 Midwood Street, Brooklyn, New York. See
Chapter 4 for more details of Girard B. Henderson.
The
1910 Brooklyn Directory listed Mr. Henderson as "Alex D. Henderson Sec.
126 Chambers St. Manhattan. h 142 Midwood."
The 1910 U.S. Census lists the Henderson family as Alexander Sr., age 45, Ella
B., age 42, and their two sons, Alexander Jr., age 15, and Girard B. age 5, living
at 142 Midwood Street, Brooklyn, New York.
Suffern is a village in Rockland County, New York, near the New Jersey county
line. Because of the expansion of the CPC Company, in the spring of 1897,
McConnell built a 3,000 square foot laboratory and plant on Fair Street in
Suffern, NY to develop and manufacture his fragrances.
40
By 1902, two large
additions to the building were needed to keep pace with the demand for his
products.
The Erie Railroad brought summer tourists, which included Mr. and Mrs.
Henderson who came to Suffern, New York in 1905 as summer visitors and
boarders at the famous Tiltons Hotel, which was on the property now owned by
Avon Products. They did not move permanently to Suffern until after Mr.
Hendersons mother died in 1909.
Suffern became a center of business, community, and social life for the
McConnells, the Hendersons, and the company families who were friends and
neighbors. Mr. McConnell had a son and two daughters. Mr. Henderson had two
sons Alex and Jerry. Through the years, the three boys were all associated with
Avon Products
After his mothers death in 1909, Mr. Henderson hired an architect, Mr. William
Hoar, to draw up plans for a home he wanted to build on fourteen acres of
farmland a mile out of Suffern, New York. The house built by a contractor named
40
Avon Company History, pg 1.
Page xxxvi
Monaghan, Ireland who departed this life on the 4
th
of March 1826 in the 26
th
year
of his age. He was a loving husband.
8
According to Josephs death certificate (No. 15592), he was listed as born in
U.S. as were the birthplaces of his father and his mother. The US Federal
Census records and New York newspaper references support the fact that
Joseph Henderson and his parents came from South Carolina. The 1880 US
Census reports that he, his father, and his mother were all born in South
Carolina.
8
Tombstone Inscriptions from Charleston Churchyards, 1936
Page vi

The Trip to Europe
He advocated a good, clean, up-to-date Motion Picture Theater in Suffern and
from the organization of the Suffern Amusement Company, actively assisted in
the designing and building of the Lafayette Theater.
The 1920 U.S. Census lists Alexander D. Henderson (55), Ella B. Henderson
(52), Alexander D. Henderson Jr., (25) and James their butler living at 173 South
Monsey
Road, Suffern, NY, Rockland County.
Mrs. Ella B. Henderson had been reluctant to leave Brooklyn and she went back
there to shop at Abraham & Straus, taking Mary Henderson with her in the car
with the chauffeur.
In July 1914, Mr. Henderson took his family on a two-moth business/vacation trip
to Europe to buy "essential oils from the French." The essential oils for the
perfume all came from France and Germany. The family visited the oil factories
that made the perfume. They also visited the fields of beautiful flowers in France.
Farrow J. Smith remembers Jerry saying that when the family went to Ireland and
Scotland on vacation, his brother held him by the heels so he could kiss the
Blarney Stone.
David H. McConnell quotes a letter
41
that Alexander D. Henderson wrote from
Luzern, Switzerland on July 22, 1914, which described the process of harvesting
flowers and the making of perfume for the California Perfume Company.
The letter says: As we motored toward Grasse we passed field after field of
Jasmine in blossom but not quite ready to harvest. A few weeks ago the Roses
were gathered, when tons and tons were brought to the laboratories to have their
sweet perfume removed and preserved, so that the dwellers in less favored parts
of the world might enjoy the delicate order they possessed. To give an idea of the
number of flowers picked each year in this valley, I find a carefully prepared
statement gives it as 10,000,000,000. The letter is signed, Alexander D.
Henderson, Vice-President and Treasurer, California Perfume Company.
On the return trip from Germany to New York, Mr. Henderson and his family were
stranded in Brussels for two weeks because of the World War I panic. Kaiser
Wilhelm of Germany was warning that he would sink any ship flying a French or
English flag. Eventually, Mr. Henderson got accommodations on the SS New
York and sailed from South Hampton, England to New York City.
41
The Story of Perfumery, CPC Web site.
Page xxxviii
Crosby, Gregory. Tales of Vegas Past: Going Underground. Las Vegas Mercury,
24 July 2003. Available:
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com
/2003/MERC-Jul-24-Thu-
2003/21776691.html
Alexander Trust Company brochure, Zurich, Switzerland
American Jet Industries, Inc. brochure, Van Nuys, California
Blue Channel Company brochure, Port Royal, South Carolina
California Perfume Company Financial Report, published 1923
Colorados Mystery Millionaire, 1983, Louis Kilzer, Denver Post
Dawson 26 Sail Boat brochure
Dawson Aviation brochure, Las Vegas, Nevada
Dawson Yacht Corporation brochure, Las Vegas, Nevada
From Sandy Hook to 62
, Charles Edward Russell, 1929
Gulfstream American Corporation brochure, Savannah, Georgia
Life of an Unknown Man
, Ernest Gordon Pratt, 1991, Carmel, California
Marys Family Connections
, Mary A. Lathrop, 1971, Lebanon, Connecticut
Now You Are in Business for Yourself: The Independent Contractors of the
California Perfume Company, 1886-1938, Katina L. Manko
Pilots and Pilot Boats of Boston Harbor
, 1956, Ralph M. Eastman
Roosterfish Yacht brochure,
Dawson Boat Sales, Mahwah, New Jersey
So Long, It's been Good to Know You, autobiography by Girard B. Henderson
Story of the Windship Prodigal, Pamphlet, Dawson Yacht Corporation, North
Las Vegas, Nevada
Theres More to Crabbing Than You Think, Saturday Evening Post article
Bibliography