EDWARD W. HENDERSON

This gentleman is well known to the citizens of Central City and vicinity, as one of the pioneers in the early history of Colorado, who was conspicuous among the first mining operatiors in the Rocky Mountains, and for a number of years subsequently was identified extensively with the development of its mineral resources and milling interests. He was born in Austinburg, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Nov. 29, 1818. He spent his early life upon his father's farm until attaining the age of manhood, meanwhile, enjoying the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of his native place. Before eighteen years of age, he began teaching school, which vocation he followed during the winter months, for the suceeding seven years. Leaving Ohio in 1844, he located in Denmark, Lee Co., Iowa, where he spent the first two winters in teaching, and in farming during the summer. He then settled upon a farm, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for the succeeding ten years. In 1856, he sold his farm and removed to Lewis, Cass Co., Iowa, where he embarked in the mercantile business; but, like hundreds of other merchants, he became embarrassed and succumbed to the pressure of the financial crisis in 1858. He then turned his steps westward to begin anew in business, and arrived in Auraris, now Denver, April 26, 1859. He immediately began prospecting and mining along the streams in the Platte and Boulder Valleys, finally brining up, on May 16, of that year, at the Gregory Diggings, in Arapahoe co, Kan., now Gilpin Co., Colo. On May 29, in company with Amos Gridley, he purchased the Gregory claims from John H. Gregory, the discoverer of the famous mine. He worked these diggings successfully during the summer, realizing about $18,000. After spending the winter of 1860 in the East, he returned again to the Gregory mine, and continued working the same during the summer. At the same time, he built a quartz mill, at what is now known as the Eureka Foundry, in company with D. A. January, Judge Lackland and Ely R. Lackland; soon after, however, his partners having become discouraged, he assumed entire control of the mill and operated the same until the spring of 1862, when he abandoned the enterprise and disposed of the mill at a great sacrifice. He then devoted his entire attention to the Gregory mining proprety, and during the winter of 1863, came upon a very rich pocket, from which, working fifteen men, he received about $6,000 per week. He then purchased a mill in company with Amos Gridley, at Gregory Point; but shortly afterward, leaving his partner in charge of the mill and mine, he returned to the States, and during his absence, difficulties arose which resulted in heavy loss in his business. This required his immediate attention, and returning, he assumed control of the business, which he conducted successfully, making from $1,000 to $1,500 per week until the spring of 1864, when he consolidated his property with four other claims, embracing 500 feet of the Gregory Lode, which the company sold to New York capitalists, for $1,000 per foot, his portion being $100,000, a large part of which he lost, through the defalcation of his trusted agent. In 1870, he became associated with the Western Smelting Company, in charge of the financial affairs of the company, and one year later, was elected Treasurer of Gilpin County, in which office he served ceditably until the experation of his term of two years, and much of the success achieved in the restoration of the credity of the county, and in the advancement of the warrants, from 45 to 95 cents, was due to his efforts and business ability. In the fall of 1873, he received the appointment of Receiver of the U. S. Land Office at Central City, which office he now holds. He was married in Denmark, Iowa, April 26, 1846, to Miss Sarah Houston, daughter of Deacon John Houston, formerly of Lyndeboro, N. H. Mr. Henderson has filled honorably ane well his position as a public officer, discharging his official duties with the same marked ability which has distinguished all of his business enterprises; which has won for him personal popularity and many warm friends. In politics he is a Republican. He has always taken a live interest in religious matters, having united with the Presbyterian Church in his native town in Ohio, and subsequently, upon his removal to Iowa, became a member of the Congregational church, of which he was chosen Deacon; soon after his arrival in the Gregory Gold Diggings, he assisted Rev. Lewis Hamilton in organizing a Union Church and was chosen Deacon. In 1863, that church was disintegrated by the organization of churches of different denomination. He then united with the Presbyterian Church in Black Hawk, and was chosen its first Elder, which position he still occupies.

Source: "History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valleys, Colorado: Containing a Brief History of the State of Colorado from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Embracing Its Geological, Physical and Climatic Features, Its Agricultural, Stockgrowing, Railroad and Mining Interests, an Account of the Ute Trouble, a History of Gilpin, Clear Creek, Boulder, and Jefferson Counties, and Biographical Sketches" ³⁸⁵⁵