The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-17
PETER HENDERSON DEAD
The Great Florist and
Scotsman Dies Of
Pneumonia.
END OF A PROGRESSIVE CAREER.
A Simple Scotch Lad Who Resisted
Temptation and Became
Nobleman.

Peter Henderson, the florist and seeds
man, of Jersey City Heights, whose COM
mercial reputation was national, dleo az
his home ON Arlington avenre this morn
ing, at half-pa ten o'clock, OF pneu-
monia.
Mr.. Henderson was taken i'll about two
weeks ago and was obliged to go to bed
last Friday and since then had been grad
ually getting worse. The disease was
development of the Grippe.
DR.. Bidwell was first called to attend
Mr.. Henderson. On Sunday he became
alarmed at the unfavorable symptoms,
and called in DIR. Lutkins as consulting
physician. gs.
Both physicions decided that Mr.. Hen
derson's condition was critical and nave
been in constant attendance since.
Mr.. Henderson was in his sixty-slxtn
year and up to his late illness was III
robust health.
He leaves wife, the two. sons who
were his partners, and married dangh-
ter Mrs Robert Floyd. FROM
Benson j. Lossing's History OF
New York" published in 1884, is taken
the following concerning Mt: Hendersons
career up to the time the history was pub
lished:-
HIS LIFE
"Peter HendefsA was born at Cath
Head twelve miles from Edinburgh, Scot
land, in 1923. His father was law stew
ard Of gentleman in the neighborhood;
.'Peter was educated at the parish school
where he was foremost scholar, win
ming more prizes than any OF his fellows
of the same age. At the age of fourteen
he became the clerk OF q liquor uealef.l
really a bartender in Edinburgh, and was
~ e,,7l,S ad tf orIQ uf
his moral stamina was proof against these
temptations.
cat the age of sixteen, just fifty years
ago, he was apprenticed to a gardiner,
when temptations again assa1led him. IL
was the practice of the lads of the estaD-
lishment to go to a tavern every Saturday
night.
firmly that he nearly abolished it. From
that time he has been an outspoken
champion of temperance. So well
did he acquit himself as an apprentice
and careful student of botany, that at the
age of sixteen he was awarded the gold
medal offered by the Botanical Society OF
Edinburgh for the best scientifically ar
ranged Herbarium.
"At about theltimeihe became:a member
of a society for the advancement or hor-
ticultural science, and was selected TO
prepare paper for the London Gar
dener's Gazette denouncing the common
practice of holding as secrets many hort1-
cultural operations OF the day.
It drew from the editor a tWo-column
repfv. It This was vas his his first appearance IN
print Since then the American people
have heard much through the press about
what he knows Of gardening.
young Henderson arrived In New
York when ne was twenty years of age
with no capital but virttle, inlol1aitabie
energy and pluck. He worked for gar
deners and florists until heg: had
saved money enough to start
the business of ulaAket gardener on hls
OWL account on plot near the corner OF
Wayne, Monmouth and Mercer streets In
1847. He worked on an average of six
teen hours a day.
He gradually added the florist branch
to his establishment. His is thought to
be the largest establishment OF the KIND
in the world. His greenhouse on Jersey
City Heights presents @ covering OF
more than four acres OF glass. which
with his seed warehouse in Courtlandt
street, New York, gives employment to
one hundred men. One pecullarity OF
Mr.. Henderson's establishment is the
quick Acknowledgment and reward OF
merit among his employees
HE DEVELOPED HORTICULTURE HERE.
sit is generally acknowledged that the
rapid strides which horticulture has
made in America, particularly in the Vi
cinity Of New York, are II no small de-
ings and example. He has writ
ten much and well on the subject
His first work, Gardening for Profit"
appeared in 1866, and down to 1888 100, 900
copies had been sold. In 1868 his 'Prac-
tical Horticulture" appeared, of which
about fifty thousand copies have
been sold. In 1875 his Garden
ing for Pleasure" was published
and more than twenty Thousand copies
have been sold. His last work is Hand
n1r.vxrx n Co.
published in 1881. The popularity of his
writings is due to their being eminently
.'AIthough Mr., Henderson is approach
ing the age of three-score years his
mental and physical vigor seem unsur-
passed. He has never been sick day in
his life He superintends his vast busi-
ness with ease, aud desires to die in the
harness."
A CLUB MAN.
Mr.. Henderson has since republished
the last mentioned book. He was mem
Der of the New York horticultural So
ciety. Society of American Florists, the
New York Florists Club, and the Seed
Dealers Association.
He belonged to none of the secret bene-
fit societies. He was one of the old vol
unteer firemen. member of No. Engine
and u good one, too.
He was one of the founders Of the Ber-
gen Savings Bank, and when that insti-
tuition was closed about fifteen years ago
through the mismanagement of
President Barrows. Mr.. Hender-
son, along with the late
Alexander Bonnell and ex-Mayor Charles
Siedler, went down in his own pockets to
make good the money deposited in that
institution. His generosity was widely
known.
He was an extensive property owner.
his property being scattered in various
parts of the city. His establishment on
the Hill has been lately enlarged and
more than five acres are now under glass
Mr.. Henderson, with his two sons
Alfred and Charles, conducted the ex-
tensive seed establishment in Courtlandt
street. New York With the assistance of
superintendent J. A. Davis he conducted
the establishment on the Hill, which is
undoubtedly the most perfectly appointed
consmercial greenhouse establishment in
the world owing TO Mr.. Henderson's
facility for systenaatizing matters and his
careful attention to details.
The German Pioneer verein.
The Ladies' Of the German Pioneer Yer
elm will tender grand reception at
Woods Hall next Tuesday evening