The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18
Us Have Higher Efficiency With Expense Says Henderson
PERSONAL SKETCH OF
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR
Charles Henderson One of Aabaas Best Known Sons
Has Had Long and Honorable Career

Charles Henderson, president of the Alabama Railroad
commission and recently announced candidate for governor
of Alabama best known and most beloved He
has been before the public eye for many years. and his
trance into the gubenaora made at the earnest
request of thousands of his friends.
Few men in public life are better known than Mr. Hen
erson For number of years he has been member of the
railroad commission, and in his official capacity has been
thrown in contact with from every walk of life His
keen insight business affairs and his careful judgment in
matters which have before him. has made bis term Of
office sngularly successful
Mr. Henderson is native of this state and comes from
of the oldest and best known families His father,
j. A. Henderson, served with distinction throughout the
Civil The Hendersons have lived in Alabama for
than 100 years, and previously lived in South Carolina for
many years Practically all of the Hendersons living
in the south descended from the South Carolina family and
Mr. Henderson traces his relationship through number of
branches of the family tree for many generations.
The elder Henderson married to Miss Mildred E.
H the daughter of prominent Georgia family, and to
their union a number Of children born
Chas Henderson first the light of day in 1861
year before the breaking out of the Civil At that time
the family lived on Of the largest plantations in central
Alabama and the elder Henderson had large and growing
business When the call for volunteers issued, Mr..
Henderson joined the army and four years of conn
uous service When he returned from the his business
had been badly depleted and the old homestead and pana
/ ton badly run down.
The elder Henderson realized that conditions would be
much in the future than they had been in the past
and he get his affairs in shape possible
He had family of growing boys who had to be clothed,
fed and educated and put his shoulder to the wheel de-
ternned do the very best possible under the crcum
stances
Charles Henderson was educated in the public schools
of Pike county These schools limited of
study and but few months each year The amount
of benefit derived rested largely with the pupil Mr. Hen
derson laid the foundation for thorough education, and
few years later when he attended institution at Marion,
Alabama, he acquitted himself with great honor.
On his fathers death Mr. Henderson called to take
charge of the business affairs of the family. He later
founded the Troy Bank and Trust company state bank
with capital stock of $50O0 of which he has been pres
dent for five years Mr. Henderson has also been quite
cessu in other business lines He large andholder and
has been very successful in agriculture He is also de-
veoper and promoter and extensively interested in the
construction of large hydraulic plant at Eba, Alabama,
which will distribute electric current over large section
| Of the south.
Other members of the Henderson family have been quite
successful in business affairs Fox Henderson, his brother
president of the Farmers and Merchants National bank
of Troy j. c. Henderson, another brother is vice president
Of the Farmers and Merchants and the Troy Bank and Trust
company and has other large interests in that section J.
e. Henderson, another brother capitalist of Enterprise
Alabama and is well known throughout the entire state
Mr. Henderson first became interested in politics at the
request of his friends and neghbors in Troy When
only twentyree of age he consented to make the
for mayor OF Troy IN order to establish system Of
public schools. Hewent into the campaign backed by
strong following and elected by very large majority
He served and then resigned in order that he might
give all Of his time to private affairs Soon AFTER however
it developed that the financial affairs of the city
bad condition. and again he allowed his friends to
enter him in the He again elected although
at that time citizens of Troy badly divided fac
tona differences He succeeded in bringing all of the
factions together and shortly Strengthened out the financial
troubles which had threatened the city.
About this time his fame financer, public official
and business man had spread other the state
and he after elected president Of the Alabama Rail
road commission His in that position is we'll
| known to need special mention here.
Mr.. Henderson married to Miss Laura Montgomery
of Raleigh c. in 1882 Mrs Henderson state president
Of the Womens Federation of Clubs, and is prominently
identified with club and womens work throughout the
south She also takes very prominent part educational
matters and is of the leaders in these lines among the
women of the southern states