John Q. Henderson and his wife Margaret Scott Bryson

John Q. Henderson, fourth son of Andrew & Jane Henderson, was born 12 Mar. 1838 in Jefferson Co., Ohio. There he stayed with his parents and with them emigrated to Rossville, Allamakee Co. in the spring of 1866.

Margaret Scott Bryson, the youngest of James & Margaret (Scott) Bryson's family, was born at Thompsonville, Connecticut, 22 Sept. 1845. Her history from birth to marriage is identified with her father's family history, arriving in Allamakee Co. in May of 1850. In 1864-1865 Margaret attended Waukon High School in preparation to teach school, but her father sold out in the fall of 1865 and Margaret with her parents moved to Elgin, IL, in January of 1866. In July of 1867 Margaret returned to Allamakee Co. with her parents who then settled in Rossville.

John Q. Henderson and Margaret Scott Bryson were married at Lansing, Allamakee Co. on 02 Apr. 1868. Soon after they bought a fine farm of 140 acres 2 miles southwest of Rossville and there they happily remained for about ten years farming and raising their growing family. At the end of that time Margaret became ill with what was thought to be quick consumption, for over a year she was confined to her bed and not expected to recover. After two years of illness Margaret slowly began to recover. Doctor bills left them in heavy debt and it became necessary to sell 40 acres of their land which effectively spoiled their farm. In the spring of 1883 they sold the remainder of their farm and moved their family to Gettysburg, Potter Co., South Dakota, where Margaret's brother, James Bryson, was then laying out the town.

In 1887, after a succession of dry seasons and crop failures, the Henderson's left Gettysburg, S.D., travelling by way of Pawnee, NE, and then to Independence, KS, stopping and working along the way until finally settling at Limon Station, Colorado, in 1888. In 1892 they made a claim on a farm of 160 acres between Lake and Limon, Colorado.

In 1894 Margaret's health began to fail again having contracted catarrh from cold and exposure during their time spent in South Dakota and from which she had never fully recovered. Her health steadily declined for over two years until she passed away peacefully on 12 May 1897 at Lake, Colorado. She was buried in the Limon cemetery on 14 May 1897.

In 1900 John Q. Henderson and his son James remained on the homestead where they keep horses and some cattle, working occasionally for the railroad.

Their children:
1) Andrew M. Henderson, born & died at Rossville on unknown dates. Buried in the Rossville cemetery.

2) Margaret Scott Henderson, born at Rossville on 11 Dec. 1871. She was married to Samuel Porch on 09 Oct. 1888, at Pawnee City, NE. They rented a farm and lived near Burchard, NE, until 1894, then went to Limon Station, Colorado, where Samuel has charge of the coal chute at Lake, Colorado. The 1900 Federal census (Colorado) gives the names of their three children: William H., Grace V. and Margaret T. Porch.

3) James Bryson Henderson, born at Rossville on 26 Sept. 1875.

4) Sarah Jane Henderson, born & died at Rossville on unknown dates. Buried in the Rossville cemetery.

5) Tilda Sabina Henderson, born at Rossville on 05 Dec. 1879. She married Wilson S. Gruwell 20 Dec. (no year indicated) at Limon Station, Colorado. Wilson was a section foreman on the C.R.I. & P. railroad at Bethune, Colorado, and keeps a cattle ranch, They had one son named Cyrus (as of 1901).

6) Martha Aprilla Henderson, born & died at Paint Creek on unknown dates. Buried in the Rossville cemetery.

~sources:
"History of the Scott & Bryson Families", 1901, by John Scott Bryson; Chapter XV.
census records

~contributed by Reid R. Johnson, gg-grandson of John Scott Bryson. He will gladly share the information with anyone researching this Henderson family. Interested researchers can contact Reid at his email address shown in the Surname Registry for Henderson.

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