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Abner N. Henderson, Missouri Township, Brocktown post-office, Pike County.
This prominent planter was born in Morgan County, Ala., May 4, 1838, a son
of Abner and Levica (Alford) Henderson, natives of North Carolina and
Alabama, respectively. His parents had a family of six children -four boys
and two girls - viz., John W. (married Miss Elizabeth Covington), William
P. (married Miss Caroline Burkitt), Abner N. (the subject of this sketch),
Martha A. (deceased), Lewis M. (married Victoria Elam), Andrew J.
(deceased), and Mary A. (deceased). The father was a farmer and millwright
by occupation, and at his death owned 320 acres of land. He emigrated from
Alabama to Arkansas, in December 184, locating in Pike County, and was
prominently identified with the interests of this county until his death,
which occurred in 1865; his widow followed him in 1881. He and wife were
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The subject of this
sketch wa reared in Arkansas, and received such an education as the schools
of that time afforded. After attaining his majority he engaged in
agricultural pursuits. December 31, 1857, he married Miss Matilda Davis, a
native of Tennessee (born August 19, 1837), by whom he has a family of nine
children, viz., John M. (deceased), Emeriah D. (deceased), Abner L. (married
Catherine Deal), Lucy A., and Richard F. (twins, married David M. Watson and
Elizabeth Allen), Alcie A. (married Robert O. Patterson), Flora A., Samuel,
J.T., and Rosa L. (deceased). Mr. Henderson now owns a well-stocked farm of
240 acres of land, with ninety acres under cultivation. He served in the
Confederate army in the late (Civil) war, enlisting July 18, 1862, under
Gen. Churchill, and participated in many of the principal battles of that
war. He was captured at Arkansas Post, and carried to Chicago, where he
remained for four months. He was exchanged at City Point, Va., then went to
Tennessee, and joined the Tennessee army, and fell back with the army into
Georgia, being detailed a cook, at the time of the Chickamauga battle. Again
he was with the army, participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge,
Resaca, Ga., and at Atlanta, was again captured at Jonesboro, Ga., and was
carried to Nashville, Tenn., being just one month away from his command.
After his exchange he went with the command on the raid into Tennessee one
month after he was a prisoner at Nashville. He was with his command in the
battle of Nashville, and fell back with the army and crossed the Tennessee
River on Christmas day, 1864, the army falling back to Corinth, Miss. There
he obtained a furlough and returned home, where he found nothing but his
wife and one child. He soon resumed farming. Both Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he serves as
class-leader. Mr. Henderson has served as justice of the peace for eleven
years, and as postmaster, at Brocktown, for twenty-four years. He is a good
citizen, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
page 329.
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