Jesse C Henderson

Jesse C. Henderson was born ca. 1822 in Alabama (probably in Clarke or Perry County), and is believed to be the eldest son of Lewis Henderson and Nancy Cox. He married Julia Ann Hart (aka July Ann) in Union Parish, Louisiana on 2 Jun 1844. They had ten children known through census records. Lewis and Jesse are both found in Union Parish Police Jury Minutes for various road construction projects in 1845 and 1846.

The 1850 Census has them living in Union Parish, Louisiana with daughters Eliza and Nancy. General Land Office records show that Jesse received two land patents in 1858; 80.1 acres on 15 Jan 1858, and 39.52 acres on 10 Aug 1858. They removed to Texas shortly thereafter.

In 1860, they are living in Burleson County, Texas with eight children, Julia's mother, Nancy Hart, and her younger sister. The census record shows that the first seven children (Eliza, Nancy, Newton, Zenobia (Zilly), John, Quincy, and Louisiana) were all born in Louisiana, and the youngest (Joseph at 5 months) was born in Texas. During the Civil War, about 1863, Julia Henderson is listed in Burleson County on the indigent families roll, husband serving in Texas State Troops, family of 10. Jesse Henderson is listed on the tax rolls of Burleson County for the years 1862 - 1864.

No further records have been found for Jesse and Julia Henderson. They appear to have died before the 1870 census, as all of the children are scattered about in both Burleson and Atascosa Counties. Their youngest child, California (or Callie) was born 1865, and living with Julia's sister, Louisa Hart Long in Atascosa County. Zenobia and Quincy are also with Louisa Long. Jesse (b~1862) is living with Mary E. Stoner in Burleson County. Also in Burleson County are Joseph (age~10) living with the Bouldin family, and John (age~15), living with the King family. They are both listed as farm workers. Nancy (age 21) is with John F. Tom and his wife Mary Ann in Atascosa County. She later marries Tom after his first wife dies.

The eldest daughter, Eliza, married John McElvey, 12 Dec 1867 in Burleson County. She apparently also died before the 1870 census, as McElvey is found listed alone, as a farmer with the Houston family in neighboring Milam County, although, next to him appears to be his younger brother, Roger McElvey and family.