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William Henderson was for a
long period a foremost figure among the hotel men in the province of
Alberta, and the Lethbridge Hotel, of which he was proprietor, is still
considered the best in the city of Lethbridge. The life labors of Mr.
Henderson, however, were terminated in 1909, when he was called to his
final rest. He was then fifty-two years of age, his birth having
occurred in Edinburgh, Scotland, April 29, 1857, his parents being John
and Martha (Pennycuck) Henderson, who spent their lives in the land of
hills and heather. The father was a carpenter by trade and thus provided
for the support of his family, which numbered four children.
William Henderson
William Henderson, who
was the second in order of birth in the family, was educated in Scotland
and learned the carpenter's trade in that country. He afterward crossed
the Atlantic, settling at Kingston, Ontario and there followed
construction work in connection with the building of the Canadian
Pacific westward. He was a, young man when he arrived and he devoted
some time to railway construction, after which he worked for the
railroad company in other capacities until 1885. He then took up
contracting on his own account and also worked for the government in
bridge inspection. He was truly a self-made man and one who deserved
much credit for what he accomplished. He came to Canada with little
capital but he possessed energy and diligence and his indefatigable
industry carried him steadily forward. He was very progressive and his
personal qualities won him the friendship and kindly regard of all with
whom he came into contact. He constructed the Lethbridge Hotel and it
still stands as a monument to his progressive spirit and business
ability, being yet the leading hotel of the city. In Lethbridge he
engaged in the hotel business with Fred Downer and at one time they were
the owners of five hotels.
On the 8th of March,
1887, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Thomson, who
was born at Leith, Scotland, and was there educated, a daughter of John
and Margaret (Dixon) Thomson. The father was born in Scotland and was a
blacksmith by trade, following that business for many years, or until
his death. His family numbered six children, two of whom are living.
Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. To Mr. and
Mrs. Henderson six children were born, five of whom survive, Harrold
Thomson, the eldest, having been killed in action on the 22d of
February, 1917, after being in military service for about a year during
the World war. He was a member of the Yukon battery. Margaret Etta is
the wife of Albert Ives, a ranch- man, living at Lethbridge; Edna is the
wife of Dr. G. D. Atkinson of Boston, Massachusetts; Adelina is the wife
of John Kane, who is in the garage business in Lethbridge; W. S. is
conducting business as a dealer in oxide batteries at Lethbridge; and F.
W. is in business with his elder brother.
Mr. Henderson was a
consistent member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mrs. Henderson
belonged while in Scotland. He was a Mason and had membership with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics
he was a Conservative. He served on the city council and was mayor of
Lethbridge at the time of his death. His sympathy was always with the
one who seemed unfortunate, for he possessed a most charitable and
benevolent spirit, and he was ever ready to help those who needed
assistance. Mrs. Henderson has one of the nice homes in Lethbridge,
which she occupies with her son, W. S. She is a lady of liberal culture,
taking an active part in the work of the church and its societies, and
by reason of her many sterling traits of character her friends in
Lethbridge are many. When Mr. Henderson passed away he left behind him
an extensive circle of friends who appreciated his sterling worth, who
honored him for what he had accomplished and who felt that his example
is indeed worthy of emulation. |
