Wesley Blake Henderson (1909 - 1949)

Born 7 Jan 1909 in Cuba, IL

Ancestors

Son of Lanson Henderson and Eva Mae (Matheny) Henderson

Husband of Gladys Elisabeth (Blank) Morgan — married 12 Oct 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Died 11 Jun 1949 at age 40 in Canton, IL

Biography

The male line YDNA has indeed been tested, regardless of the notice posted above under DNA. It tests as R1b, currently in R-C1 family in Clan Henderson chart, but cannot be shown due to the policy of Wikitree. The line goes back to Charles Henderson of Halifax Virginia.

Obituary of June 15, 1949, Lewistown Daily News

DEATH OF BLAKE HENDERSON

Blake Henderson, 40, passed away at 11 o'clock p.m. on Saturday at the Graham Hospital. Mr. Henderson, who at the time of his death was editor of the Lewistown News, had suffered a fall on the 25th of May which had resulted in total paralysis. He was taken to the St. Francis hospital in Peoria where a most delicate operation was performed on his long-ankylosed spine and a blood clot removed. Following this operation his condition improved and his many friends hoped that his recovery would continue, but a relapse occurred and he was taken to the Graham hospital, where death occurred.

Blake Henderson was a son of Lanson V. and Eva Mae (Matheny) Henderson and was born in Cuba Jan 7, 1909. As a boy he showed studious interest in a wide variety of subjects and was gifted with a most retentive memory. As a grade scholar he won the state spelling championship. A few years later, he became interested in aviation, worked in an airplane factory at Lomax in return for pilot instruction and became the youngest airplane pilot in the state at that time.

Blake's father, Lanson Henderson, elected circuit clerk of Fulton county, died while in office and Blake was appointed by the circuit judges of this circuit to fill out his father's term of office. He was married in 1935 to Miss Gladys E. Blank of Beardstown and she, with one daughter, Christine, survive him.

For many years handicapped with the most severe arthritis, Blake earned the deepest admiration and respect of all who knew him for the uncomplaining and cheerful way in which he battled and succeeded largely in overcoming his painful physical handicap. He became a most excellent photographer and he maintained until the last his amazingly wide range of scientific and mechanical interests, of which aviation was his great hobby. Blake set an example of courageous and undaunted achievement which should prove an inspiration to all who knew him.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Henderson is survived by his mother, a brother, Doyle Henderson of San Jose, California; a sister, Mrs. Agnes H. White of Chicago. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Havana.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the First Presbyterian church here, conducted by the Rev. H. Beiderwieden of the Havana Lutheran church. Interment was in the Cuba cemetery.

Pallbearers: Arthur D. Young, Abe Werbner, Martin M. Love, T. W. Routson, Dean Gustine and Ralph Lee.

"Flower girls": Marie Beadles, Nelle Gustine, Mrs. Laura Carlock, Mrs. Madelon McCumber, Mrs. Carrie Love, Mrs. Pauline Werbner, and Mrs. Esther Lee.

This was a period of extravagant funeral offerings, giving rise to the expression "it looked like a gangster's funeral".

Sources

• death certificate

Clipping, June 13 1949

"Editor W. Blake Henderson Dies at Hospital

W. Blake Henderson, one of the owners, and editor of the Lewistown Daily News, passed away Saturday, June 11, 1949, at the Graham Hospital in Canton, where he had been receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a fall in Cuba on May 25th. Death occurred at 11 o'clock p.m. He was 40 years of age.

Mr. Henderson was seriously injured in a fall on the sidewalk in Cuba where he was visiting friends the evening of May 25th. Following the accident, he was taken to the St Francis Hospital in Peoria where he underwent a delicate spinal operation for the removal of large blot clot which had caused practically complete paralysis. His condition improved, and he was able to return to his home, but a few days later he entered the Graham Hospital, where his death occurred.

In spite of suffering from arthritis over a period of 18 years, Blake, a he was familiarly known by his many friends, was keenly alert to the world about him, and maintained a cheerful disposition. His interests were many and varied. Aviation was his greatest hobby and at one time he was the youngest licensed pilot in the state. He had several patents registered in Washington, D.C. for various inventions.

Coming to Lewistown from Cuba, Illinois, twelve years ago, he operated a studio for photography until recently when he became a member of the Lewistown Publilshing Corporation and took an active part in the publishing of the Lewistown Daily News.

Obituary

Wesley Blake Henderson, son of Lanson V. and Ea Mae (Matheny) Henderson, was born in Cuba, Illinois, January 7, 1909. He received his education in the Cuba public schools where he was graduated with the class of 1925, finishing the four year course in three years.

On October 12, 1935, he was united in marriage to Gladys E. Blank of Beardstown, Illinois, who, with a daughter, Christine M. Henderson, survive.

He is also survived by his mother, one brother, E. Doyle Henderson, of San Jose, California, and one sister, Mrs. Agnes H. White of Chicago. One brother, M. Kee Henderson, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1919, and his father, L. V. Henderson, who passed away in 1935, preceded him in death.

Mr. Henderson was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Havana, Illinois, and a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian church with Rev. H. Beiderwieden of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Havana conducing the service. Burial will be in the Cuba Cemetery. Friends may call at the home until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

DNA

Maternal descent from David D Matheny (1836-1881) and Mary Jane (Curfman) Matheny (1835-1903) is confirmed on GEDMatch by a match between Christine Henderson and Anonymous Whittington. Predicted relationship: 3..1 generations to MRCA. Actual: Second Cousins, Once Removed. Segments: 18.6cM on 1, 8.1cM on 2, 18.8cM on 6, 12.5 and 9.8cM on 7, 48.2cM on 8, 18.8cM on 9, 29.9 and 34.9cM on 10.