John D. Henderson
Encyclopedia
John D. "Colonel Jack" Henderson was an American editor, rancher, businessman, and pro-slavery politician in the Kansas Territory
.
John D. Henderson was born in Pennsylvania.
Henderson moved to the Kansas Territory
and became a leading advocate of slavery
in that territory.
Henderson was the editor and the proprietor of the Leavenworth Journal.
Henderson was elected Chairman of the Central Committee of the pro-slavery National Democratic Party of Kansas.
Henderson was accused of vote fraud.
In 1859, Henderson built a ranch, trading post, and hotel on Henderson Island in the South Platte River
in Arapaho County, Kansas Territory
. Henderson sold meat and provisions to gold seekers on their way up the South Platte River Trail to the gold fields during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Henderson Island was the first permanent settlement in the South Platte River Valley between Fort Saint Vrain
in the Nebraska Territory
and the Cherry Creek Diggings in the Kansas Territory
.
Henderson returned to eastern Kansas and ironically fought for the Union
in the American Civil War
.
Henderson Island, the former Henderson Island Station, and the community of Henderson
, all in Colorado
, are named for John D. Henderson.
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
.
John D. Henderson was born in Pennsylvania.
Henderson moved to the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
and became a leading advocate of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in that territory.
Henderson was the editor and the proprietor of the Leavenworth Journal.
Henderson was elected Chairman of the Central Committee of the pro-slavery National Democratic Party of Kansas.
Henderson was accused of vote fraud.
In 1859, Henderson built a ranch, trading post, and hotel on Henderson Island in the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
in Arapaho County, Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
. Henderson sold meat and provisions to gold seekers on their way up the South Platte River Trail to the gold fields during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Henderson Island was the first permanent settlement in the South Platte River Valley between Fort Saint Vrain
Fort Saint Vrain
Fort Saint Vrain was an 1837 fur trading post built by the Bent, St. Vrain Company, and located at the confluence of Saint Vrain Creek and the South Platte River, about 20 miles east of the Rocky Mountains in the unorganized territory of the United States. This area later became part od the State...
in the Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
and the Cherry Creek Diggings in the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
.
Henderson returned to eastern Kansas and ironically fought for the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Henderson Island, the former Henderson Island Station, and the community of Henderson
Henderson, Colorado
Henderson, formerly known as Henderson Island, is an unincorporated community and a U.S. Post Office in Adams County, Colorado, United States. The Henderson Post Office has the ZIP Code 80640. Portions of the Henderson area have been annexed by the cities of Commerce City, Brighton, and...
, all in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, are named for John D. Henderson.