John Alexander Henderson

John Alexander Henderson

Police Officer

John A. HendersonJames Alexander Henderson was born on May 29, 1856, in St. Louis Missouri. When he was a small child, his father died and his mother migrated to San Bernardino with her children, where she became the second wife of a local Mormon businessman. Mr. Henderson married Asenia Ferrel Wilson and lived for many years at 805 N. Mount Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino. Mr. Henderson came from a large family, with many siblings; however there is no record of him and Mrs. Henderson ever having any children of their own.

In the late 1800s Mr. Henderson was elected to three terms as the San Bernardino city marshall. After completing his third term, he went into the grocery business with future San Bernardino Policeman John Ketring, where they had a small market located at 555 W. 3rd Street. In 1905 Mr. Henderson became one of first officers of the current San Bernardino Police Department. After serving with the San Bernardino Police Department for many years, Mr. Henderson went into politics, and in 1919 he was elected to a term as San Bernardino city mayor.

Officer Henderson died in March 1938 at the age of 81 and is buried in San Bernardino’s Pioneer Cemetery, next to Mrs. Henderson.