Descendants of William Lee Henderson and Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby

From the unpublished book written by Vivian Anderson Castleberry

Henderson Connections

1840 Census

North Carolina - Mecklenburg County, Page 68 of 175. They are listed under “W.L. Henderson.”

William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	1 Male in 30s
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	1 Female in 20s
Mary Amanda Henderson, May 1840-1911	1 Female under 5
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	(Not born yet)
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson 1845-1919	(Not born yet)
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	(Not born yet)
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson 1850-1929	(Not born yet)
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson 1853-1941	(Not born yet)
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	(Not born yet)
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	(Not born yet)
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	(Not born yet)

1850 Census

North Carolina - Mecklenburg County - Centre District, Aug 15 1850, Page 3 of 4

Family Member	Name on Census	Age/Sex	Occup	Born in	School this yr?
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	W.L. Henderson	42M	Farm	NC
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Elenor	33F		NC
Mary Amanda Henderson 1840-1911	Mary	10F		NC	Yes
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	Elizabeth	8F		NC	Yes
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson 1845-1919	Isabella	5F		NC	No
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Joseph	2M		NC	No
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson 1850-1929	(not born yet)
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson 1853-1941	(not born yet)
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	(not born yet)
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	(not born yet)
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	(not born yet)

William's brother John Elam Henderson and family are next to them.

1860 Census

Alabama - Perry County - Jerico (Post office: Jerico) ¹

June 28, 1860, Page 14-15 of 26

The family lists their real estate value at $2000, and personal estate value at $1500

Family Member	Name on Census	Age/Sex	Occup	Born in	School this yr?
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	W.L. Hendison	52M	Farmer	NC
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Ellener S	42F	Domestic	NC
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey 1840-1911	See below
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	M.E.	18F	Domestic	NC	Yes
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson 1845-1919	M.H.I.	14F		NC	Yes
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	J.A.	12M		NC	Yes
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson 1850-1929	H.C.	9F		NC	Yes
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson 1853-1941	S.J.	7F		AL	Yes
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	J.N. or J.R.	4M		AL	No
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	W.D.	2M		AL	No
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	F.S.	3mos. M		AL	No
J.M. Shelby *	J.M. Shelby ²	25M		TN	No

Living elsewhere:

Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey 1840-1911

Age 20, living w/ husband J.F. McGahey 32, and kids M.S. 3, and Wm. K. 8mos. Next to Wm & Eleanor. (p15)

1 Alternatively spelled Jericho, it was located only one mile northeast of today's Heiberger. An 1865 map shows Jericho but not Heiberger, which apparently did not exist at the time. The Jericho post office operated from 1836-1907, while the Heiberger post office was not established until 1904. The two names may have been used interchangeably for a time, or perhaps the name Heiberger only gained popularity later on. As community names, they both referred to large areas of farms that stretched for miles. Sources: http://aig-alabama.weebly.com/cahawba-oldtown.html, Wikipedia, RuralSWAlabama, and Geonames.

2 J.M. Shelby would marry Martha the following year, in 1861. He only lived till 1862 when he was killed in the Civil War. His full name is unknown at this time.

1870 Census

Alabama - Perry County - Twp 21 Range 8 (Post office: Marion)

July 29, 1870, Page 9 of 21

Family Member	Name on Census	Age/Sex	Occup	Born in	School this yr?
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	W.L. Henderson	62M	Farm laborer	NC
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Salina	52F	Keeping house	NC
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey 1840-1911	Mary ¹	30F	At home	NC
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	Martha ²	28F	At home	NC
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson 1845-1919	Bella	26F	At home	NC
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Joe	22M	Farm laborer	NC
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson 1850-1929	Hattie	20F	At home	NC
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson 1853-1941	Sallie	17F	At home	NC
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	John	15M	Farm laborer	AL
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	William	12M		AL	Yes
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	Smith	7M		AL	Yes
Mary's dau - Margaret Selina McGahey 1857-1902	Lina *	13F		AL	Yes
Mary's son - James Milton McGahey 1861-1939	James *	7M		AL	Yes
?? **	Jessie ³	17M	Farm laborer	AL

1 Mary's husband John F. McGahey had died in 1862, and she and her kids were living with her parents. Three households away (as listed on the census) is the widowed Uriah Dobbins with children Alfa and Letus. He and Mary would get married later that year, in October 1870. His wife Margaret (Mary's cousin) had died in 1867.

2 Martha was remarried by this time to William T. McGahey (m. 1867) and had a daughter, Lillie May, b. June 20, 1868, so it is unclear why her husband and daughter are not listed here with her. In fact, they are not readily found on any 1870 census, so it may have been an oversight by the census taker.

3 I thought this might be Jesse Edwin Crews (1847–1883), who would marry Hattie in 1872, but if so, his age is wrong (he'd be 23), and he is counted twice—the other time with his family (p13). He did live close by, so it's possible. The census taker wasn't exactly accurate with last names---he has everyone as "Henderson," even though Mary and her children are McGaheys, so this isn't necessarily "Jesse Henderson."

1880 Census

Texas - Smith County - Precinct 6 - Sub District 100

June 15, 1880, Page 27 of 60

Family Member	Name on Census	Age/Sex	Relat to head of house	Occup	Born in	Father born in	Mother born in	School this yr?
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	Wm Henderson	72M	Head	Farmer	NC	NC	NC
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Ellen	62F	Wife	Keeping house	NC	NC	NC
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey Dobbins 1840-1911	See below
Martha Elizabeth Henderson McGahey 1842-1896	Martha McGahey	38F	Dau	Keeps house	NC
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson Arendell 1845-1919	See below
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	See below
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson Crews 1850-1929	See below
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson 1853-1941	Sallie	26F	Dau	At home	AL
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	John	24M	Son	Works on farm	AL
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	William	22M	Son	Works on farm	AL
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	Franklin	20M	Son	Works on farm	AL
William T. McGahey 1834-1883 (Martha's husband)	William McGahey	47M	Son-in-law	Works on farm	NC	NC	NC
Lillie Mae McGahey 1868-1950 (Martha & Wm's dau)	Lilla May McGahey	12F	Granddaughter	At home	AL			Yes
Eleanor Lee McGahey 1871-1953 (Martha & Wm's dau)	Eleanor McGahey	9F	Granddaughter	At home	AL			Yes

Living elsewhere

Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey Dobbins 1840-1911	M.A. Dobbins, Age "35", living w/ husband U.B. Dobbins and kids M.S. McGahey 23, James McGahey 19, and A.V. 13, L.L.12, W.W. 7, I.T 6, E.L 4. Living in TX-Smith Co-Precinct 7, Subd 101, p33
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson Arendell 1845-1919	Margret Arendell, Age 34, living w/ husband John Arendell 40, and children Zoe 11, Lela Gertrude 9, Virgilla 8, Leota 5, Marvin 2 (p26)
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Joseph Henderson, Age 30, living w/ wife Samantha 24, and children Effie 7, Leroy 5, Etta 4, Jennie 2. (p26)
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson Crews 1850-1929	Harriet Crews, Age 29, living with husband Jesse Crews 31, and children Kirk 7, Adolphus 5, Linnie 3, Emma 1. (p26)

The families of Belle, Joseph, and Hattie are listed one after another, right next to William Lee & Eleanor.

1900 Census

Where they were in 1900

Family Member	Where they are
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	Died 1888
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	(Not found on census, but she lived until October, possibly with Sallie's family.)
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey Dobbins 1840-1911	Indian Terr (OK) - Chickasaw Nation - Twp 2 - Dist 136 (p17). MARY A DOBBINS 60, lvg w/ husb Uriah B Dobbins 62, mrrd 30 yrs, and kids Margaret S [McGahey] 42, Essie L 23, Sallie J 18, and granddaughter Rosa McGahey 8. Mary has 6/7 living children. Margaret has 1/1 living children.
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	Died 1896
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson Arendell 1845-1919	TX - Milam Co - Pct 3 - Dist 20 - p23. ISABELLA ARENDELL 54, lvg w husb John W Arendell 60, mrrd 33 yrs, and kids Marvin 22, and Weightman 18.
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Died 1885
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson Crews 1850-1929	TX - Smith Co - Pct 6 - Dist 109 - p36. HATTIE C CREWS 49 wdw, w/ kids Emma E 21, Henry R 19, Alma V 17. She has 6/6 living children.
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson Crews 1853-1941	TX - Smith Co - Pct 6 - Dist 109 - p36. SARAH J CREWS 44, w/ husb Henry Crews 45, mrrd 16 yrs, and kids Walter J 14, and Lizzie 12. She has 2/4 living children.
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	TX - Smith Co - Pct 6 - Dist 109 - p34. JOHN M HENDERSON 44, w/ wife Mary J Henderson 34, mrrd 16 yrs, and kids Lina M 12, and Albert A 14. Mary has 2/2 living children.
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	TX - Smith Co - Lindale - Dist 109 - p33. WILLIAM HENDERSON 43, w/ wife Dora 40, mrrd 11 yrs, and Dora's daughter Willie Perkins 14, and their kids Minnie L 10, Thomas L 8, Paul 6, Lewis 3. Dora has 7/8 living children.
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	Died 1881

1910 Census

Where they were in 1910

Family Member	Where they are
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	Died 1888
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Died 1900
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey Dobbins 1840-1911	OK - Garvin Co - Wynnewood Ward 3 - Dist 84 (p3). MARY A DOBBINS 69 wdw, w/ daughter Sallie J 22, and daughter Rosa L 18. Mary has 5/8 living children.
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	Died 1896
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson Arendell 1845-1919	(Not found)
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Died 1885
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson Crews 1850-1929	TX - Smith Co - Pct6 - Dist 84 - p16. HATTIE CREWS 59 wdw, was mrrd 38 yrs, w kids Henry 29, and Alma 27. Has 6/6 living children.
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson Crews 1853-1941	TX - Smith Co - Pct6 - Dist 84 - p16. SALLIE CREWS 56 w/ husb Henry Crews 54, mrrd 24 yrs, w/ son Walter 24. Has 2/4 living children.
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	TX - Smith Co - Pct6 - Dist 84 - p16. JNO HENDERSON 55, w/ wife Mary 45, mrrd 26 yrs, w/ kids Sidney 23M, and Lina 22F. Mary has 2/2 living children.
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	TX - Smith Co. - Pct 6 - Dist 84 - p16. WILL HENDERSON 53, w/ wife Dora Henderson 50, mrrd 22 ys (Dora's 2nd mrrg, his 1st), w/ kids Minnie 20, Ward 18, Paul 16, Lewis 13. Dora has 7/8 living children.
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	Died 1881

1920 Census

Where they were in 1920

Family Member	Where they are
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	Died 1888
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Died 1900
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey Dobbins 1840-1911	Died 1911
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	Died 1896
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson Arendell 1845-1919	(Not found)
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Died 1885
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson Crews 1850-1929	TX - Smith Co - Lindale - Dist 98 - p13. HATTIE CREWS 69 wdw, w/ daughter Linnie York 43 and her husband John H York 43, and John's mother Maria York 74 wdw.
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson Crews 1853-1941	TX - Smith Co - Lindale - Dist 98 - p16. SALLIE CREWS 66, w/ husb Henry C Crews 62, and son Walter J 33 wdw.
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	TX - Smith Co - Lindale - Dist 98 - p15. JOHN M HENDERSON 64 wdw. Living alone.
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	TX - Smith Co - Lindale - Dist 98 - p18. WILLIAM D HENDERSON 61, w/ wife Dora 57, and son William P 24.
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	Died 1881

1930 Census

Where they were in 1930

Family Member	Where they are
William Lee Henderson 1808-1888	Died 1888
Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby 1817-1900	Died 1900
Mary Amanda Henderson McGahey Dobbins 1840-1911	Died 1911
Martha Elizabeth Henderson 1842-1896	Died 1896
Margaret Isabelle "Belle" Henderson Arendell 1845-1919	Died 1919
Joseph Asmon Henderson 1847-1885	Died 1885
Harriet Caroline "Hattie" Henderson Crews 1850-1929	Died 1929
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson Crews 1853-1941	TX - Smith Co - Pct 6 - Dist 38 - p7. SALLIE CREWS 77 wdw, w/ grandson Tommie L 6. Next to dau Lizzie Howard 41 and her family.
John Madison Henderson 1855-1939	TX - Anderson Co - Pct 1 - Dist 9. JOHN M HENDERSON 74 wdw, living alone, Farmer.
William Daniel Henderson 1858-1929	Died 1929
Franklin Smith Henderson 1860-1881	Died 1881

1940 Census

Where they were in 1940

Family Member	Where they are
All have passed away except Sallie
Sarah Jane "Sallie" Henderson Crews 1853-1941	TX - Smith Co - Pct 5 - ED 212-48 - p5. SALLIE J CRUES 87 wdw, highest grade completed: 6th. Same page as son Walter J 54 w/ wife Lenah H 48. and kids Daryl 17, Tommie L 16, Virginia R 12. All are on "Dallas and Shreveport Road."

Census Records

Early census reports are rife with errors. Name spellings, places of birth, ages, and dates of birth vary from one report to another.

The family’s matriarch, Eleanor Ann Selina Shelby Henderson, is a typical example. Both Eleanor and Selina are spelled a number of different ways. Even her Bethesda Cemetery gravestone reads "Elenor S.," a spelling variation that is also found in the 1850 census. On the 1860 census she is listed as Ellener; on the 1870 report as Salina; on the 1880 report as Ellen. Only in Shelby family records is she consistently referred to as Eleanor Ann Selina.

Errors in age are equally common. In 1860, Franklin Smith Henderson was listed as being three months old, which is accurate, but 10 years later, he was only 7 according to the census taker. The Jesses become Jessie and the Marthas Mollie and the Margarets Maggie.

This lack of accuracy becomes especially critical when one is searching for lost family members. We discovered this when we were searching for our paternal great-grandfather and found that our grandfather’s census records had listed his father, in separate accounts, as being born in five different states—Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. The poor man may have been a wanderer, but it is not possible that he could have been born in so many different places!

KERIN'S NOTE: I compiled the following census records, which follow the William Lee & Eleanor Henderson family from 1840 to 1940. (Except 1890, which was destroyed by fire.) Page numbers correspond to the census records found on Ancestry.com.