William Henderson Biography

Born: 1876, Died: 1957
Married: Margaret Mathieson

William Henderson was born in 1876 in Gardenstown, a village in Banffshire, on the north east coast of Scotland. As a young lad he was apprenticed as a baker in a bakeshop in a nearby village. After his four year apprenticeship he worked for other bakers in the area and after being married in 1899 to Margaret Mathieson he began thinking of emigration to the colonies in order to have better opportunities for advancement.

In 1910 he made the move to Canada and came alone to Berlin where he worked in the bakery of H. A. Dietrich. The next year he moved to Waterloo to work for A. E Sanderson and sent for his family. While working for Sanderson's bakery, Henderson's specialty was baking cakes. In 1916 Henderson along with C. W. O'Donnell as partner bought the Sanderson Bakery. In 1928, due to his partners failing health Henderson became sole owner of the shop at 47 King St N. In 1934 the business, now named WH and sons, was renovated and enlarged making it one of the most modern bakeries in the area.

His two sons William Jr. and Joseph became actively involved. Henderson lived in the home called Bon Accord on Water (Dorset) St in Waterloo. He was a staunch Presbyterian and had a keen interest in the Sunday School becoming superintendent for many years. When in 1925, there was a split in the congregation and some Presbyterians joined the United Church, Henderson, who stood for a continuing Presbyterian congregation was instrumental in the construction in 1927 of the new Presbyterian Church on Erb St W. He was very involved in local politics being an alderman on Town Council and was Mayor in 1924-1925. He was involved in other community affairs; the Board of Trade; Director of Waterloo Mutual Fire Insurance Company; Merchants Causality Company, Director Waterloo Trust and Savings Company, and Welfare Board. He had a special interest in the K-W Rotary Club and for many years delivered the Robert Burns Day Address.

Sources:
Obituary, Kitchener-Waterloo Record. September 18, 1957.
Marg Rowell et al. Welcome to Waterloo
Waterloo Historical Society, 1957 Volume 45
Confederation Number Diamond Jubilee, July 1 1927, Waterloo Chronicle 1927.
Waterloo County Councillors: A Collective Biography
Waterloo Chronicle, February 1, 1934; October 29/96