Alexander D. Henderson (businessman)

Alexander Dawson Henderson (February 28, 1865 – January 5, 1925) was an American business executive and philanthropist. He was vice president, treasurer and founding investor of the California Perfume Company (CPC), which later became Avon Products. 

Early life

photo of Alexander Dawson Henderson Sr. on his wedding day Ella M. Brown

Henderson was born February 28, 1865, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the sixth child of Captain Joseph Henderson and Angelina Annetta Weaver.

On February 17, 1892, Reverend John Hampstone, of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, married Henderson and Ella Margaret Brown. His wife was listed as a prominent resident in the New York Social Blue Book as Mrs. A.D. Henderson, Nyack Tpke, Suffern, N. Y.

Rockland map
Green-Wood Cemetery tombstone

Their first child, Joseph Dawson Henderson, was born. He was baptized at the St Matthew Church in Brooklyn, New York. Sponsors were Angelina A. Henderson and Mr. Brown. Source: Records from the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew. On November 5, 1893, their first child, Joseph Dawson Henderson, died in infancy (in highchair), which was a traumatic experience for a young married couple. Source: "So Long It's Been Good To Know You", Jerry Henderson.

Henderson had two other sons, Alexander D. Henderson Jr. and Girard B. Henderson. Professional background

Alexander Henderson (L), Adolph Goetting (C), and David H. McConnell, Sr.(R) of the California Perfume Company, c.1914

In 1890, Henderson worked for the Union Warehouse Company in New York City, for which he held the position of private Secretary to Edward B. Bartlett. The Union Warehouse was a very large building located in New York City, worth over $100,000.00.

Alex Henderson Jr.
On Febraury 16, 1895, Alexander D. Henderson Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York. Source: So Long It's Been Good To Know You, pg. 3, Jerry Henderson.

On May 30, 1895, he became the bookkeeper for David H. McConnell of the California Perfume Company. He went on to become Vice-President and Treasurer of CPC. According to The Story of the CPC, "Mr. Alexander D. Henderson, our Vice-President and Treasurer, joined the company and helped to shape its policies and assist in its growth."

As early as 1901, Henderson and McConnell were listed in the Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory as "The California Perfume Co., (RTN) David H McConnell, Alexander D Henderson, at 126 Chambers Street."

Jerry Henderson
On February 25, 1905, Girard Brown Henderson was born. The parents were listed as living at 171 Midwood Street, Brooklyn, New York. Source: New York State Birth Certificate.

1905

In July 1905, the Outlook, a monthly magazine published by the California Perfume Company, listed Alexander D. Henderson as Secretary and Treasurer. Source: Outlook March 1905.

On June 16, 1909, an agreement was made between David H. McConnell and Alexander D. Henderson as partners trading as D. H. McConnell and Company, Goetting and Company, and California Perfume Company to sell these holdings over to the California Perfume Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey. The bill of sale was for $220,000.00.

In 1910, Henderson Sr. built a large Georgian type house on the hill at Campbell Avenue and the Nyack Turnpike (Route 59) in Suffern, New York. The household was accommodated by a butler, James, and a household cook. Mrs. Henderson (Ella Brown) had a fourteen acre working farm with a cow, large vegetable garden, stocked fish, and a huge greenhouse. SourceMary\\'s Family Connections, pg. 85.

In March of 1912, it was published that Henderson was involved in the incorporation of the Hatfield Auto Truck Company of Elmira, N.Y. with capital of $1,500,000. The incorporators were David H. McConnell, Alexander D. Henderson, and Arthur S. Hoyt." 

On July 22, 1914, in a letter to William Scheele and the CPC, Henderson described the "process of Perfumery and extracting odors from flowers". In this letter Henderson said, "It is these pomades which we import direct from Grasse for the making of our perfumes, and thus we have the true flower base which makes our floral odors so true to natural flowers and so lasting."

   San Francisco Exposition

In June 1915, Henderson took the train to San Francisco, California to set up a booth to advertise and exhibit perfume products at the 1914-1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The CPC exhibit was in the Liberal Arts Building. A Gold Medal was awarded for the quality of the products and the beauty of the packaging.

Alexander D. Henderson

On January 28, 1916, the California Perfume Company was incorporated in New York State State. An announcement was placed in The New York Times: “California Perfume Co., Suffern, perfumes, cosmetics, flavoring, extracts, fruit juices, household supplies, carry on business with $75,000: W. Scheele, A. D. Henderson, D. H. McConnell, Suffern.”

Henderson and McConnell attended the American Perfumer annual meeting from May 9–11, 1916 and were on the Entertainment and Nominations Committees. The review included the Trade Notes: "California Perfume Co., of New Jersey has filed a certified copy of its charter to manufacture and deal in perfumery, toilet articles, and flavoring extracts in San Francisco. Capital stock, $5,000, 40 shares at $100 each; amount subscribed, $1,000. Place of business, Jersey City, N.J. Subscribers A. D. Henderson 8 shares; Wm. Scheele and Wm. H. Carey 1 share each."

Alexander D. Henderson

His son, Alexander D. Henderson Jr., also worked for CPC and became Vice-President in charge of purchases. According to the article, "Introducing You to the CPC", "Mr. Henderson buys the ingredients from which everything in the CPC line is made. As such, he is, of course, a most important factor in the maintaining the high quality and low prices of the products you sell." In 1940, his second son, Girard B. Henderson was elected to serve on the board of directors for Avon Products and served for 35 years.

Suffern New York

The Henderson family came to Suffern in 1905 as summer visitors and boarders at Tilton's Hotel, which was a very famous boarding house in those days. This hotel is on property now owned by the Avon Products. In 1909, Henderson built a large Georgian style home, which sat on the hill at Campbell Avenue and the Nyack Turnpike (Route 59) in Suffern, New York.

On April 17, 1922, granddaughter, Mary-Ella Henderson was born at 6:45 A.M. at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York. 

click on picture

On March 26, 1924, Henderson Sr's grandson, Alexander D. Henderson III was born at the Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City. Source: New York City Birth Record.

Philanthropy

Henderson, according to the Suffern newspaper, was President of the Rockland Country Branch of the State Charities Aid Association and Chairman of the Red Cross drive for funds during World War I in Ramapo Valley, New York. He also actively assisted in the designing and building of the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, New York. Henderson believed in a good local newspaper and he became treasurer and director of the Ramapo Valley Independent when the old Suffern Independent was sold in 1922.

Death

When Henderson died in Suffern, New york on January 5, 1925 after a very short illness.  Source: New York Death Certificate #5375 and the Suffern newspaper.

On January 7, 1925, Henderson was cremated at the New York & New Jersey Cremation Company  (now called the Garden State Crematory) in Bergen, New York. Source: Christ Church records; Cremation #10508. His cremated remains were mailed to Peter S. Van Orden & Sons Funeral home in Spring Valley, New York. Source: Garden State Crematory records.

Resolution to A D Henderson

On January 8, 1925a resolution adopted and recorded in the minutes by the Board of Directors and the officers of the California Perfume Company, attesting to the invaluable work done by Alexander Dawson Henderson. An embossed copy of the resolution was issued to Mrs. Henderson. Mr. D. H. McConnell (President) and Alonzo E. Williams (Secretary) signed it. Source: 1925 Resolution, California Perfume Company.

The Rev. Dr. Charles P. Bispham, clergy of the Christ Episcopal Church, Suffern, officiated at his burial. Services were held in Suffern, New York.  

Post-Death

In 1931, a postcard was made of the Henderson Suffern home looking at the residence from the bottom of the driveway. The printing at the top of the postcard reads: "Residence of Mr. A. D. Henderson, Suffern, N. Y." Source: Suffern Free Library, Suffern, New York; postcard; col.; 3 x 5 in. (7.7 x 12.7 cm.).

In October 1941, Henderson was mentioned in an issue of the Allied Avon Magazine about the "old timers". There is a picture of him next to Adolph Goetting, and David H. McConnell.

On November 1, 1941, the Henderson home caught fire as workmen were engaged in tearing it down. The combined efforts of the Suffern and Tallman fire departments saved the partly demolished building from complete destruction. The house was later sold in September 1944 to Le Roy Sherwood. Source: The Journal News, Rockland Country Newspaper

References

  1. "Company Officials". Hagley Museum and Library. 1896. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  2.  "Angelina A. Henderson"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 2 Jun 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  3.  "Henderson-Brown". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1892-02-18. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  4.  "Brooklynites In Paris"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 12 Jul 1914. p. 68. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  5.  Long, Craig H. (2011). Suffern. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738573519. Retrieved 2020-04-01Search this book on
  6.  "Verdict For $30,300". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1897-12-15. p. 16. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved 2013-01-02Alt URL
  7.  "Verdict For $30,300"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 15 Dec 1897. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  8.  "Reports of Cases Heard and Determined in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York"New York (State). Supreme Court. Appellate Division. 1898. p. 435. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  9.  "The Story of Perfumery and the CPC". Hagley Museum and Library. 1924. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  10.  The Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory. Trow Directory, Printing & Bookbinding Company. March 1901. Retrieved May 21, 2014Search this book on
  11.  "Agreement of Incorporation for California Perfume Company". Hagley Museum and Library. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  12.  Weekly Drug markets, New Incorporations, Volume 2, Page 26. University of Michigan. 1915. Retrieved 2012-12-17Search this book on 
  13.  The American Perfumer and Essential Oil Review. March 1916 – February 1917. Retrieved May 21, 2014Search this book on 
  14.  Operations & Maintenance magazine, Vol. 7. January 1912. Retrieved 6 Mar2013Search this book on 
  15.  "1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition Gold Medal Award". Hagley Museum and Library. July 1915. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  16.  Lathrop, Mary Anthony (1979). Mary's Family Connections. Lebanon, Connecticut. pp. 85–112. OCLC 55166512Search this book on 
  17.  "Suffern Independent Sold To Corporation", Nyack Evening Journal, Wednesday, September 6, 1922.
  18.  "Alexander Dawson Henderson"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York. 1925-01-06. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  19.  "Henderson-Alexander Dawson Henderson"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 6 Jan 1925. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-02-14.

External links

Alexander D. Henderson at California Perfume Company website