Anton Henderson (1853-1950)

DECEASED BRETHREN

Anton Christian Henderson (1853-1950) was a member of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 in Victoria.

In 1897, Anton Henderson retained architect A.C. Ewart to design a house at 522 Quadra Street. Anton Henderson then built the house for his family following A.C. Ewart’s design. 522 Quadra Street is still standing and is listed on the Victoria Heritage Register.

Anton Henderson and his wife Ellen lived at 522 Quadra Street until 1911 when they moved to their farm at 3984 Carey Road [no longer extant] in Saanich.

Anton Henderson was a manager with the Victoria Transfer Company, along with Francis Stilman Barnard and Joseph Rostein, both members of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1.

Here are links to some historic photos of Anton Henderson and his family:

• Saanich Archives photo 2014-015-009a – Henderson family outside 522 Quadra Street, circa 1898
• Saanich Archives photo 2007-193-034 – Anton Henderson, circa 1903
• Saanich Archives photo 2014-015-008 – Henderson family portrait, circa 1910
• Saanich Archives photo 2014-015-001 – 3984 Carey Road, circa 1910
• City of Victoria Archives photo M05835 – 1926
• Saanich Archives photo 2014-015-004 – 522 Quadra Street, 1986

Anton Henderson served on Victoria City Council and later on Saanich Council. He was vice-president of the Victoria Tourist Association.

Here is Anton Henderson’s obituary in the local newspaper:

“In Klondike Gold Rush

Death of A. Henderson Destroys Link With Past

Death of Anton Henderson Wednesday destroyed a human bond linking present-day Victoria with pioneer British Columbia, the Danish War of 1864 and the Klondike Gold Rush.

Mr. Henderson, formerly of 3976 Carey Road, died after a six months’ illness in St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 96.

Recalled 1864 War

Born in Denmark in 1853, Mr. Henderson had a clear recollection of the Danish War of 1864 when Prussian and Austrian troops overpowered Denmark to annex the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein.

He sailed for New York at the age of 26 and went on to California in 1876. He first landed in Esquimalt in the S.S. Dakota in 1880 and set out for the Interior where he became agent for the B.C. Express Company [note: started by Francis Jones Barnard] at Cache Creek.

He was back in Victoria as manager of the Victoria Transfer Company in 1883.

Mr. Henderson played an active part in the Klondike gold rush, freighting goods from his Skagway warehouse by pack train over White Pass to Lake Bennett. In 1900 he took an outfit to Cape Nome, where he kept a store, and transported freight to the mines.

He was a Victoria alderman for four years and a Saanich councillor for another four. He was also a past grand master of the I.O.O.F. of British Columbia.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Mae Dorman and Mrs. Harry Todd; one son, Dr. H.J. Henderson; four grandchildren, Kenneth Henderson. Mrs. John Norrington, Mrs. Victor Little and Mrs. Norman Griffin, and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted a 1:30 p.m. Monday at Hayward’s Funeral Chapel by Rev. George Reynolds. Interment will be at Royal Oak.

(Source: Victoria Daily Colonist, 28 January 1950)

We will get a photo of Anton Henderson’s grave in Royal Oak Burial Park in the near future.

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