Los Angeles County
Biographies
CHARLES ANDREW HENDERSON
HENDERSON, CHARLES ANDREW, Railways, Los Angeles, California, was born in Peoria, Illinois, February 1, 1860. He is the son of John Morrison Henderson and Julia (Bradley) Henderson.
Mr. Henderson had only about five years’ schooling in his youth and his position in the business world he has made for himself. He entered the public school at Peoria when he was six years of age and left in 1871, when he was about eleven, to become a cash boy in a large dry goods establishment in Peoria. Despite his youth, he was advanced by his employers to a clerkship and he was working in that capacity when he left, in 1874, to go into the railroad business.
His first position in the railroad world was in the Passenger Traffic Department of the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway Company, with headquarters in Peoria. After working in that branch of the service for a time, Mr. Henderson was transferred to the Maintenance of Way Department, in which he worked as clerk until the Toledo, Peoria and Western was absorbed by the Wabash Railroad, and he was then transferred to the Transportation Department.
While with the Wabash, Mr. Henderson was connected, in alternate years, with either the Transportation or Maintenance of Way Department and while in the latter he acquired practical knowledge of the construction part of railroading, his work causing him to locate, at different times, in Peoria, Springfield, Decatur and Chicago, Illinois.
In 1889, Mr. Henderson was offered the position of Chief Clerk to the Superintendent of the Jacksonville Southeastern Line, with headquarters at Jacksonville, Illinois, and he thereupon resigned from the Wabash. The Jacksonville southeastern was controlled at that time by the late William S. Hook and Mr. Henderson was associated with him for many years succeeding. In addition to his work as Chief Clerk, Mr. Henderson was Purchasing Agent for the company and after serving in this dual capacity for several years, was made General Superintendent of the road, in which position he remained until he retired from the railroad business in Jacksonville, about 1893, or the early part of 1894.
At that time Mr. Henderson separated from Mr. Hook, but by a strange coincidence of business they were brought together again in Los Angeles, only this time in electric railways, with Mr. Henderson in one company and Mr. Hook at the head of another. The latter had started a traction line in Los Angeles in 1894 and Mr. Henderson having gone to visit relatives in that city, was chosen the following year (1895) as Auditor for the Los Angeles Railway Company, rival of the Hook lines. He was also given the duties of Purchasing Agent for the road and from that time to the present has been one of the leading factors in the work of the company.
In November, 1910, Mr. Henderson was appointed Secretary and Treasurer of the company, in addition to his other duties and in July, 1911, was made Assistant General Manager of the company, still holding his other offices. In his new position Mr. Henderson has had active charge of the larger portion of the electric railways of Los Angeles and is regarded as one of the leading traction men of the Southwest.
Besides his railway offices, Mr. Henderson has various outside interests, these including the Southwest Land Company, of which he is Vice president.
Mr. Henderson is a Mason (Knight Templar and Shriner) and holds membership in the leading clubs of Los Angeles, including the California, Jonathan and Gamut Clubs, the Los Angeles Country Club and the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Transcribed 3-12-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 214,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES