Oswald Clayton Henderson son of Robert James Henderson and
Annie Helena Cox, was born 29 Jan. 1888 in Lake Bird, Taylor
County, Florida. He was the second child of a family of eleven
children - seven girls and four boys. Oswald's Father and other
ancestors played an important part in the pioneering of North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Among them were
Legislative Representatives, Superintendent of Schools, School
Trustees, Tax Collectors, Members of the Armed Forces, and his
own Father was Deputy Sherriff for Taylor County, Florida, and
acted as School Trustee. Oswald had many fond memories of his
boyhood days in Florida where they raised corn, cotton, peanuts,
and sugar cane. They also hunted wild cats, opossum, racoons,
wild turkey and aligators for their hides. They made their own cane
syrup and sugar.

Missionaries of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints were
welcomed at the Henderson home the first time they came. Oswald's
grandmother Sarah Minton McMullen was the second person to join
the Church in Taylor County. Because of hostility of the people against
the Church, the missionaries encouraged people to leave that part of
the country and live where the Church was more firmly established.
And in 1904 his Father sold most of their belongings and moved to
Canada. Oswald was then 16 years of age. They first settled in
Raymond, Alberta, and in the spring of 1907 his Father took up a
homestead in Purple Springs.

Oswald joined the Church when he was twenty one years of age and
was baptized 2 January 1909 in the "Old Bishop's Office" in Raymond.
It was 25 degrees F. below zero that day and Oswald built a fire to
warm the water so he could be baptized.

Oswald loved good music and by correspondence learned to play the
violin. His brother Lucius also played the violin and a friend Kenneth
Jardine played the organ or piano. These three made the orchestra
that played for many dances at the Reliance school between Taber
and Purple Springs. It was at one of these dances that Oswald met
his first wife Callie Haycock, daughter of William Joseph Haycock
and Orpha Elzetta Adams. Callie was born in Kanab, Kane County,
Utah, on the 15 September 1898. Her parents also pioneered this
part of the country, taking a homestead at Purple Springs. Oswald
and Callie were married 23 December 1914 in Iona, Idaho, and on the
5 April 1916 were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.

Four children were born to this union, one son and three daughters.

Callie H. Henderson passed away 22 April 1922 and is buried in the
Taber cemetery.

Oswald continued to farm in Purple Springs until 1925 when he moved
to Magrath. He rented the Roy Coleman farm west of Magrath and
a widow lady Mrs. Margaret McAdam, who later married William
Anderson, kept house for him and took care of his family. She was
a faithful woman to her duties.

In 1925 Oswald met Frieda Rosa Senn, daughter of Fredrick Johann
Senn and Rosetta Gross. She was born 27 May 1905 in Birsfelden,
Basel, Switzerland. She was converted to the Church Of Jesus Christ
Of Latter Day Saints, in Switzerland, and came to Canada 7 September
1925. She came to Canada because of her strong testimony and love
of the gospel, and she wanted to be near the temple. It took a lot of
courage for a young lady twenty years of age, to leave her mother and
sister, and travel so many miles by boat and train to a strange land.
But with her mother's consent and blessings she bid them farewell and
came to the little town of Magrath. She was warmly welcomed into the
home of friends she had previously known in Switzerland, Mr. and Mrs.
Earnest E. Reithman.

On March the 3rd 1926 Oswald and Rosalie as she was called in
Magrath were married in the Cardston Alberta, Temple and were sealed
for time and all eternity. They lived on the farm for three years. At
this time Father bought a small farm on the west edge of Magrath.
It was known as the "Forsyth" place.

To this union 6 children were born, four sons and two daughters.
Robert Senn, an infant son lived only one day and died shortly after
he was given a name.

Times were hard and pennies were scarce. Oswald and Rosalie worked
hard to maintain their home and support a large family.

They always raised a good garden and Rosalie's flower garden was
indeed a beauty spot of the farm.

Their main source of income was sugar beets, grain and hay raised on
the farm. In order to supplement their income and provide for their
family, Oswald hauled coal for the school and other people of the
town. Many a cold winter day he rose long before daylight and hitched
his horses to the wagon and started on his 10 mile trip to the coal
mine north of town.

He was also drill man for the Sugar Beet Company for 20 years. He
was well known throughout this part of the country for the straight
rows he drilled in the beet fields. He drilled many years with horses.
Old "Dick and Patch" as we called them. The last few years he
drilled with a small Tractor. The whole family worked together in
the beet fields and assisted whenever possible with the hay and other
farm duties. They shared experiences together that helped everyone
and was indeed an experience very worth while.

Oswald and Rosalie were active Church members and encouraged
their family to live good honorable lives and attend their Church
regularly. They indeed set a good example for their children to follow.
Oswald served in various Priesthood capacities and for a while acted
as Ward Clerk. Rosalie was especially interested in Reliel Society
serving on the Stake Board as well as teacher of Theology and other
classes. Oswald and Rosalie were both very interested in Genealogy
and Temple work and they spent many hours working together doing
this work.

One of their greatest desires was to see their children obtain a good
education, and in December 1947 they moved to Rexburg, Idaho, so
they could be near a college. Their children took advantage of this
opportunity and they all have a good education.

All these children accomplished much in their lives and owe a great
deal of their success to kind, loving parents who helped them by
wise guidance and encouragement throughout their lives.

Oswald and Rosalie moved to Salt Lake City in March 1955 where they
enjoyed life together for many years. On the fourth of October 1957
Rosalie graduated as a "Registered Practical Nurse" from the Salt
Lake Area Vocational School in Salt Lake City. She worked for
many years at the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake City. This was a
great accomplishment for her and a work she thouroughly enjoyed.

In 1972 they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, to be near their son.
On 7 March 1974 Oswald passed away in Las Vegas. He loved Canada
and the people he knew here and other parts of Southern Alberta. He
was buried 12 March 1974 in the Magrath cemetery. He lived a good
honorable life. Throughout his life his patience and understanding
have been an outstanding part of his character. He was always honest
and just with his fellow man. He was loved and respected by all who
know him.

Rosalie continued to live with her son. But many years of hard work
raising a large family, and caring for Oswald for many years through
his failing health contributed to her own failing health. But she kept
on with a head held high doing and caring for those around her. In
1976 she passed away in Canada at the hospital in Magrath. She
is buried in the Henderson cemetery plot in Magrath. How fortunate
we have been to have her for a mother, for each one of us remember
her with a great deal of love and admiration. And we respect her for
the great person that she was.

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