John Clifton Henderson was born April 14, 1884 in the Snoddy Community in Greene County, Alabama, the last of eight children born to Edmund Waller Henderson, born 1839 and Elizabeth Janie Cartee, born 1851.

After John's mother died on October 30, 1885, his father married Evaline Elizabeth Ellis Doigg on October 22, 1889. Evaline Elizabeth was a real mother to John and his family. These three are buried at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery at Snoddy.

John attended a rural one-room school. He grew up attending Beulah Baptist Church and was active in all programs of the church. John married Lydia Ann Stephens on January 16, 1907. Lydia's parents were Joseph Benjamin Stephens and Josephine Drummond. Ben died 1925; Josephine died 1937. They are buried at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery at Ralph, Alabama in southwest Tuscaloosa County.

John was a farmer. He was a member of farm organizations prior to the Farm Bureau. He was foreman of the W.P.A. during the depression years. He moved to Clinton, Alabama in 1925 to make a better living for his family. He continued to farm and had a blacksmith shop and sharpened plows and other farming tools. He also made one-mule plow stocks. John did carpentry work, building bridges, etc. and other Public Works. He was a staunch supporter of County Probate Judge L. H. Montgomery who appointed John as Justice of the Peace. He also had several political jobs such as Member of the Cotton Committee and was a delegate to several of their conventions. John was a member of the Board of Registrars and at the death of Chairman of said Board, he was promoted to Chairman. He cut hair for his neighbors under a shade tree, charging ten cents each. He was very active in reorganizing the Clinton Baptist Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent and Deacon until his death. John's hobby was dominos. Some men in the community got together at night to play dominos, especially after the crops were laid by.

Lydia stayed at home and raised their seven children. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed the Home Demonstration Club.

Six of their children graduated from the Greene County High School in Eutaw, Alabama. The children were:

1.) Eugene Archie, born December 17, 1907. He married Elizabeth Scarbrough May 11, 1930. They had one child, Carolyn Elizabeth Henderson. They divorced and Archie married Elizabeth Montgomery on October 2, 1937. Their children were Milton Eugene and Ann Ella Henderson. Archie died April 2, 1974 in Williamson County, Tennessee near Nashville.

2.) Nellie Roena, born August 5, 1909. She married John William Colson. They had two children, Dorothy Nell and John Richard Colson. John William died in 1941. Roena married Frank Lee Grisham November 23, 1960. Roena died December 3, 1997 at Huntsville, Alabama.

3&4.) Unnamed twin girls born June 7, 1911 who lived only a few days. They are buried in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery at Snoddy, Alabama.

5.) Frances Evaline born May 28, 1912, married Marvin Lindsey Porter September 18,1932. They had one child, Marvin Raymond Porter, deceased. Frances died January 15, 1987 in hospital in Aliceville, Alabama.

6.) James Waller born October 28, 1914, married Lilly Inez Shrauger on June 24, 1941. They had four children: Margaret Ann, Betsy Jane, John Waller and Susan Inez Henderson. Waller lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

7.) Essie Winona, born October 27, 1917, married Charles Cornelius Franklin. They had no children. Winona lives at Clinton, Alabama.

8.) Helen Doris, born October 30, 1923, married Gaines Smith Leavelle. They have two children: James Clifton and Jan Marie Henderson. Doris and Gaines live in Austin, Texas.

9.) Anna Blanche was born March 27, 1929. She married William Rex Wagoner. They have one son, Wallie Jadie Wagoner. Blanche and Bill live in Apalachicola, Florida.

Lydia Ann Henderson died July 14, 1941. Five weeks later, John Clifton Henderson died August 17, 1941. They both had heart attacks. They are buried in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery at Snoddy, Alabama in Greene County.

This story was written by Mrs. Doris Henderson Leavelle for the Greene County Heritage of Alabama Series, she lives in Austin, Texas and has written a most interesting story.