OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22012, 11 May 1933, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR JAMES HENDERSON, GLENHAM. There passed away at Glenham on Friday, Mr James Henderson, one of the districts pioneer settlers. Although he had been in indifferent health for some time, he was able to be about, and his sudden death came as a shock to his family and friends. Deceased, who was the son of the late Mr Henderson, Caithness, Scotland, was bom in the same centre 76 years ago. The late Mr Henderson followed the occupation of a shepherd in Scotland and at the age of 19 years, decided to come to New Zealand, landing at Port Chalmers 57 years ago. For some time he carried out harvesting duties at Oamaru, later securing a position of shepherd at Balfour with the N.Z. Land Company. He stayed at Balfour for 21 years during which period he rose to the position of head shepherd, only severing his connection when the company sold out. While, at Balfour he married Miss Jessie Laidlaw, of Wallacetown, who died some three years ago. Leaving Balfour, he took up a holding at Glenham, whe’re he farmed efficiently until the end. In 1912 he founded the well known Oselay Ayrshire Stud, his foundation strain being secured from Walker Bros., Oamaru. In this connection he had a great deal of'success, establishing a strain of Ayrshires of great repute in Southland, one of his stud bulls, Premier of Haydowns, winning 18 championships, being defeated on only one occasion. Throughout Southland and Otago he competed at shows with great success, being always well up in the prize list. The late Mr Henderson was a gentleman in every meaning of the word, and was greatly respected and esteemed in the Glenham district. One of his acquaintances of 37 years standing, at the funeral on Tuesday remarked, “Mr Henderson was a gentleman and one of the whitest men I have known,” a glowing tribute to the late settler. In public life he took an active place, being a diractor and one of the foundation members of the Glenham Dairy Factory Co. Ltd., serving continuously for 27 years, without missing a meeting. His counsel was always looked upon as sound and in the interests of the whole district. He was

also a trustee of the Glenham Hall, since its erection in 1909, a member of the School Committee and other social committees. He was an ardent church attender, hardly missing a service, and was an active member on the committee for the erection of the new Presbyterian church. He is survived by four sons and seven daughters, Messrs James, Alexander, William (Glenham), and Andrew (Thornbury), Margaret, Anna, Agnes, Elizabeth, Mrs J. McKay, Mrs C. Dryden and Mrs R. G. Scott.

The funeral was largely attended, the service being conducted by Rev. G. Falconer (Wyndham). Among the floral tributes were wreaths from the Glenham Hall Committee, and Southland Ayrshire Breeders’ Association.