Name:
William Henderson 
Location served:
Morpeth  
Years in Practice:
1857 to 1866
Area of Specialization:
Family Physician and Surgeon  

Biography:

Dr. William Henderson was born in Williams Twp, Middlesex County, Ontario in 1836.  (Williams Twp is now known as North Middlesex Twp).  Dr. Henderson was the youngest of 7 children born to Donald Henderson and the former Mary McKenzie.  The Henderson family immigrated to Canada from Kirkhill, Inverness, Scotland in 1832.  Dr. Henderson was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson who was born in Canada.  Dr. Henderson’s father was a farmer and his siblings were; Alexander, Janet, Mary, Hellen, Margaret and Donald.  According to the 1851 census, Dr. Henderson was 17 years old and living with his parents in Williams Twp.  His occupation was listed as “common school teacher”.

Dr. Henderson attended the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Scotland.  He graduated M.R.C.S. around 1857.  He returned to Canada and set up his medical practice in Morpeth.

Dr. Henderson married Julia Ann Finkle on the 28th of November, 1860 in Kingston, Ontario.  Mrs. Henderson was born on the 15th of August, 1835 in Ernestown Twp, in Lennox and Addington County, Ontario.  She was the 8th of 13 children born to William Finkle and the former Hannah Havens.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Henry, Harriett, Charles, Lucretia, Mary Jane, Adelaide, Sarah Ann (who died at the age of 3), Caroline, Burton, Ira, Bertha and Theresa.  Mrs. Henderson appears on the 1851 census, residing with her brother Henry Finkle and his family in Camden Township in Addington Co., Ontario.

Dr. Henderson advertised his medical practice in the 1865 Kent County Business Directory.  The ad included that, “Calls Promptly Attended to at All Hours”.

Dr. and Mrs. Henderson had 2 children.  Minerva Helen “Minnie” Henderson was born on the 24th of August, 1861 and a son, Donald Finkle Henderson was born on the 10th of July 1865.  The baby boy Donald died on the 14th of January, 1866.

Dr. Henderson died shortly after his son on the 12th of February, 1866.  The doctor and his son are buried at the Nairn Hill Cemetery in Middlesex County.  Dr. Henderson was only 30 years of age upon his death.

Mrs. Henderson married Dr. Lauchlin Sinclair on the 14th of March, 1867.  She had 2 children with her second husband; Herbert Henderson Sinclair and Corinna Sinclair.  Mrs. Henderson-Sinclair died on the 21st of November, 1908 in Walkerton, Ontario.  Dr. Lauchlin Sinclair died on the 21st of September, 1915 in Walkerton.  Dr. and Mrs. Sinclair were buried at the Walkerton Cemetery in Bruce County.  Their son Herbert Sinclair also became a physician who practiced medicine in Walkerton.

*Dr. Henderson’s brother, Dr. Donald Henderson graduated M.D. from Queen’s University in 1858 and practiced medicine in Nairn, Wardsville and Ailsa Craig, Ontario before moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba.