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Alexander D. Henderson (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Early life
Alexander Henderson was born in Brooklyn, New York and was the sixth child of Captain Joseph Henderson (Pilot)Joseph Henderson (Pilot)
Joseph Henderson was an early American harbor pilot. He was well known for being one of the oldest and wealthiest pilots in the New York Sandy Hook service. -Early life:...
and Angelina Annetta Weaver. In 1890, Mr. Henderson worked for the Union Warehouse Company in New York City, for which he held the position of private secretary to Mr. Edward B. Bartlett. On February 17, 1892, Alexander D. Henderson married Ella M. Brown at the Emmanuel Baptist Church at 291 Ryerson Street, Brooklyn, New York by the Rev. John Hampstone. The marriage announcement appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn Eagle
The Brooklyn Daily Bulletin began publishing when the original Eagle folded in 1955. In 1996 it merged with a newly revived Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and now publishes a morning paper five days a week under the Brooklyn Daily Eagle name...
Newspaper.
California Perfume Company
On May 30, 1895 Mr. Henderson became the bookkeeper for David H. McConnellDavid H. McConnell
David Hall McConnell was the Founder and President of the California Perfume Company, which later became Avon Products...
of the California Perfume Company. He went on to become Vice-President and Treasurer of CPC. According to The Story of the C P C, "Mr. Alexander D. Henderson, our Vice-President and Treasurer, joined the company and helped to shape its policies and assist in its growth."
In a letter to Mr. William Scheele and the CPC, Henderson described the "process of Perfumery and extracting odors from flowers". In this letter Henderson said, "It is these pomade
Pomade
Pomade is a greasy or waxy substance that is used to style hair. Pomade makes hair look slick and shiny. Unlike hair spray and hair gel, pomade does not dry and often takes several washes to remove...
s which we import direct from Grasse
Grasse
-See also:*Route Napoléon*Ancient Diocese of Grasse*Communes of the Alpes-Maritimes department-External links:*...
for the making of our perfumes, and thus we have the true flower base which makes our floral odors so true to natural flowers and so lasting."
The California Perfume Company was incorporated on May 7, 1915 in Jersey City to deal in perfumery, toilet preparations by Alexander D. Henderson, William Scheele, William H. Carey. In June, 1915, Mr. Henderson took the train to San Francisco, to help set up a booth to advertise the perfume products at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, California. By train, it took 4 days to get to San Francisco. The perfume won the Gold Medal at the Exposition.
It was incorporated again in Suffern, New York to deal in perfumes, cosmetics, flavoring, extracts, fruit juices, and household supplies, by A. D. Henderson, W. Scheele, and D. H. McConnell.
His son, Alexander D. Henderson Jr.
Alexander D. Henderson Jr.
Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr., -Early life:Mr. Henderson was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Alexander D. Henderson and Ella Margaret Brown. On February 14, 1920, Mr. Henderson married Mary Barnes Anthony at her parents Ridgewood home in New Jersey.-California Perfume Company:By 1925 Mr...
, also worked for CPC and became Vice-President in charge of Purchases. According to the article, Introducing You to the CPC, "Mr. Henderson buys the ingredients from which everything in the CPC line is made. As such, he is, of course, a most important factor in the maintaining the high quality and low prices of the products you sell." In 1940, his second son, Girard B. Henderson
Girard B. Henderson
Girard Brown Henderson, , founder of the Alexander Dawson Schools, was a businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.-Early life:...
was elected to serve on the board of directors for Avon Products and served for 35 years.
Philanthropy
Henderson, according to the Suffern newspaper, was President of the Rockland Country Branch of the State Charities Aid Association and Chairman of the Red Cross drive for funds during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in Ramapo
Ramapo
Ramapo is the name of several places and institutions in northern New Jersey and the adjoining area of Rockland County in southeastern New York State.-In New Jersey:...
Valley, New York. He also actively assisted in the designing and building of the Lafayette Theatre
Lafayette Theatre
Lafayette Theatre may refer to:* Lafayette Theatre , in Suffern, Rockland County, New York, USA* Lafayette Theatre , in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA* Lafayette Circus , Manhattan, NYC, 1825...
in Suffern, New York. Mr. Henderson "believed in a good local newspaper and he became treasurer and director of the Ramapo Valley Independent when the old Suffern Independent was sold."