Eldridge Henderson, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Grainger County, Tennessee, and a farmer of moderate means. He died when the son was only three months old.
Mr. Henderson's mother, nee Emeline Felts, was a native of Washington County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of William Felts, a carpenter, a soldier in the War of 1812, under Jackson, a quiet, plain, honest, religious man, who lived to be seventy-five years old. His wife was Margaret Lackey, a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia. She died at Knoxville. Six children were born to William and Margaret Felts; three sons, Jackson, David and James (the two former now at Nashville, the latter at Knoxville), and three daughters, Sallie, Emeline (Mr. Henderson's mother) and Minerva. Sallie died the wife of Wilson Taylor; Minerva died the wife of James O. Allen.
