Joseph and Margaret Henderson were managing a poor farm in Kansas. A couple came to them and asked the Henderson's if they would care for their child, they did not have the funds to raise him. The Henderson's cared for the child for sometime, then after becoming attached, they decided to adopt him. He was named "William McKinley" after the president of the United States. No one knows for sure the correct date of birth. William has used the date of March 1, but most often used March 2 as his date of birth.
William was never accepted by the others in the family. They tolerated him because of Margaret, however, after she died and affidavit was filed in court by Ambrose Henderson, stating that he was never officailly adopted and therefore should not be named an heir to Joseph Henderson's estate.
There are several stories of how William came to the Henderson's. Another story is that he is an illegitimate child of a family member. Unfortunatly these stories are hard to prove. I find it interesting that in all the family trees, William is never listed as child of Joseph and Margarets (not even as being adopted), and yet he is listed as living and being raised by them.
Family Members
Parents
Joseph Washington Henderson
1841–1931
Margaret Elizabeth Hanners Henderson
1846–1916
Spouse
Flora Mae Crumrine Henderson
1896–1965
Siblings
Latta Belle Henderson Egender*
1869–1934
Sirrilla Henderson Marshall*
1871–1945
Children
Shirley Mae Henderson McCleary*
1924–1987
Willard Owen Henderson*
1926–1982
Mildred J. Henderson*
1931–1931
Hubert Wayne Henderson*
1933–1988
Milo Marvin Henderson*
1936–2008
Gerald Allen Henderson*
1938–1998
*Calculated Relationship
Inscription: Missouri; Private, Company K, 49 Infantry, World War I
