Alexander D. Henderson, Sr.

Alexander Dawson Henderson (February 28, 1865 – January 5, 1925) was an American-born financier and philanthropist. He was vice president, first treasurer and founding investor of the California Perfume Company (CPC), which later became Avon Products.

Henderson supported his local church as a Vestryman for the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, New York. His Philanthropic work included volunteering as President of the New York State Charities Aid Association and acting as Chairman of the Red Cross drive for funds. Henderson volunteered his time as treasurer and director of the Ramapo Valley Independent newspaper.

Early life

Parents

Henderson was born February 28, 1865, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the sixth child of Captain Joseph Henderson and Angelina Annetta Weaver. On February 17, 1892, the Reverend John Hampstone, of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, married Henderson and Ella Margaret Brown.His wife was listed as a prominent resident in the New York Social Blue Book as Mrs. A. D. Henderson, Nyack Tpke, Suffern, N.Y. Alexander and Ella had three children:

• Joseph Dawson Henderson (14 January 1893 - 5 November 1893), died within one year of birth.
• Alexander D. Henderson Jr. (16 Feb 1895 - 9 Jul 1964), worked for CPC and became Vice-President in charge of purchases.
• Girard B. Henderson (25 Feb 1905 - 16 Nov 1983), was elected to serve on the board of directors for Avon Products and served for 35 years.

Suffern New York

The Henderson family came to Suffern in 1905 as summer visitors and boarders at Tilton's Hotel, which was a very famous boarding house in those days. This hotel is on property now owned by the Avon Products. In 1909, Henderson built a large Georgian style home, which sat on the hill at Campbell Avenue and the Nyack Turnpike (Route 59) in Suffern, New York. A postcard was made of the Hendersons' Suffern home, looking at the residence from the bottom of the driveway. The printing at the top of the postcard reads: "Residence of Alexander D. Henderson, Suffern, N. Y."

Union Warehouse company

In 1890, Henderson worked for the Union Warehouse Company in New York City where he held the position of private Secretary to Edward B. Bartlett. The Union Warehouse was a very large building located in New York City, worth over $100,000.00.

California Perfume Company

On May 30, 1895, he became the bookkeeper for David H. McConnell of the California Perfume Company. He went on to become Vice-President and Treasurer of CPC. According to The Story of the CPC, "Alexander D. Henderson, our Vice-President and Treasurer, joined the company and helped to shape its policies and assist in its growth."

As early as 1901, Henderson and McConnell were listed in the Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory as "The California Perfume Co., (RTN) David H McConnell, Alexander D Henderson, at 126 Chambers Street."

On June 16, 1909, an agreement was made between David H. McConnell and Alexander D. Henderson as partners trading as D. H. McConnell and Company, Goetting and Company, and California Perfume Company to sell these holdings over to the California Perfume Company, a corporation of the State of New Jersey. The bill of sale was for $220,000.00.

On July 22, 1914, in a letter to William Scheele and the CPC, Henderson described the "process of Perfumery and extracting odors from flowers". In this letter Henderson said, "It is these pomades which we import direct from Grasse for the making of ourperfumes, and thus we have the true flower base which makes our floral odors so true to natural flowers and so lasting."

On January 28, 1916, the California Perfume Company was incorporated in New York State. An announcement was placed in The New York Times that read: “California Perfume Co., Suffern, perfumes, cosmetics, flavoring, extracts, fruit juices, household supplies, carry on business with $75,000: W. Scheele, A. D. Henderson, D. H. McConnell, Suffern.”

Henderson and McConnell attended the American Perfumer annual meetings from May 9–11, 1916. The meeting Trade Notes included the following statement: "California Perfume Co., of New Jersey has filed a certified copy of its charter to manufacture and deal in perfumery, toilet articles, and flavoring extracts in San Francisco. Capital stock, $5,000, 40 shares at $100 each; amount subscribed, $1,000. Place of business, Jersey City, N.J. Subscribers A. D. Henderson 8 shares; Wm. Scheele and Wm. H. Carey 1 share each."

Hatfield Auto Truck Company

In March of 1912, Henderson invested in the incorporation of the Hatfield Auto Truck Company of Elmira, New York with capital of $1,500,000. The incorporators were David H. McConnell, Alexander D. Henderson, and Arthur S. Hoyt.

Panama-Pacific International Exposition

In June 1915, Henderson took the train to San Francisco, California to set up a booth to advertise and exhibit CPC perfume products at the 1914-1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The CPC exhibit was in the Liberal Arts Building. A Gold Medal was awarded to the company for the quality of the products and the beauty of the packaging.

Henderson had a passion for helping others less fortunate. He gave his time and energy to the local church and 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 I in Ramapo Valley, New York.

Henderson also actively assisted in the designing and building of the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, New York. Henderson fought for a good local newspaper. As a result, he became treasurer and director of the Ramapo Valley Independent when the old Suffern Independent was sold in 1922.

Henderson died on January 5, 1925 after a very short illness. A resolution adopted and recorded in the minutes by the Board of Directors and the officers of the California Perfume Company, attesting to the invaluable work done by Alexander Dawson Henderson. An embossed copy of the resolution was issued to Mrs. Henderson. David H. McConnell (President) and Alonzo E. Williams (Secretary) signed it. The resolution included the following text:

Mr. Henderson began his work with us as a bookkeeper and ever since the early months of his career with the California Perfume Company he had the accounting and financial branch of our business under his special charge and oversight. He became our Vice President and Treasurer at the time of our incorporation and held these offices continuously until his death. He had largely to do with our finances and with the successful working out of our banking and financial problems.

On January 7, 1925, Henderson was cremated at the New York & New Jersey Cremation Company in Bergen, New York. The Rev. Dr. Charles P. Bispham, clergy of the Christ Episcopal Church, Suffern, officiated at his burial. Services were held in Suffern, New York.

In October 1941, Henderson was mentioned in an issue of the Allied-Avon Family Album about the "old timers". This is a picture of him next to Adolph Goetting and David H. McConnell. Adolph Goetting was the Chief Chemist for Suffern Laboratory and McConnell was president of CPC.