This photo shows Robert and Harriet Delight Henderson (parents) and their children. Their only son was William Henderson, my grandfather, who died in 1942, the year I (Janet) was born. Two of our sons were named after these men: (Robert Jess Wilcox, and William Anthony Wilcox.) Their daughter Agnes is in front of William. She also named her son [Robert Denning] after Robert Henderson. Robert Denning provided the details in the following story. Their daughter Lucy is also mentioned. She is in front of her mother.
I discovered this intriguing story January 17, 2017 while trying a new Family Search App (https://familysearch.org/blog/en/family-storiesin-place/) I was thrilled to discover it because Robert Henderson is one of my favorite ancestors. He is my Great Great Grandfather and joined the LDS church in Glasgow Scotland in 1851. He immigrated to America inJanuary 1851. He was am exceptional writer and kept copies of all letters he received and plus wrote duplicates of all letters he sent! (Long before e-mail, so all were hand written.) He also kept journals one of them told how he and other immigrants literally “ate crow” to survive while working on the Salt Lake Temple. That’s an interesting story you'll find in his journal. This particular chapter in the Henderson story culminates at the Las Vegas Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum.
My designated detective in Las Vegas, was Sylvia Shumway who is also interested in history. She visited the Las Vegas DUP Fort January 24, 2017 and confirmed that the organ there is the same organ described in our family history. She also took many of the photos used. I so appreciated her wonderful help.
This information about the Pump Organ was written by Robert Henderson Denning (Grandson of Robert Henderson) with additional researchinformation by Janet Keeler Wilcox,Great Great Granddaughter of Robert Henderson.
“Only a few things are known about this organ. It was made in Paris, France during the 1870's-some members of my family claimed. It was shipped around the Horn,” Robert Denning. [In doing further research, I learned that the organ was not made in France but in Massachusetts, but it was sent to France for a competition as confirmed by the photo below.
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“In 1854 Hamlin and Henry Mason formed their company for the purpose of manufacturing a new musical instrument that they called the “organ harmonium. From the organ harmonium, the company graduated to the American Cabinet Organ, a product that would earn Mason & Hamlin 1st prize at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. The fact, that a small American company won the top prize over its much larger, more established European competitors astounded the music world. The fact that they continued to win year after year was even more astounding. It wasn’t long before Mason & Hamlin had established a worldwide reputation for excellence.” (http://masonhamlin.com/company/the-mason-hamlin-story/)
This also explains, in part, why this particular organ has a medallion affixed to it, confirming it is indeed the organ which won 1st prize at the Paris Exhibition of 1867.
Robert Denning continues the organ's back story: “ Evans Stephens, a well known Mormon composer, musician lived in the same area as the Hendersons and would have known the Henderson’s well. I do not know what year my grandfather, Robert Henderson, bought it and took it to Willard, Utah where he owned a store and a large dairy farm and pasture land near Perry, Utah. The Henderson Family often mentioned, Evan Stephens and that he used this organ while taking music lessons. Years later he used it while practicing and composing music -- over 30 hymns!
In Heart Throbs of the West, Vol 12 I (Janet) discovered this information about Robert Denning. He wrote: “Years ago, my mother [Agnes] died at Malad, Idaho [1939]. While I was there to attend her funeral, I dropped into R.B. Davis Drug store and asked regarding his son, Gerald. Brother Davis asked, "Now, who am I talking to?" I replied, "Robert Henderson Denning, the son of Uriah M. Denning and Agnes Henderson."
He replied, " I knew your parents well. I'm busy now, but, if you will drop by at 9:00pm tonight, I would like to visit with you. I did. These are two of the stories he told me: 1) Before the turn of the century (1900) your Grandfather, Robert Henderson, had a large dairy outfit. He used Willard and Perry, Utah for his headquarters, and production plant during late fall, winter, and early spring. About mid-spring, he moved his whole dairy outfit to his ranch on Deep Creek just 8 miles from Malad City, Idaho. That was his center for operations during the late spring, summer, and early fall. Your Aunt Lucy homesteaded the Second Creek area. Your parents also homesteaded down stream from his ranch. To get enough help to run his dairy, your Grandfather Henderson advanced money for young men and young women to come to America and then hired them to work for him to pay for their trip over. [Similar to the Perpetual Emmigration Fund that the LDS church initiated]
Robert continued, "Then he told me this story about the organ. Long before the turn of the century, one spring your Grandfather was taking his dairy outfit up to his Deep Creek headquarters. While on his way, he camped one evening at the Mound Springs where the feed was abundant and water plentiful. That evening, eight of we boys, who lived nearby, saddled up and rode to their camp-just to see what was going on. Your Grandfather had the organ with him. When the camp was secured and the chores done, we took the organ out of the wagon, cleared a place for it, and prepared an area around it for a dance. We really had a pleasant evening dancing to the music played on the organ.
After that, during the dairy's spring and fall migration, your Grandfather always stopped at Mound Spring. Of course, we planned a dance whenever he arrived. We had a ball although we were dancing on bare ground." Mr. Davis stopped talking and appeared to be reliving a dance at Mount Springs. Then he asked, "Your Aunts Maggie and Lucy still have that organ, don't they?"
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| Laurie Delight Wilcox |
Robert Henderson Denning eventually brought the Henderson organ to his home to Boulder City, Nevada. His daughters remember playing it. In the early years of Boulder City there was a Easter tradition to go to a special hill top where there was a cross for a community religious service. That pump organ was the instrument used to support the hymn singing for that service until it gave out. Much later, after Robert Denning died the organ was restored and eventually donated by the Denning family to the Old Mormon Fort Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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| Denning Family Headstone |
"Both Robert Henderson and his son William were out-going sociable men. Robert had a wide repertoire of memorized Robert Burns poems that he would recite while hauling cheese to sell. Our mother, Margaret Henderson Keeler, remembered riding with him and he would recite “authentic” Scottish poetry. In later years she also gave readings and recitations using that same Scottish brogue. She also loved music and saw to it that we all took piano lessons. Following her good example, many of us tried to give our own children opportunities and an appreciation for all kinds of music via piano lessons and band.
On Sept. 26, 2017, I discovered in Family Search additional information about Robert Henderson, which tied into his love of music and the desire to own a pump organ. “In 1855, Brigham Young advised all towns to organize dramatic associations. North Willard Creek organized and Robert Henderson was a prominent worker in this organization. "The greatest handicap was due to the lack of plays which they could not secure them in the Utah. A stage was built and the “Robber” composed by members of the organization, was staged. It proved a success and was greatly enjoyed by the townspeople. It was repeated a number of times to full houses. Other successful plays followed. Fortunately, there were a number of excellent violinists in Willow Creek. The music which they rendered added greatly to the enjoyment of these plays."
"The theaters were attended by the home townspeople and people from Brigham and Ogden. During the season when the Union Pacific Railroad was being built many of the workman attended. There was no money charged but two pounds of flour was accepted as the price of a ticket! Robert was always interested in music. He became the first choir leader in Willow Creek and composed a number of verses on subjects of the day. On various occasions, he put them to music and sang them at social gatherings. They partook of his optimistic nature and he proved popular. [This entry was written by Orpha Henderson Peters, daughter of Robert and Harriet Delight Warner and shared by Jeanne Ballif to Marie Gunther February 2000. It was written in four parts because of its length. These four segments are listed under Robert’s Name in Family Search under Sources.] So a big thank you goes to Great Great Grandpa Robert Henderson, for promoting music and poetry in our family. We’ll try to keep that DNA alive, so we can join with you in a great heavenly chorus one day!
Now that you know his love for music, you’ll better appreciate this last episode which happened August 18, 2017 when Janet Wilcox, her daughter Autumn Jeppson, and two granddaughters: Laurie Wilcox, and Peyton Jeppson traveled from St George, Utah, to Las Vegas to visit the DUP fort, and see the Henderson pump organ. My good friend and LV sleuth, Sylvia Shumway of Las Vegas met us there. I hope many more of Robert Henderson’s descendants will take the time to visit this wonderful heirloom,
The pump organ owned by Robert Henderson, now located in the Mormon Fort Museum in Las Vegas Left-Right: Sylvia Shumway (my resident Las Vegas Detective) Laurie Wilcox and Peyton Jeppson—(granddaughters of Janet) and her daughter, Autumn Jeppson holding Heber Jeppson
And now for the final Elijah tidbit! The very day we were there, another Henderson relative came to the museum as well. We just missed meeting them but they posted this note to me on Family Search, which I just read today (9/26/17).
"My niece went to see the organ today and apparently you pulled out of the parking lot just as she drove in to see the organ. She lives in Las Vegas and she and my husband are related to the Henderson's through Uriah Merrifield Denning, and Agnes Henderson. She was so sorry she did not arrive there sooner and be able to meet you. Small World." Mrs. James (Beulah) Astle”
So the first of the Henderson descendants have made their "museum trek to connect with the past." Hopefully, many more of Robert and Harriet’s family will take the time to enjoy the blessing of good music and also go see the Henderson Pump Organ.
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| Autumn, Heber and Peyton |
(Who knows -- one of your relatives may show up there as well!)
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