Robert was the 7th of eleven children born to David Henderson and Matilda Hawker, ten of whom lived to maturity;

1) David 'Dave' Thomas, b. Jul. 08, 1863 in CA. and d. Aug. 05, 1953 in San Bernardino Co., CA. He was a farmer at Bishop in Inyo Co., Ca.
2) Alexander 'Alec', b. Oct. 6, 1864 in San Bernardino,
San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. Apr. 6, 1951 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. Alec also lived in Bishop, Inyo, CA.
3) William Penn 'Bill/Will', b. Sept. 10, 1867 in CA. and d. Apr. 18, 1968 in L.A. Co., CA. He was in business in Rialto.
4) Walter Scott, b. Nov. 10, 1869 in CA. and d. July 26, 1964 in San Bernardino Co., CA. He was a resident of Etiwanda.
5) Nettie Jeanette, b. Mar. 1, 1872 in San Bernardino, S.B., CA. and d. Mar. 11, 1961 in Ontario, S. B., CA. She married Joseph E. Perdew and lived on a place adjoining the Henderson ranch
6) Charles Glen, b. 1875 and d. Feb. 21, 1882. He died as a child and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in San Bernardino, CA.
7) Robert Roy, b. Nov. 1, 1877 in San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. May 2, 1938 in Etiwanda, San Bernardino, CA. He was a rancher in Etiwanda. He married Helen 'Nellie' Jennings (who married, first, a Mr. Steadman, then Clarence David Hazard).
8) Margaret, b. Dec. 2, 1882 in San Bernardino Co., CA. and d. Jan. 12, 1936 in San Bernardino, S.B., CA. 'Maggie' married James Anderson of San Bernardino
9) Lottie Belle, b. 1884 and d. 1976. She was the wife of William St. Claire of Little Rock, Los Angeles Co., CA.
10) Grover Cleveland, b. Mar. 15, 1887 in CA. and d. Jun. 17, 1970 in San Bernardino Co., CA. He was a citrus grower in Etiwanda.
11) Earl Elmer, b. May 26, 1891 in CA. and d. Nov. 13, 1964 in Monterey Co., CA. He lived in Etiwanda, S.B., CA.
Source: Donald Henderson and son, David Henderson.

In the 1880 U.S. census, 2 yr. old Robt. H. (R.) Henderson, b. in CA., was living in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA. with his
38 yr. old father, O. (D.) G. Henderson, a farmer, b. in Scotland
34 yr. old mother, Matilda Henderson, b. in Australia
16 yr. old brother, David T. Henderson, b. in CA.
13 yr. old brother, Alexander Henderson, b. in CA.
12 yr. old brother, William Henderson, b. in CA.
10 yr. old brother, Walter S. Henderson, b. in CA.
8 yr. old sister, Nettie Henderson, b. in CA.
5 yr. old brother, Charles Glenn Henderson, b. in CA.

Accoring to the July 29, 1898 Great Register of Voters for the Randsburg Precinct of Kern county, 21 yr. old Robert R. Henderson and his 35 yr. old brother, David T. Henderson, were working as miners. Robert was described as 5'9" tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark hair. David was described as 5'9.5" tall, with a light complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.

Robert Roy Henderson married Helen 'Nellie' Jennings (she was married first to a Mr. Steadman and then to Clarence D. Hazard).

Robert & Nellie Henderson's children were:
1. Roberta Nellie Henderson, b. Feb. 16, 1906 in Los Angeles county, CA. and d. Aug. 14, 1929. She married Floyd L. Ellis.
2. Herbert Jennings Henderson, b. Jun. 23, 1908 in Los Angeles county, CA. and d. Dec. 15, 1997 in Butte, CA. He married Marjorie (Patz) Switzer.
3. Margaret Cecile Henderson, b. Mar. 25, 1913 in San Bernardino county, CA. and d. Jun. 19, 1973 in Los Angeles county, CA. She married John Rehm.
4. Mildred Adeline/Adelade Henderson, b. Apr. 20, 1915 and d. Nov. 25, 2010. Mildred marr. Norris Edward Garman in 1934.
5. Marian Elizabeth Henderson, b. Mar. 25, 1916 in Etiwanda, San Bernardino, CA. and d. Feb. 25, 2001 in Spooner, Washburn, WI. She married Roy Kenneth Chappell.
6. Byron Robert Henderson, b. Aug. 29, 1922 in San Bernardino county, CA. and d. Nov. 5, 1980 in Riverside county, CA.

The San Bernardino County Sun, P. 6
San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA.
Fri., Sep. 17, 1915
W.S. Henderson and son Fred, Robert Perdew and Walter Barnes returned Saturday from a hunting trip to Dead Man’s canyon and Rock creek with four large bucks, two three-point, one four-point and a five-point. Each member of the party got a deer, so all came back satisfied.
Messrs. Robert and Grover Henderson arrived home Monday from a hunting trip to Tock creek, each with a deer to his credit.

According to his Sep. 12, 1918 WWI Draft Registration card, 40 yr. old Robert Roy Henderson was living in Etiwanda, San Bernardino, CA., married to Nellie Steadman Henderson and working as a miner in Etiwanda for the Jones & Johnston Co. He was described as medium in height and build, with brown eyes and brown hair, partially bald.

In the 1920 U.S. census, 42 yr. old Robert R. Henderson, a miner doing tunnel work, b. in CA., was living on a farm he owned in Etiwanda, San Bernardino, CA. with his
38 yr. old wife, Nellie S. Henderson, b. in IL.
16 yr. old stepson, Clarence L 'Hoogard' (Hazard), a laborer on a fruit farm, b. in CA.
13 yr. old daughter, Roberta N Henderson, b. in CA.
11 yr. old son, Herbert J Henderson, b. in CA.
6 yr. old daughter, Margaret C Henderson, b. in CA.
4 yr. old daughter, Mildred A Henderson, b. in CA.
3 yr. old daughter, Marian E. Henderson, b. in CA.
Robert's father was b. in Scotland and his mother in
Austria (Australia)
Robert's brother, Grover was living about 6 farms away.
*Note: Robert's stepson, Clarence Lemoyne Hazard, was b. Apr. 6, 1903 in CA. and d. Mar. 16, 1978 in Los Angeles county, CA. He married Bula Marie (?). His father was b. in CA. and his mother in IL.

The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.)
Sun., Aug. 22, 1926, P. 41
NOTICE OF HEARING OF PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL
In the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of San Bernardino.
In the matter of the Estate of D.G. Henderson, sometimes called David Glenn Henderson. Deceased. Notice is hereby given that the petition of Robert Roy Henderson for the Probate of Will of D.G. Henderson. Deceased. and for the issuance of Letters Testamentary thereon to Robert Roy Henderson will be heard at 10:00 o’clock A.M. on the 30th day of August, 1926, at the Court Room of Department Two of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County, California.
Dated August 16, 1926. HARRY L. Allison, Clerk. Ev M.L. ALDRIGE, Deputy Clerk.
ISAAC JONES, Attorney for Petitioner.

In the 1930 U.S. census, 52 yr. old Robert Henderson, a miner for the water department, b. in CA., was living on Summit Ave. in Etiwanda, San Bernardino, CA. with his
48 yr. old wife, Nellie Henderson, a grader at a citrus packing house, b. in IL.
17 yr. old daughter, Margaret Henderson, b. in CA.
14 yr. old daughter, Mildred Henderson, b. in CA.
14 yr. old daughter, Marian Henderson, b. in CA.
7 yr. old son, Byron Henderson, b. in CA.
Robert's father was b. in Scotland and his mother in Australia.
Nellie's parents were b. in IL.
Robert was 27 years old and Nellie was 23 at the time of their first marriage.

According to family lore, Robert 'Bob' Roy Henderson and Nellie Jennings Steadman Henderson's daughter, 'Dolly' (would that have been his daughter, Roberta?), died of a tubal pregnancy in 1929 (the newspaper says septicemia poisoning which developed from a sore throat). Bob died later (on May 2, 1938) of a gunshot wound. No one was there when it happened, but people speculated that either it was self-inflicted, or as the result of his gun falling through a hole in the floorboards of his vehicle, causing the weapon to discharge.

Robert 'Bob' Roy Henderson and Nellie lived on the northwest corner of Etiwanda Ave. (across the street from where his parents, David Glenn and Matilda Henderson had once lived), where they owned an orange orchard. According to the family and Louis C. Lamb, who worked for Bob, and who happened to be in the grove on May 2, 1938, Bob went out, like he always did, in his Ford pickup to check on the grove, pruning as he went. He carried a loaded rifle with him as general procedure, in case he ran into a coyote. The Ford had no top, and the floorboards were gone around the stick shift. Lamb heard a shot, and wondering what Bob had shot, went to investigate, knowing where he had gone. Lamb found Bob, dead from an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound. From what Lamb could tell, the rifle, which had been propped up against the gearshift, had fallen down through the gap in the floorboards. Bob had reached down to grab the gun up by the barrel. The butt was facing down and as Bob grabbed it to pull it back up, he accidentally pulled the trigger, causing the weapon to discharge.

The San Bernardino Daily Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 1, Col. 6
Tue., May 3, 1938
GUN FALLS ON TRUCK FLOOR, KILLS RANCHER
Robert Henderson, Member of Pioneer Family, Victim of Accident Near Etiwanda
BULLET TEARS INTO HEART
Rifle Jarred Off Seat on Rough Road, Investigators Say, Hammer Striking Floor
Shot through the heart, the body of Robert R. Henderson, 51 years old, Etiwanda ranch foreman and member of a pioneer valley family, was found in his truck last night three miles from his home.
Deputy Coroner Edward P. Doyle, assigned to an investigation by Coroner R. E. Williams, said death apparently was accidental. Indications were, he said, that a rifle which Henderson carried with him in the truck had fallen from the seat, the jar discharging it as it struck the floor. Death apparently was instantaneous.
Rancher Nephew of Former Mayor
Henderson, foreman of Canyon Springs ranch, north of Highland avenue, had driven into the foothills to divert water from Henderson creek into the ranch property to irrigate new trees, Doyle said he was informed. The creek was named after his father, the late David Henderson, a brother of John H. Henderson, former San Bernardino mayor who died several weeks ago.
He left the ranch about 1 p.m., and late in the afternoon, when he failed to return, Louis C. Lamb, assistant foreman, and Henderson’s two sons-in-law, Norris Harman and John Rehm, began a search.
Rifle Falls Off Seat, Hamme Hits Floor
They found the light truck parked in the center of a little-used road, in gear and with the ignition switch on, his body slumped over the seat. A section of the truck’s floorboards had been removed, and the rifle lay between the motor and the frame.
Doyle said there was no indication that the shooting was intentional. He and other investigators theorized that the rifle had been jarred from the seat as the truck was driven over the rough road, and the hammer had struck the floor as it fell, sending the bullet tearing into Henderson’s heart.
The body was removed to the Mark B. Shaw Co. mortuary in San Bernardino, where an autopsy and inquest will be conducted. The victim was a native of San Bernardino. He is survived by his widow, Nellie, and two daughters, Mrs. Garman and Mrs. Rehm, Doyle said.

The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), P. 23, Wed, May 4, 1938
HENDERSON’S SERVICES SET
Funeral services for Robert R. Henderson, 51-year-old Etiwanda ranch foreman, who was found shot to death in his truck Monday night three miles from his home, will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow from the Mark B. Shaw Memorial Chapel.
Interment will follow in the Mountain View cemetery.
An autopsy disclosed that the bullet from Henderson’s rifle struck his heart, killing him instantly, said Coroner R.E. Williams. The coroner said that the death apparently was accidental.
Henderson, foreman of Canyon Springs ranch at Etiwanda, had driven into Henderson canyon, named after his father, the late David Henderson, to divert irrigation water.
He left the ranch early in the afternoon and when he failed to return by night, a search was started. Henderson was found slumped over in the seat. The truck was in gear and the ignition key turned on.
A rifle Henderson carried in the car apparently had jarred to the floor and the hammer had struck a floor board, discharging the cartridge.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Nellie F. Henderson, of Etiwanda; six brothers, David of San Bernardino, William and Walter of Etiwanda, Alex of Highland, Grover of Alta Loma and Earl E. Henderson of Salinas; two sisters, Mrs. Nettie Perdew of Alta Loma and Mrs. Belle Sinclair of Little Rock, Cal.; a foster son, Clarence Hazard, of Chicago; two sons, Herbert J. Henderson of Claremont and Byron Henderson of Etiwanda; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Rehm of Alta Loma, Mrs. Mildred Garman and Miss Marian Henderson of Etiwanda, and five grandchildren.