Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame INDUCTEE 2014

Fred Charles Henderson (1895-1982)

Fred Charles Henderson was born on April 7, 1895, to Smith and Bertha Henderson of Kalispell, Montana. Fred was the second of five brothers, Bill, Fred, Cecil, Joe and Frank, born to Smith and Bertha Henderson. In 1896, Smith and Bertha moved to Warrick located in the Bears Paw Mountains in north central Montana. In 1902, Chas E. Morris took a picture of the five Henderson brothers on their white horse “Egg nest” at the foot of old Baldy near the family homestead. This photograph was made into a postcard that was sent throughout the world. Throughout Fred’s mother’s life, she would get postcards from all over the world saying they had found her children wandering all over and would return the postcards to her.

Fred was a born cowboy and rancher. At the age of 12, he began working off the ranch for wages. At the age of 14, Fred and his older brother, Bill, went south as far as Denver to work as ranch hands and trail hands to earn wages to help with the family ranch. Upon his return to Warrick, Fred, now at the age of 18, carried the mail and in 1935, Fred, his father and Fred’s brothers built a post office on the Henderson Ranch at Warrick. Fred rode 18 ½ miles from the post office at Warrick to the stage cabin and met the rider from the Big Sandy route. After switching mail and spending the night at the stage cabin, Fred would return home the next day. Upon returning home the next day, Fred would perform his duties as a cowboy and rancher. Fred held the mail carrier position for over 20 years.

On October 30, 1918, Fred married a fellow homesteader, Alice “Allie” Gregory. They had three children, Gregory (Elaine), Ira (Patsy), and Alice (Alex). Fred and Allie raised registered polled Herefords, horses, irrigated alfalfa, hayed wild grass hay and oats on their place near Warrick. In 1928, Fred’s father died at the age of 61. After this, Fred and Alice helped Bertha on the family ranch which became known as “Bertha Henderson and Sons Ranch.” Fred expanded the ranch until he ran 800 head of cattle on well over 10,000 acres. Fred also helped fellow neighbors as time allowed and did so until the ranch was sold.

In 1930, Fred, Gregory and Fred’s brother Bill built the Warrick Rodeo grounds, and started the Warrick “Fourth of July” Rodeo where Fred worked and participated for the next 30 years. Fred, Gregory, and Ira, along with the neighbors, also built the Warrick Community Hall. Fred was a self taught musician playing guitar, fiddle and mandolin. For many years he played at dances at Warrick, Hopp-illiad, Lloyd, Cleveland, Lone Tree Bench, as well as many more.

Fred worked the family ranch until 1971. Fred was an easy going person and a good neighbor. Fred, even at a very young age, was always there for everyone. In 1971, the Henderson Ranch was sold. Fred and Allie lived on the ranch for another five years and then moved to Big Sandy.

In 1977, Fred was named Honorary President for one year of the Montana Cowboy Association. Fred was a lifetime member of the Montana Stock Growers.

Fred and Allie were one of the last in the Bears Paw Mountains to trail their cows and calves to market, some 35 miles from the ranch to be shipped to Chicago or Sioux City, Iowa, to be sold. They were also one of the last in the Bears Paw Mountains to have fed their cattle with teams. Everywhere Fred and Allie went was by horse.

At the time of Fred's passing, September 2, 1982, he was the Montana Stock Growers oldest known member. Fred attended every Montana Cowboy Association Convention from 1941 until his death.