Alexander D. Henderson (businessman)

Alexander Dawson Henderson (February 28, 1865 - January 5, 1925) was a businessman, philanthropist, and Vice-President and Treasurer of the California Perfume Company (CPC), which later became Avon Products, Inc.

Early life

He was born in Brooklyn, New York and was the sixth child of Captain Joseph Henderson (Pilot) and Angelina Annetta Weaver. [ [*1870 US Census, 21-WD Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, Series: M593, Roll: 961, Part: 1, Page: 349A.] ] On February 17, 1892, Alexander D. Henderson married Ella M. Brown at the Emmanuel Baptist Church at 291 Ryerson Street, Brooklyn, New York by the Rev. John Hampstone. The marriage announcement appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle Newspaper. [ [*Record of the Brooklyn Marriage License Bureau and the February 18th edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.] ]

California Perfume Company

On May 30, 1895 Mr. Henderson 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 C P C," [http://www.californiaperfumecompany.net/cpc_company/company_pages/cpc_story_of_the_cpc.htm "Mr. Alexander D. Henderson, our Vice-President and Treasurer, joined the company and helped to shape its policies and assist in its growth."]
In a letter to Mr. William Scheele and the CPC, Mr. Henderson described the [http://www.californiaperfumecompany.net/cpc_products/cpc_product_pages/cpc_the_story_of_perfumery.htm "process of Perfumery and extracting odors from flowers"] . In this letter Mr. Henderson said, "It is these pomades which we import direct from Grasse for the making of our perfumes, and thus we have the true flower base which makes our floral odors so true to natural flowers and so lasting." [ [*The Story of Perfumery and the C P C by William Scheele.] ]

The California Perfume Company was incorporated on January 28, 1916 by A. D. Henderson, D. H. McConnell, in Suffern, New York.

His son, Alexander D. Henderson Jr., also worked for CPC and became Vice-President in charge of Purchases. According to the article, "Introducing You to the CPC", [http://www.californiaperfumecompany.net/cpc_company/company_pages/cpc_introducing_you_to_the_cpc_4.htm "Mr. Henderson buys the ingredients from which everything in the CPC line is made. As such, he is, of course, a most important factor in the maintaining the high quality and low prices of the products you sell."] In 1940, his second son, Girard B. Henderson was elected to serve on the board of directors for Avon Products and served for 35 years.

Philanthropy

Mr. Henderson, according to the Suffern newspaper, 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. He also actively assisted in the designing and building of the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, New York. Mr. Henderson "believed in a good local newspaper and he became treasurer and director of the Ramapo Valley Independent when the old Suffern Independent was sold." [ [*Lathrop, Mary Anthony. "Mary’s Family Connections", Lebanon, Connecticut: First Edition, 1979, page 91-92.] ]

Death

When Mr. Henderson died on January 25, 1925, a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors and the officers of the California Perfume Company, attested to the invaluable work done by Alexander Dawson Henderson. An engrossed copy of the resolution was issued to the Henderson family. The resolution was signed by D. H. McConnell (President) and Alonzo Williams (Secretary). [ [*CPC Resolution, California Perfume Company, New York City, 1925.] ]

References

* [http://www.hendersonfamilytree.com/alecSr/AlexSr.html hendersonfamilytree.com]

External links

* [http://www.avoncompany.com Avon Corporate website]
* [http://www.californiaperfumecompany.net The California Perfume Company web site]
* [http://www.hendersonfamilytree.com/ The Henderson Family Tree web site]