S. H. HENRY, a pioneer of this section and the man who established the first planing mill business in West Plains, came originally from Coffee County, Tennessee, his birth occurring there December 9, 1836.
His father, John Henry, who was also born and reared in Coffee County, Tennessee, came to Howell County, Missouri, in the year 1857. He was a son of Samuel Henry, who was a native of South Carolina and an early pioneer in Tennessee. The Henry family is of Irish origin. The grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. He died soon after the war. The father of our subject was married in his native State to Miss Sallie Sane, a native of Tennessee, and soon after emigrated to Missouri. Mrs. Henry is still living, a resident of West Plains, but the father died in this county in 1886. He was a prominent farmer and a citizen much respected by all. In religion he was a Methodist and in politics a Democrat. Our subject was the eldest of twelve children, ten of whom a reliving: D. C., a soldier in General Price’s Army, is now living in Thornville, this State; Martha, who died after rearing a family; I. P., who is living in Peace Valley, was also a soldier in the Confederate Army; Nimrod, a hunter, resides in Oklahoma Territory, and is a man of a family; George, lives in Gunter Valley; James, a farmer in Shannon County; Mary, the wife of 0. N. Barnett of West Plains; Thomas who is living in Peace Valley; and John Q., also in Peace Valley. The others died young. Mr. Henry probably set out the first orchard in Howell County.
In his native State and county our subject received his schooling and grew to mature years. He came to Missouri with his parents and here followed farming and stockraising up to 1882, when he started in the lumber business. He erected a planing mill in West Plains, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, and although he started in business in a small way he met with success from the start. Later he erected the building he now uses, a large brick structure, 40×100. Mr. Henry is also engaged in the livery business, the same known as Laster & Henry, and has the largest and best equipped stable in town. In political matters he is a Democrat, but is conservative in local affairs. He is interested in all public matters, and is one of the leading men of West Plains. Mr. Henry is a member of the I. O. O. F., West Plains Lodge No. 263, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he is an officer. He was married in this county to Miss Margaret Thomas, daughter of B. C. Thomas, and they have six children: Thomas, who is interested in the mill business; Alice, wife of R. V. Laster the liveryman; Emma, wife of John Goss of West Plains; Sally, wife of William Summers a farmer; Nettie, wife of Albert Thornburg; and Bessie, at home. Mr. Henry is a good business man and a credit to the town.