Henderson, the county seat of Chester County is situated on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad near the center of the county. The town was not laid out until after the building of the railroad. The first lots were sold in 1857-58. The land was owned by J. D. Smith. At this time the only cleared lands were the places of B. A. Hicks one and a half miles west; Jack Garland's place known as the Murchiser property a little southwest; and that owned by the: Jordan H. Garland's heirs, and the Simmons heirs east and north of Henderson. The place was originally called Dayton but the name was soon changed to Henderson. Gholston built the first house in the place which stood just opposite the postofffice. Dr. T. A. Smith, Polk Bray, H. D. Franklin, A. S. Sayles and John West were among the first business men of the place.

Like most other towns, Henderson received a check by the war but soon recovered its normal state. Henderson has had a steady and healthful growth but not rapid. It does not operate under a charter and thus avoids the sale of intoxicating beverages. From a moral standpoint few places reach the standard of Henderson. The business is largely of the cotton trade, this amounting to the sum of 5,000 bales some years. Cotton is by far the largest item of produce handled, yet there is a general line of produce handled every year which amounts to thousands of dollars. Henderson contains 227 lots which are assessed at $87,435. The business of the place is done by the following business houses: General stores: J. F. O'Neal & Co.; I. O. Galbraith & Co.; Cason, Estes & Co.; L. C. Rhodes & Co.; Ashcratt & Co.; W. C. McCullum & Co.; W. M.. Bray & Co.; and Rowsey, Robins & Co. Grocery stores: J. M. McCulley & Co.; G. L. Priddy & Co.; Estes & Ozier; W. H Thomas; P. J. Howard & Co.; and W. C. Crittenden. Drug stores: W. B. Shannon & Co.; Baird & Bro. Jeweler: A. H. McKinnon. Hardware: Carroll & McLeod. Henderson also contains several good. livery stables, hotels, boarding-houses, shops and is well supplied with professional men.

Source: Goodspeeds History of Chester County TN 1886