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Orvil “Strawberry” HENSON (1912-1986) - #3 (52 ancestors)

1/19/2018

36 Comments

 
Theme: Longevity
PictureOrvil "Strawberry" HENSON, postcard photo
Orvil HENSON was born 19 Mar 1912, but to most of the folks in his native Winslow Arkansas he became known as “Strawberry”.  This unusual nickname stuck, even after he stopped selling strawberry plants and fruit.  He later became a timber worker, as were many in his family.  His father Ike owned his own sawmill, as did his oldest brother Theron near Millers Chapel, Washington County, Arkansas.  The family was known for their hard work and honesty.

Strawberry was the son of Isaac “Ike” Henson (1886-1956) and Mahala Elizabeth EASTER (1887-1963), and the 3rd of their 7 children (although there may have been an 8th child, perhaps older than Orvil).  He died 9 Jul 1986 in Fayetteville Arkansas at the age of 74.  Although his age was 3 years above the average life expectancy for males in the USA at that time, he was far from breaking any records for longevity.

Yet age and years aren’t the most important ways to measure a life’s value, at least according to the following popular quotes (showing just 3 of the many variations found online)  …

“It does not matter how long you live, but how well you do it.”
​“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”
     ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

“And in the end, it’s not how may years in your life, but how much life in your years.”
     
~ Edward J. Stieglitz, M.D., author of “The Second Forty Years”, 1947
Picture
There is definitely more to be said about Strawberry’s accomplishments and his life well lived.   Certainly there were stages of Strawberry’s life of greater than normal duration than average.  Most prominent on his list are his 19 children.  That’s right, according to family sources he had 19 children (or perhaps even 20?).  Strawberry was married twice, first to Bernice in 1937 in Benton County Arkansas (when he was 25 and she was 18). Together they had 11 children before divorcing.   In 1968 (when he would have been 56) he married again and then fathered another 8 children. That's a lot of mouths to feed. 

I would consider Strawberry’s extended period of child rearing a form of longevity.  Would you agree?


As Strawberry's first child was born in 1938, only 2 children made it into the 1940 USA census.  Later census records cannot yet be accessed.  Looking at census statistics in general, I was disappointed to see that they count all families with 7 or more people together in a single column, and do not identify the size of the largest family.  But I think most would agree that families with 19 children are rare.  Considering the necessary ages and time span required to produce this many children, it would be highly unlikely for all of them to be living in the same household at any given time.  Many of the older ones would have moved out on their own before younger ones were born.  The census deals with household size rather than family size, so is not always an accurate source of overall family size. 

Notoriety came to Strawberry, not only through his unusual name and the amazing size of his family, but also through a national publication.  In the March 1978 edition of National Geographic magazine, page 421, as part of an article on Arkansas, they chose to include a full page head shot of Orvil “Strawberry” HENSON with his long grey beard, his floppy hat, and dark piercing eyes.  A face full of character.  On page 420, the magazine also published  a small photo of his 2 youngest children (as of 1978) along with the following caption:

“Ozark patriarch, Orvil “Strawberry” Henson (facing page) has cut broomcorn in Kansas and picked apples in Washington.  Now 66, he’s home to stay with his second wife and the youngest of his 16 children ... .  He resents newcomers who clear the forest for development.  But of those who come to find a simpler way of life, he believes “that’s real worthwhile.  Those people won’t hurt the land.””
A photo very similar to the one in National Geographic was produced on a postcard (shown at the top of this post)  One copy at least has been saved by a relative.  The back of that postcard reads:
“Strawberry Henson was born and raise[d] in Arkansas and for many years he has performed on TV Programs, public benefits, or just wherever a crowd gathers.  His ability to create a multitude of sounds and make them all come out of his mouth at once has made his animal fights a pleasure to many Arkansans.  Self taught, he plays several musical instruments and writes many of his own songs.”
PictureSimple wooden cross marks grave of Orvil "Strawberry" HENSON,
Millers Chapel Cemetery, near Winslow Arkansas
From these various sources we have learned some interesting facts about Strawberry and his life well lived.  He was industrious and hard working, with a strong respect for the land and its resources that he and his family relied upon for their livelihood.  Probably out of necessity, he was practical and down to earth, keeping his beard long and his floppy hat shielding his eyes with their intent gaze.  He had musical talent, and liked to perform for people.  He had strong family roots in the Winslow Arkansas area on the western edge of the Ozark National Forest, and he fathered an unusually large number of children that practically guaranteed the continuation of his line.

I have been in touch with this family via facebook, and as of 2016 his second wife and 16 of his children were living.
  11 of those children attended a family reunion that same year.

Only a simple wooden cross marks Strawberry's burial in Millers Chapel Cemetery near Winslow, but his living memorial exists in the extraordinary number of his descendants.

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 REFERENCES

Quotes - Edward J. Stieglitz, M.D., author of “The Second Forty Years”, 1947
​
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/07/14/life-years-count/

Quotes - Martin Luther King Jr. - https://www.logomaker.com/blog/2013/01/21/12-quotes-on-leadership-from-martin-luther-king-jr-for-small-business-owners/

Poem - Helen Steiner Rice - "Time is not measured by the years that you live ..." -   https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/292123-time-is-not-measured-by-the-years-that-you-live

Life expectancy in the USA, 1900-98 - http://www.demog.berkeley.edu/~andrew/1918/figure2.html
Male life expectancy - http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/usa/life-expectancy-male 
​
Census - U.S. Households by Size, 1790–2006 - 
https://www.infoplease.com/us/household-and-family-statistics/us-households-size-1790-2006
National Geographic magazine, March 1978 issue, page 470-471, part of article "Easygoing, Hardworking Arkansas" by Boyd Gibbons, Photographs by Matt Bradley (access by subscription)

Find A Grave Memorial #87825563 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87825563/orvil-henson


36 Comments
Bridgid Persephone Newman-Henson
4/25/2018 04:54:25 pm

My Paternal Grandfather through Roland Earl Henson

Reply
Claudia Boorman
4/26/2018 12:11:59 am

Hi Bridgid - thanks for reaching out. I think we're 3rd cousins one removed! I've just sent you a private email to discuss our connection further.

Reply
Bridgid Persephone Newman-Henson
2/7/2020 12:11:00 pm

My internet is slow and glitchy right now, and when I received email notification of a new post, my gmail screen jumped when I tried to click the link to the post, and I was unsubscribed, which was not my intention! If possible, can you reinstate my subscription, please?

Claudia Boorman
2/7/2020 03:50:33 pm

Hi Bridgid, Only you can choose to subscribe to these blog comments, so hope you see this reply if you have become unsubscribed. Try adding another comment and tick the little box beside the "
Notify me of new comments to this post by email" notice near the bottom of the entry window BEFORE you press the "Submit" button. That should reinstate you, I hope.

Reply
Bridgid Persephone Newman-Henson
2/8/2020 07:06:24 am

Thanks Claudia!

Misty Mask
8/16/2018 12:34:40 pm

I am one of Strawberrys grandchildren.

Reply
Bridgid Persephone Newman-Henson
8/16/2018 01:05:51 pm

Hi cousin!

Reply
Claudia Boorman
8/16/2018 01:20:50 pm

Hi Misty - I'm so glad to hear from you. I'll send you a private email to talk about our connection.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
8/16/2018 01:27:07 pm

Hi Misty - seems you didn't provide an email address, and I would like to chat with your further. Please contact me privately at connect@boormanfamily.ca - hope to hear from you:)

Reply
Snowflake Rose Henson
10/19/2019 09:41:18 pm

Wow this is so cool to read about my dad.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
12/14/2019 11:54:52 am

Thanks so much for your comment. We're 3rd cousins - so nice to connect with you!

Reply
chloe reed
4/10/2021 11:25:44 pm

Hey Aunt Snowflake I miss youuuuuuuuuuuuu!!! I am now 16 years old

Reply
kenneth Miller
6/26/2021 09:26:40 am

Hi Snowflake Rose, I met your family in 1985 with my writer friend Pauline Uchmanowitz. I made some nice photographs of you, your dad
and siblings.I would like for you to see them.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
6/27/2021 12:39:54 am

Thanks for your comments about family photos, and for your separate email. I have just sent sent a private email to you and to Snowflake for her reply. Thanks for your interest in my website.

Betty
12/13/2019 11:13:39 am

My Uncle

Reply
Claudia Boorman
12/14/2019 11:46:11 am

Hi Betty - are you connected on the Henson or Easter side? If Henson, then we're also related. I'd love to learn more about this connection.

Reply
Wesley Higgins
2/6/2020 10:09:16 pm

I knew Kitty Goble since I was 12 years old. I know she was one of Strawberrys daughters. I wish I would have taken time to talk to him. I have met Tom, Snowflake, and Ben, I think I remember a girl named iris also. I was told that Snowflake named her daughter after my sister Erica.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
2/7/2020 10:53:29 am

It's always good to hear from others who knew the family. Thanks for sharing your memories.

Reply
Emily Shayne Johnson
2/25/2020 01:49:08 pm

This is so neat to read about my great-grandpa. I also love the video of him on YouTube, the song at the end is amazing. I am Elva VanLaningham’s granddaughter, from his first batch of kids. Hello all!

Reply
Bridgid Persephone Newman-Henson
2/25/2020 02:30:42 pm

Elva is my aunt! Roland Henson Sr was my father. Is Karen Rice Johnson your mom? I'm friends with her on Facebook.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
3/3/2020 04:44:26 pm

Thanks Emily for the shout out - good to connect with you. I hadn't heard about the YouTube video - a home movie from 1985 that's wonderful to see - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSMrPiZ8ZbE
... I've just sent you a private email in the hopes of continueing this conversation.

Reply
Iris Henson Collins
5/16/2020 05:36:34 pm

I am his 15th child of the 19. It was a pleasure to find your article on my dad!

Reply
Jeremiah Matthew Henson
5/16/2020 06:30:31 pm

I am his 5th child from his second marriage.

Reply
Jo Post
5/16/2020 08:22:20 pm

I’m the 8th of his 11 children with his first wife, Mable Berniece. I was born Della Ruth, but was nicknamed JoJo when I was young and shortened to Jo as I got older. My three oldest siblings are deceased along with another brother, the 7th born. This was an interesting perspective of my dad.

Reply
Barbara christensen
5/17/2020 02:27:10 pm

He was my mothers1st cousin. I have been to there home when I was young. My grandmother was Mary Henson Napier

Reply
Elizabeth Dos Anjos
7/24/2020 08:28:25 pm

I am Roland Earl Henson’s granddaughter. Strawberry is my maternal great grandfather. How cool is this!

Reply
Teresa Timmons
7/27/2020 10:03:46 pm

I am wondering about Dottie Henson. I have heard she is in a bad way but haven’t heard anything in a few years.

Reply
Christina Hoggard
3/6/2021 10:18:30 am

This was a great article to stumble across. I am Roland Henson Sr’s granddaughter, Strawberry’s great granddaughter.

Reply
Nathan L Morrison
3/31/2021 12:58:33 pm

Hi! I am a grandson of Strawberry Henson! I found this great article and website from a post shared by my Aunt Iris. My mother is Mary B. Morrison (nee Henson), the 10th child out of 11 from his first marriage to my Grandma Berniece Henson. Glad Aunt Iris shared this on Facebook! Thanks!

Reply
Chris Henson
6/29/2021 12:43:31 pm

Hello,
This is an interesting article. When I was growing up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, my dad told me the story of Strawberry Henson. He recalled meeting one of his children during his travels working in the Winslow area. He spoke of him to my late grandfather, Dr Thomas D Henson, who stated he was a distant Henson relative of ours. (My Henson side was from Pope County, Arkansas.)

Reply
Claudia Boorman
6/30/2021 01:13:56 am

Thanks Chris for sharing this family story. At present I do not have your grandfather Thomas D Henson in my tree, nor know of a Pope County Arkansas connections,. Do you have any more information on your grandfather and his parents that you could share? It would be nice to prove your grandfather right about a connection to Strawberry Henson.

Reply
Emily link
12/25/2021 07:19:23 am

This blog post very useful and adds insight for me. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
12/25/2021 10:41:59 am

Hi Emily, Thanks for your comment. Are you related to Strawberry?

Reply
Brenda Staten
11/13/2022 01:08:38 pm

Hi Claudia! I'm not a relative, but I wanted to share a story. I met Strawberry in 1972 when I was 12. I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle (Gordon and Lucille Franklin) in Winslow for the summer. My Aunt had a tiny clothing shop right on the highway there at the time. My friend Suzie, her cousin Johnny and I were walking to a little ballpark and I saw a man with overalls, no shirt, and a floppy hat walking along the side of the road. I asked, "Who is that?" Suzie said, "Oh, that's Strawberry Henson. He lives kinda back in the woods and has a bunch of kids. He's really nice." Well, I never meet a stranger so I went up to him just to talk. He told me he was picking wild onions. I really wanted to talk to him more, but my friends wanted to go. I ended up falling in a little stream we were crossing and was so embarrassed. And I bet if Strawberry saw it, he had a little chuckle. What a great memory!

Reply
Sherry Ketring
11/28/2022 01:08:32 pm

I'm Strawberry"s grand daughter. My mom is Nora his daughter.

Reply
Claudia Boorman
12/8/2022 02:58:13 pm

Hi Sherry - so nice to connect with you. Your Mom Nora is my 3rd cousin. I don't have your email address, so hope you will send me an email at connect@boormanfamily.ca Thanks!

Reply



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    Authors

    Terry and Claudia Boorman have been interested in their family history since the 1980s.  They live in Victoria BC Canada.

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