Grassdale

Old Uncle Jerry Henderson died on Friday night last. He was a real old time negro and had not forgotten it. Everybody in our community knew Uncle Jerry. He had been in this neighborhood for forty years. He died shouting and praising God.

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The Courant American
August 18, 1887, page 3

Grassdale.

Rev. Yeiser, (col) from your town, preached the funeral of old Uncle Jerry Henderson, at Mt. Zion, on Sunday evening, to a large congregation.  A great many of his white friends were present, and I must say, I never saw a white congregation more favorably impressed by a colored preacher.  He is really a fluent speaker, uses good language, and is perfectly at ease in the pulpit.  He gave his colored hearers some of the best advice I ever heard from one of their own race.  He is truly a southern negro, and told them he knew from experience that the south was the best place for them; that the southern people were their best friends.  He advised them to so conduct themselves as to form a character for truth and uprightness; when they lost their character they lost all. It would take up too much of your valuable space to try to enumerate the many good things he told them. Your town is to be congratulated for having a divine that gives such good advice to the colored people among you.  They cannot help but be benefited by coming in contact with him.