The Story of Henderson's Ferry

Some say that the first name of the area where Dougherty is now located was originally called Henderson Flat.  This may or may not be true as I don't know or have any information other than here say.  Here is what I do know about the name.

Charlie Henderson established a community called Dresden, on the Washita River,  in 1870 where he opened a store.  The location of Dresden was NW1/4, NW1/4, S16, T3S, R3E.  This would place the community 3 1/2 miles south of Crusher (Big Canyon).  Charlie was the second white man to locate in this area.  The first white man was Walker Martin.  The ferry lasted until about 1890.  When the railroad came through the Arbuckles in 1887, that was the beginning of the end for the need of the ferry.

Walker Martin was the only white man in the settlement.  He lived near where Caddo Creek empties into the Washita River.  He moved here from Atoka, where he had operated a large grape press.  After he moved to the Washita, he began the cultivation of a large orchard and grape vineyard, and people went for miles to buy fruit and wine from him.  About twenty years prior to this time, Martin had killed a man in Texas, and after he spent several years on the Washita, the United States Marshals learned where he was.  He knew they would get him, so he committed suicide on the railroad track north of Durant.

The distance that one has to drive makes it seem that Crusher (Big Canyon) and Berwyn (Gene Autry)  are many miles apart.  In reality they are only about five miles apart, separated by the Arbuckles and the Washita River.  Dresden was half way between Berwyn and Crusher.  

Charlie Roberts, a black man, moved to the present site of Berwyn in 1868.  Before Henderson's store was established, the Negro settlers traded at Old Mill Creek.  Jimmy Davis operated a large store there.  They carried their grain to Governor Harris' mill at Mill Creek.  Eli Roberts worked for Charlie Henderson and drove an ox wagon from Dresden to Gainesville and Denison.  He usually hauled cotton or hogs on the trip over, and hauled groceries and dry goods coming back.  On two occasions he drove a herd of hogs from Dresden to Gainesville. At this time only Walker Martin lived in the area where Caddo Creek runs into the Washita River.  In 1869/70 Charlie Henderson moved into the area and established, over time, his store, a ferry, saw mill, gin, a post office called Dresden and a farm along the banks of the Washita.

Charlie Henderson and Dr. Albert Moverly did establish another store in the Woodford area in 1882 that lasted until 1890.  This store was about 10 miles west of Dresden.

Contributed by Dennis Muncrief, November 2001.