William Henderson was born on January 5, 1876 in Gardenstown, Banffshire, Scotland.  At the age of 13, he began to serve a four-year apprenticeship in a bakeshop in a nearby village.  He joined the military and at 16 became a gunner, later serving with the Gordon Highlanders where he acted as a body guard at Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the coronation of King Edward. 

In 1910 William Henderson moved to Canada settling in Berlin (Kitchener) where he worked in the H. A. Dietrich bakery.  The following year he moved to Waterloo to work for A. E. Sanderson’s bakery on King Street North and in 1915, with his partner C. W. O’Donnell, bought the business.  Due to his partner’s failing health, Henderson became sole owner of the bakery in 1928.

As a well-known businessman, Henderson was involved in many community organizations. A staunch Presbyterian, he was Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years and  in  1927  was instrumental in the construction of the Knox Presbyterian Church where he was an elder for 45 years.  He was Chairman of the Waterloo Public Utilities Commission from 1925-1949 and president of the Waterloo Board of Trade in 1929. 

William Henderson also served as a director for the Waterloo Trust and Savings Company, the Waterloo Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Merchants Casualty Company.   He was actively involved in the Kitchener-Waterloo Rotary Club becoming president in 1936-1937 and for many years delivered their annual Robbie Burns address.

Henderson served three years on council in 1921-1923 being elected to the position of reeve in 1922 and 1923.  His term in office as mayor is marked by a number of local improvements including the paving of numerous roads, the widening of Erb Street, and the construction of sidewalks and new sewers.  In 1925 an attempt was made to revive the weekly afternoon market and to establish a new cemetery.  Upon leaving office, Henderson continued his involvement in civic activities as chairman of the Waterloo Water and Light Commission.