Tracing Grandpa Charlie: The Disappearance That Shaped a Texas Family

By Erv Lenzy
Host of Finding Grandpa Charlie — A Family History Podcast

Every family has stories. Some are passed down at the dinner table. Others hide in boxes in the attic. And then there are the ones you have to dig for—the ones that make you question everything you thought you knew about your ancestors. That’s the kind of story I’m telling in Finding Grandpa Charlie.

In Season 1, Episode 2, we begin uncovering the strange and still-unsolved disappearance of my great-grandfather, Charles Newton Henderson, known to us simply as Grandpa Charlie. This episode lays out the early facts of his life, connects the dots between family lore and historical records, and sets the stage for one of the most unusual Texas ancestry mysteries I’ve ever encountered.

Who Was Grandpa Charlie?

Born around 1880, Charlie Henderson came from Bonham, Texas, a small town in Fannin County with a history as rich as the red dirt it sits on. Charlie grew up in a working-class family with deep roots in the community. By all accounts, he was an ordinary man—a farm boy turned laborer who eventually found work in the Texas lumber industry.

But somewhere along the way, Charlie’s life took a turn. He left behind a family, disappeared without warning, and left almost no paper trail. The few clues we do have suggest something far more complex than just a man walking away.

This is where the podcast really starts to heat up.

What We Know So Far

This week’s episode explores the historical context of Charlie’s life and disappearance. Based on both oral family history and hard records like census data, we dive into these key takeaways:

• Charlie had deep Texas roots, with generations of Hendersons living in and around Bonham.

• His partner, Henrietta, was part of the mystery. She’s listed in records, but her early life is murky—and possibly tied to Native American ancestry, though that’s still unconfirmed.

• Gambling rumors followed Charlie, hinting at possible debts or trouble with dangerous people.

• Charlie vanished suddenly, and his family never heard from him again.

• Henrietta remarried not long after, which might suggest she had reason to believe he was never coming back.

• Later records show a man matching Charlie’s identity reappearing under different circumstances—possibly living a double life with another family.

• Charlie’s last known job was in the East Texas lumber camps, a world of rough men, fast money, and places easy to disappear into.

This isn’t just a story about one man. It’s about the scars left behind when someone disappears without answers. It’s about what happens to a family when no one talks, but everyone remembers.

Bonham, Texas: A Small Town with Big Secrets

The backdrop for much of this story is Bonham, the seat of Fannin County and a town full of Civil War history, frontier grit, and old Southern families. Charlie’s family helped build this place—literally and figuratively.

In this episode, we talk about the town’s significance, from the 1800s into the early 20th century. Bonham is where Charlie’s story starts, but it’s also where the trail grows cold. He disappears from public records around the same time that economic hardship and social change swept through East Texas. A lot of people moved, changed names, or dropped off the map.

But Charlie’s case was different. He didn’t just move—he was gone.

Why This Story Still Matters

Why do I care so much about a man who vanished over 100 years ago?

Because this is more than a cold case. It’s a story about family identity, generational trauma, and the search for truth in a world full of half-told tales. Charlie’s disappearance shaped the people who came after him—including me.

By digging into census data, marriage records, property deeds, and oral family history, I’m trying to bring some light to a story that’s been buried in silence. I believe Charlie's story reflects a much bigger American truth: sometimes the ones who disappear leave the biggest marks behind.

Listen Now: Finding Grandpa Charlie, Episode 2

🎧 Stream the full episode on your favorite podcast app:

Let’s Keep Searching Together

If you’re into genealogy podcasts, unsolved family mysteries, or the kind of stories that mix personal ancestry with historical research, then this podcast is for you. I’m not a historian. I’m not a private investigator. I’m just a grandson with a microphone and a lot of questions.

Subscribe, follow, and come with me on this journey. Because the story of Charlie Henderson isn’t over—not yet.

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