Carol Durham Henderson

About the Author

Carol Durham Henderson

Carol Durham Henderson, writer, and retired art dealer is a fourth generation ranch owner. Cherishing the ranching way of life, taking pride in her family who continue that legacy, she calls Jacksboro, Texas and the ten-thousand acre Henderson-Durham Ranch her home.

As a writer, Carol has long wanted to write the story of her great grandfather, T.H. Cherryhomes who began the family ranch in 1890. Leaving home at the age of sixteen, with twelve dollars a horse and the strength of youth, he rode the Chisholm Trail and dared to believe he could one day become a land and cattle owner. Against enormous odds, he invested his long life and meager savings in that endeavor.

Books have been written about Texas and its gigantic ranches:  the King Ranch, the Waggoner Ranch and others. But books about the mid-sized ranches, the family owned, pay as you go ranches, small compared to the giants, but no less loved and respected. T.H. Cherryhomes achieved his dream and at the time of his death, 1943, his ranch covered approximately 35,000 acres and was the largest ranch in Jack County.

Today the ranch is divided into thirds, but continues to be owned and operated by his direct descendants. The family operated and owned Henderson-Durham Ranch was once called the Cherryhomes River Ranch and has been awarded the Certificate of Texas Ranch Heritage. The award is reserved for those who have met its strict criteria. First and foremost, “The same family must have maintained the land in continuous agriculture production for 100 years or more.”

So, if you were to ask Carol Henderson about her own long and varied life, there’s no doubt she would lead off with the pride she takes in her family and that family’s unwavering commitment to the dreams of their ranch’s original owner, her great grandfather. The ranch land  has always been her home base, her oldest love and her pride and joy.

Carol graduated from TCU in 1987.