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Originally from New York, Robert Henderson and his family settled in Riverside in 1897. The family included his wife,Jennet, three sons, Robert L., Henry B. and William T., and a daughter, Jean Anne. His business in New York (Robert Henderson and Co.) served as an agency of domestic and foreign fruit products. When he came to Riverside, he bought a ten acre orange grove off of Victoria Avenue.

In 1897, Henderson, two of his sons, Robert and Henry, and two other men started the Riverside Fruit Company, packing and selling agency for the local growers at Twelfth Street and Pachappa Avenue. At the time the building was the largest packinhouse to be built in the city. The Riverside Fruit Companyrepresented the citrus brands of Alpha, Stella, and Elk. As of the directory of 1902, the business was still in operation as a packinghouse.

By 1905, a new company was operating at Twelfth Street and Pachappa Avenue. Formerly in the Stoner Iron Works, located on Eighth Street near Vine, the Riverside Foundry and Machine Works bought the Pioneer Lumber Company's location for its railroad facilities. The new owners rebuilt there after a fire destroyed the old plant. The foundry made box mailing machinery and deep well pump heads. The building was torn down in the 1930's when the Food Machinery Corporation took over the property.

In addition to their association with the Riverside Fruit Company and the foundry, the family engaged in other activities. In 1903, Robert Henderson served as treasurer of the Victoria Improvement Association, with Robert L. also participating in the civic organization. The elder Robert also was electedas president of the Prenda Pumping Company.