Henderson Richardson Dysard was born October 2, 1874 on the Dysard family farm at Charlotte Furnace, the son of William and Nancy Fults Dysard.  His paternal grandparents were Isaac G. and Louisa Crump Dysart and his maternal grandparents were Wesley and Silvia Stamper Fults.  Henderson was one of nine children born to William and Nancy.  His siblings included Alfred, Leonard, Allen, Naomi, Nora, Anna, Mary and Martha.
        Henderson married first in 1902, to Jessica "Jessie" Strother, born August 18, 1878, the daughter of J. W. and Amanda Horton Strother.   Their son, William Henderson Dysard was born January 31, 1909.  He married second, Maud Tinsley Marcum.
        Henderson's boyhood days were spent on his father's farm.  He was educated in the public schools at Charlotte Furnace and at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was prepared for teaching.  He taught in the public schools of Carter County from 1896 to 1901.  Choosing the legal profession as a career, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1896 and afterwards pursued his law studies at Colombian University Law School, Washington, D. C. and at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana.  He did not enter upon the practice of law until 1901 when he opened an office at Grayson, Kentucky.
        Judge Dysard was regarded by the members of the Kentucky Bar and by all Eastern Kentucky as one of the most able lawyers in the State.  He was elected County Judge of Carter County at the November election, 1901, on the Republican ticket, and took office January 1, 1902, holding office until 1905.  At the November election, 1905, he was elected County Attorney of Carter County and held office until he moved to Ashland in 1909.  Judge Dysard was elected Mayor of Ashland in 1917 and served until 1921.  He was appointed and confirmed as State Tax Commissioner but did not accept.  He was a Bar Examiner for the State of Kentucky and was appointed by Governor Fields as Election Commissioner for Kentucky.

Submitted by  Garrett and Sherry Lowe

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