Henry was born in the town of Gill, Massachusetts, the oldest of six children, and moved with his parents at age 13 to Rockville, Connecticut in 1849.

[2][3] Henry was nominated by his party for Congressman in 1892 but lost to Democrat Lewis Sperry.

During his time in Congress, Henry was seen as a proponent of agriculture, a protectionist, and as a supporter of the gold standard.

He introduced the Oleomargarine Act, known as the Henry Bill, a law discouraging the imitation of butter.

[6] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress