This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: bolt, denton, gwin, stratton, spray, holcomb, howe
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Jh.2ADI/2699
Message Board Post:
I am looking to either firmly connect or disconnect my g-g-grandfather, John M. DENTON
from parents David DENTON (son of David DENTON and Elizabeth GWIN)
and Eliza Emeline "Sarah" BOLT....
There is a marriage record in Brown County, Indiana for David DENTON and Eliza Emeline
BOLT 21 Apr 1841. Does anyone have access to this record and can verify parent names of
David and Eliza Emeline "Sarah" ???
My g-g-grandfather -
John M. DENTON - born in North Carolina (so says his death certificate and obit.) 23-25
Mar 1847, died 18 Feb 1916 in Lafayette, Indiana at the State
Soldiers' Home, a resident of Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana.
Married 1) Martha "Nettie" STRATTON on 01 Sep 1870 in Howard Co., Indiana.
Martha died in 1879.
They had the following children:
Prudence Denton
Florence Jane "Flora" Denton m. August Holcomb
Samuel H. Denton m. Lillie
Married 2) Mary M. SPRAY 13 Nov 1884 in Clinton County, Indiana. Mary died
25 Dec 1910, buried next to John M. DENTON in Bunnell Cemetery, Frankfort,
Clinton County, Indiana.
They had the following children:
Claude Denton
Earl "Coxey" Denton m. Leora Francis HOWE
I can't find information on my g-g-grandfather's birth in either Indiana or
North Carolina, respectively. In most census' John says he was born in
either Indiana, with father born in Tennessee (Abt. 1817) and Mother born in
Virginia (Abt. 1823), or that he was born in NC, parents born in NY or Tenn.
And now his death certificate says his father, David DENTON is born in NEW
YORK and his mother, S. BOLT was born in Indiana!!! Let's add some more
confusion to an already elusive ancestor! UGH! And so I plead to the mailing
list for HELP - and any possible connection!
Other information for John M. Denton:
The 1900 Fed. Census for Frankfort City, Center Township, Clinton County,
Indiana- taken June 2, 1900 lists John M. Denton- age 51, both parents born
in Indiana, living with wife Mary- age 49, father born in Indiana, mother
born in Ohio. Also, son Earl Denton- age 9, both parents born in Indiana.
They lived at 1152 E. Washington St. John is a Deputy Marshall and Mary is a
Dressmaker. She has had 3 children born.
BIOGRAPHY: From Page 400; Biographical sketches; History of Howard and
Tipton Counties, 1883:
John M. Denton, son of David and Emeline Denton, was born in North Carolina
March 21, 1847. He is of English-German descent, and is a nephew of the
celebrated Geologist, William Denton of Philadelphia. When he was 3 years of
age his parents moved to Washington Co., IN, settled on a farm of 80 acres,
and there died. At the age of 10, he removed to Orange County and there he
attended what school he could during the winter and worked at farming during
the summer. In 1862, he came to Howard County and worked for Oliver Moulder
until his enlistment, in 1864, in the Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving
under Gen. Thomas. For 12 months he served faithfully, and was mustered out
at Louisville, KY. Since his return he has been chiefly engaged in the saw
and planing mill business. In 1870, he married Miss Martha Stratton, who
died in 1879, the mother of 2 boys and 2 girls. Mr. Denton is a Mason, an
Odd Fellow, a member of the G.A.R., and of the Friends' Society.
OBITUARY:
Frankfort Crescent News, page 8, Monday, February 21, 1916
Funeral of John Denton
Funeral services for the late John M. Denton, who died Friday night at 11 o
clock at the State Soldiers' Home in Lafayette, were held in this city this
afternoon. Rev. E. T. Howe, pastor of the M.T. Church, officiated at
services held at the Christian church, at 2 o'clock. Members of the Masons,
Red Men, and G.A.R. post attended the services. Burial was at Bunnell
cemetery.
The body was brought to Frankfort Saturday evening and was taken to Comley
undertaking parlors, where it remained until the hour of funeral today.
Apoplexy was the immediate cause of Mr. Denton's demise, although he has
been failing in health for several months. His illness dated from the time
of the Arbor Day celebration held in Frankfort two years ago. With a number
of others, Mr. Denton was seated upon the speakers stand, at the southeast
corner of the square, when the structure collapsed. He received an injury to
his right leg which afterward developed gangrene. Finally the limb was
amputated below the knee. Since then his condition gradually weakened. He
entered the Soldiers' Home last May and visited the city once since then.
Mr. Denton was a resident of Frankfort for many years, during a large part
of which he was a member of the police force and was also a rural mail
carrier. He was a policeman for 14 years, serving two years under Marshal
Jones and under George W. Bird. He proved an efficient officer, and made a
host of friends in the city. While engaged as a rural mail carrier he
suffered a stroke of apoplexy. He left the service but returned later.
Finally his failing health compelled him to retire from active work.
Although of southern birth, Mr. Denton served in the Union Army during the
civil war. He first served as a member of the 57th Indiana Volunteers and
after being mustered out, re-enlisted in Company I, 157th Indiana Volunteers
with which he served during the remainder of the war.
He was past 66 years old, having been born March 25, 1847, a son of David
and Sarah Denton. He was a native of North Carolina. He came to Indiana with
his parents and was married to Miss Nettie Stratton. His wife died 40 years
ago. Four children were born to the couple, of whom three survive. His
second marriage was to Mary M. Spray. She died December 25, 1910. Two
children were born of this marriage, both surviving. The five children are:
Mrs. August Holcomb of Lafayette; Miss Prudence Denton of Muncie; Samuel
Denton of Arkansas; Claude Denton of Marion; and Earl Denton of Frankfort.
The deceased belonged to the Friends Church. He held membership in the Masonic order, the
Red Men, and G.A.R.