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Below is a family biography included in the Woodruff County portion of Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Capt. S. E. Dent, merchant, Riverside, Ark. This prominent and highly esteemed business man owes his nativity to Putman County, Ill., where his birth occurred, in September, 1843, and is the son of James and Dorcas (Berkshire) Dent, she a sister of Judge Berkshire, of the Old Dominion. Both parents were natives of Virginia, and were married in Monongalia County, W. Va., where they remained until 1833. Then they immigrated to Illinois, and located in Putman County, where they passed their declining years, both dying since the war. They had a family of ten children, six now living: Mrs. Nancy McCoy (in Illinois), Mrs. Emily Parrett (widow of Judge Parrett), Margaret (deceased), Mrs. Lucinda Douglass (in Johnson County, Iowa), Mrs. Gilla Taylor (in Red Cloud, Neb.), Judge J. B. and S. E. (who is the youngest of the family). The last named was principally reared and educated in Illinois, and his principal occupation in boyhood was in attending the common schools and in assisting on the farm. He remained under the parental roof until the breaking out of the war, and, although quite young at that time, he determined to enlist. Through the influence of his brother, Judge J. B. Dent, he was successful, and enlisted first in the First Illinois Cavalry. He was captured at Lexington, Mo., and about a year later the regiment was mustered out. He went to Nashville in the Sixth United States Infantry, and served until the surrender. He was captain of Company F, Sixth Regiment, at the time of the battle of Nashville. He was an intrepid and fearless young man, and fought his way with vigor. After being mustered out he went home, and in March, 1867, came to Woodruff County, Ark., located on a farm, and has since been engaged in tilling the soil. In September, 1885, he embarked in mercantile pursuits at Riverside, carries a large and select stock of goods, and also buys and sells cotton and cotton seed. He will handle about 1,000 bales of cotton this season. His marriage occurred in 1873 to Miss Ella K. Darling, by whom he has two children living: Emma and Robert both attending school in Illinois. Capt. Dent was married the second time, June 1, 1885, to Miss Blanche Bancroft, a daughter of Judge Bancroft, and the result of this union was two children: Major and Olga. Mr. Dent is a member of the Masonic order, K. T., K. of H. and K. & L. of H. The Dent family are relatives of the Grant family. Capt. Dent has always been a Democrat in politics, and, although not an aspirant to any political office, he takes a deep interest in the political welfare of the country. He organized the first Democratic club of Woodruff, in the campaign of 1888, and the club is still in existence. He is a prosperous and influential citizen of the county.

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This family biography is one of 69 biographies included in the Woodruff County portion of Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Woodruff County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Woodruff County, Arkansas family biographies here: Woodruff County, Arkansas

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