My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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.

* * * *

R. B. Denny was born in Madison County, Ky., October 28, 1838, and is the only child of Arthur and Frances (Rhodus) Denny, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina. Arthur Denny, who was a son of Samuel Denny, died in 1839, aged about thirty years; his widow subsequently moved to Franklin County, Mo., and became the wife of Mathew Cole. She was a daughter of William Rhodus. When eleven years of age R. B. Denny came to Franklin County with his mother, settling six miles east of Union; he received his education in the common schools of the latter county, grew to manhood on the farm, and began doing for himself at the age of sixteen years. He owns 500 acres of land, where he now resides, as well as other tracts in the county. November 22, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Maleta Hildebrand, a daughter of John and Susan (Parker) Hildebrand, natives of Missouri and Kentucky, respectively. Mr. Hildebrand, who is of German descent, by diligent search, has succeeded in quite accurately tracing the origin of the family to the ninth century. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Denny, viz.: Susan F. and John A. (twins), both deceased; George B. (deceased), Eva, Benjamin D. (deceased), James V., Robert B., Sidney G., Sarah L. (deceased) and Morris E. Mr. Denny is a Republican in politics; he served as judge of the county court four years, and represented Franklin County in the Twenty-fifth General Assembly one term; he also served six years as notary public. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-sixth Missouri Infantry, upon the organization of which company he was elected second lieutenant, being subsequently promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and captain, in which latter position he was mustered out of service near Savannah, Ga., December 20, 1864, having received a wound at Iuka, Miss. He is a member of George Gamble Post, G. A. R. Mrs. Denny is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Franklin County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.