My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington 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.

* * * *

Mark W. Dent, one of the old settlers of this part of the State, came from Franklin County, Va., to what was then Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., in 1811. He was born in Maryland, and when a young boy was taken to Virginia. There he married a Miss Ferguson, who bore him three children, for the youngest of whom, Louis, Dent County was named. After coming to this State Mr. Dent married Mrs. Nancy Cooley, nee Garrett, a native of Virginia. After marriage they settled near Farmington, and, without moving, lived successively in these counties: Ste. Genevieve, Washington and St. Francois. He served as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and for many years served as justice of the peace. He was a Whig in politics, and died in his sixty-fourth year. The mother lived to be several years older. To the second marriage of Mr. Dent were born four children, three sons and a daughter. The third of the children, Cyrus, was born in St. Francois County, in 1825, where he was reared and educated in the old subscription schools. In 1852 he married Mahala J. Sherrill, a native of Georgia, who bore him six children, four now living. Her death occurred in 1866, and the following year Mr. Dent married Mrs. Sallie A. Johnson, who had four children by her first husband. To the second marriage were born five children, only one, a son, now living. In 1867 Mr. Dent and family came to this county and settled on the farm where he now lives, which consists of 700 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 138 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington 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.