My Genealogy Hound

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

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John L. Denton, of the firm of Denton & Hitch, proprietors of a custom and merchant mill of Cuba, Mo., was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1834, and is the third child and only son in the family of four children born to Jonas and Frances (Leddell) Denton, natives of New York and New Jersey, respectively, who settled in the latter State when our subject was yet in his childhood, in which State he received his education at the common-schools. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventh New Jersey Regiment, Union army, and served three years; he was wounded in the left arm at the Battle of Gettysburg by a piece of shell, and was then transferred to the invalid corps. He received an honorable discharge in October, 1864, and then returned home, where he followed agricultural pursuits. In 1868 he married Maria J., daughter of Peter and Margaret Melick. They have only one child, a daughter, Bertha May, now eleven years of age. In 1869 Mr. Denton immigrated to Missouri and settled in Crawford County, on a farm of 120 acres, which he improved and worked for some years. In 1875 he bought a livery stable in Cuba, in which business he successfully engaged, and also dealt in agricultural implements until 1886, when he sold out his livery and bought his present mill property. Mr. Denton is a member of the A. O. U. W. and G. A. R., and his political principles are those of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Denton are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church in which he is ruling elder; in the spring of 1887 he was commissioner from the St. Louis presbytery to the General Assembly at Omaha.

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This family biography is one of 117 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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

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