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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Independence County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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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Hon. F. D. Denton, of Batesville, is a native of that town, born there on the 23d of November, 1841, and is one of the representative citizens of the county. His father, William F. Denton, was a native of Tennessee, and when a young man was united in marriage to Miss Margaret F. Desha, a native of Washington City, D. C. William F. Denton emigrated with his father, John Denton, to Washington County, Ark., in early territorial days, and there the latter died. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and had followed agricultural pursuits all his life. The maternal grandfather, Robert M. Desha, was captain in the United States marine service, at Washington. He emigrated to Arkansas, and located at Helena, and subsequently, leaving his wife and two children there, while on his return to Washington, was stricken down with yellow fever, and died at New Orleans, in 1822. The great-grandfather, Gen. Jo. Desha, was governor of Kentucky from 1824 to 1828, and was the first Democratic governor of the State. He commanded a division of Kentucky troops under Gen. Harrison. He died in Kentucky. William F. Denton came to Independence County, Ark., in about 1835, and one year later was made prosecuting attorney of this county. He was a lawyer by profession, and died in August, 1845. The mother is still living. Of the four children born to their marriage, two only are now living, Frank D. and Elvira F., wife of J. P. Boyd. One son, William F., was killed during the war, when only eighteen years of age. The other child, was Frances J. Mrs. Denton’s brother, Capt. F. W. Desha, for whom our subject is named, was a captain in Yell’s Arkansas regiment, in the Mexican War, and lieutenant-colonel commanding the Seventh Arkansas Battalion, C. S. A., in the Civil War. F. D. Denton attained his growth, and received a fair education in Batesville, but subsequently pursued his studies at Fayetteville (Ark.), College and Center College, at Danville, Ky. He was attending the last named institution, and was deeply immersed in his studies, when the breaking out of the war caused him to abandon his books and seek his home. Soon after he enlisted in Company C, Desha’s battalion, and served until the close of the war. He was in Gen. Johnston’s army, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, and was in Johnston’s campaign through Georgia. He was wounded at Murfreesboro, by a gun-shot in the neck, cutting his windpipe, and lay on the battlefield two days. He was also wounded at the battle of New Hope Church, Ga., by a gun-shot in the side. He was then captured, and left in a hospital. He was carried to Nashville, where some ladies took care of him. He was exchanged in 1863, and again joined his regiment in Tennessee. After the surrender he returned to his home, arriving there in August, 1865, and engaged in tilling the soil. In 1866, he was elected sheriff, which position he held until the reconstruction. In 1870, he engaged in merchandising, but carried this on for only about two or three years, as he was quite unfortunate in this business venture. In January, 1877, he established the Batesville Guard, and ran this paper in an able and capable manner until in July, 1885. In October of the same year he was appointed postmaster, and confirmed in January, 1886. Mr. Denton was married, in 1868, to Miss Mattie A. Lewis, a native of Holly Springs, Miss., and to them were born seven children, four now living: William F. Desha, Estella, and Rosa. Mr. Denton is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., K. of H., and K. and L. of H. He was elected to represent his county in the legislature, in 1881, and re-elected in 1883, serving two terms.

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This family biography is one of 158 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Independence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Independence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Independence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Independence County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Independence County, Arkansas here: Independence County, Arkansas Map

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