My Genealogy Hound

Amzi Dennis is one of the prominent men of Independence and Orion townships, Oakland County, being identified with the agricultural interests and with political affairs to a very large degree. Mr. Dennis resides on a farm of 293 acres which is located in section 12, Independence township, and sections 7 and 18, Orion township. He was born in Sparta, Sussex County, New Jersey, September 11, 1849, and is a son of Ezekiel Dennis, who was born July 19, 1821, in Sussex County, New Jersey.

Nathaniel Dennis, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of New Jersey, where the family was established by Irish and Dutch ancestors. Ezekiel Dennis was the seventh son of Nathaniel Dennis; he was married to Mary Desher, who was born at Sparta, New Jersey, a daughter of James L. and Mary Desher, of the same State. Our subject was the eldest of their three children, the others being: Gabriel P. and John H., of Oxford, Oakland County. The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade, which he followed until his marriage, when he engaged in a grocery business for three years, coming then to the present home farm where he now lives retired, spending a part of his time with his sons in Oxford. During his active life he was well known for his fine blooded stock which he exhibited for years at the county fairs. He was a justice of the peace for 20 years and for four years was township supervisor. In politics he is a Democrat.

Amzi Dennis has lived in Michigan ever since he was three years old, and upon the farm where he is now located, with the exception of 10 years spent on a neighboring one. Since March 20, 1892, he has owned the homestead, his father having given it to the children, and he bought the interests of the other heirs. He retains it all except 77 acres, which he sold to his son-in-law, Casper Warden. The farm is well adapted to the raising of all kinds of grain, vegetables and fruit and has always been very productive.

Mr. Dennis has taken a very active part in politics in his section and is considered a leader in the Democratic ranks. He has served as delegate to many conventions, and was a member of the committee which entertained Hon. William Jennings Bryan at Pontiac in 1896. He is now serving his third term as a justice of the peace, his judicial decisions meeting with general satisfaction.

On January 28, 1874, Mr. Dennis was married to Augusta A. Hammond, who was born in Independence township, Oakland County, and is a daughter of Nathan and Sally Ann (Baldwin) Hammond, the former of New Jersey and the latter of New York. The one daughter of this marriage, Marie Irene, married Casper Warden, and they have one child, Winnifred.

Mr. Dennis is a Royal Arch Mason, belongs to the local Grange and is also a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur and Knights of the Maccabees. He keeps well abreast of the times, and may be justly regarded a very important citizen of his part of the county, being honorable and trustworthy, intelligent and public spirited.