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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Clay
Dean Dennis The
subject of this sketch, Clay Dean Dennis, is a native of Iowa, having been born
August 23, 1860, in Wapello County. His father, Benjamin H., and his mother,
Matilda (Jackson) Dennis, were both natives of Brown County, Ohio.
The father, Benjamin Dennis, was born May 27, 1830, and his childhood and
youth were spent in his native County. On attaining his majority, he left his
home in Ohio and came west, locating in Lee County, Iowa, about the year 1852.
Remaining here only about one year, he went on to Wapello County, where
he purchased land, and the next year, on August 23, 1854, he married Matilda
Jackson, daughter of Richard and Isabella (Baum) Jackson, whose birth occurred
on November 5, 1833. To this couple were born three sons and two daughters, all
of whom first saw the light of day in Wapello County, Iowa, and whose names are
as follows: Wesley, born in June 1855, died at Dexter, Iowa, November 3, 1909;
Minerva, born October 17, 1856, married James Carey, and lives near Kilduff;
Willmer, born December 17, 1857, lives in Newton; one child who died in infancy;
and Clay Dean, the subject of this review.
In the year 1864, Mr. Dennis traded forty acres of land in Wapello County
for two hundred and forty acres in Jasper County, near Kilduff, where he removed
his family in March 1865. Here Mrs. Dennis died on January 7, 1872. On April 23, 1874, Mr. Dennis again married, choosing as his
wife Mary J. Davis, daughter of C. M. Davis. In 1878 he built a splendid home in
Newton, and retired from active labor; and here he lived until his death, which
occurred January 31, 1900. Mr.
Dennis was an active worker in the Disciples Church and was always allied with
every good work. For ten years he
was a member of the official board of the Church, with which he united in 1856. Clay
Dean Dennis began working for himself at the age of eighteen years. In 1881 he
came into possession of eighty acres of land from his father, which he still
holds, and he has since then acquired other lands through his energy, industry
and successful operations until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty
acres of the best land in Jasper County. On
March 4, 1883, Mr. Dennis was united in marriage to Margaret A. Richardson,
daughter of James and Ann (Stabler) Richardson, both natives of England, the
mother born at Molerat Row, Long Benton parish, England, March 21, 1827.
Mrs. Dennis was the only child of this marriage, but by a former marriage
of the mother to a man by the name o f Hall there were three children, namely:
Lizzie, who died in infancy, and Henry and Thomas Hall, both living in Grundy
County, Missouri. The mother, who was born on March 27, 1827, is living with
her son, H. S. Hall, in Missouri. Mrs.
Dennis was born May 13, 1865, in New Castle, England, and when she was one year
old, the family came to the United States, and settled in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania. Six years later they
removed to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and five years later they came to
Jasper County, Iowa, where they purchased the old Cradlebaugh farm of one
hundred and twenty acres near Kilduff, and here the husband and father, James
Richardson, departed this life on June 18, 1894. After
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dennis lived on their farm until in October 1908,
when they removed to Newton, where they now reside.
On account of the failing health of Mrs. Dennis, she was no longer able
to continue the arduous duties pertaining to life upon the farm. To
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have been born four children, as follows: James Arthur, born
February 6, 1884, married Helen Vinall and lives near Kilduff; Benjamin H., born
June 28, 1885, married Bertie De Bruyn, lives near Kilduff; Leah A., born
January 6, 1893, now attending high school in Newton; Thomas Clifford, born
September 9, 1899, attending school in Newton. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, having been so affiliated for the last twenty-five years. Although
Mr. Dennis's home is now in Newton, he still takes an active part in overseeing
his farm, and in raising, buying and selling stock for the market.
He is a Republican in politics. At
one time Mr. Dennis was severely kicked by a sick horse, which he was doctoring,
and the report was widely circulated that he was killed.
Some enterprising firm got up a memorial card and sent it to him. He considers it quite a unique experience. Mr. Dennis
was treasurer of the school board in his township for a number of years.
He owns a fine automobile and goes back and forth to his farm in his car. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912, p. 565. |
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