A PIONEER SETTLER OF 1885.
Friday evening, December 11th at 5:45 o'clock, D. B. Denney of the Upper Bluff Creek neighborhood was summoned in death.Mr. Denney had been ill for many months but his fatal illness commenced last July.
He had reached the advanced age of 78 past and his enfeebled health of the past two years forbid that he could rally from his illness.
Mr. Denney was one of the most widely known and highly respected farmers of the Upper Bluff Creek country and of Clark county and the entire Protection community.
He was a pioneer as he settled in Comanche county in 1885 and with his good wife and his family enduring all the hardships and the hard times of the pioneer days. During the years, however, his perseverance and his courage were richly rewarded, not only in the administration of friends and the regard of neighbors nor alone in the loyalty of acquaintances, and the deep, abiding love of his children and relatives, but his blessings materially were substantial and Mr. Denney by his energy and business sagacity was the possessor of many fine acres of Clark and Comanche county lands at this death and the family home northwest of Protection is one of the admirable farm homes of Clark county.
Mr. Denney in his 40 years of residence in this community became well known for his sterling characteristics as a man. He was scrupulously honest and honorable in all things and his dealings with neighbor, friend or stranger. He was a kindly and hospitable man and many in times of grief or trouble or stress found in him a ready sympathizer and helper and an ever ready friend to give material assistance.
Mr. Denney had not sought the life of ease but his had been a life busy with labors of love and the cares of deep affection for home and family and but few families have been as richly blessed in the virtues that build lives, that reward the communities that they touch as has the family of Mr. Denney.
For many years he nursed an invalid wife with the tendered devotion and love; nor failed during these busy years to bring the guiding hand of affection into the lives and direction of his children.
When the dark clouds of the Civil War obscured the rising sun of this young Republic of America, at the early age of 16, he enlisted in the Volunteer Calvary of Iowa and served with distinction in the ranks in the border and guerilla warfare that raged in Arkansas and Missouri. Though never wounded, he narrowly escaped and in one engagement, his horse was shot from under him in an encounter with a bushwhacker.
Mr. Denney was intensely loyal and patriotic in his love for his country and cherished highly national ideals and traditions. He was a member of the National G. A. R. and one of the few remaining old soldiers of the Civil War in the Protection community.
Outstanding with Mr. Denney was his Christian faith in which he never wavered nor compromised but held firmly by the never failing clasp of an unalterable love for his Christ and his God, he trod the path of righteousness, demanding and receiving the respect and homage of all men for his Christian life and his deep, abiding religious fervor.
Few men as they answer the summon of their Creator to cross the Silent River of Death and enter the lasting realms of Eternity, have left behind as rich a heritage to posterity and loved ones as did Mr. Denney. He was supremely blessed in the virtues that make a truly good man and citizen. As a father a radiant memory is left to his children as during their changing years he guided, guarded and directed them into paths of honor, rectitude and righteousness. Neighbors and acquaintances mourn for the staunch loyalty of his friendship and the generous abundance of his assistance.
A good man has gone from the midst of his loved and truly will be mourned and missed.
The funeral was held at the family home Sunday afternoon at two, conducted by his pastor, Elder I. O. Bverly, pastor of the local Christian Church assisted by the Rev. Walter H. Dellinger, pastor of the local M. E. Church, and interment was in the local Protection cemetery by the side of his departed wife.
The pall bearers were Gay Hughs, T. M. Hughs, Warren Morton, W. T. Moore, P. W. Baker and Crawford Zane.
The Western Star, December 18, 1925. D. B. Denney, whose home for over 40 years had been a few miles northwest of Protection, died on last Friday, December 11, 1925, after a lingering illness. Funeral services were conducted at the home on Sunday afternoon, and were in charge of Rev. L. O. Byerly, pastor of the Protection Christian church. He was assisted by Rev. Dellinger of the Protection M. E. church. A large number of the neighbors and friends of the deceased were present. All felt keenly the loss of a good friend, neighbor, and citizen.DEATH OF D. B. DENNEY
Mr. Denney was among the pioneer settlers in the neighborhood northwest of Protection. He had built up a well improved farm and thoroughly equipped home, and had long been regarded as one of the substantial farmers of his part of the county. He was well known throughout this and Clark-co., and numbered as his friends all who knew him. The influence of his honorable life and his long years of persevering efforts for the upbuilding of his community will last through many years to come.
The Star will print next week a complete account of the life work and the character of Mr. Denney.
The Western Star, December 25, 1925. David Benjamin Denney was born in Monroe., Indiana, on May 15, 1847, and died on December 11th, 1925, at his home near Protection, Kans., aged 78 years, 6 months and 26 days. The family moved from Indiana to Clark-co., Iowa, in the year 1855, when young David was but 8 years of age. His boyhood days were spent on a farm, where all the hardships of pioneer life were experienced. On December 11, 1863, when young Denney was but 16 years old, he responded to the call of his country and volunteered his services as a member of Company H, 9th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. He took part in the border patrol by the Union forces in Arkansas and southern Missouri. His record as a soldier was one of which any soldier should be proud. He was discharged from the service in February, 1866.OBITUARY - D. B. DENNEY.
On September 11, 1875, in Woodburn, Iowa, Mr. Denney was united in marriage with Mary C. Davenport. Mr. and Mrs. Denney moved from Iowa to Sumner-co., Kansas, in the year 1881, and four years later they settled on a claim a few miles northwest of Protection, and it is there that they continued to make their home. They knew full well the meaning of pioneer life, and it was only by the exercise of much faith, perseverance and industry that they stayed with the country when many of the early settlers were leaving. Mr. and Mrs. Denney were not quitters, and, after a few years, they began to prosper, succeeding finally in building up one of the best homes in that part of the country. Theirs was an ideal home, and out from it went the very best influences for right living and good citizenship. Mrs. Denney died about ten years ago.
Mr. Denney had lived a life not only of labor and sacrifice for his family and friends, but also a life characterized by many examples of strict devotion to his belief in the Christian religion. He had for many years been a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Denney is survived by three sons and two daughters, as follows: John Denney of Elkhart, Kans., Fred and Will Denney, Mrs. Blanche Towner and Miss Sadie Denney of Protection. Five children preceded Mr. and Mrs. Denney in death. Six grandchildren survive.
In the passing away of Mr. Denney, the entire community in which he lived losses a good citizen and the family a devoted father. Thus do the pioneers pass on. The memory of their lives, so rich in noble deeds, however, will never die.
FATHER
DAVID B. DENNEY
May 15, 1847 -- Dec. 11, 1925
Asleep In Jesus
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news articles to this web site!
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