Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 687 - 688 

GIDEON ST. DENIS, a leading farmer and stock-grower of Minneha Township, came to this county after having served as a soldier in the Union army, and pre-empted a quarter of section 15, which is now included in his present farm. His family joined him here in 1871, and since that time he has given his close attention to the building up of a homestead which is the admiration of all the country around. The fine dwelling, which was put up in 1886, is flanked by suitable barns and outhouses, and the land has all been brought to a good state of cultivation. The grasshoppers worked much damage in 1874, all the people of that region suffering more or less by the scourge, but in the main the career of Mr. St. Denis in Kansas has been remarkably prosperous.

            Our subject was born in Franklin County, N. Y., Sept. 8, 1838, and is the son of Duncan and Adelaide (Furnia) St. Denis, who were of French descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Lewis St. Denis, crossed the Atlantic from France and spent his last years in the Empire State. Duncan St. Denis departed this life at New York in 1840. The mother is still living and resides in Canada, having married for her second husband Mr. R. Parisian, a Frenchman by birth and parentage, and by whom she became the mother of seven children. Of her first marriage there were born two children only, Julius, and Gideon, of our sketch.

            Mr. St. Denis after the outbreak of the late Rebellion enlisted, in the spring of 1862, in the 92d New York Infantry, for three years or during the war. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and he participated with his comrades in all the general engagements of that division, being under Gen. Burnside. They marched from Suffolk to Newbern, N. C., where they were detailed to build a fort, and remained thirteen months. Our subject in the meantime had been promoted Corporal and participated in the first heavy fight at Cold Harbor in 1864. This battle lasted thirteen days, during which time the Union army lost 7,000 men. From there they went to Petersburg, where they remained until the 24th of July, when Mr. St. Denis, with others, received his honorable discharge and was sent home. Subsequently he was made a custom house officer in connection with the Cunard line of steamers, which position he held until the following year, when he purchased a farm of sixty-six acres in Franklin County, N. Y., where he operated four years and until coming to this State.

            Mr. St. Denis was married, July 2, 1858, in his native county, to Miss Caroline Barlow, who was also born there, Aug. 23, 1835. Her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Heap) Barlow, were natives of England, where they were married, and came to America about 1830. They spent their last years in New York State, and passed to their long home some time since. Their ten children were named respectively: John, Ann, Eliza, William, Mary, Samuel, James, Charles, Caroline and Elizabeth. The mother was a most excellent lady, and a member in good standing of the Episcopal Church.

            Mrs. St. Denis is highly educated, and completed her studies at Ft. Covington Academy, from which she was graduated and subsequently followed the profession of a teacher six years, having for two years charge of the Government school for the education of Indians, most of whom were half-breeds. In this field of labor Mrs. St. Denis was remarkably successful, governing by kindness instead of the rod. The little girls and the small boys were particularly attached to her, and every evening and morning waited for the kiss with which she welcomed and parted from them. They differed considerably from white children in their aptitude for learning, but a course of kindness and patience greatly improved their original condition. Thomas Barlow, the father of Mrs. St. Denis, was a man of more than ordinary ability, having a good knowledge of business methods. He was mostly occupied at merchandising during his lifetime, of which he made a success. The parental family included ten children, of whom eight are still living and mostly residents of New York.

            Our subject at an early age was invested with responsibilities belonging to older persons, and since a lad twelve years of age has earned his own living. After becoming permanently settled in this county he determined to see something more of the Western Hemisphere, and first visited the Black Hills, where he hunted for gold three months with indifferent success. In 1881 he went into New Mexico upon the same errand, and was there quite successful in his labors, and continued in that region until May, 1887. He worked in the mines five months and then set up a soda-water manufactory, which proved a very profitable undertaking, and in which he was engaged four years. Upon selling out he engaged in general merchandising a year, then opened a meat-market and saloon. After disposing of these projects he returned to Sedgwick County, where he was cordially greeted by his old friends, and concluded that, after all, it was about as desirable a place as he could find.

            Mr. and Mrs. St. Denis are the parents of three children, of whom the record is as follows: Rudolph was born June 19, 1859, and died on the 2d of May, 1887, at his home in Sedgwick County; Thomas, born Jan. 9, 1861, married Miss Lucy Rowley; he is now at Wichita. Minnie, born Feb. 21, 1862, is the wife of J. H. Higgins, of St. Joe, Mo. Rudolph was a model young man, possessing a most admirable disposition, was kind-hearted and considerate of others, and his death was greatly felt, not only in the family but by the community at large. Mr. St. Denis is a stanch Republican, politically, and has occupied various positions in his township, including those of Trustee and Assessor, and is a man whose opinions are held in general respect.

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