Carroll Co., AR - Biographies - Hon. Tilford Denton

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Hon. Tilford Denton was born in Warren County, Tenn., on November 22, 
1817, and is a son of Capt. John Denton, a native of South Carolina. 
The latter was reared in his native State, and, when a young man, went 
to Kentucky, where he married Jane French, a native of North Carolina. 
Soon after their marriage they removed to Tennessee, and located in 
Warren County, being among the first settlers there. After a number of 
years' residence there they removed to Arkansas, and located near Cane 
Hill, Washington County, remaining there until the death of the father 
in 1832. Capt. John Denton served in the War of 1812, in Col. Coffey's 
regiment, and participated in the battle of New Orleans with Gen. 
Jackson. There was a family of twelve children, of whom ten grew to 
mature years. Two sons and two daughters married and became heads of 
families. None of the others ever married. Our subject, who is the 
youngest son, and his sister, Mary, widow of Col. Daniel Thomason, of 
Washington County, Ark., are the only surviving members of the family. 
The latter is now eighty-four years of age. Hon. Tilford Denton grew 
to manhood in Washington County, coming to Carroll County when he was 
twenty years of age. He located at Carrollton, and has since been a 
resident of this vicinity. In 1873 he removed to his present residence 
in Boone County, just across the line, but his post-office has been at 
Carrollton for the last fifty years. He owns about 1,000 acres of real 
estate in Carroll County. In 1846 the Colonel was elected clerk of 
Carroll County, and served one term, declining re-election. In 1850 he 
was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature, and at 
the expiration of his term was re-elected to the same position. 
Afterward he served as county treasurer for one or two terms. In 1863 
he enlisted in Col. [p.1053] Harrell's battalion, and served in the 
Confederate army until the close of the war, on detached duty, as 
quartermaster of the battalion. His marriage with Mary Sneed, a 
daughter of Charles Sneed, was celebrated in November, 1848. To their 
union have been born thirteen children, of whom Sebron S., John R., 
Charles S., Hugh L., Volney W. and Wilburn G. are living. The others 
died as follows: William F., August, 1887, aged thirty-eight years; 
Jane, June 27, 1872, aged nineteen years; Elizabeth, 1877, aged twenty 
years; Kizzy, 1878, aged eighteen years; Robert E. Lee, March, 1880, 
aged sixteen years; Tilford, 1863, aged six years, and an infant 
unnamed. When Mr. Denton settled in Carrollton in March, 1837, he 
engaged in the mercantile business, and continued until 1845. The 
currency at that time was mostly in peltry, and one season the Colonel 
shipped 6,600 pounds of deer-skins to New Orleans. In 1859 he engaged 
in merchandising, and continued until the war, as a member of the firm 
of Denton & Peele. Col. Denton is closely identified with the history 
of his section of country, no man being more highly respected or 
esteemed by its citizens.