Biography of F D Denton, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 659 

Hon. F. D. Denton, of Batesville, is a native of that town, born there
on the 23d of November, 1841, and is one of the representative citizens of the
county. His father. William F. Denton. was a native of Tennessee, and when a
young man was united in marriage to Miss Margaret F. Desha, a native of
Washington City. D. C. William F. Denton emigrated with his father. John
Denton, to Washington County, Ark., in early territorial days. and there the
latter died. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and had
followed agricultural pursuits all his life. The maternal grandfather, Robert
M. Desha, was captain in the United States marine service, at Washington. He
emigrated to Arkansas, and located at Helena, and [p.659] subsequently, leaving
his wife and two children there, while on his return to Washington, was
stricken down with yellow fever, and died at New Orleans, in 1822. The great-
grandfather, Gen. Jo. Desha, was governor of Kentucky from 1824 to 1828, and
was the first Democratic governor of the State. He commanded a division of
Kentucky troops under Gen. Harrison. He died in Kentucky. William F. Denton
came to Independence County, Ark., in about 1835, and one year later was made
prosecuting attorney of this county. He was a lawyer by profession, and died in
August, 1845. The mother is still living. Of the four children born to their
marriage, two only are now living, Frank D. and Elvira F., wife of J. P. Boyd.
One son, William F., was killed during the war, when only eighteen years of
age. The other child, was Frances J. Mrs. Denton's brother, Capt. F. W. Desha,
for whom our subject is named, was a captain in Yell's Arkansas regiment, in
the Mexican War, and lieutenant-colonel commanding the Seventh Arkansas
Battalion, C. S. A., in the Civil War. F. D. Denton attained his growth, and
received a fair education in Batesville, but subsequently pursued his studies
at Fayetteville (Ark.), College and Center College, at Danville, Ky. He was
attending the last named institution, and was deeply immersed in his studies,
when the breaking out of the war caused him to abandon his books and seek his
home. Soon after he enlisted in Company C, Desha's battalion, and served until
the close of the war. He was in Gen. Johnston's army, and participated in the
battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, and was in Johnston's campaign through
Georgia. He was wounded at Murfreesboro, by a gun-shot in the neck, cutting his
windpipe, and lay on the battlefield two days. He was also wounded at the
battle of New Hope Church, Ga., by a gun-shot in the side. He was then
captured, and left in a hospital. He was carried to Nashville, where some
ladies took care of him. He was exchanged in 1863, and again joined his
regiment in Tennessee. After the surrender he returned to his home, arriving
there in August, 1865, and engaged in tilling the soil. In 1866, he was elected
sheriff, which position he held until the reconstruction. In 1870, he engaged
in merchandising, but carried this on for only about two or three years, as he
was quite unfortunate in this business venture. In January, 1877, he
established the Batesville Guard, and ran this paper in an able and capable
manner until in July, 1885. In October of the same year he was appointed
postmaster, and confirmed in January, 1886. Mr. Denton was married, in 1868, to
Miss Mattie A. Lewis, a native of Holly Springs, Miss., and to them were born
seven children, four now living: William F., Desha, Estella, and Rosa. Mr.
Denton is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., K. of H., and K. and L. of H.
He was elected to represent his county in the legislature, in 1881, and re-
elected in 1883, serving two terms.