JOHN T. DENNIS
History of Arizona, 1896

This pioneer settler of Phoenix, Arizona was born in Ohio, 
Muskingum County., Jan. 8, 1840 to John and Sarah (Lewis) Dennis, 
the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of New York.  
The grandfathers on both sides were in the Revolutionary War and 
John Dennis served in the War of 1812.  The latter was a 
successful business man and farmer.  In 1847 he moved to Iowa 
but about six years later returned to Ohio and settled in 
Guernsey County where he died in 1858.  The mother passed away 
in 1840, leaving our subject, who was but six weeks old. He was 
tenderly reared by his father and at an early age became well 
versed in all that pertained to farm life and was educated in 
the common schools.  When nineteen years old he left home and 
crossed the plains to California with an emigrant train, his 
business being to drive the cattle during this journey.  Stopping 
at Marysville he remained in that State for two years and a half, 
engaged in mining, and in July 1862, came to Arizona, making the 
trip on a pack mule. He first halted at La Paz, now Ehrenberg and 
for three years was engaged in mining at that place.

Following this be began teaming and ranching  and in December 
1868 located in Salt River Valley where there was not a house 
on the present site of Phoenix.  He took up a tract of land and 
has since made his home in this vicinity.  During these early 
times he experienced considerable trouble with the Indians, his 
stock and other property often being stolen but although he was 
bothered by them at any and all times he never received any 
personal injury.  When he first settled in this section he was 
obliged to get his supplies from Wickenburg, a distance of 
sixty miles. He had the honor of opening the first store in 
Phoenix, and started this before the town had been laid out.  
He was actively engaged in merchandising until 1874, when he 
embarked in other enterprises, principally teaming, farming and 
lumbering, all of which he carried very successfully until 
1887.  Since that time he has been practically retired. He owns 
considerable property in Phoenix and has some fine additions.

On one of his additions, Phoenix was first started.  Mr. Dennis 
has been one of the Asylum Commissioners and is a member of the 
City Council.  There are but few old pioneers now living in 
Phoenix, and Mr. Dennis is one of them.

In the year 1888 Mr. Dennis married Mrs. Ada Bowers, a widow with 
one child, Ulvah.  Mrs. Dennis was the daughter of Granville H. 
and Narcisy Hogan, one of the oldest Southern families in 
Tennessee.  During pioneer times Mr. Dennis experienced many 
hardships and had many unpleasant adventures. He assisted in 
cutting the brush and surveying the town of Phoenix and he also 
helped to organize the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad, in which 
he was a stockholder and in which he served as vice president 
at one time.  This road was first the Phoenix and Maricopa but 
when the company failed it was changed to Maricopa and Phoenix.  
The first post office was established in our subject's store in 
1872 with W.H., Hancock as postmaster.

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