Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Dennis, Frank P ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 5:21 am Author: Past & Present, 1907 FRANK P. DENNIS. Among the enterprising and prosperous farmers and stock- raisers of Will county is numbered Frank P. Dennis, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Peotone township, all of which has been acquired through his own well directed labors. In addition to his agricultural pursuits he is also engaged in raising Poland China hogs and high grade poultry. Mr. Dennis was born at Elmira, New York, September 17, 1854, a son of Jonathan and Mahala Jane (Decker) Dennis, the former born in New Jersey, while the latter was born in the Empire state. Both are now deceased, having passed away in Peotone, the former March 5, 1902, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-three years, while the latter died in 1893, at the age of sixty-five. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1856 came westward to Illinois, settling in Joliet, where he worked at his trade. He later invested in eighty acres of land near that city and upon disposing of that property removed to Peotone township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he operated until 1888, when, his labors having brought to him a comfortable competence, he removed to the village of Peotone, where he lived retired throughout his remaining days, his death there occurring. In his early life he held membership in the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was also a devoted member, but in later years he transferred his membership to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which he died. He was a democrat and held worthy Christian people who had many friends, so that their deaths were deeply regretted when they were called from this life. In the family of this honored couple were six children: William R., a resident farmer of Caruthersville, Indiana; Louisa, the wife of George Carr, a resident of Brooks, Indiana; Sylvester, who makes his home at Mason, Tennessee; Frank P., of this review; John D., who resides at Goodland, Indiana; and Anthony F., who died at the age of thirty-five years, while his widow is a resident of Peotone. Frank P. Dennis, the fourth in order of birth in his father's family, was but two years of age when the family home was established in Illinois, so that he was practically reared in this state, while he acquired his education in the common schools of Will county. From his early youth he displayed considerable mechanical ingenuity, and at the age of nineteen years began running a threshing machine, operating this in addition to carrying on farm work. For the past twenty-five years he has been engaged more or less in the operation of farm machinery and today has a complete threshing outfit, this being owned by a company of fanners. In 1882 Mr. Dennis purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Peotone township. He has made many improvements upon the place and has one of the best tracts of land and set of farm buildings in the township. He is also engaged in raising stock, making a specialty of Poland China hogs, having a number of fine registered animals, which have taken first prize at the town fair. He also raises fancy poultry, having principally Barred Plymouth Rock and Orpington chickens, which have taken first and second prizes. At the Kankakee County Fair his Plymouth Rock chickens took third prize in an exhibit of six hundred birds. In all his work he keeps abreast with the progress of the age and is a leader among the agriculturists and stock-raisers of Peotone township. Choosing a companion and helpmate for life's journey, Mr. Dennis was married, March 6, 1883, to Miss Martha Jane Patterson, who was born in Will township, this county, a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Neal) Patterson. The father was born in Scotland, whence he came to this country when a young man of twenty years. He was numbered among the early settlers of Will he served as supervisor for many years. His death occurred in Merrill, Plymouth county, Iowa, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years. The mother was born in Ireland, and is living at the age of seventy-nine. She makes her home among her children. Their family numbers six children, all of whom still survive, namely: Robert, who resides at Worthington, Minnesota; Emma, the wife of Ben Hawkins, of Hull, Iowa; Delila, the widow of Alfred Dubridge, of Momence, Illinois; Martha J., now Mrs. Dennis; Lucinda, the wife of Levi Hawkins, a resident of Reading, Minnesota; and Effie, the wife of Frank Crouch, of Hinton, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have been born two sons. George attended the mechanical department at Armour Institute, in Chicago, and is now a young man of twenty-two years, making his home with his parents. Percy, the younger son, also with his parents, pursued a course in stenography and telegraphy at Janesville, Wisconsin. Like his father, Mr. Dennis gives his political support to the men and measures of democracy but has never been active in the local ranks of the party, for his private business interests have fully claimed his time and attention. He has been, identified with the Modern Woodmen of America for the past sixteen years. He is enterprising and progressive and owes his success entirely to his close application and excellent business ability. Having spent practically his entire life in Will county he deserves prominent mention among its best citizens. Additional Comments: Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/dennis1902nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb