Nathaniel Denty

Born on 31 Jul 1847 and named after his father’s close friend, physician and school principle Dr. Nathaniel Winningham, Nathaniel Winningham Denty grew up as the only son on a cotton plantation with numerous slaves. Nevertheless, one shouldn't be misled into imagining his life as either easy or luxurious by modern standards, and certainly never indolent. Despite the popular image, most planters did not reside in a pillared mansion house reminiscent of Gone with the Wind. Even the affluent Johnston family in neighboring Desoto County lived in a log house for decades. Still, while fully half of the families in Mississippi owned slaves, a proportion equaled only in South Carolina, only 12% of slaveholders owned more than twenty slaves in 1860.[1] In 1860, John Ramsey Denty owned twenty, with four more hired. These numbers would indicate that the Nathaniel was raised in relatively comfortable circumstances.

In spring 1862, when he was fourteen, Nathaniel's mother Mary Ann Irvine Denty died. That summer, father John Ramsey Denty married a widow, Mary Garth Sumner. And that fall, on 23 Nov 1862, Capt. James Abernathy related his visit to the Denty home in a letter to his wife Rebecca, and in it described young Nathaniel as "about 16 years old – a very delicate child. He has a handsome face, very fair skin & light hair; has a fine forehead & a very sprightly boy."

However "delicate" he might have been in November 1862, in May 1863 fifteen year old Nathaniel enlisted as a Private in Company D, Chalmer's Battalion, 18^th Mississippi Cavalry, a unit known as the "Partisan Rangers", ultimately under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Holly Springs was changing hands between Rebels and Yankees almost bi-monthly, and after the fall of Corinth the beleaguered government's response was to create the 18^th Battalion specifically for the protection of northern Mississippi. Young "Dock", as he became known, fought in the battles of Spring Hill and Franklin in Tennessee. The latter, with a total of almost 55,000 troops engaged, was one of the hardest fought, bloodiest clashes of the Civil War. He later reported that while he had had many narrow escapes, he "always managed to come out all right".[2] In addition, his unit was the first to enter Fort Pillow, an action infamous for the alleged massacre of black Union troops by Forrest's Cavalry that occurred after the surrender. How much Nathaniel himself may have witnessed (or committed) and how much it might have affected him, we'll unfortunately never know.

After being paroled at the end of the war, Nathaniel returned to school. Then, his education completed, on 23 Dec 1868 he married Nancy P. Johnston, the daughter of Matilda Johnston Denty's brother Samuel Johnston.[3] "Nannie" had been born about 1852 in Desoto County, Mississippi, and like her husband, had grown up on a large plantation with numerous slaves. Rather than Marshall County, the young couple set up housekeeping in Desoto County where Dock rented land from and boarded with William and Marie Denty Nesbit. In a letter written in 1870 to Rebecca Denty Abernathy, his father John wrote that Nathaniel had "made 9 bales cotton and about 40 barrels corn. This he done within himself, except 87 dollars paid for extra labor. He has bought a small place about 137 acres of land and has about 90 acres in cultivation this year . . . Doc is a tolerable business boy. He is about 1½ miles from Billie Nesbit (who appears to take a great interest in his welfare), and is much liked by all who know him."[4]

The parcel mentioned by his father was the first of many land transactions by Dock in Desoto County, one a sale to N. Winningham, his namesake. The 1880 Census found farmer Nathaniel residing next to his Johnston in-laws with Nannie and their four children. They weren't there long, however. That spring and fall he sold his lands in Desoto County and purchased twelve lots in Donaldson, Hot Spring County, Arkansas, southwest of Little Rock. (See map, Counties Significant to The Southern Dentys.) In Donaldson, "N.W. Denty & Company", may have initially been a partnership with his brother-in-law Theodore F. Johnston, although it's difficult to now determine just how commingled their enterprises were. The business first consisted of a general store, but Dock became the owner of a lumber mill one and one-half miles east of Donaldson when the owners defaulted on a debt.

While growing more prosperous, his personal life suffered the first of many premature deaths. On 12 Sep 1883, Nannie Johnston Denty died at age thirty-two, leaving five motherless children ranging in age from thirteen down to one month. Her cause of death wasn't recorded, but certainly the likeliest cause was complications resulting from the birth of a son on 13 August. The following January Alice Denty Dean wrote that "Cousin Dock is now out on a visit to his little children . . . Uncle John came so as to be with him. You have heard of Cousin Dock's losing his wife, if not, why she died in Ark about 5 months ago & he came over with his little children, 5 in number, to their grandfather's Mr. Sam Johnson's to make his house their home . . . Cousin Dock will remain about a week or more".[5] An arrangement may have been reached that winter, for on 25 Jul 1884 Nathaniel married Laura Elizabeth Johnston, Nannie's sister. Laura was the youngest of Samuel and Minerva Leonard Johnston's children, and at age twenty-eight, was somewhat past the normal age for a first marriage. Whether "Lolly" was plain or pretty, clever or dull, we'll never know. She gave birth to two children and then died on 19 Dec 1887. Once again, the cause may have been complications from childbirth.

Now the father of seven children, Dock delivered his oldest to a newly widowed Minerva Leonard Johnston and his youngest by Nancy to Marie Denty Nesbit. Eighteen months later, on 15 Jul 1889, he married Kathrin M. Riley, age thirty-three, in Little Rock. According to family tradition, "Kate" had been hired as governess to the five Denty children still remaining in Donaldson, but the arrangement changed to one of marriage. It was evidently a "package deal": Dock got a wife and mother for his large brood, Kate's mother got a home for life.[6] All the children came back to Donaldson, making a total household of three adults and eventually nine children, for Kate gave birth to two more sons.

Throughout these years of loss, Dock's businesses apparently thrived. Like so many rural storekeepers, he was also the postmaster. And he still owned and operated the lumber mill.[7] A letter written by him on 30 Mar 1891 carried the letterhead: "Office of N.W. Denty. Dealer in General Merchandise and Undertaker's Goods". It's the only letter from Nathaniel to have been preserved, and it's regrettably brief . . .

Donaldson, Ark. 3/20 1891

Nesbits, Miss

Yours of 11 inst recd in due time & greatly appreciated but have been too busy to answer as I wish to & can only write a few lines now. As to the O'Riley case,[8] do just as you all wish & think best. Am sorry to hear of the sickness of the little ones. I have been very fortunate in that respect. None of any consequence in my family for 2 years. If I can have next Sunday as a holiday will write again & more. Please write again for I love to hear from you all.

Your couz

Forty-seven year old Nathaniel died of causes unknown on 14 Apr 1895. Kate's mother, Matilda Riley, had preceded him in death on 9 Mar 1895. The proximity of dates, coupled with claims against the estate from three different physicians, perhaps indicates infectious disease, but could, of course, been any affliction from a heart attack to a ruptured appendix to tetanus resulting from an injury. Whatever the cause of death, he left no will, and as a result, the probate became complicated, lengthy, and no doubt acrimonious. Administrator E. H. Tannenhill claimed that he'd been in partnership with Dock and was therefore the rightful owner of half of the Denty enterprises. Much legal wrangling ensued, but finally the court, on 25 Jul 1897, found in favor of Kate and eldest son Irvine Denty. All property passed solely to Nathaniel's Denty heirs.

Kate Riley Denty continued her role as nurturer to the numerous Denty offspring. To support her children and stepchildren, she purchased and operated a telephone exchange in Benton, Arkansas. Much later, as the children left home one by one, "Miss Kate" wrote short stories for the Saturday Evening Post under the pseudonym "Nan Claire", the name of one of her step-great-grandchildren. She remained close to the younger generation of Dentys all her life, living at various times with now one, then another, through her later years. Ironically, in light of her successful career as a short story writer, we have only one letter from an elderly Kate, written to her step-grandchildren Sam and Carolyn Denty[9] after the birth of their first child in 1935.

CONGRATULATIONS! Hardly know what to say to express my real feelings as it is difficult to realize that little Susan Frances is a reality. It seems little longer ago than yesterday that I held her "Dad" in my arms, a babe himself. But, I suppose it is a fact ‑ you say it is ‑ no more a miracle than when the star shone over the manger at Bethlehem. So all I can say is I'm happy with you, and hope the little daughter may prove a blessing, all that fond parents could hope for. How I would love to see her, and hold her in my arms and love her, for a little while anyway.

As I told Delle and Wynne[10], we are getting so many new names in the family I can hardly think of the new generation as Dentys. They call their little girl Phyllis, it seems so strange to me, yet I am glad they are getting away from old names and old customs. It may seem a little strange at first to think of them as belonging to "our gang" but they are just as sweet and we will love them just the same. Just so I felt when Imogen's boy was named.[11]

K.R. Denty

Kate Riley Denty suffered a stroke on 22 Oct 1938 and died on 3 Nov 1938 in the home of her son Wynne. She is buried in an unmarked grave beside her mother Matilda and husband Nathaniel in Ouachita Cemetery in Donaldson, Hot Spring County, Arkansas.

All told, Nathaniel Winningham Denty was the father of eleven children by three different wives. He and first wife Nancy Johnston had Irvine Leonard, Lula, John, Margaret, Minnie (who died in infancy) and Samuel Johnston Denty. They will be profiled in the following chapter. By his second wife Laura Johnston, he had Mina Boran and Imogene L. Denty; and by third wife Kate Riley, sons Wynne and Wade. They are described below.

Children of Nathaniel and Nancy Johnston Denty:

Mina Boran Denty was born on 20 Jul 1886. What his adolescence and early adulthood might have been like unfortunately remains a mystery. His older half-brother Irvine Leonard Denty had been appointed his guardian, but there's no mention of Mina in Irvine's household; nor has this researcher been able to locate Mina on any federal census, even that of 1900 when he was only fourteen years old. [He was located in the 1930 Census, residing in Eastman township, Pulaski County, with wife May, son Owen B. age 10, son Alfred Junior age 8, son Max B. age 4 years and 5 months, and daughter Mina age 2 years five months. Mina was described as a "truck farmer". Owen and Alfred were obviously Mae's children from a previous marriage.] We know that he became an electrician like his older half-brothers John and Sam, that he enjoyed woodcarving, and that he married Mary Mae Richards Burton on 26 Nov 1923 in Little Rock when he was thirty-nine and she was twenty-six. Wherever he'd lived before the marriage, he presumably lived in or close to Little Rock after it. According to his daughter Mina Baxter, he worked in the naval shipyard at Bremerton, Washington during World War II. Perhaps that was due simply to job availability, or perhaps he sought greener pastures, for his marriage was a tempestuous one, ending in divorce in 1945. Mina died of "chronic valvular heart disease"[12] on 20 Apr 1949 in Little Rock, Arkansas, nursed in his last weeks by his half-sister Margaret Denty Chamberlain. He's buried at Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock. Mina Boran and Mae Richards Denty had five children: Max Boyce (b. 18 Oct 1925, d. 4 May 1999), Mina Mae (b. 7 Oct 1927), Joyce Louise (b. 14 Jun 1930), Margaret Elizabeth (7 Oct 1932), and Mary Lou Denty (b. 31 Aug 1934).

Mina's younger sister Imogene was born on 29 Sep 1887, less than three months before the death of her mother Laura Johnston Denty. She then lost her father when only seven years old. Perhaps this partly explains why "Ninner", as she was inexplicably called within the family, was always extremely introverted, comfortable only with close family members. Not surprisingly, she never married, but resided with first Lula Easley, and then Maggie Chamberlain, her two older half-sisters. And although she held a job in a grocery store in 1920, she most often worked in different capacities, waitress or clerk, for the Easleys in one of their businesses. It was in Maggie's home at 305 West 8^th Street in Little Rock that "Ninner", age sixty-nine, suffered a "coronary occlusion"[13] and died on 23 Mar 1956. She is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Little Rock.

Nathaniel Wynne Denty, the first-born son of Nathaniel and Kate, was born on 2 May 1890. Wynne was employed as a bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery in Newport, Arkansas in 1910; a clerk at Birmingham Title and Guaranty Company in Birmingham, Alabama in 1913. He enlisted in the Army during World War I, serving as a First Lieutenant, Billeting Officer, in France. After being discharged he worked briefly as a cashier in a mill in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, then went to work for the Federal Land Bank in Hope, Arkansas. There he married Dell McRae on 25 Jul 1922. He was listed in the 1929 Hope City Directory as an officer of First National Bank and was then residing at 506 N. Washington. When relatives were asked to describe Wynne, the descriptions were remarkably similar: "distinguished looking . . . on the quiet side with a dry wit",[14] . . . "good-looking",[15] and "tall, nice-looking, with a very quiet and gentle nature . . . always soft-spoken".[16] Wynne died on 12 Sep 1969 and was buried in Hope Cemetery. He and Dell were the parents of Nathaniel Wynne Denty Junior (b. 26 Sep 1927, d. 15 Jul 1985) and Phyllis Denty Edmondson (b. 27 Feb 1935).

If Wynne's life could be described as happy and productive, such was not the case for his younger brother Wade, born in Jan 1892. Little is known about Wade. At age eighteen in the 1910 Census, he was living with his mother and brother in Newport, Arkansas; but where he went after that year, what he did, and why or even where he chose to take his own life, is one of those frustrating unknowables in genealogy. His mother Kate was told only that he'd died, not the manner of his death.

Date of birth: 31 Jul 1847. [Goodspeed, Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Central Arkansas, p. 333] (Date may have been 3 July.)

Mina Denty Baxter claims middle name was Winningham, although family had believed middle name was Wynne. If Winningham, then was undoubtedly named after Nathaniel Winningham, close friend and associate of John Ramsey Denty in Marshall Co, MS. (Winningham moved to and died in Desoto Co, MS. There was also a Wynne family living in Marshall.)

Called "Dock" Denty by both the Johnston and Denty families in Desoto Co, MS. [Robert Edward Johnston, 21 Dec 1990; Numerous references in letters in Abernathy and Smith, The Descendants of Thomas Jefferson Denty and Elizabeth Abernathy Denty.

At only 15 (unless birth year wrong), enlisted on 1 May 1863 at Byhalia as Private in Co. D (Smith's Company) Chalmer's Battalion, 18th MS Cavalry. (Co. D later became Co. C.) Also known as the "Partisan Rangers", unit was organized 1 Jun 1863 with 4 companies under the command of Maj. A.H. Chalmers, apparently with troops raised prior to that date, as in Dock's case. He enlisted for duration of war and fought in the Battles of Spring Hill, Fort Pillow[17] (12 Apr 1864), and Franklin (30 Nov 1864, 7000 dead). While reportedly having many narrow escapes, especially on one raid into TN, he "always managed to come out all right". The company surrendered at Citronelle, AL on 4 May 1865, its men being paroled at Gainesville, AL on 10 May 1865. [Muster Cards; Goodspeed, p. 333]

Marriage of Nathaniel and Nancy Johnston: In his letter dated 13 Aug 1870, John Ramsey Denty wrote that "N.W. was married Dec 23rd 1868". Date of bond apparently 22 Dec 1868, although Desoto Descendants gives date of 25 Dec 1868. Bride: "Nannie P. Johnston"; but no bdsm named. [John Ramsey Denty: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith; Murray, Computer Indexed Marriage Records 1843-1900, Desoto County, p. 78; Desoto County Genealogical Society, Desoto Descendants, v. 12, n. 3, p. 152/Orig: Marriage Record E, p. 289]

1870 CENSUS, Desoto Co, MS (Nesbit Depot): Farmer age 22, with real and personal property estimated at $1300 and $925 respectively; Nannie age 18; unnamed male infant born in May. (Irwin was actually born in April.) [Pg 108]

1 Dec 1875: Purchased 130 acres in Desoto Co from Austin Christopher in return for 48 bales of "middling class" cotton paid in installments. [Deed Book 1, p. 174]

In Jan 1877 Dock was engaged in several land transactions in Desoto Co: 1) On 24 Jan 1877 he bought E ½ NE ¼ S19 T3 R6W from Joseph and Mary Shields for $600; 2) On 27 Jan 1877 Nathaniel and "N.P. Denty" sold 80 acres to Joseph Shields for $500, of which $100 was in cash and the balance in 10 500 lb bales; and 3) Also on 27 Jan 1877 (or merely recorded on that date) N.W. and "Nannie P. Denty" sold 90 acres to Joseph M. and Alfred Dockery for $700. [Deed Book 1, p. 336, 340, 342]

18 Feb 1880: He sold several parcels: 1) Two parcels totaling 150 acres to David and Saphronia Maxwell for $1500; 2) 130 acres described as NE ¼ S24 T2 R8W for $1,500 to N. Winningham. ("Nannie P. Denty" also signed the latter deed.) [Deed Book 2, p. 473, 476]

1880 CENSUS, Desoto Co, MS (Lauderdale Voting Beat): Farmer age 32; wife Nancy P age 27; sons Irvin and John R; daughters Lulu and Margaret. (Enumerated next to family of Samuel Johnston, close to household of Theodore Johnston.) [ED 59, Sheet 26]

6 Nov 1880: N.W. and "Nannie P. Denty" sold 70 acres on north side of NE ¼ S27 T2 R7W in Desoto Co to G. Lauderdale and R. Young for $650. [Deed Book 3, p. 42]

15 Dec 1880: Purchased Lots 1-12, Block 5, in Donaldson, Hot Spring Co, AR from W.H. and E.J. Pettus. Price: $30. [Goodspeed, p. 333; Deed Book N, p. 81]

"He embarked "in the merchantile business" when he came to Arkansas, being "accounted one of Hot Spring County's leading merchants" by 1889. [Goodspeed, p. 333]

1881 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR: "Denty & Co" = Two horses valued at $100, goods and merchandise at $1,500 and "N.W. Denty" = One poll, all other property required to be listed estimated at $75.

9 Sep 1881: To secure debt on loan of $426.80 to J.T. Walker (and Taylor) Co, a sawmill, from T.F. Johnston, Dock secured trust deed for 3 yoke of oxen, 1 log cart, and 1 wagon. [Deed Book N, p. 176]

1882 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR: "N.W. Denty & Co" = One horse worth $50, goods and merchandise valued at $800, money and credits at $400 and "N.W. Denty" = One poll, 1 gold or silver watch estimated at $12, all other property required to be listed at $50.

13 Jul 1882: To secure debt of $200 to N.W. Denty and T.F. Johnson, D.B.A. "N.W. Denty and Co", Walker and Taylor Co signed over title to 1 steam boiler and engine, sawmill and rig situated 1 ½ miles east of Donaldson. [Book N, p. 456]

1883 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR (Assessed 7 Feb 1884): One poll, goods and merchandise valued at $400, money and credits at $100, all other property required to be listed at $529.

Served as postmaster in Donaldson from 1884 until after 1889. [Goodspeed, p. 333]

1884 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR: One poll, goods and merchandise worth $1,000, money and credits $400, all other property required to be listed $20. (Yet total is $1430.)

Marriage of Nathaniel and Laura Johnston: 25 Jul 1884. [Murray, p. 78; Goodspeed, p. 333]

1885 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR: One poll, 1 horse estimated at $25, 1 cow at $20, 1 gold or silver watch at $10, goods and merchandise at $800, money and credits at $800, and all other property required to be listed at $50. (Yet total is $1205 instead of $1705.)

1886 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR (School District 18): One poll, 7 cattle valued at $50, 2 gold or silver watches at $15, 1 piano forte at $50, all other property at $75 for a total of $190. (What happened to goods and merchandise or money and credits? Did it have something to do with the sale by Theodore Johnston of a "country store" with all merchandise and accounts on 16 May 1885? Certainly, Dock still owned his own general store.)

18 Aug 1886: When Nathaniel and "Laura E. Denty" sold 160 acres to H.M. and Mattie Boland, N.W. reserved the rights to all the timber, being allowed 2 years in which to log said property. Property was described as E ½ W ½ S9 T6 R18W. [Deed Book P, p. 509]

1887 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR (School District 18): One poll, 6 cattle worth $50, 7 hogs worth $8, 1 gold or silver watch estimated at $10, 1 piano forte at $50, money and credits at $300, all other property at $75 for a total of $493.

1888 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR (School District 18): One poll, 4 cows valued at $40, 6 hogs at $10, 3 gold or silver watches at $25, 1 piano forte at $50, goods and merchandise at $1,200, and all other property at $75 for a total of $1,400.

29 Oct 1888, Alice Denty Dean: "Cousin Marie was over to see Cousin Dock. He lost his second wife this last spring and so has had a sad time of it. He was on a visit to see us this summer and spoke of you. Said he would like so much to see you again & how he remembered his visit to your house during the war, & how you visit him etc. He now lives at Donaldson, Ark. Two of his children are out here. Irvin his eldest & his youngest by his first wife. Cousin M. has the youngest Sammy. Irvine is with his grandma." (According to John Abernathy Smith, the visit to the Abernathys in Giles County, TN probably occurred when his unit marched through Nashville with Hood in 1864. It's not known when Rebecca may have visited Dock.) [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

On 23 Apr 1889, Alice Denty Dean again wrote that Dock "has been over to see us". [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

9 May 1889: Obtained two parcels from state: E ½ SE ___ and W ½ SE ___ of S25 T5 R18W. [Index/Orig: Deed Book S, p. 439, 440]

12 Jun 1889: Sold E ½ NW ¼ S20 T5 R18W to J.K. Hall. [Index/Orig: Deed Book S, p. 177]

1889 Personal Property Tax Book, Hot Spring Co, AR (School District 18): One poll, 9 cattle worth $65, 2 gold or silver watches worth $15, 1 piano forte $50, goods and merchandise $2,000, money and credits worth $1,800, and all other property $115 for a total of $4,045.

Affiliations, 1889: Knights of Honor, Democratic Party. No church is named by Goodspeed for Nathaniel, despite the fact that the religious affiliations of his parents (Methodist Episcopal Church South) and first wife Nancy (Christian Church) are mentioned. [Goodspeed, p. 333]

Marriage of Nathaniel and Kate Riley: 15 Jul 1889. Groom: "age 41"; Bride: "Kate M. Riley, age 28". [Pulaski County Master Index, p. 171/Orig: Bk 14, p. 160]

7 Oct 1889: Purchased Lot 2, Block 1 in Donaldson from A.M. Duffie. [Index/Orig: Deed Book R, p. 331]

25 Jun 1892: Sold all or part of Block 8 in Donaldson to the Donaldson Lumber Co. Then on 7 Nov 1892, he leased property to the same company, apparently his own. [Index/Orig: Hot Spring Deed Book T, p. 227; Book U, p. 289]

According to findings of the Probate Court, N.W. owned the following real property at the time of his death:

In T5 R8W = W ½ NE ¼ S34 and W ½ SE ¼ S35 and NW ¼ SE ¼ S2 and N ½ NE ¼ ("Fr") S2 (62.85 acres) and NE ¼ SW ¼ ("Fr") S2 (40 acres) and Part of: NE ¼ NE ¼ S3 (5 acres) and SE ¼ NE ¼ S3 (33 acres) and SE ¼ SE ¼ S12 (40 acres)

In T6 R17W = W ½ NW ¼ S18 (80 acres) and SW ¼ SE ¼ S18 (40 acres) and N ½ SW ¼ S18 (80 acres) and SE ¼ SW ¼ S18 (40 acres) and SW ¼ SW ¼ S18 (40 acres)

In Donaldson = Lots 1-2, Block 1 and Lots 1-6, Block 5 and Lots 1-6, Block 8.

Also: In probate, it was testified that Nathaniel "was carrying on the business of sawing, maufacturing, buying, shipping, and selling lumber and the buying and selling of general merchandise at and from this place of business at Donaldson". On hand at mill was 800,000 board feet of lumber valued at $3,400; sawmill "fixtures", such as oxen, wagons, and tools, appraised at $3,104.50; cash in different banks amounting to $375.68; and stock of goods and merchandise in store valued at $2,972.60. Total = $9,852.78; but indebtedness totaled $5,000.

In addition, "N.W. Denty (no doubt his estate) sold W ½ NE ___ S34 T5 R18W to Henry Kruger on 18 Sep 1911. And he must have retained or inherited some property in Desoto Co, MS because on 14 Feb 1900, a deed from N.W. Denty was granted to Banks & Co there. [Index/Orig: Hot Spring Book 10, p. 292; Index/Orig: Desoto Deed Book 10, p. 488]

Date of death: 14 Apr 1895. [Probate Record, p. 4; Tombstone in Ouachita Cemetery; Hot Spring County Historical Society, Headstone History, Vol. III, p. 6] According to Betty Gitchel, the cause of death may have been a heart attack. In any case, three physicians made claims against estate, presumably for services rendered during last illness. [Probate Record, p. 3, 20]

Burial: Ouachita Cemetery, located 15 miles south of Malvern on Hwy 67 at Donaldson. In the family plot, there is one headstone inscribed for both Nathaniel and mother-in-law Mrs. M.C. Riley. Wives Nancy and Laura also share a headstone. Wife Kate is buried there but without a headstone. (Close by in same plot is the headstone of Earl R. Denty, infant son of Irvine and Clara Denty.)

21 Apr 1895: The Arkansas Gazette carried the following "community news": "Jennie Tannihill & Mary & bro Mr Ed Tannihill attended the funeral of Mrs. [sic] N.W. Denty". [Barnes, Index to the Arkansas Gazette, 1895, p. 103/Orig: Pg 10]

On 14 Jun 1895 Kate R. Denty put up bond of $2,000 as guardian of Samuel J, Mina B, Imogene L, Nathaniel W, and Wade Denty. [Index to Probate Record/Orig: Probate Record A, p. 78]

Dock had died intestate. Probate became complicated on 9 Jul 1895 when Admns E. H. Tannenhill (who had been appointed with Kate and Irvine Denty as his sureties, and had already filed an inventory and appraisement of estate) claimed partnership in Nathaniel's business. On 24 Jul 1896 Kate filed petition objecting to his report of the sale of estate property and a "demurrer" to his petition to hire an attorney and to rent land and houses. From 30 Jul 1896 court documents begin to refer to "alledged partnership" between Tannehill and Denty, and Kate (and later when she cannot, Irvine) begins to petition accountings and file exceptions to almost everything. The legal wrangling continued until 25 Jul 1897 when court found in favor of Kate and Irvine, i.e. that Nathaniel had had no partnership with Tannehill, that his property was thus to pass solely to his Denty heirs. [Probate Record I, pages 2-4, 13-14, 19-20, 56-59, 62-63, 86-87, 92, 96-101, 111-112, 115-117]

Birth year: Abt 1852. On tombstone in Ouachita Cemetery: "Age 32 at Death". [Hot Spring Historical Society, p. 6; Goodspeed, p. 333]

Nickname: "Nannie"; and according to Mina Denty Baxter, Margaret Denty Chamberlain always claimed that her middle name was "Pruitt".

Was described in 1889 as having been "a member of the Christian Church". [Goodspeed, p. 333]

Death date: 12 Sep 1883. [Tombstone in Ouachita Cemetery] Betty Gitchel believes that she died from a stroke. In any case, her death came only one month after the birth of her last child, Samuel.

On tombstone: "Aged 31 at Death", resulting in a birth year about 1856; supported by 1860, 1870, and 1880 Censuses.

14 Sep 1875: "Laura E. Johnston" sold ½ of her undivided interest in S ½ SW ¼ S18 T3 R6W in Desoto Co, MS to John J. Dobbins to secure loan of $400 paid to her by Samuel Johnston. Parcel was described as about 80 acres. She then sold her ½ undivided interest in two parcels to William G. Dobbins for $400: N ½ SW ¼ S18 T3 R6W (except 20 acres in the northeast corner) and the southwest corner of NW ¼ S18 T3 R6W. The two parcels together totaled about 80 acres. [Deed Book 1, p. 39, 140]

15 Nov 1878: Purchased 53 acres in northwest corner of E 1/3 S34 T2 R7W adjoining Joseph Shields and Flora E. Johnston for $500 from Samuel Johnston. [Desoto Deed Book 2, p. 104]

1 Jun 1879: Bought 53 acres in the middle of center 1/3 of S34 T2 R7W from Samuel Johnston for $250. [Desoto Deed Book 2, p. 276]

Death date: 19 Dec 1887. [Tombstone in Ouachita Cemetery; Hot Spring Historical Society, p. 6; Goodspeed, p. 333]

According to Mina Denty Baxter, "Aunt Lolly" died in childbirth. Yet daughter Imogene born 3 months before her death. Was cause of death complications of childbirth?

Date of birth: 17 Oct 1855. [Death Certificate] The 1900 Census would indicate birth month of Oct about 1860 in MS, a year supported by age of 28 given at marriage on 15 Jul 1889. The 1910 Census gave her birthplace as MS. The 1920 Census would indicate a birth year of 1858 in TN. (Great-granddaughter Donna Wenger also believed that Kate was born in TN.)

First name given as "Kathrin" on Death Certificate. Was always called "Miss Kate" by Sam and Ethel, Sam Junior and Carolyn; but little Betty called her "Nanny". [Betty Gitchel]

Mother was Matilda C. (or K.) Dixon Riley, born 6 Sep 1829, died 9 Mar 1895. She lived with the family from the beginning, was "part of the bargain". (She is one of the three buried in the Denty plot for four.) [Tombstone in Ouachita Cemetery; Betty Gitchel]

Father was given simply as "Dr. Riley" on Death Certificate, with a birthplace of VA. But in 1900 Census, Kate herself gave her parents birthplaces as MS. (There is a Riley family in Desoto Co, MS.)

As widow, was allotted tract whereon "mill houses and tenant houses and store houses are situated", less the one acre homestead that she "specifically claims and selects in her petition and one third of all the balance of said real estate". [Probate Record, p. 100]

Was listed in the City Directory for Malvern, Hot Spring Co, AR in 1899, residing on Page Avenue. "Miss Maggie" and Samuel J. Denty were listed as boarders. [Hot Spring Historical Society, The Heritage, v. 5, p. 17, 1978]

8 Jan 1900 CENSUS, Benton, Saline Co, AR: "Owner of telephone ______", born Oct 1860, MS; Nathaniel W, born May 1890, AR; Wade O, born Jan 1892, AR; Samuel J, born May 1883, AR, employed as "Manager Benton Telephone". [Pg 7]

2 May 1910 CENSUS, Newport, Jackson Co, AR (Union Township): Age 50, no occupation listed, MS MS MS, renting home at 419 Main: Wynne age 20, bookkeeper in wholesale grocery; Wade age 18; Sam age 26, lineman for electric light company; Ethel M. age 20; Wade I. age 1 ½. [ED 73, Sheet 20]

At some unspecified time Kate rented a room with neighbors, ate meals at the home of Sam and Ethel. Presumably this was in Little Rock. [Betty Gitchel]

1920 CENSUS, Little Rock, Pulaski Co, AR: "Kate Denty" age 62, born TN, residing at 4108 West 8th in household of Sam J. Denty. (House number recorded wrong by census taker.) [ED 145, Sheet 10]

Wrote articles for the Saturday Evening Post under pseudonym "Nan Claire" during 1920s. (Betty Denty Gitchel has one book-length manuscript.) [Betty Gitchel]

In the 1929 Little Rock City Directory she was listed as "Denty, Cath (widow MW) authoress r 917 W. Capitol Av". She was not listed in 1930.

According to Betty Gitchel, Kate resided at 4003 West 8th in Little Rock with Sam and Ethel Denty before Betty's marriage to Wally Gitchel in 1937. Kate then lived in OK with a niece, no doubt the Keota, OK from whence her letter was mailed to Sam and Carolyn Denty on 13 Nov 1935. She finally moved in with Wynne and Dell Denty.

Descriptions: "Big black eyes, highly intelligent, a writer . . . warm, kind". [Betty Gitchel] "A most remarkable woman". [Wally Gitchel]

Betty Gitchel absolutely "adored" her, would often stay with her for days at a time. She reports that Kate had a close, mother-daughter relationship with Ethel Bishop Denty, accepted the latter immediately as another of her step-children. [Betty Gitchel]

Was left a suicide note by Wade but Wynne felt she couldn't cope with it so never told her about it.

Cause of death and date of death (3 Nov 1938) from Death Certificate. Suffered "apoplexy" on 22 Oct 1838 at Wynne's home. That was listed as cause of death, with contributing causes of "chronic nephritis" and "hypertension". But according to Betty Gitchel, Kate was living with a niece named Mary, was only taken to Wynne's home in Hope after the stroke. (Was Mary residing in Keota, OK?)

[1] Stamp, The Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Anti-Bellum South, p. 30.

[2] Goodspeed, Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Central Arkansas, p. 333.

[3] Their successful romance may be evidence that relations between the Dentys and Johnstons were not all that strained.

[4] John Ramsey Denty, 13 Aug 1870.

[5] Alice Denty Dean, 17 Jan 1884.

[6] Betty Denty Gitchel.

[7] But these businesses were unmistakably without any participation by brother-in-law T. F. Johnston. Due to failing health, Theodore had sold his Arkansas properties on 16 May 1885. He died on 27 Apr 1886 back in Desoto County.

[8] Nathaniel was referring to strife regarding the Susan Kent Denty estate in Huntsville, Alabama; a story told in Chapter 16.

[9] Samuel Johnston Denty Jr. was the son of Samuel Johnston and Ethel Bishop Denty.

[10] Her son and daughter-in-law, Nathaniel Wynne and Dell McRae Denty.

[11] Step-granddaughter Imogene Denty Sykes, daughter of Samuel Johnston and Ethel Bishop Denty. Her son was Leslie Clifton Sykes.

[12] Arkansas Death Certificate #4632.

[13] Arkansas Death Certificate #3452.

[14] Phyllis Denty Edmondson.

[15] Samuel Johnston Denty.

[16] Donna Denty Wenger.

[17] The Rangers were the first command to enter Fort Pillow with fourteen of the unit killed and eighty-six wounded.

Chapter 10

Nathaniel Winningham Denty

Donaldson, Ark. 3/20 1891

Nesbits, Miss

Your couz

K.R. Denty