Dennis, Willmer L.

DENNIS, JACKSON, BAUM, CAREY, EMMERT, DREW, HELPER, WILLIAMSON, EARP, VAN GILST, DE BRUYN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 21:31:32

Dennis, W. L.

Willmer L. Dennis was born in Wapello County, Iowa, on December 17, 1857, about five miles south of the city of Ottumwa. His father, Benjamin H. Dennis, was born in Ohio in 1830, and came west in 1852 and located first in Lee County, Iowa, but one year later he removed to Wapello County, and here, on August 23, 1854, he was united in marriage to Matilda Jackson, daughter of Richard and Isabella (Baum) Jackson. Mrs. Jackson was born in Ohio in 1833, and removed with her parents to Wapello County, Iowa, when quite young. In 1864 Mr. Dennis traded forty acres of land, which he had acquired in Wapello County, for two hundred and forty acres in Jasper County, and in March of the following year brought his family to Jasper County and took possession of his farm, which was located in Buena Vista Township, near Killduff. Here he lived and prospered until the year 1878, when he built a home in the city of Newton, Iowa, and retired from active labor. He departed this life in January 1900. He was a splendid man, public spirited and very active in Church work, having united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1859. The mother of the subject departed this life in January 1872, while the family still lived on the farm. When the family first came to Jasper County all they owned, in the way of stock was a team of horses, four head of cattle and a few sheep. Mr. Dennis was a good businessman and a man of good judgment, and by energetic effort and good management he prospered and became a heavy stock feeder well known throughout the County.

Of five children born to this couple only three survive: Willmer L., the subject of this review; C. Dean Dennis, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these pages; and Minerva, wife of James Carey, of near Killduff, Iowa.

Willmer L. Dennis received his early educational training in the country schools of the Township in which he lived, and at the age of twenty began working for himself upon his father's farm. In 1882 his father made over to him eighty acres of land. Having had experience with feeding cattle and buying and raising same for the market, while with his father, he began in this line for himself and became one of the County's heaviest stock producers. He also from time to time purchased land, until at this time he owns over five hundred acres, two hundred in Buena Vista Township and three hundred in Richland Township. He also owns a section of land in Deaf Smith County, Texas.

On May 20, 1880, Willmer L. Dennis was united in marriage to Anna M. Emmert, who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1861. She was the daughter of J. V. and Dorothea Emmert, prosperous farmers in the southeast portion of Buena Vista Township. Her parents were natives of Germany, her father coming with his parents to this country when only one year old, the family locating in Pennsylvania. Her mother, whose maiden name was Dorothea Schwappach, came alone to this country at the age of sixteen, and a few years later was joined by a sister, and these two were the only members of the family to cross the ocean. When Mrs. Dennis was a child three years old, her parents moved to Illinois, and five years later they moved to Jasper County, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Buena Vista Township, which is still the home of her mother, her father dying at this place on April 12, 1895, at the age of sixty-eight. Her mother is now seventy-three. Mrs. Dennis was one of ten children, she being the second in order of birth, the names of the others being as follows: George A., born in 1860, owns eighty acres of land adjoining the old home place, and lives with his mother and sister; Andrew, born in 1863, lives on a farm near Kellogg, Iowa, married Lelia Drew; Sophia died in infancy; Ella, born in 1867, lives at home, unmarried; William V., born in 1868, was killed on his twenty-eighth birthday by being kicked by a horse; Caroline, born in 1870, married Ed. Helper, who is deceased; Emma died of croup in infancy; Philip and Frances, twins, born in 1875; Frances, who died in 1909, was the wife of Case Williamson; Philip lives on a farm in Palo Alto Township.

To Mr. and Mrs. Willmer L. Dennis have been born seven children, namely: Benjamin, born August 9, 1881, died in 1882; Flora May, born August 30, 1883, died in 1910. She was the wife of Charles Earp, to whom she bore two children, Leslie Lamont, deceased, and Nadine L. Earp; Leroy, born November 19, 1888, near Killduff, married Regina Van Gilst, and to them has been born one child; Alvy, born February 20, 1891, married Jennie De Bruyn, and lives near Killduff; Wanda, born March 14, 1894, is still under the parental roof, attending the Newton high school; William V., born September 29, 1896, lives at home with his parents; Cleora, born August 22, 1891.

In March 1910, Mr. Dennis and family left the farm and purchased a fine residence property in Newton, Iowa, where they now reside. Although living away from the farm, Mr. Dennis is not content to lead a life of ease and quiet, but is still engaged in the stock business and looks after his farming interests, going back and forth from his home to the farm in an automobile. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Newton. Politically, he votes with the Republican Party. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 445.