Iowa Old Press

Davenport Gazette
Davenport, Scott co. Iowa
January 19, 1878

For the last 15 years Mr. Nixon Denton has been one of the most
prominent men in Delaware County, in this State.  His residence was
in Manchester, where he was popular as any citizen of a town can
well become.  "Nick" Denton was everybody's friend, and everybody
was his friend.  He possessed a fine education, was one of the
noblest-looking men in the State, and was brilliant in mind.  He
cared little for public honors - else he might have become a noted
man in Iowa.  Mr. Denton went to Texas a couple of weeks since with
three or four car-loads of blooded cattle to offer to stock-breeders
in that State, and met with an accident on the railroad which caused
his death.  His remains were brought to Manchester the other day and
buried.  A resident of this city, who knew Denton well, has related
to us an anecdote which illustrates Nick's readiness in repartee,
and given us the details of incidents which will be read with
interest by every one who reveres the memory of Abraham Lincoln, by
every one who cherishes the memory of Stemphen A. Douglas.

When the Illinois Central Railroad was being built, "Nick Denton"
was one of the civil engineers who made surveys for it, and
superintended its construction.  After trains were running between
the northern termini, Dunleith and Chicago, to Cairo, the civil
engineers indulged in a banquet at a hotel in Centralia.  John
Wyman - afterward Brig. Gen. "Jack" Wyman, who was killed at
Vicksburg - was one of those engineers.  While the festivities were
at their height, Jack Wyman rose to propose a volunteer toast.  He
raised his glass "Here's to the two Nicks:  Old Nick and Nick
Denton!"  The merriment was furious - the joke was on Denton.  The
victim waited until quiet had been restored and then raised his
glass  "Here's to the two Jacks:  Jack Ass and Jack Wyman!"  It
lasted Wyman till his career closed.  When in the Army with his
brigade he would get the recognition from a far distant
voice, "Here's to the two Jacks! in the tones of a prolonged hail.

The Illinois Central was not "fenced in" in its early day, and
cattle were frequently killed by the trains.  Much trouble with the
owners of live stock ensued.  At last two cows belonging to a
Methodist minister in the central part of the State were killed. 
The company was sued for damages, and the company resolved to make a
test case of it.  The President of the Central directed Denton to
take $500 in gold and go to Springfield and retain Abraham Lincoln
for the company.  Denton was well acquainted with Lincoln.  He did
as directed; entered Mr. Lincoln's office and told him "the Illinois
Central wished to retain him as counsel in that Methodist minister's
cow case."  Mr. Lincoln replied, "I am sorry you didn't come
yesterday, Nick, for I have been retained by the preacher and his
friends."  Denton explained fully the importance of the case to the
company, and then, pulling two buckskin bags filled with gold out of
his pockets, he put them down on the table before the lawyer, with a
startling chink, saying, "Mr. Lincoln, the President of the company
authorizes me to hand you this retainer of $500 to take our case." 
Mr. Lincoln jumped to his feet, flushed with anger over this
apparent attempt to hire him to abandon his client, and
replied:  "Nick Denton, I have given my promise to that preacher and
his friends, and the Illinois Central hasn't money enough to buy me
away from his side.  I don't know that I shall ever get a dollar
from him - but I'll do my best to make your company pay for those
cows."  Denton used to say that he never felt so mean and small in
his life as he did at that moment.  and in 1860, though a Democrat,
he used to say, during the Presidential campaign, that Lincoln was
the noblest man in America.

In 1860 Douglas, Democratic candidate for President, made a speech
in Dubuque.  Denton, who had been acquainted with Douglas for many
years, went to Cedar Rapids with a committee to accompany the
Senator to Dubuque.  On the way Denton and Douglas had a private
talk together.  "Judge," said Denton, "what do you think of the
campaign - how is it coming out?  What's best for a young man to do
who has a notion of getting into politics?"  "Nick," replied
Douglas, "as things are now, if I was a young man ambitious for
political place I would suport Lincoln.  He will be elected - and
there'll be war!  The entire South will withdraw from the Union;
both sections will appeal to arms.  All the Northern Democrats who
support me will uphold Lincoln's Administration to save the Union. 
No other course will be possible or tolerated.  The slave holders
will invite war, and they'll get war till they are sick of it.  War
will free the slaves; there'll be devastation and ruin in the South."

Denton reported the conversation to some of his friends the evening
of election day.  After the result of the election was known, Denton
was firm in his belief, and didn't conceal it, that war was at hand,
when almost everybody else thought different, and events proved that
Mr. Douglas was correct.

Submitted by S.F., Nov 2007