Casper K[ing]. DENHART, an early settler and prominent citizen of Washington Township, lives on section 30, where he has a good farm of 145 acres, all well improved, with a comfortable residence and farm buildings. he was born in [Hanover, Niedersachen] Germany, March 15, 1839, a son of George and Christina W. (KING) DENHART. When he was two years of age his parents came to America [on the ship "John"], being four weeks in making the journey from Harve de Gras to New York. They went direct to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they lived two years and then went to Pickaway county, the same State, where the father was employed on the canal, and there died [age the age of 49 years in 1844]. The mother subsequently married again. He remained with his mother until manhood, in his youth being employed in a brick yard.

On leaving home we went to Harrison County, Indiana, and thence, in 1852, to Marion County, Iowa, and three years later to Ringgold County, Iowa, locating first at Mt. Ayr, where he was living at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and in [July 4] 1861 he enlisted in the defense of his country, and was assigned [as a Private] to Company G, Fourth Iowa Infantry. He served four years, participating in many severe engagements, among others being the battles of Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, and Atlanta, and accompanied SHERMAN to the sea. He was mustered out [July 24, 1865, Louisville, Kentucky, then] at Davenport, Iowa, in August, 1865 [when Casper was given his discharge papers he was also given his naturalization papers], and returned to Mt. Ayr, where he lived until 1866, when he located on his present farm [in Washington Township].

He was married in May [24], 1866, to Rachel M[argaret]. MILLER, daughter of J. D. MILLER, of Ringgold County. They have a family of nine children - Mary, James, George W., Clarence, Maud, Howard, Jennie, Lora and Julia. One son, Thomas, died aged six years.

NOTE: Casper King DENHART died at age 77 on April 15, 1916, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Rachel Margaret A. (MILLER) DENHART, was born May 9, 1849. She stepped on her skirt, fell, and bumpbed her head on a tree. After lingering in a coma for three weeks, Rachel died at the age of 60 on June 22, 1909. Casper and Rachel were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

The DENHART Family genealogy is included with Ringgold County's Family pages. Casper and Rachel's twelve children are listed on the DENHART family page.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 378-79, 1887.

American Civil War Soldiers Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z