Francis Marion Denton was born on July 18, 1839 in Gilmer county Georgia. He moved with his parents to Polk County, TN. His parents moved to Harrison County Missouri about 1856.
His father, Jonas had Bounty land there because he was in the War of 1812 and assisted in the Cherokee removal from Georgia. Francis stayed behind in Tenn. with a brother, Jonas. Francis moved to Harrison County, Missouri between the census in June, 1860 and Dec., 1860 when he married there. He married Nancy Ann Hall on Dec. 9, 1860. Their son, William was born in 1861.
Francis joined the Union Cavalry on Aug. 29, 1862 as a Private. He was in Company B (Merrill's Horse), 2nd Missouri Cavalry. On his enlistment papers he described himself as 5 ft. 7 inches, light hair, fair complexion and blue eyes. His wife and son stayed with her mother and stepfather the 3 years Francis was gone to war. He served in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee. Francis was injured in a training accident. He was mounted on his horse and when he fired his gun at a tree, his horse spooked. He was thrown upon the saddle horn. His left testicle was badly injured and caused him much pain. He developed diarrhea every 4 to 5 weeks lasting 4 to 5 days, because of the injury. He was given the jobs of cook and teamster (driving animal pulled wagons). In 1864 he enlisted in the Vet Corps. He couldn't lift anything heavy. Francis's service time ended on August 29, 1865. He arrived home to his wife and son on Sept. 3, 1865.
Francis and Nancy had a total of 9 children. Six (2 boys and 4 girls) lived to adulthood. Three died at ages 4 (William), 7 (Matthew) and 15 (Sarah). My Great Grandmother, Charity Lorana Denton was born on April 22, 1868. She was their 3rd child. She married Melancthon Snedeker on Feb. 9, 1895.
Francis was a farmer and had 220 acres in 1895. He received a Civil War disability pension of $6 which was later raised to $8 for his service. To get his raise in pension, many friends wrote statements about his constant pain and disability of about 50%. He developed Rheumatism and Lumbago of the back. His kidneys and liver became damaged. He died of paralysis on Aug.5, 1905.
Nancy Ann Denton, Marion's wife, tried for years to get a Civil War Widow's Pension. I think she couldn't produce a marriage license. She had friends make statements that she and Francis were married. She received $30 on 2/4/1921. She died on March 21, 1921. A back payment check written to her on May 4, 1921, for $90 was sent to her. Since she had died, the check was returned. I have a copy of the check.
--Susan Snedeker Trunzo
His father, Jonas had Bounty land there because he was in the War of 1812 and assisted in the Cherokee removal from Georgia. Francis stayed behind in Tenn. with a brother, Jonas. Francis moved to Harrison County, Missouri between the census in June, 1860 and Dec., 1860 when he married there. He married Nancy Ann Hall on Dec. 9, 1860. Their son, William was born in 1861.
Francis joined the Union Cavalry on Aug. 29, 1862 as a Private. He was in Company B (Merrill's Horse), 2nd Missouri Cavalry. On his enlistment papers he described himself as 5 ft. 7 inches, light hair, fair complexion and blue eyes. His wife and son stayed with her mother and stepfather the 3 years Francis was gone to war. He served in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee. Francis was injured in a training accident. He was mounted on his horse and when he fired his gun at a tree, his horse spooked. He was thrown upon the saddle horn. His left testicle was badly injured and caused him much pain. He developed diarrhea every 4 to 5 weeks lasting 4 to 5 days, because of the injury. He was given the jobs of cook and teamster (driving animal pulled wagons). In 1864 he enlisted in the Vet Corps. He couldn't lift anything heavy. Francis's service time ended on August 29, 1865. He arrived home to his wife and son on Sept. 3, 1865.
Francis and Nancy had a total of 9 children. Six (2 boys and 4 girls) lived to adulthood. Three died at ages 4 (William), 7 (Matthew) and 15 (Sarah). My Great Grandmother, Charity Lorana Denton was born on April 22, 1868. She was their 3rd child. She married Melancthon Snedeker on Feb. 9, 1895.
Francis was a farmer and had 220 acres in 1895. He received a Civil War disability pension of $6 which was later raised to $8 for his service. To get his raise in pension, many friends wrote statements about his constant pain and disability of about 50%. He developed Rheumatism and Lumbago of the back. His kidneys and liver became damaged. He died of paralysis on Aug.5, 1905.
Nancy Ann Denton, Marion's wife, tried for years to get a Civil War Widow's Pension. I think she couldn't produce a marriage license. She had friends make statements that she and Francis were married. She received $30 on 2/4/1921. She died on March 21, 1921. A back payment check written to her on May 4, 1921, for $90 was sent to her. Since she had died, the check was returned. I have a copy of the check.
--Susan Snedeker Trunzo