- WILLIAM L. DENNING, farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Janesville; born
in County Kilkenny, Ireland,
- July 4, 1841; son of Alexander and Margaret L. DENNING.
His father was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, November 1805.
Born and raised on a farm, he received a very good education,
taking into consideration the privations of his country. At
the age of 18, he enlisted in Wexford, in the English Service,
in which he served fourteen years and nine months. Married in
County of Waterford, in June, 1804, Miss Margaret LEE, who was
born in the County of Kilkenny, in August, 1807. Their happy
union was blessed with one child, named William, whose date of
birth is above given. William came with his parents from Ireland
direct to Boston, Mass., in 1845, where his father was employed
by a furniture company for two years. In 1847, his father and
family left Boston en route to Concord, N.H. His father acted
as Superintendent of a stone quarry for two years, till the spring
of 1849, at which time he removed his family four miles out into
the country; he remained in the employ of the same firm, with
whom he had contracted to furnish railroad ties. In November,
1850, he and his family came to Wisconsin, located in the city
of Janesville, where he lived and worked till the spring of 1851,
at which time he removed out into Harmony Township, where he
worked different farms till 1854; then he bought twenty acres
of land on Section 10, and moved on to the place. At divers
times, afterward, he made additional purchases, consisting of
seventy acres, till he owned altogether ninety acres of fine
land. By his industry, he accumulated a handsome property, on
which he made all the improvements - granary, stable, house,
etc. After an industrious and successful career, he died March
13, 1864. His wife still survives him, and is receiving kind
care from her only son, William L., who is sole heir to the farm
and property, which he is working successfully. Raises a variety
of crops, high grade of Durham cattle, thoroughbred Durham bull,
Poland-China and Berkshire hogs, Cotswold sheep, Norman breed
of horses, etc. William L. married, Jan. 13, 1866, Miss Mary
LYONS, who was born in the County of Mead, Ireland, in 1841.
They had five children, four are living - Joseph A., Mary Catherine,
John, Margaret E.
-
- [Transcriber's Note: I'm not sure what "at divers times,
afterward" means in a sentence above. Maybe the author
meant "at diverse times."]
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, p. 892.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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