Patriotism of the Denhams
Patriotism
Patriotism is a deep love of country. It is rooted in lofty ideals of individual
freedom. A Patriot is someone who puts
everything on the line, even their own life, in defense of his country. They do it for the love of country, the love
of their family, and the belief system that says simply the right to freedom is
granted by our creator and no one else. All
men are created equal. They are endowed
not by the government but by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. It
is the right of a free people to rid themselves of a government that becomes
destructive of those ends. While doing family history, I have become acutely
aware that my Denham relatives were patriots. Call it
freedom. Call it liberty. Call it whatever you want, but the patriotism of our
direct line of relatives took place in the bedrock on which this nation was
founded. No outcome of any
election, no matter how adverse, makes me feel any less devoted to the ideals
our Founders put to pen in 1776. Included
in this paper are excerpts from Family History Records recorded in Family
Search about our relatives and their experiences in wars and conflicts facing
this country (Complied by Dianna Denham Hadlock, 2018).
Table of Contents
William Denham pg. 3 Thomas Andrew
Jackson Denham pg. 22
Richard Denham pg. 8 James T. Wood
(Dicia Denham Dad) pg. 26
Hardin Denham pg. 10 Franklin Parish Denham pg. 32
David Denham pg. 13 Virgil Tillman Denham pg. 42
Thomas Denham pg. 17 Melvin Virgil
Denham pg. 49
This is the
history in the 1600s on the Denham’s arrival in the new World. William Denham
1580-1650 LV7L-L7Q B-1580 England D-1650 Virginia
William
Denham first appears in the colonial Virginia records in 1624. Shortly after the establishment of Jamestown
in 1607, English settlers explored and began settling areas around this
fort. There was the Great Massacre of
1622, where 53 of the 347 persons were killed that day by the Indians. William Denham did survive this attack.
LIST OF NAMES OF THE LIVING IN
VIRGINIA February 16, 1624 .
TOTAL, 1,170 AT WARWICK SQUEAK.
John Batt, Henry Pinffe, Wassell
Weblin, Anthony Read, Frances Woodson, Henry Phillips, Peter Collins, Chr. Reinold's, Edward
Mabin, John Maldman, Thomas
Collins, George Rushmore, Thomas Spencer, George Clarke, Rich. Bartlett,
Francis Banks, John Jenkins, Thomas Jones, William Denham; Peter, Anthony, Francis, Margrett, negros; John
Bennett, Nicholas Skinner, John Atkins, John Pollentin, Rachel Pollentine,
Margrett Pollentin, Mary, a maid, Henry Woodward, Thomas Sawyer, Thomas, a boy.
-- Total 33, including 4 negroes.
THE MUSTER OF THE
INHABITANTS AT WARISCOYACK, TAKEN THE 7TH OF FEBRUARY, 1625.
The Muster of Mr. Edward Bennett's Servants.
Henry Pinke came in the London Marchannt 1619, John Bate in the Adam
1621, Peter Collins in the Adam 1621, Wassell Webbling, Antonio, a negro, in
the James 1621, Christopher Reynold's, Luke Chappman, Edward Maybank, in the
John& Grancis 1622, John Atkins, William Denum, Francis Banks, in the
Guifte 1623, Mary, a negro woman, in the Margrett & John 1622.
William Denham, 300
acres in Warresquioake River, Granted Aug.
20, 1635.
William
Denham, Mar. 18, 1639, 200 acres East upon the Pagan shore
bay over against Butcher's Island and reed point. Sometime
before 1653 William Denham was deceased and his widow Mary had married to
Thomas Hackett who left a will in Lancaster County, Virginia.
The records of Lancaster
County, VA contain a deed of gift executed by Thomas Hackett on 25 Oct 1655.
The gifts included those to Richard,
Eleanor, William and Suzanna Denham, children of Hackett's wife
Mary. Presumably she was married first to a Mr. Denham. The subject of the gift
was land on the Corotoman river. The gift notes that Eleanor Denham was the
wife of John Sharpe., they were the parents of this John Sharpe;
1674-1678 Lancaster County Va
Order Book; {Antient Press} pg 401Lancaster County Court 9th of January
1677/78- It appearing to this Cort. that JOHN GIBSON stands indebted
unto MARGARET WELLS, the now Wife of JOHN SHARPE, in foure hundred and
fifty pounds of tobacco and ca. by Bill. It is ordered that the same bee
forthwth pride unto the side. SHARPE according to the tenor of the side, Bill with
costs
So there is a connection from this
Denham family to the Gibson family, Gibby Gibson does not call Hannah Denham
his daughter, perhaps she was a sister.
In 1878 the Rev. John G. Jones wrote of Tobias Gibson who was a descendant of John Gibson of Lancaster County, Virginia [and whose DNA matches the Malungeons Gibsons];
In 1878 the Rev. John G. Jones wrote of Tobias Gibson who was a descendant of John Gibson of Lancaster County, Virginia [and whose DNA matches the Malungeons Gibsons];
Phillip Denham is likely the father
of David and Harden Denham who were called 'free color' in 1830, but there is
nothing in the records provided by Paul Heinegg or that I have found that identifies
this family as having African ancestry.
It has been recorded in the past that John Sevier mentioned these Portuguese settlers living in Tennessee. It is not clear if this was reported by Will Allen Dromgoole of if she copied it from Dan W. Baird, Tennessee historian;
Sevier attempted to organize the State of Franklin, there was living in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee a colony of dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people, supposed to be of Moorish descent, who affiliated with neither whites nor blacks, and who called themselves Melungeons, and claimed to be of Portuguese descent.''
It has been recorded in the past that John Sevier mentioned these Portuguese settlers living in Tennessee. It is not clear if this was reported by Will Allen Dromgoole of if she copied it from Dan W. Baird, Tennessee historian;
Sevier attempted to organize the State of Franklin, there was living in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee a colony of dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people, supposed to be of Moorish descent, who affiliated with neither whites nor blacks, and who called themselves Melungeons, and claimed to be of Portuguese descent.''
While no source for the above has
been found, the pension applications of David and Harden Denham from Guilford
County, North Carolina show they served under John Sevier during the Revolution,
it would certainly seem John Sevier was indeed familiar with the Portuguese.
If Paul Heinegg can record this family as 'free African Americans' based on NO evidence I think a case could be made they were Portuguese as Will Allen Dromgoole reported so many years ago.
As shown so far the Gibsons and the Denham’s, both identified as the Core Melungeons have records that go way back to colonial Virginia and no records of them ever being 'Free African Ameicans' as reported by Heinegg.
If Paul Heinegg can record this family as 'free African Americans' based on NO evidence I think a case could be made they were Portuguese as Will Allen Dromgoole reported so many years ago.
As shown so far the Gibsons and the Denham’s, both identified as the Core Melungeons have records that go way back to colonial Virginia and no records of them ever being 'Free African Ameicans' as reported by Heinegg.
Richard Denham LV3Y-DVG B- November 14 1613
THE CHALLENGE Young Richard Denham almost broke up
the Lancaster County court when he burst into the room bearing a message that
challenged Mr. Daniel Fox to a duel. The court was being held in the home of
one of the justices as no court-house had yet been built for the new county.
Lancaster had been formed from Northumberland in 1651. The date of the present
court was about 1653. Richard bore the challenge from his father-in-law,
Captain Thomas Hackett. It ran as follows: "Mr. Fox, I wonder ye should so
much degenerate from a gentleman [Pg 66] as to cast such an aspersion on me in
open Court, making nothing appear but I know it to be out of malice and an evil
disposition which remains in your heart, therefore, I desire ye if ye have
anything of a gentleman or of manhood in ye to meet me on Tuesday morning at ye
marked tree in ye valley which partes yr lande and mine, about eight of ye
clock, where I shall expect ye will come to give me satisfaction. My weapon is
rapier, ye length I send ye by bearer; not yours present, but yours at ye time
appointed. THOMAS HACKETT. Ye seconde bringe along with ye if ye please. I
shall find me of ye like." This message could not have been delivered at a
worse time or place, for Mr. Fox, a justice, was at the time sitting on the
bench with his fellow justices. That dignified group, dressed in their velvets
and gold lace, were shocked by the lad's audacity. One of the justices, John
Carter, sharply scolded Richard—"saying that he knew not how his father
would acquit himself on an action of that nature which he said he would not be
ye owner of for a world." Richard answered in a slighting way "that
his father would answer it well enough!" When sternly questioned by the
court, Richard admitted that he knew that the message he bore was a challenge.
He then boldly demanded of Fox what answer he proposed to send back to Captain
Hackett. The court then made a quick and emphatic decision that Richard was
"a party with his father-in-law in ye crime," and that for bringing
the challenge, whose character he well knew, and for delivering it while the
justices were sitting, as well as for his contemptuous manner and bold words he
was "adjudged"—"to receive six stripes on his bare shoulders
with a whip," at the hands of the sheriff. The sheriff was then directed
to arrest Captain Hackett and have him "detained in safe custody without
bail" until he should "answer for his crimes" at the next
session of the General Court at Jamestown. Thus a duel was averted, and Mr. Fox
did not meet Captain Hackett "in ye valley." The valley was probably
chosen by Captain Hackett so that the duel could take place without observation
or interruption, and it was the dividing line between their estates. Hackett
was scrupulous to inform Fox of the length of the rapier he intended to use,
but had he followed regulations exactly, he would have left the selection of
the weapon to his opponent. This story was taken from the book The Stronghold A
Story of Historic Northern Neck of Virginia and Its People By MIRIAM HAYNIE The
Dietz Press, Incorporated Richmond, Virginia 1959 COPYRIGHT BY MIRIAM HAYNIE 1959
Hardin
Denham 1760-1850 LJYT-T3G
This is an excerpt from
"Visit Our Family Tree" by Clara Mae Denham, published July 1974: We
are decedents from Hardin Denham who was b. June, 1760, Hanover Co. Va; died
late 1850, Monroe Co. Ky. Hardin Denham was a Pvt in the Revolutionary
War-serving from Washington and /or Guilford Cos. NC (Pension No S30985) in
1780 and 1781. Most of his service was a Rifleman in a Regiment commanded by
Col. John Sevier. They marched against the Cherokee and Creek Indians, plus the
Tories in North and South Carolina. He also stated he served one six-month tour
with his brother David Denham. After the War, Hardin stated that he moved to
the following places (1) Lexington, KY (2) Warren & Barren Cos. KY (3) Harrison
Co. In (4) Jackson Co. TN in 1832 and (5) Monroe Co. KY in 1837. You will note
that our known David Denham will relate that he, too, was in some of these
areas at approximately the same time as
US
Pension Roll of 1835 for Hardin Denham (8th from the top)
Freedom—understanding
it, living it, teaching it, and supporting those who are educating others about
its principles. That, my fellow Americans, is patriotism
Hardin Denham was listed at the bottom of the page as
one of the oldest soldiers still living in Kentucky from the Revolutionary
War. They were prisoners under the act
of March 18, 1818.
David Denham (Hardin’s Brother) 1754-1850
K2tq-zqc
DAVID2
DENHAM (DAVID1) was born 1754 in Louisa County, VA.,
and died June 14, 1850 in Hancock County, Tennessee. He married (1) UNKNOWN
COLLINS, daughter of SOLOMAN SR. and EDY DICKERSON. She was born Bef. 1780. He
married (2) FRANCES LUCAS September 1811 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. She was
born 1776 in North Carolina.
Notes
for DAVID DENHAM:
David
served in the Militia during the American Revolution. He enlisted in Guilford
County, NC. There was also a Harden Denham that also enlisted in Guilford
County, NC. and served in the Revolutionary War. I cannot prove, but the weight
of evidence indicates David and Harden were, at the least cousins, but in all
probability they were brothers. [*See Below - It is proven by Pension
records they were indeed brothers]
April
25, 1809, David sold property in Washington County, N.C. (now Tennessee) to a
Charles Denham. Rolen named one of his sons Charles. The ages make it highly
probable that David and Charles were brothers.
The
1830 census of Claiborne County lists David Denham, age 55-100 and wife, age
(36-55) and two daughters ages (10-24), three daughters age (under 10), one son
age (10-24) and one son age (under 10).
Family
members where listed as FPC, Free Persons of Color. They were living at
Mulberry Gap, which later became Hancock County, TN. The ages of the boys
correspond with the ages of Rolen (17) and Willoby (6).
1840
U.S. Census records only one Denham living in this general vicinity: David
Denham, living in Claiborne County, TN., which borders Hancock County on the
West. His age is given as between 55-100. Early census was only interested in
numbers, not personal statistics. His wife's age was listed as between 36-55,
one son between 10-24, four daughters between 10-24 and one daughter between
0-10 years of age.
His
age (57) when he married Fanny, makes it almost certain that he is the David
Denham that married a Collins woman before 1800, whose grandson, a blacksmith,
reputed to be Portuguese, lived on Blackwater Creek. (Source: Grohse
Manuscripts)
On
the 1860 census of Hancock County/Mulberry Creek, TN. Fanny Denham (78) b. NC.
was living with her Daughter-in-law Mildred Denham (35) b. TN. and her
children: Nancy (14) b. TN., William (12) b. TN., Margaret (8) b. TN., twins
Mary & Martha (6) b. VA. and Clementine (1) b. TN.
Note
on Fanny's birth in NC.: The Western part of North Carolina became Tennessee in
1796.
The
following is an effort to transcribe an application Fanny made to secure her
dead husband's Revolutionary War Pension.
State
of Tennessee, County of Hancock
On
the 2nd day of July, 1856, personally appeared before the Justice of the Peace,
FANNY DENHAM, a resident of the County of Hancock and State of Tennessee.
Age
about 80 years, who being first duly sworn according to the law, doth on her
oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the lump of the pension
made by the act of Congress, passed February 3, 1853. That she is the widow of
David Denham, who was a Private in the Company of Captain Leak and Colonel
James Martin, in the Revolutionary War, about 1778 and 1779. She further
declares that she was married to the said David Denham in September, 1811 in
Hawkins County TN. by Thomas McKneely a minister of the gospel. That her
husband, above said David Denham, died on or about 14th day of June 1850. and
that she had remained a widow ever since that time and is now a widow and that
her name before her said marriage was Fanny Lucas. That she now has said her
husband never kept any records or writing of the dates and other facts
concerning this said marriage. Nor does she believe any person is now alive
that was present when they were married, as afore said, and she from her memory
cannot name, simply states the facts from her recollection.
Signed
(by a mark), Fanny Denham
The
following an effort to transcribe the personal statements of William Standifer
and Isaac Goin verifying the statement of Fanny Denham.
William
Standifer and Isaac Goin, residence of Hancock County, State of Tennessee
Upon
our oaths declare that the fore going declaration was signed and acknowledged
by Fanny Denham in our presence and that we personally known David Denham in
his lifetime, known that he is dead, know nothing of the marriage of the
parties, but know that the maiden name of the said Fanny was LUCAS, that her
and the said David Denham, who we understand and believe was a Revolutionary
War soldier, lived many years together in the county, state and neighborhood
where he died, as man and wife. So conducted and behaved and so reputed and
respected by the neighbors generally up to the death of the said David Denham,
and that since the death of the said David Denham that the said Fanny Denham
has never again been married but has remained and is now a widow and that we
believe from personal knowledge, and from what the applicant say's and from her
age and past and circumstances known to us, that she is the person she
represents herself to be and we have no interest in her claim.
Signed:
William Standifer and Isaac Goin
She
was allowed a pension from the U.S. Government executed July 2, 1856. Inscribed
on the roll of pensioners at the rate of $26 dollars and .84 cents per annum.
David
personally appeared to the Court of Pleas and Quarter about his service in the
Militia. He served for three years 3
months but they would not pay them because of the color of his skin. This is
why they had to go to the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session.
On this first day of December, 1834, personally
appeared before me, John I. Walling, one of the justices of the Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions for said county, David Denham, aged about 80 years old,
who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration…: About the 26th day of August 1778, he entered the
service of the United States by volunteering in the County of Guilford and
state of North Carolina in the company commanded by Captain John Leak of the
regiment of militia commanded by Colonel James Martin and Major Pasely and was
marched to Salisbury at which place General Rutherford was commander and from
Salisbury he was marched to Cathey’s Fort on the Catawba River and being
stationed there two months, he was marched to the Indian towns near the head of
the Tennessee River where he was discharged by his said captain and colonel
which was about the 10th day of February 1779, and in about returning home, his
said captain prevailed on him to continue in service three months longer. This
declarant did then volunteer under his said captain, John Leak, of the militia
and Colonel Martin, which was about the 12th of February 1779, he entered the
service of the United States and was marched to the frontiers of South Carolina
and North Carolina and Virginia, serving in turns around the frontiers of those
states until about the 14th of May, 1779, and on the 15th day of May he was
discharged by his said captain and colonel and returned home having served nine
months and was discharged in writing, as he believes, at Cathey’s Fort, North
Carolina. This declarant states about the 15th of August, 1779, he entered the
service of the United States by volunteering in the said county of Guilford and
state of North Carolina in the company commanded by Captain Sevier of the
militia commanded by Colonel Holston and from Guilford County was marched to
the Long Islands of Holston, and from the Long Islands of Holston, he was
marched to the frontiers of North Carolina to an Indian town, and he was in a
battle with the Indians, in which battle there was thirty Indians killed and
twenty taken prisoners; and from there he was marched to the frontier s of
South Carolina and North Carolina, and he was discharged at Wilmington, North
Carolina, having served six months, which was about the 18th of February, 1780
and returned home. This declarant states about the 12th day of September, 1780,
he entered the service of the United States volunteering in the said county of
Guilford [once again it was from Washington County, not Guilford], in the
company commanded by Captain Elijah Witt of the militia commanded by Colonel
John Sevier and Major Walton, and he marched with the intention of being in the
expected battle of the British at King’s Mountain, which did take place about
the 24th of September, 1780. This declarant states about the 23rd of the said
month September, he was wounded by the kick of a horse which prevented his
being in the Battle of King’s Mountain. This declarant states he then continued
in service until about 14th of March, 1781, when he was discharged in writing
and returned home, making six months. This declarant states sometime about the
14th of July 1781, he entered the service of the United States by volunteering
in the said county of Guilford and was marched under the command of Captain
Elijah Witt of the militia commanded by Colonel John Sevier and Major Walton,
and was marched again to the frontiers of South Carolina, Georgia, and North
Carolina, guarding the frontiers of those states until about the 20th of
January, 1782, when he was discharged. This declarant states that sometime
about the 14th of March he entered the service of the United States six other
months under the command of the said Captain Elijah Witt, who was commanded by
Colonel John Sevier and Major Walton, guarding the frontiers of North Carolina,
Virginia, and South Carolina until---- of September 1782, when he was
discharged in Washington County, state of North Carolina. This declarant state
that about the 1st of March he again volunteered under the above named officers
and served six other months and was discharged by his officers in Washington
County, state of North Carolina, which was about the 3rd day of August, 1783,
when he was discharged in writing, making altogether, three years and 3 months,
which last tour he was discharged in Washington County, and states he was
acquainted with Generals Lawson and Stephens, and Colonels Preston and Lynch,
and Generals Butler, Eaton and Rutherford of North Carolina and Virginia who
commanded the militia from their states, and with General Greene of the regular
army, and he is acquainted with James Gilbert, clergyman for the counties of
Claiborne and Hawkins. He is also acquainted with Christian Pearson and E. S.
Goodman, and he was born in Louisa County, state of Virginia, and he has no
record of his age, and was living in North Carolina when first called into
service, and he received a written discharge as before stated, but they have
long since been lost or mislaid so that he cannot produce them. And he hereby
Relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity Except the present and
declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid David Denham His Mark.
Thomas
Denham B-1792 D-1867
L7X1-GH5
Information provided by Suzanne Hutt, Bryan, Texas,
contained in Narrative by James Luther (Luke) Smires (15 February 1887 - 15
December, 1973) who was the great grandson of Thomas Denham: "My great
Grandfather Denham came from Virginia on horseback in about 1800 found a cave
spring in the big woods on the Tennessee side. The next spring he came back and
built a two story log house (2-18x20 rooms and an 8 ft. hall) Great grandfather
topped the oak and beach (sic) trees around the hill cave spring. He gave
Grandmother Smires (Denham) the old home in about 1870. It appears as if Thomas
Denham served in the War of 1812. Pension documents obtained from NARA show
Thomas Denham, age 64, a resident of Jackson County, TN, applied for a Bounty
Land Warrant on October 26, 1850. He states that he was a Private in the
company commanded by Capt. Amon Barnes (sometimes shown as Amon or Amos
Barron), for part of the time and by Capt. Nile, in the Regiment of East
Tennessee Militia commanded by Col. Ellison (sometimes shown as Allison), in
the Creek War of the US against the Creek Indians in 1814, known as the Battle
of Horseshoe Bend. General Andrew Jackson was the commander of this particular
battle. Thomas states that he was drafted from Jonesborough, Washington County,
TN, on the 6th day of January, 1814 for six months and continued actual service
for four months and was honorably discharged at Knoxville, TN on the 17th day
of May, 1814. Warrant No. 1477 for 80 acres was issued March 8, 1851 to Thomas
Denham. On April 2, 1855, Thomas Denham, age 67, a resident of Jackson County,
TN, makes a second claim for an additional 80 acres, on the strength of his
prior claim of 1850. Witnesses to his testimony on this application were
William Kendall and Joshua Denton. Warrant No. 25271 for 80 acres was issued
April 12, 1855 to Thomas Denham. On May 25, 1871, Thomas Denham made an
application for Pension based on his military service during the War of 1812.
He was shown as living near Lodi, in the County of Clay, TN (which was formerly
Jackson County, TN). Lodi is the northern part of the county, near the Monroe
County, KY and Clay Co., TN border. Thomas shows that he was married, but his
wife has been dead for many years and he is a widower. No name is given for his
wife. Witnesses to his testimony are William N. Pedigo and James K. Clancy. On
March 18, 1973, Thomas Denham is granted a Pension (Survivor Original #19797,
Survivor Certificate #10507) of $8.00 per month from February 14, 1871. Another
mention of our Thomas Denham is as follows: from
http://www.tngenweb.org/jackson/court_reels/court_reel-99.htm BILL OF COMPLAINT
of Christopher Meadows of Jackson Co. against Christopher Howerton & John
H. Lackey, both of State of Kentucky. About June 1860 Orator purchased two
notes of defendant Lackey. Notes due June 1860 and June 1861 were for land
purchase by Howerton of said Lackey in Jackson Co., TN on waters of Line Creek
bounded north by the Kentucky line and Joel Moore on the east, Thomas Denham
and others on the south, Aaron Bray on the west...containing about 100 acres.
Notes are unpaid. Are informed legal title is still in the name of defendant
Lackey. Knows that Lackey purchased land from one Charles Brown, a resident of
Monroe Co. KY.
I am
attempting to prove the relationship of our Denham line with that of Charles
Denham (sometimes shown as Dunham) who lived in Washington County, TN in the
early 1800s. There are several links that I have found, i.e., (1) Thomas Denham
was drafted to fight in the War of 1812 out of Jonesborough, Washington County,
TN on January 6, 1814; (2) James Wesley Denham, the eldest son of our Thomas
Denham, was born in Washington County, TN (per information from Maryann Denham
Bigelow), in 1827. When James Wesley was 3 years of age, the family moved to
Jackson County (what is now Clay Co.) TN. This information clearly places our
family in the Washington County, TN area at the same time as Charles Denham, David
Denham and Hardin Denham; (3) Charles Denham (Dunham)'s son, Thomas C. Denham,
moved to Monroe County, KY sometime after 1850. He had several children, one of
which was John H. Denham, who married Susan Mary Smyers, daughter of Elizabeth
Denham Smyers, daughter of our Thomas Denham; and (4) in 1920, my great-great
grandfather, Charles Denham was shown as living with his "cousin",
Nathan Denham in Barren County. Nathan Denham was the son of Thomas C. Denham,
and grandson of Charles Denham/Dunham of Washington County, TN. Tennessee,
Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 War
of 1812
Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815 BACK
Research Notes Regarding Thomas Denham
War of 1812
In previous information it states: It appears as if
Thomas Denham served in the War of 1812. He states that he was a Private in the
company commanded by Capt. Amon Barnes (sometimes shown as Amon or Amos
Barron), for part of the time and by Capt. Nile, in the Regiment of East
Tennessee Militia commanded by Col. Ellison (sometimes shown as Allison), in
the Creek War of the US against the Creek Indians in 1814, known as the Battle
of Horseshoe Bend. General Andrew Jackson was the commander of this particular battle.
Thomas states that he was drafted from Jonesborough, Washington.
What was the war of 1812?
The United States was still having issues with Great Britain. One of
those issues concerned the settlement of Americans in areas as yet undeveloped
but currently occupied by the Native Americans. Since Federal military forces
were committed to waging the War of 1812 against Great Britain, the governments
of Tennessee, Georgia, and the Mississippi Territory organized militia forces,
which together with the Lower Creek and Cherokee allies, fought against the Red
Sticks.
In 1814 Andrew Jackson led a force of about 3300 men deep
into the Alabama country. His force
included: 2000 infantry, mostly West Tennessee militiamen, which he had
relentlessly drilled to a level of efficiency rivaling regular army
soldier. (Thomas Denham was one of the
2000 infantry).
General Andrew Jackson was 47 years old, and at that time
a prominent state politician and militia officer. Jackson carefully organized and trained his
militia. He also carried out strict
discipline. The battle lasted for more
than five hours. At the end, roughly 800
of the 1000 Red Stick warriors present at the battle were killed. In contrast, Jackson lost fewer than 50 men
during the fight and reported 154 wounded.
Thomas Denham must have thought a great deal of General
Andrew Jackson. He named one of his sons
Thomas Andrew Jackson Denham born 1836 (LLQJ-WGR)
War
of 1812 Records
By
Mary Kay Bourgeois--she is related to Thomas Denham Jr. (Thomas Denham Jr. and Pherby were brother
and sister.) It appears as if Thomas Denham served in the
War of 1812. Pension documents obtained from NARA show Thomas Denham, age 64, a
resident of Jackson County, TN, applied for a Bounty Land Warrant on October
26, 1850. He states that he was a Private in the company commanded by Capt. Amon
Barnes (sometimes shown as Amon or Amos Barron), for part of the time and by
Capt. Nile, in the Regiment of East Tennessee Militia commanded by Col. Ellison
(sometimes shown as Allison), in the Creek War of the US against the Creek
Indians in 1814, known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. General Andrew Jackson
was the commander of this particular battle. Thomas states that he was drafted
from Jonesborough, Washington County, TN, on the 6th day of January, 1814 for
six months and continued actual service for four months and was honorably
discharged at Knoxville, TN on the 17th day of May, 1814. Warrant No. 1477 for
80 acres was issued March 8, 1851 to Thomas Denham On April 2, 1855, Thomas
Denham age 67 a resident of Jackson County, TN makes a second claim for an
additional 80 acres, on the strength of his prior claim of 1850. Witnesses to
his testimony on this application were William Kendall and Joshua Denton.
Warrant No. 25271 for 80 acres was issued April 12, 1855 to Thomas Denham. On
May 25, 1871, Thomas Denham made an application for Pension based on his
military service during the War of 1812. He was shown as living near Lodi, in
the County of Clay, TN (which was formerly Jackson County, TN). Lodi is the
northern part of the county, near the Monroe County, Ky and Clay Co., TN
border. Thomas shows that he was married, but his wife has been dead for many
years and he is a widower. No name is given for his wife. Witnesses to his
testimony are William N. Pedigo and James K. Clancy. On March 18, 1873, Thomas
Denham is granted a Pension (Survivor Original #19797, Survivor Certificate
#10507) of $8.00 per month from February 14, 1871.
Thomas
Andrew Jackson Denham B-1835 D-1879 LLQJ-WGR
 |
| Relation to Dianna Denham Hadlock |
James Thornton Wood (Dicia Ann Denham
Father) B-1836 D-1863
LDWK-P2X
 |
| Civil War had been in progress for two years, He was murdered at his home when Dicia Ann Denham was 1 month old. |
TALES FROM THE OLD KENTUCKY HOME by Wallis
Loral Shumway, grandson of F.P. Denham and Dicia Wood Denham THE WOOD FAMILY
James Thornton Wood On December 30, 1863, the War between the States (Civil
War) had been in progress for two years, and two more years would pass before
the fighting between the North and the South would cease. Near Boles, in Monroe
County, Kentucky, lived James Thornton Wood with his wife, Lydia Ann Jackson
Wood, and four children: Carrie, age 9; Jim, age 5; Mary, age 3, and Dicia, age.one
month. Wood owned a farm with a spring on it. He also had a colored family
living on the farm. He had owned them as slaves, but when the war started, he
liberated them. However, they stayed on the farm with him, but were now
“servants”, and received a small money compensation in addition to the home and
food that had been previously provided to them. Tom Adams was envious of James
Thornton Wood, and spread stories that Wood was still secretly pro-slavery, and
against the Union forces. Wood hoped he could stop these rumors at their
source, so on the date mentioned above, he saddled his horse, and rode over to
the shack of Tom Adams. As he dismounted, Mrs. Adams peered out of the window,
and Wood asked her if Tom was home. She answered, “No.” Wood then put his foot
back in the stirrup to remount his horse, but that is as far as he got. He
heard Tom Adams, who was hiding behind the chimney of his house, shout, “Here I
am, Jim Wood.” Just as Wood turned, a bullet from Tom Adam’s gun penetrated
Wood’s heart, and he fell dead. At that time men were dropping dead all over
the South – because of the war. No one had time to make arrests and hold
trials. Hence, Tom Adams was never brought to trial for his dastardly deed.
James Thornton Wood had concerned himself about the question of slavery, and as
a consequence had become a war casualty, like thousands of others. His widow,
Lydia Ann Wood, took her four fatherless children to her husband’s funeral.
While she was away, a band of renegade negroes exhibited their new-found
freedom by breaking into her home, and stealing everything that wasn’t nailed
down. They left the doors open, and a flock of geese invaded what was left of
the domicile. In Southern vernacular, they “squttered all over the floor.” Word
of this thievery spread, and the neighbors quickly rallied and tried to remedy
the situation by bringing the destitute family the things they needed. The
“servant” negro family stayed on the farm, and helped support the widow and her
four children. Ten years later, young Jim, J., now
a husky youth, met Tom Adams in Ike Rush's store, which was about a mile from
their home. Tom Adams approached the lad, and said falteringly, “I want to help
you, and your mother. I'll do anything to help you and make amends.” Young Jim
replied, “The only thing you can do for us is to keep forever out of our
slight.” Adams slunk away, and from that day on he slunk away every time he saw
any of the Woods family approaching. Two years after the death of Wood some
friends who lived about 7 miles from the Wood farm asked Mrs. Wood if her
oldest daughter, Carrie, could come and live with them. They had only one
child, a daughter Carrie's age, and they wanted Carrie for the companionship
she could give to their daughter. Mrs. Wood finally consented, and Carrie who
was eleven, stayed with that family for a couple of years. Then the family
decided to move to San Francisco, California, and asked Mrs. Wood if Carrie
could accompany them. Mrs. Wood said no. A couple of weeks passed and when she
heard no more, Lydia Ann walked the seven miles to their house. They were gone-
they had moved to California, and apparently daughter Carrie, who was now 13,
had gone with them. Five years passed with no word from Carrie. Then, at last,
came a letter. It was postmarked “San Francisco,” and was from Carrie, now 18.
The letter stated that Carrie had married a wealthy man by the name of Charles
Lowe. In order to verify the wealthy part a substantial amount of money was
enclosed, with the request that it be used to put more windows in her mother's
house. It was used for that purpose. Then more money arrived, and still more. A
new room was added to the home, then a porch, and the family had never been so
comfortable and had so much, thanks to California gold. Mrs. Wood had a hard
struggle and naturally welcomed this new bonanza. She hoped that daughter
Carrie was obtaining it by scrupulous and worthy methods. At times there may
have been doubts about Carrie, but there was not censure. She had been raised a
poor little orphan girl, without a father from the age of nine, and separated
from her mother at the age of eleven. Regardless of how she got her money, she
remembered her people and was always generous with them. Then, when the Gospel
was presented to the family, Carrie was the first to accept it, as shall be
shown later on. Later on, Carrie returned to Kentucky for a visit and persuaded
her brother, Jim, to return with her to San Francisco to attend college. She
kept Jim in college for two years in that city. Then he returned to his home in
Kentucky. Soon afterward, Carrie also returned to Kentucky, apparently divorced
from her wealthy San Francisco husband. After eleven years of widowhood, Mrs.
Lydia Ann Wood married Eli Rhoton. Eli's son, Hood, had already married Mrs. Wood's
daughter, Mary. One day, Jim Wood came home with the report that he had seen
two men very peculiarly dressed-- high hats and long tailed coats. He said he
heard they were Mormon elders. A few hours later the Wood family saw the men
approaching their home. When Mrs. Wood, now Mrs. Rhoton, saw them, she began to
cry. The elders were taken into the home and had a home there from that time
on. Carrie was the first to join the new church. Then the others followed, all
except Jim. Jim could never accept the account of Joseph Smith's visions.
Carrie had married again, this time to a man in Kentucky, but they had
separated. One of the missionaries, Heber Perkins, talked to her about becoming
his plural wife, and finally persuaded her to go to Taylor, Arizona to wait for
him. However, while she was waiting, Carrie met Heber's brother, Littleton
Perkin, a bachelor, and she married him. Soon afterwards, another missionary,
Elder Willard Hatch, returned to his home, which was also in Taylor, and
reported that Carrie hadn't been divorced from her husband in Kentucky. He
agitated the situation until he brought about a temporary separation between
Carrie and Littleton. Finally, however, proof of the divorce was obtained and
Carrie and Littleton were allowed to resume their marital relationship. The
Woods-Rhoton family were members of the Campbellite Church when the Mormon
missionaries first began calling at their home. But the moment they began to
investigate Mormonism they felt the cold shoulder of their neighbors. When they
went to their church and sat down, the other people would get up and seat
themselves elsewhere. Finally, after they joined the Mormon Church, this
coolness on the part of their neighbors became so unbearable that they decided
to migrate west. They moved to Arizona.
Interesting
history of the Rhoton’s and Woods and then Denham’s in Boles Kentucky—Missionaries
came from Taylor, Arizona
Lorenzo Dow Rhoton was the son
of Eli Rhoton and Hannah Dowell. He was born 16, May 1875, near Tompkinsville,
Kentucky. Lorenzo's history was interwoven with his wife, Mary Elvira Wood,
even before they were married. His mother, Hannah Dowel Rhoton, died in 1872,
when Lorenzo was 15 years old. After Hannah died her husband married Lydia Ann
(Jackson) Wood, whom was the mother of Mary Elvira (Wood) Rhoton. This couple
practically grew up together in the same household, James Thornton Wood (father
of Mary Elvira Wood Rhoton) had been shot during the Civil War about 1863, on
30 September in Boles, Monroe County, Kentucky. Eli Rhoton had a large family
of ten children. He left them to maintain the family home and he went to live
with his new bride, Lydia Ann Jackson Wood, and the two families were close
together. Mary Elvira said Lorenzo Dow was a slender pale boy and she fell for
him right away. They were married seven years later on September 27, 1880, in
Celina, Tennessee, which is just across the state line from Boles, Kentucky.
Now, this made it (as Uncle Lorenzo states, “My Father's, Mother's Stepfather
is My Father's Father's Father”). They lived in Kentucky for about 8 years
after they were married and then sold out and moved to Arizona, where they
settled at Shumway. The Mormon missionaries had baptized them. Mary Elvira
said, “As I heard the missionaries talking to Lorenzo in the living room, I
would pray that he wouldn't be converted to the church.” In spite of this, Mary
Elvira joined first. They came to Arizona by train to Holbrook and then went to
Woodruff. In May of 1889, they moved to Taylor where their first daughter,
Juliett, was born. Then moved to Shumway prior to April of 1892, where Lydia
Ann was born. Before leaving Kentucky, Lorenzo Dow was smoking a pipe and had a
strong desire to get rid of this habit. Through his faith, help from God, his
wife and the missionaries, he laid the pipe up above the eaves of their home
and never touched it again. In November of 1890, Lorenzo Dow, Mary Elvira, Dicia
and Franklin Parish Denham families went to St. George, Utah Temple in a
covered wagon to have their Temple work done and be sealed for time and
eternity. This was a long tiresome trip; since they had to go up and across the
Colorado River and then west through Kanab, Utah to St. George, and this was in
the late fall of the year. But they were happy to have the privilege of going
to the Temple. Lorenzo Dow and Mary Elvira had their three boys Charles, Alvin,
Heber and their daughter, Juliett, sealed to them. Dicia and Franklin Parish
Denham had their two children, Pearl and Walter sealed to them. In May of 1899,
Lorenzo took a mail contract and things seemed to be prosperous for the family.
James Franklin was born July 7, 1900. Three years later, Bessie Rose was born
on August 14, 1903. Lorenzo continued the mail contract and the older boys
worked with him and elsewhere. In September of 1905, he and his family were
living on the Brimhall place in Shumway and he was working at the school. They
then purchased their home, north of the school, where they had their garden and
orchard. Here, Lorenzo and Mary spent the rest of their lives. He was a
faithful member of the church and in September of 1916, he was ordained a High
Priest. Lorenzo Dow died May 9, 1935, and was buried in the Shumway Cemetery,
on the hill west of the main part of the little town of Shumway, Arizona. Today
the state highway separates the town from the cemetery.
Franklin Parish Denham and Dicia Ann Woods Denham
B-1860 D-1932
KWZZ-RVN B- 1863 D-1942 KWZZ-RVF
Franklin
Parish Denham did not serve in a war but was a man with tremendous courage.
This is the
byline of one of the stories in Family Search.
He was born on the eve of the beginning of the Civil War.
Dear Denham
relatives, one of the sad sagas in our Denham family was the birth of Franklin
Parish Denham out of wedlock in the hilly country of Tennessee on the Kentucky
border on the eve of the American Civil War. It has cast a long shadow in the
lives of the Denham family. Franklin's mother Pherby wore a hood of shame to
cover her face all her life, and married a Civil War veteran Frank Rhoton who
treated her poorly, and Franklin Parrish even worse. Frank, the stepfather,
kicked him out as a young boy. He worked for Isaac Spears and Scott Reneau
until he was grown, and had married Dicia Woods, and had a little daughter
named Pearl. The missionaries converted them, and that little family followed
the Elders west to Shumway, Arizona, probably glad to leave the scene of
painful memories and gossip. (written by Robert Owens, Pearl’s grandson).
All information on the family of Franklin Parish Denham has been
obtained from Linda Faye Mecham, 387 East 300 South, Heber City, Utah 84032 "Franklin
Parish Denham was born in Jackson County (now Clay County), TN. His biological
father was William "Bud" Cherry. William Cherry was a solider and was
married at the time he and Pherby Denham met, thus was unable to marry Pherby
when she became pregnant. Later, Pherby Denham married Franklin Rhoton.
Although Franklin Parish Denham used the surname "Rhoton" for a
number of years, he reverted to the Denham name in later life. Linda Mecham
says that Franklin Rhoton was not kind to his step son, and consequently he was
unable to live with his new family. He lived with two of the neighbors, Isaac
Spears and Scott Renneau, who were farmers. The men worked Parish hard for his
board and fifty cents a week. Parish seldom got the wages, as his step-father
made the collection of the money each week. Despite these hardships, Parish
soon showed a superiority over his half-brothers and sisters. He was ambitious,
neat and had a good head. He met Dicia Ann Wood and when 21 years old, married
her. He bought a farm and did very well. Then he met the Mormon Elders,
accepted their message, and joined the new church. Immediately, things changed
-- his friends shunned him, and he realized he could no longer live there. He
tried to sell his farm, but the neighbors boycotted him, and he finally had to
let it go for $600.00, although it was worth several times that amount. He
spent this $600 moving his family, consisting of a wife and three small
children to Arizona. He wanted to go to Cache Valley, Utah, but he had talked
to Elder Willard Hatch, Missionary from Taylor, Arizona, and he persuaded him
to go there. One of his first acts after coming West was to go the Temple at
St. George, Utah. While receiving his endowments he expressed a reluctance to
go on record as the son of step-father Frank Rhoton, who had been unkind to him
as a boy, and as an outcome of decisions made in that Temple and sealing
ordinances on that occasion he became the adopted son of Brigham Young. Also,
at that time, he changed his name from Franklin Parish Rhoton to Franklin
Parish Denham. Denham being his mother's maiden name. This severed him from the
Rhoton family and name. Back again in Arizona, he and his half-brother, Jasper
Rhoton, bought some unimproved land from Zacharia B. Decker. Decker sold it to
them without a down payment, believing they would never be able to pay for it,
and he would eventually take it back and would have the benefit of their labor
in clearing it. The land was covered with a growth of cedar or juniper trees.
Parish and Jasper worked hard and to the surprise of everyone, not only cleared
and leveled the land but raised crops sufficient to meet the payments. Finally,
as a climax to a lot of hard work and long years, they made the final payment.
Parish bought Jasper's share of the farm and prospered. He specialized in
raising fine horses which were in high demand in his day. He added to his farm
until it was one of the best in Northern Arizona. He died in 1932 leaving his
property to his wife, in trust for his six children."
This picture was taken about
1922-1925. It was titled Shumway School
Sunday School Class. It was taken out in
front of the “Little Red Schoolhouse”.
Top row (L) is Franklin Parrish Denham.
Florence Denham (my grandmother) is the middle lady in the white hat
with a band. Virgil Denham (my
grandfather) was bottom row right. He is
sitting next to Willard his brother.
Written by Florence Denham 3/26/1969 Transcribed 2007 by her
granddaughter Dianna Hadlock
- § 1890 Wilson G Shumway took charge of the meetings. This was the year Franklin & Dicia Denham moved to Shumway.
- § 1895 Franklin P Denham was made Presiding Elder over Shumway Branch. The Shumway Branch was under the Taylor Ward. Norman A Brimhall was the Bishop of the Taylor Ward
- § 1915 Shumway Branch was made a Ward Bishop: Wallace E. Shumway 1st Counselor: Charles L Rhoton 2nd Counselor: Walter H Denham Charles L Rhoton got married and moved to Lakeside and Alvin E Rhoton was made new counselor.
- § In 1919 Wallace Shumway ran for County Assessor of Navajo County. After being elected he moved to Holbrook, Arizona.
- § 1919 Walter H Denham was made Bishop May 8 1919 Bishop: Walter Hampton Denham 1st Counselor: Wilson A Shumway 2nd Counselor: Lorenzo Dow Rhoton Sr. Ward Clerk: Willard Parrish Denham SS Superintendent: Virgil T Denham RS Pres: Dicia Ann Denham
- § 1927 Virgil Denham was made Bishop on May 8, 1927 Bishop: Virgil Tillman Denham 1st Counselor: Wilson Averett Shumway 2nd Counselor: Louis A Neff Ward Clerk: Willard Denham RS Pres: Dicia Ann Denham Walter Denham served exactly 8 years. When Walter found out the new Bishop he stated, "Well if I had known I would not have resigned." "I resigned to get the Denham's out of it"
- § 1935 Louis A Neff was made Bishop on February 11, 1935 Bishop: Louis A Neff 1st Counselor: Willard Denham 2nd Counselor: Glen Shumway
These excerpts came from the Life History
of Ross B. Denham (Son of Willard and Lovina Denham) Grandson of Franklin and
Dicia Ann Denham.... This family always went to Church. They paid their tithing
and did all they were asked to do. All of my life, of all the people I have
admired and revered, it has been the General Authorities and Church leaders. In
those days two General Authorities came together to visit our stake for stake
conferences. At the time there were fewer stakes and they could visit four
times a year. They usually arrived on Saturday to be with the people. On Sunday
there would be two sessions of conference, morning and afternoon. I never had
to be urged to attend conference, I wanted to be there. The General Authorities
were from Salt Lake. They had traveled many places. They knew what was
happening. I loved to look at them to observe what they were wearing. I noticed
the style of their suits, the neatness of their shoes--whether they were
soiled, polished or scuffed like mine. I noticed the kind of ties they wore,
the length of the shirt collars or whether they wore vests or hats. I don't
know how this happened, but when Presiding Bishop Slyvestor Q. Cannon came to
conference in Snowflake, he came to visit my grandparents in their home in
Shumway. I recall coming into the kitchen and seeing Bishop Cannon; a very
tall, straight and dignified man. He was so tall he could not quite stand up in
our kitchen. I remember my grandmother (Dicia Ann Denham) telling Bishop Cannon
I was her grandson. She said to me, "I want you to be like him, tall and
straight." For a very small country boy, that thrilled me to death.
Another time I remember President Heber J. Grant coming to Snowflake for
conference. For a reason unknown to me he came to Shumway to a meeting in our
little schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was also used for meetings for the Shumway
Ward. The meeting was held in the early evening. At the conclusion of the
meeting President Grant said he would shake the hand of all the children. There
were about 20 children all scrubbed clean and wearing their best Sunday clothes
for this occasion. Shaking President Grant's hand, looking up at his beard, his
heavy, gold watch chain across the front of his vest, and hearing his voice,
greatly impressed me. He told us a few stories about how he learned to
write--which impressed me most; the he wrote his name on the blackboard: Heber
J. Grant. His name remained on the blackboard for months. The teacher at school
(Florence Denham) would carefully clean around it.
President
Grant became known for an adage he had practiced and he always repeated to
young people when encouraging them to learn: That which we persist in doing
becomes easier to do not because the nature of the task has changed but our
power to do has increased.
The legacy of our family
which was stated above said “this family always went to Church. They paid their tithing
and did all they were asked to do”. I am very proud to be a
part of its heritage—Dianna.
Bull Stories
(1)
Franklin P. Denham had a large
corn field on his Shumway place. The
Hash Knife Cattle Company’s bulls and cattle kept breaking through the fences
to eat the corn. Franklin arose early one morning and went to his field to see
if the cattle had gotten into the field during the night. He found cattle in the field and he tried to
drive them out. One vicious bull charged
at Franklin. The bull knocked him down
and ran a horn through the flesh and muscle of Franklin’s upper left arm. The bull ran right on standing over him. Every time Franklin would move or try to get
up, the bull would come after him. But
when he would lie still and not move, the bull would stand still or move off a
little way. Franklin had to lie there
for hours until the bull finally fed off in the distance, far enough away until
Parish got up and ran behind a cedar tree.
Then Parish worked his way between the trees and the bull until he got
far enough away until he could get home.
During this time Dicia, his wife, got up and prepared
breakfast while she waited for him to come back. Getting worried over his long stay she looked
out of a window and saw him coming. When
he got there she could see that something had happened. He was a mass of blood. Grandpa often showed his children and
grandchildren the large scar on his arm as he told them his bull stories. (Told by Florence Denham –Virgil Denham’s
wife- my grandmother).
(2)
This story was told by Melvin V
Denham (his grandson)
The evenings were spent in front of the fireplace with a pan of
apples. Sometimes we would have the
organ playing but we would always have story telling. Stories of wild animals mostly. The mountain lions and bears would come into
town sometimes especially at Grandpa’s Denham’s ranch and kill the colts and
calves. Many times we would hear a lion
crying in the evening while at Franklin Parrish Denham’s house and then we
would have to walk home in the dark. What terror that was after an evening of
hearing how “panthers would lay in wait on a tree limb and drop down and attack
a person or animal”. Going home we would
follow the trail that was under quite a few trees.
(3)
This story is about Virgil T.
Denham at 17 years’ old
Virgil told the story of returning from a dance in
Snowflake and had to ride on his horse through the Indian cemetery on the
property. He definitely saw an Indian
skeleton and the eyes in the skeleton were shining. The whole skull was lit up. Franklin Parrish had allowed someone to dig
for Indian relics with the understanding they would not disturb the remains and
would rebury anything they accidentally dug up.
Someone had left a skeleton exposed.
Virgil ran home so frightened his Dad had to go with him to verify his
tale. When they got back to the skeleton
they found a lightening bug had taken up residence in the skull and it was a
very strange sight. It was a scary time
to live. During this time, we had a lion
drop down on me from a tree in Shumway or have a rabid skunk nip at my behind
when I had to go out at night because we had no bathrooms. I decided (Virgil talking) I would rather
die, than to have my bare behind treated.
(I always loved hearing my grandfather Virgil Denham talking about being
so scared when he saw the Indian skeleton and his eyes were shining…. Dianna).
Keeping in Touch with the
News of the World--Franklin Parrish Denham
These memories were written by Grandson Ross B Denham:
During the early years we kept in touch with the news of the world with my
Grandfather's Radio. We would all go down to his house on Sunday evenings.
Grandpa would sit and listen to it with a little headset. He would hold the
head piece to his ear and then repeat to us what was happening. I recall
Roosevelt's fireside chats and the programs of Amos and Andy--black comedians.
We could hear KOB in Albuquerque, New Mexico; KSL in Salt Lake, Utah. Most
memorable was Sunday night when James E. Talmage would give talks from the
Tabernacle broadcast by KSL. As we gathered around it was understood everyone
was to be quiet. Grandfather would listen. Then when it was over he would tell
us what was said. I do not recall ever getting to listen to Elder Talmage
myself.
Another enjoyable family activity was on the warm
evenings the family would gather on the porch of Grandpa Denham's home. They
would reminisce about their home in Kentucky. Sometimes Elder John Hatch, the
missionary who had converted them, would join the group. Elder Hatch's home,
being in Taylor, Arizona was the reason for them coming here to Arizona to
settle. Grandfather Denham was a short stocky man and thinking about him brings
back many memories. On spring when I was a little boy and it was planting time,
I was "helping" with the job. We hitched up the team and drove the
team pulling the wagon to the granary to get the seed wheat, he pulled three
sacks together, each supporting the other in an upright position. He took his
hat off and placed it on the sacks of wheat, he took his red bandanna from his
back pocket and wiped the perspiration from his head and face; then, kneeling
by the bags of wheat, he invited me to join him in prayer. There I listened to
him plead with our Heavenly Father that the wheat would sprout, grow and
mature. He thanked the Lord for the planting season and for the hoped- for
harvest in the late summer. This prayer and experience helped me to realize how
close grandfather felt to his Maker. Grandfather Denham had his humorous
moments, too. One stake conference in the fall, the visiting Brethren from Salt
Lake admonished the saints to exercise their franchise and vote in the upcoming
election. They also counseled Church members to always vote for the best man
regardless of party affiliation. A few days later, Grandpa Denham said to the
family, "Yes, we should follow the counsel of the Brethren and vote for
the best man, just as long as the man is a REPUBLICAN.
Virgil Tillman Denham B- 1894
D- 1984 KWCY-TH9
 | ||
| 1979 Florence and Virgil were both 85 years’ old |
This letter was addressed to Florence Denham when she was visiting
Virgil at the Army Base. Virgil and Florence were married just 3 months when
Virgil left for basic training. Dicia
Ann Denham (his mother) writes “he looks in his soldier suit so innocent to be
in war. I know his soul is as pure and innocent as he looks. I believe, feel, and
know that no Mother has sent her boy out to fight for his country that has any
more right to feel proud of him than I have to be proud of my own dear boy. I
am proud of him, and I know he will be an honor to his parents as well as to
his nation”.
Shumway, AZ
Aug 6, 1918
Dear
Daughter Florence-
We received a nice letter from you last
Friday that was written on the Monday before which made it four days on the
road. I would have answered it and had it go out today but May said she was
going to write to Virgil so I thought I would wait and write this afternoon and
to our great joy we got another letter from you yesterday with those dear
pictures. I will never be able to tell you what feelings it brought over me
when I saw my sweet boy once more. Oh how good it did look to see you standing
by his dear side for I know he was very happy to have you with him, and I do so
want you to have them taken together before he has to go. It did do our hearts
and souls good to see you both smiling. I think you both look so real. I can
never tire looking at them. Bless my sweet boy! He looks in his soldier suit so
young and innocent to be in war. I know his soul is as pure and innocent as he
looks. I believe I can feel and know that no Mother has sent her boy out to
fight for his country that has any more right to feel proud of him than I have
to be proud of my own dear boy. I am proud of him, and I know he will be an
honor to his parents as well as to his nation. I know I have every right to be
proud of her and proud to be the mother of that soldier. I know he will do his
duty anywhere he is placed. And so I can say " Go and do your full duty
and the Lord will take care of his own, as I know he will be blessed. I have
strong faith that he will be spared to return home to all of his loved ones
again. Now dear Florence you must look on the bright side and we know that dark
clouds may gather around us and may almost smother us from seeing the light
again. But we have this to give us comfort..that the beautiful sun shines
behind the clouds and when the cloud passes over we will then be more able to
appreciate the glories and blessings of God. We are many times called to pass
through hard trials that may prove great blessings to us where we can’t see why
we have to be tested so severely. Let us think we will have to bear our little
trials that we are called to pass through and meet them bravely and trust the
Lord for the outcome who we know does all things well. We got a letter from
Virgil today written the same day as yours as he said he didn't have drill that
day. We were surely glad to get it and hear him say that he is fat again. My!
how glad I am that he gets enough to eat and to know that he doesn't go hungry.
We will answer his letter soon. Florence I can never forget how good you have
been to write to us and we thank you for it and I know it has helped Virgil so
much. We do appreciate it more than we can ever tell. Riley has never come home
yet. He is in Holbrook. Vina is visiting her Mother and she has been gone since
last Friday. Today is RS day. I didn't go up. Emma went but hasn't got back
yet. Little Dansy is as cute as he can be. He is trying to talk now and is so
sweet about it. We haven't had much rain, but it keeps cloudy and looks like it
wants to rain but can't. We are greatly in need of a good rain. I wish it
could. I am very sorry to know that your brother Pete is sick, that sickness is
dreadful. I hope he soon gets over it. I know it must worry your dear Mother
greatly. I hope she can soon hear that he is better. Now dear girl it is
getting late and I must start a fire in the stove and bake some corndodgers’
for supper and put my milk in some cold water to get cold. How I wish you and
Virgil could be here to drink all the good sweet milk you wanted. I know that I
would enjoy it much more. Well I have supper ready and have just rung the bell
for the men. I will not write more this time. Emma just came in and said she
saw Vina up at the gate coming home. Willard will be glad I know. Of course you
will have Virgil read this for me. I want you both to read every letter that I
write for it is for both of my dear children for you are near and dear to me.
Melvin wrote these thoughts of
his Dad in WW1. It was found in his book
of the War History. The next excerpt is from his life history on his service in
WW1
This is his actual uniform found
in a trunk on the Shumway property. Dave Hadlock made this box in 2004 for
Virgil Denham uniform.
It is now in
Scott Hadlock’s home. (Melvin Denham’s grandson)
Melvin V Denham
B-1925 D- 1995
KWCY-T4T
Melvin V. Denham
Birth Year: 1925
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State: Arizona
County: Pima
Enlistment Date: 7 Jan 1944
Enlistment State: Arizona
Enlistment City: Phoenix
Grade: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment
For the duration of the War
Or another emergency, plus six
Months, subject to the discretion
of the
President or otherwise according to
the law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 1 year of college
Marital Status: Single, without
dependents
 |
| Melvin was only 19 years old in this picture. It was taken 2 months before he received the wound to his face |
My First Days of
Battle
My First Days in Battle By
Melvin V. Denham I had been assigned to the 100th Infantry Division and we
wore-100 on the left shoulder and this AA on our right shoulder. Do you know
what that AA stands for? American Army. That identified us. We left Fort Brag
and they loaded us on this big ship. It was the General George Washington. It
was a ship that they had captured from the Germans in World War I and converted
it over to a troop ship. They put 6000 of us on it. It took about 3 or 4 hours
to get everything going. The anchors pulled up and then the old ship begins to
whistle and away we went. We went by the Statue of Liberty. We traveled for 14
days. We went over by the coast of Spain on one side, the coast of North Africa
on the other and we went through what they call the Mediterranean Sea through
the Mediterranean Straits. We went by this great big old rock out there,
biggest rock right out in the middle of the ocean you ever saw. It looked about
like Superstition Mountain in Arizona. The rock was called the Rock of
Gibraltar. We traveled right along that. It was just about sundown and it began
to get dark. We started to pull into this great big seaport; there were lights
all along the coast. It was a place called Ceuta, North Africa, we started to
pull into that seaport then all of a sudden---all heck broke loose all at once.
The whole harbor was just clear full of smoke. They put up a great big smoke
screen. All of a sudden, here came a bunch of German planes right down over the
top of us. All these guns on the coast began firing at these German planes. I
was up there on the deck, you could see them firing all around the planes. That
went on for about 20 t0 30 minutes, and then they gave the clear signal. They
wouldn’t even let us go down in the ship-wherever you were, that’s where you
had to stay-we just froze and they turned out all the lights. That was kind of
like a scary thing. I didn’t know where I was going in this situation. Then
they started to unload the ship. They unloaded the ship and all the soldiers
got on to what they call some LCI barges. What they were was just flat plain
boats, carrying men and their equipment. We got on the boats and we traveled
across the Mediterranean to the coast of Southern France. Oh, what a night! We
got on shore around 2 o’clock in the morning, and then they unloaded us. Oh it
felt good to finally get my feet on land again. They made me what they called a
BAR man. Now BAR stands for Browning Automatic Rifle. It’s a shoulder machine
gun, weighs over 20 pounds, and you had a bipod on the top of it, it swings
around it’s supposed to be a machine gun. It fires 720 rounds of ammunition a
minute. I had all my gear and all that ammunition in my duffel bag, They have
two guys that would carry ammunition for me and I’m supposed to be the big
firepower because I was big and husky. Because I was tall-they had given me the
BAR. We got off this LCI landing barge. We knew we were on the coast of
Southern France. The 45th and the 36th Infantry Division had been so badly hit,
so many guys were killed and wounded that they were sending us up as
replacements to join them. We got off and they started marching us through this
French town of Marseille, France. It was a big city really. They march us and
march us, in complete darkness. Everything was blacked out because they were
afraid the Germans would come down and bomb them. It was way in the middle of
the night and it was starting to rain, it really began to rain. They marched us
straight for about 2 ½ hours right up a hill. I just about collapsed. I marched
until blood was flowing freely out of both of my nose holes, streaming down the
side of my face because of all that weight. I didn’t think that I’d ever make
it. We finally got to our destination. Finally, they tell us-pitch your pup
tents. Two guys go together-a fellow by the name of Webb and I were usually
buddies. He was my assistant BAR man and carried the ammunition for me. We
started to pitch our little pup tent. We were out in a great big wheat or
barley field that they’d cut the grain off-just the stubble. Got our little ol’
pup tent up and rolled out our sleeping bags and they were about half wet. We
crawled in there and we slept an hour or two. Woke up the next morning
everything was WET. It was the drizzliest, drench looking place you had ever
seen. They loaded us on some trucks, Army trucks. We started driving and we
drove for about four or five maybe six hours. We drove from Marseille, France
up to Dijon, France. When we were just out of Dijon, France we knew we were
getting really close because we began hearing artillery shells going over
us-blasting up. We saw several dead Germans lying aside of the road and several
dead cows, quite a few dead sheep-cows and pigs and things where the bombs had
dropped. Animals were lying out in the fields. I was wondering what was going
to happen next. We traveled most of that morning and day. We get into this
place about 5 o’clock at night. We all had to get down under cover and wait
till dark. Then they marched us about 14 miles after dark and you had to catch
the guy’s belt right in front of you and just hang on. They do it with
compasses, well, I didn’t know how in the world these guys knew where they were
going, coming from the United States into a strange land like that. Taking us
out across those mountains swamps in the middle of the night. They got me some
help when they saw how bad off I was. They took most of my ammunition and gave
it to some of the other guys to carry. We marched in there, we waited until
dark and then they moved us into these positions. They’d brought in these guys
that had been up there fighting for a week or two. They’d been hit so badly and
they’d brought them out and they moved all of our guys in. They told us to dig
a foxhole. Moved in there about 10/10:30 at night. We had dug foxholes all over
down in Georgia-Fort Benning and in North Carolina. We knew how to dig
foxholes, but we didn’t know how to dig them in that wet. As fast as we’d dig
them, they just fill level full of water. Just like on the ocean beach, how you
dig a hole and fill it full of water. The ground was so water logged and so
much rain that they’d just fill level full with water. We did get those
foxholes done, but we couldn’t get in them because they were so full of water.
The Germans evidently heard us moving in and they threw a shell, attack at us
at about 2:00 in the morning. It was cold-it was freezing. All of us had to run
and jump in those foxholes full of water. We stayed down in there with our
heads down and water up to here on our necks. We stayed there until the
shelling was over. They killed two or three of our guys that first night with
shells. We had to crawl back out and it was so cold that the next morning
several of our guys were frozen stiff-just icicles all over. Men had to rub
circulation back into them to thaw them out. That was the beginning of the
combat. We started off the next morning about 6 o’clock. They made us start and
they said we were going to go over the top of this mountain and down on the
other side. We got over that first mountain, but we ran into two or three dead
Germans, we had to send somebody up around searching to see if they weren’t
lying there playing possum or something. Check them for any credentials or
anything. Then we knew we were getting real close. That’s the first time I’d
really seen dead guys. We got down through this valley, & because I was BAR
man I was right up next to Lt. Emery with his scout. We started up the side of
the hill, all of sudden we spotted the Germans up on top of the hill and they
opened up fire on all of our guys that were coming across this meadow. I was up
far enough on the hill that I set my old BAR. I got right down where they built
a road through the mountain and I could even see these German’s machine guns
just spraying our guys. I opened up my BAR and began spraying the whole
area-700 rounds of ammunition. All of a sudden they started firing bullets
right at me and I didn’t know, but they began kicking dust all around me. Lt.
Emery said, “Denham, move! Move! They’ve got you spotted.” I dropped down in
this road and I ran a ways and then I stuck my head back up again-
berrrrrrrrrrrrrr (machine gun fire) all over. Then I saw a machine gun in a
nest, I left my BAR, I slip around to the back and I got in real close and then
I lobbed a hand grenade in and blew up those guys in the machine gun nest. By
that time most of our guys had got up on the side of the mountain and they took
about 12-14 guys prisoners and the rest of them thy rest of Germans took off
and went up over the hill. We went over the hill and by the time we got through
combat that day, we’d had taken the hill alright, but we’d had started with
about 14 men in our squad and had lost I think two of them, one by the name of
Parker from Kentucky, was shot through the Adam’s apple, they took him back.
Another one was shot in the knee. The next day w e went on over the hill and we
didn’t meet army resistance and our captain read his map and we had gone too
far. We were now clear over into the German area where we shouldn’t have been.
We went across this railroad bridge and he sets Webb and me way out on this
corner and had all the other guys dig in-there. There was already a bunch of
foxholes dug there, the Americans had been there first and lost and now they
were coming back. They stuck us way up here on this end and another BAR man way
out on the other end. They would always put the BAR men on the flanks by the
road where in case the enemy comes in they can put up the firepower while the
other guys can get out or whatever. We were out there old’ Webb and I. They
told us, “Don’t dig, and don’t make any noise.” Webb and I had just been there
for just a few minutes and all of a sudden we looked up and here comes a German
down the road. He had his rifle; swinging arms in fact he acted like he was out
squirrel hunting. We quickly sent the message back to the Americans-that guys
we had the enemy in sight. They’d all got down in their holes. They told us to
watch that guy until he is really close and then pull the trigger. He hit the
dust. I’ll never forget it, that really upset me. That was the first day I’d
been in combat. That was the first guy-I don’t’ know how many if any I’d killed
over with that grenade, but I didn’t actually see them. I went over to this guy,
he was lying there in the road dead, we’d hit him about three or four times, we
searched him, pulled out his wallet and opened it up-had a picture of his wife
and two little kids. That just really got me, because I was looking right in
his face realizing that I’d killed somebody’s father who had little kids-they
were there just like we were. That was all we heard right then, but in the
middle of the night about 12/1:00 we heard all these big tanks and half-tracks
starting up maneuvering all night. Webb says, “You know, we’re going to catch
Hades in the morning.” I said, “I’ll bet we do too.” We worried and worried and
we heard the tanks getting stronger and stronger-all of a sudden. About 2 or 3
o’clock in the morning, tanks. They had guys sit all around the outside of the
tanks with automatic weapons. They just sprayed that whole area. We heard guys
screaming and yelling and one guy was out there, you could hear him yelling all
the rest of the night. He’d say, “Rudolph, help! Rudy!” We had a Sergeant Rudolph
in our area. It sounded kind of like one of our other sergeants, Sgt. Smith,
but of course lots of Germans were named Rudolph so we weren’t allowed to get
out of our hole, it was about 200 yard away from us. They had hit a whole bunch
of our guys. Once more they came back and hit us that night. Same deal as
before. They just sprayed and the whole area with fire and hit several of our
guys. The next morning just at daylight all of a sudden all Hades breaks loose.
Here came 600 men right up towards us. . They acted like just a bunch of
Indians, you know, how they’d ride down on their horses and war hoop-just a
yelling and most of them were yelling all kinds of swear words and English
things at us. They came right towards us and we were just mowing the whole area
down. Webb and I fired at them until we did not have any ammunition left. I
turned around and saw all of our guys retreating just as hard as they could go
up the mountain. Then I said, “Well, I don’t know about you, you can stay here
if you want to, but I’m going to try to get out of here.” I reached down and
grabbed my BAR I started to carry it with that muzzle which is red hot; I just
seared my whole finger here on that muzzle. I grab that thing and I start
running. I looked and I saw tracer bullets coming on all sides of me all over.
I thought I left ol’ Webb in that foxhole, but he was right behind me and as I
left, I never stopped, I just kept on running and I ran and I ran and I ran and
I got up on the side of the mountain and they were shelling us with artillery
and I received my first wound. A big shell hit right next to me and it blew a
big piece of shrapnel right in the back of my knee here and it let out my joint
water and made my knee stiff until I couldn’t bend it. So anyway we finally got
together and out of all the guys that we had started with, a thousand men that
morning, we only found a little over thirty. I went back and they took me back
to the field hospital in a jeep about a mile and a half back. There were really
only about 30 to 40 of us out of a 1000 men. We had just overshot. We were
supposed to have been on the other side of the river on this railroad bridge.
Anyway, they took me back and they put some Novocain in my knee and went in
there and dug that piece of shrapnel out, wrapped one of those wrap-around-it
bandages and I went back out. Well, I couldn’t bend my knee, I walked stiff,
but they sent up another battalion of men and a bunch of reinforcements and the
first thing the next morning we’re going back over to take that land back. As
we went across the railroad bridge, we found the most devastating thing. There
were 290 of our guys that we had been with us all the way through training with
in the United States; we played on volleyball teams together and everything.
They were just in a heap all shot through the back and piled up there on the
side of the road. That’s when I lost all respect for the Germans and I didn’t
care how many I killed after that.
 | |
| This picture is a replica of the original Dog Tags. These dog tags literally saved Melvin’s life. The story of the dog tags was published in the E News 2005, and the original story was from Dads history pgs. 39-44. He did earn a purple heart for this wound. A bullet went through the left side of his chin and out behind his left ear. |
Dog Tags Saved
My Life
These dog tags literally saved Melvin Denham's life. The
story of the dog tags was printed in the E News 2005 and the original story was
from Dad's history pgs. 39-44. He did earn a purple heart for this wound.
In
March I was down in a fox hole and I looked up and just about 15 feet away were
two big Germans standing by a tree. They put their weapons down and they were
just standing there talking. I guess they were trying to decide what I should
do. I was down in the fox hole and I immediately gave an arm and hand signal. I
put my rifle up over my head and that means Enemy in sight. And then you count
them off. I go one, two and that means that i see two enemies. So I pass the
arm and hand signal back to my two scouts and I wait for them to give me the
signal what to do. The signal comes back up, commence firing. So I pull up my
gun to my shoulder and I got a bead on German right down between his shoulder
blades right back in his back pulled the trigger and he lets out a yell, you
know, and falls forward and the other guy starts to run as hard as he could. I
don't remember whether he grabbed his rifle or not, but I was taking bead on
the second guy. I was just aiming at him and this bullet hit me. So evidently
there were more Germans dug in there, a bunch of them. Somebody did see him
shoot and hit me. Well first thing everybody says "What does it feel like
to get shot in the head with a bullet?" The best way that I can tell you
is that it felt like somebody had just hit me in the head with a sledge hammer
just as hard as they could. It never was too painful, but I knew I had been hit
so I fell down by the dead guy. Well the next thing I tried to do which they
tell you to do if you’re wounded anywhere but in the stomach, is take the Sulphur
and penicillin pill. I took a little drink of water and it comes running down
the side of my face. I didn't know how bad I had been hit before, but now I
did. The water had washed the blood away, well then every beat of my heart, my
jugular vein was cut and it was going spurt, spurt, spurt. It was shooting
blood out from my heart. So then I did the next thing you're supposed to do. I
tried to put pressure down here on my neck to hold the blood.... And that's
really about the last thing I remember. I woke up once, and I remember a Lt.
Colonel Shillberger looked down at me and said, "Oh, ----, no, not you too
Denham" I'll never forget him saying that. They loaded me on this
ambulance and they evidently gave me something to knock me out. I woke up I saw
that I'm on the top and they had taken all my clothes off. I was on one of
those stretchers. I don't know if you've ever looked in one of the Red Cross
ambulances the army has. They have places they stack people one on top of the
other. I was up on the second level, and they just had an army blanket folded
around me on the stretcher. They had this big old manila folder that was under
my head and I pulled it out and looked at it and they had the x-rays from the
jaw and it was the most haggled-looking mess you ever saw. They took 27 pieces
of broken bone out of the wound. They also had my dog tags in the folder. I
think they had this folder so that the next hospital would have them when I got
there. When I woke up on the ambulance, I noticed they had two Germans on the
bunk below and they evidently were not as bad as I was because they were just
rattling off, talk, talk, talk in German. Well we traveled ...and I remembered
now that I was wounded early that morning about 8 o'clock and then I was in the
field hospital till about 10 o'clock and I rode in the ambulance all day until
about 9 o'clock at night till we got to this town called Shirborg. Well we
arrived at the hospital and one of the guys comes out and asked what do you
have in the ambulance and the driver said a bunch of Krauts or something like
that. I guess he didn't remember I was in there. Anyway, they unloaded the
Germans and of course, I looked like a German too and so the next thing I know
they have taken me in a great big room, sort of a school building there that
they had made into a hospital. There must have been 150 guys, all Germans,
lying on this floor, most of them dying and they put me in there with them. I
could see what had happened. They had mistaken me for a German. They treat all
the Americans first and then the Germans. Every time someone would come through
I began waving my hands and trying to get their attention. I couldn't say a
word and so I began to wave my hands and one of the G.I.'s came over and he
started to come pretty close to me and I began waving and yelling and he came
over and he kicked me just as hard as he could with his big old combat boots
right in the rib area. He says "Shut up, you Kraut," and just kicked
me oh, it hurt. I felt that for a week. I laid there quite a while. I was
getting so weak. Finally, I didn't think I was going to make it and an idea
came to me. Well, you've got those dog tags in that folder and they don't take
X-rays like that of the Germans and so I reached back and with all the energy I
had left I pulled the thing out from under my head. I pulled those X-rays up
and my dog tags. I was waving them like this and the next time the guy came
through he saw me waving those dog tags. Boy did I get the attention. They came
running in and they grabbed me and put me on a stretcher. They gave me a spinal
and began working on me and when I came to, it was seventeen days later, maybe
eighteen days later. I wasn't unconscious all that time, but they kept me under
sedation while the wound started to heal. They were afraid it would tear apart
and hemorrhage. So you see the dog tags literally saved my life! My Dad Melvin Denham passed away June 23,
1995. I do believe that these 3 1/2 years in the service did shorten his life.
I think the complications in his health in his later life stemmed from this
injury so many years ago. How in the world did he live so long from 8:00 in the
morning until they started working on him at 9:00 PM with blood spurting from
his jugular vein? In conclusion even though these stories touch your heat and
make you sad it gives you a great insight to the inner strength and patriotism
of MY DAD.
The date was March 15, 1944 and we had been
holding the line for 72 days. They told us we had to take this hill at all
costs. So I moved out. My unit was the one that led the attack and I moved out
in the jeep with six Sherman tanks. In less than ten minutes all the Sherman
tanks were wiped out. We had been holding back and letting the tanks fight the
battles. There were (time bursts) on timing devices everywhere. These time
bursts would go off and explode just before they hit the ground. When they
exploded they would spray the whole area with shrapnel. There were thousands of
these things. I had two Spanish boys in the jeep that were my first scouts. One
was named Francisco Henicosa. He was from Kingsville, Texas. The other boy was
from Yuma, Arizona by the name of Alfonzo Gill. Well just as we started up the
hill a machine gun nest opened up and fired on Francisco Henicosa, He had
already destroyed two machine gun bunkers, but the third machine gun opened up
on him and killed Francisco and Gill. They just sprayed the entire area. I was
right there with them. They missed me, but I hit the ground. Just as hit the
ground, another mortar shell came in and it hit about ten feet from me and I
remember just being bounced off the ground about a foot high and then I was
knocked completely unconscious from the concussion and so these guys fought on.
We had a thousand men and it must have been about forty-five minutes later I
regained consciousness and woke up and I looked around and all I could see was
hundreds and hundreds of dead guys everywhere. There were no German's just all
of my buddies that I had been fighting with lying dead. I was so mixed up and
hurting all over. Both of my eardrums had ruptured from the mortar shell and I
couldn't hear very well. Everything was ringing in my ears. I looked down and I
had that powder from the mortar shell blown into my whole arms and when I
looked later it was like this on my face and uniform. My skin and uniform was
clear full of these little black powders that were under my skin and it looked
like thousands of blackheads. It was like my skin was speckle with pepper only
all under my skin. I really didn't know what to do. Everybody was dead but me
and there I was just trying to decipher what I should do, which way to go. I
was trying to remember from the night before how I got back to my unit. The
mortar shell probably saved my life, because it knocked me out so they thought
I was dead, and they didn't shoot me anymore. I looked down and in a thicket of
trees and down a little wash. I could see two guys with a stretcher and
somebody on a stretcher. I recognized them as being American, so I went over
there and I couldn't hear what they were saying. But I asked them who the body
was and they opened up, they pulled back the blanket so I could see and guess
who it was? That Lt. Emery that I told you about that I liked so well. He had
been hit three times up in his stomach right here with .75 mm bullets which
make a hole about the size of your thumb. He was still alive at the moment but
I'm sure he died. They told us to follow them. I went with them and found out
only nine out of the thousand we had started with that morning were still able
to walk around and do anything. The rest had all been killed or else had been
moved out as wounded.
The following is the response of the editor
from the magazine that received and printed the upper stories in November 2005.
Dianna--Your reference to p. 107 was tremendously important for your dad's
story. Not only did it give the correct spelling of Hinojosa, but it mentioned
your dad's name and gave the location of the battle as Spitzbergen. I know the
battle was really bloody. In February my antitank gun squad occupied some of
the foxholes near Freudenberg Farms to shell the two remaining German pill
boxes. We could still smell the blood in the foxholes from earlier battles.
Thank you very much. Bill
James D. Kinsey
21 July 2016
Growing up in Mesa Mel was my neighbor. friend,
and adviser. I never knew these things about him, but that only makes me
respect him more. He was always honorable and taught us to do the right thing
no matter what the consequences. God bless Mel Denham and those who have given
all to preserve our great nation and the freedom we enjoy. Jim Kinsey
 |
| Telegram to his parents on arrival home after the War |
 |
| Newspaper Article he sent home to his parents. On the Left hand side (in his handwriting) he states this newspaper article is how he found out the War had ended. Melvin’s hat in the lower right hand side. The only part of his uniform he brought home. This frame is in Jared Hadlock’s home. (Melvin's grandson) |
Dedication
This is the Dedication Page from his War Stories Book.
The following brief report on my
war experiences was given at the request of my daughter, Dianna Hadlock to her
children at several of their Family Home Evenings during February 1981. I have
made this compilation in hopes that my posterity will have a greater
appreciation for the great liberties we enjoy in this wonderful country, the
United States of America. The price of this freedom has been tremendous, not
only in terms of money, but with much sweat, suffering, blood and the lives of
many fellow Americans. I would never want to have these experiences again, but
the lessons I learned from them are priceless. I dedicate this to my devoted
wife, Priscilla "Kitty" Denham who throughout our courtship and
marriage listened so many hours while I related these and other experiences to
her. She has been my chief source of strength enabling me to rehabilitate and
live a happy, healthy, life in spite of the memories of those horrible
experiences. May you always love and appreciate this great land of America, as
do I.
Respectfully, Melvin V. Denham
 |
| The Bronze Star Medal was awarded to any person who, after December 6, 1941 distinguishes himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. |
 |
This is the Combat Infantryman Badge. This
badge is awarded to infantrymen who fought in active ground while assigned as
members of the infantry. It was awarded
for performing duties while personally present and under fire while serving in
an assigned infantry
|
 |
| Dad earned these awards at Fort Bragg during Basic Training. I remember him telling my kids these awards were like earning an eagle scout award - Dianna |
 |
| The Silver Star Medal is the United States THIRD Highest award exclusively for combat valor. Being the highest award for combat valor, it is NOT unique to any specific branch. The only devices that can be worn on the Silver Star is the Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of additional Army awards. (There is the additional bronze Oak Leaf Clusters on this Silver Star). |
 |
3 Purple Hearts
The Purple Heart is a United
States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those
wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military. (Dad received three).
|
 |
The Presidential
Unit Award is a unit citation awarded to units who demonstrate exceptional
heroism in action against an armed enemy.
Requirements include the unit must “display such gallantry,
determination, in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and
hazardous conditions as to set it apart from and above other units in the same
campaign.
|
WWII
VICTORY—This World War ii Victory medal is a service medal of the United States
military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945. The next higher medal was the European-African-Middle
Eastern Campaign Medal is on this page also.
 |
| Dave Hadlock (Melvin’s son-in-law) made
this memorial box and the Virgil Denham uniform box in 2004. This box contains the decorative pillow from
Fort Bragg (Melvin’s basic training site) that was always on Florence Denham’s
living room couch. Also, included in the
box are pictures we found of my Dad and the telegram that Dad sent home to his
parents telling of his arrival back to the US. We found this telegram in a UoA
annual. After this box was made (Priscilla, his wife) kept this box in the
living room at the Citadel where was living.
She would proudly show this box to her family, friends, and visitors
until her death in 2006.
Additional history on these boxes in
this document. All three have hung on the walls of the Wells Fargo Bank and
Great Western bank while I worked in the banking industry. The customers loved
the information that was in this box, the WW I uniform box, and the newspaper
article frame. They were also on display
in the Taylor Museum for months. Today,
in 2018, this memorial box of Melvin’s hangs on the wall in Brett Hadlock’s
home. (Melvin Denham’s grandson).
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