DENMAN, William L. - Putnam

The able and popular cashier of the 1st National Bank, Greencastle, William L. DENMAN, is most consistently accorded recognition in a work of the province assigned to the one at hand, since it has to do with the representative citizens of Putnam Co, of which number he is unquestionably a worthy member and has long played well his part in the development of the interests of this locality, endorsing every movement which he believes will prove beneficial to the general public. He has sought to maintain the high standing of his ancestors, who were prominent and highly respected citizens of Montgomery Co in the early days and he has therefore won and retained the confidence and good will of all classes. Mr. Denman was born Dec 7, 1858 near Alamo, Montgomery Co In. His father Moses H. Denman was also born in that county, his birth occuring 1823. He was a prosperous farmer and operated the first steam threshing machine ever seen in his vicinity. He was summed to close his earthly accounts on Oct 29, 1868 as the results of injuries received to his arm, which was caught in the machinery of the thresher. William L. Denman's mother was known in her maidenhood as Jemima Lee. She was born in 1823, Vigo Co IN the daughter of John Lee, a pioneer Baptist Mininster, living 4 miles east of Crawfordsville at a hamlet known as Smartsberg (sic). Her parents came to Montgomery Co as early as 1824 and here the father became widely known and accomplished a great deal of good among the early settlers. John Lee, brother of Jemima, was the 1st white male child born in Montgomery Co. He became a noted contractor and built the Logansport division of the Vandalia RR. Mrs. Moses H. Denman a woman of many praiseworthy traits of character, passed to her rest in 1896 at the age of 72. She was the mother of 12 children, 6 of whom are living in 1910, namely: John W; Elizabeth A; James W; Mary; Sarah J; Joel M are all deceased: Cynthia L is the widow of Thomas F. Vancleave; Martha R is the wife of James A. Myers of Alamo, Indiana; Alice M is the wife of William Payton of Judson, Indiana; Susan M is the wife of Thomas Foster of Waveland, Indiana; William L of this review; Ida F is the wife of Addison VanCleave living near Alamo, this state. The Denman family is of English stock. William Denman the paternal grandfather of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, was a native of GA. He was a sterling pioneer, a Southerner of such a combination of initiative, courage and gentlemanly attributes that he could claim scores of friends wherever he was known and he was very successful in his life work. He and his wife rode on horseback from Ga to In a long and somewhat hazardous journey in the early days, packing all their worldly possessions on their horse and while one rode the other walked. They located in Montgomery County . He had the distinction of serving in the War of 1812. His death occurred about 1870 at age 85. He married Polly Ann Hicks of GA and they reared a large family. William L. Denman remained in Alamo until he was 30 years of age and there received his primary education, later attending the State Normal School at Terre Haute. He began life as a teacher, which line of endeavor he followed with gratifying results for a period of 4 years and had he elected to continue teaching he would doubtless have become one of the noted educators of the state, but the business world attracte him and he entered the general mercantile business at Alamo and built up an excellent trad during the 4 years he maintained his store. During this period he was trustee of Ripley Twp being the youngest trustee ever elected in the county up to that time. He performed his duties so faithfully that he was reelected to the office by a greater majority than formerly, in fact, it was the largest majority ever given in that township. This was certainly evidence that, although then quite a young man, the people of his community regarded him as the possessor of unusal acumen and business ability. He has always been loyal to the Democratic cause. Mr. Denman then moved to Crawfordsville and went into the insurance business which he followed one year. He attracted the attention of various insurance companies by his judicious management of his affairs in this line and he was delegated by the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Co to come to Greencastle and take cahrge of thier agency here where the company had maintained an office 12 years and had at that time 450 risks. Mr. Denman prosecuted his work so vigorously that within 3 years there were 2200 policy holders and the office was doing a thriving business. After two years' residence here Mr. Denman was elected secretary of the Democratic central committee and two years later he was nominated for county auditor and in 1894 was elected to this office for a period of 4years. He took office in 1895 and after serving out his allotted time he served 2 years in thesame office as deputy for his successor. He gave the utmost satisfaction in this capacity to all concerned. After severing his connection with the auditor's office he purchased a half interest in the furniture and undertaking establishment of WP Ledbetter in which he remained one year. On Feb 9, 1903 he became cashier of the 1st National Bank of Greencaslte. He came to this position well qualified in every respect being a man of rare innate business ability and experience and he was popular throughout the county and a aman of known reputable standing. Since that time this institution has doubled its total assets and added the sum of 30,000 to its surplus fund. In Jan 1910, Mr. Denman assumed the position of auditor of the Marg Mining Company, whose mining property is at Ano Nuevo, Old Mexico a gold and silve rproperty in which he is a heavy stockholder. He expects to be gone two years. The chapter in the life of Mr. Denman relating to his domestic affairs dates from June 29, 1889 (sic 28 June 1887?) when he married Ella Sparks daughter of a highly respected family of Alamo, Montgomery County. (Bk 11 p 242 Montgomery Co Indiana Marriages). She was called to her reward in March 1898. Four children were born to this union, names as follows: Mary L wife of Paul S. Dee of Cairo, Ill; Darnall S, Richard W and Joel J. On Feb 14, 1900 Mr. Denham married Louise A. Abraham who was born in Mt. Sterling, Ky the daughter of an excellent family. This union is without issue. Mr. Denman is a member of the Christian Church, of which he has been deacon for a number of years and a liberal supporter, being interested in all phases of church work. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons in which he has atained to the degree of a Knight Templar, and the Knights of Pythias. Personally, Mr. Denman is a man whom everybody likes - genial, jovial, honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men and he is always ready to do his part in furthering the interests of Putnam County.