Zachariah T. Denison of Texas County, Missouri

Zachariah T. Denison, farmer and stock dealer of Sherrill Township, was born in Hart County, Ky., February 1, 1847, and is the son of Zachariah and Margaret (Isbel) Denison, who came to this county in 1848, settling on the farm where the subject of this sketch is now living, and there followed farming. Previous to this the Denison family had emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky. Mr. Denison was a Democrat in politics, and died at the age of fifty-one. Mrs. Denison was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died at the age of forty-two. Both passed their last days in Texas County. Their family consisted of ten children, six sons and four daughters, Zachariah T. being the second in order of birth. Like the majority of country boys, he assisted his father on the farm and attended the common schools, where he received but a limited education, owing to the breaking out of the Civil War. He remained under the parental roof until about nineteen years of age, when he began farming for himself. October 6, 1868, he married Miss Sarah C. Johnson, a native of Texas County, Mo., and the daughter of Frank Johnson. This union resulted in the birth of eight children: Henry C., Francis L., Samantha L., Delilah A., Lucy C., Frances L., Amanda E. and Maggie T. Soon after marriage Mr. Denison located on the farm where he now lives, and is now the owner of 360 acres of land, of which about 125 are under cultivation. In connection with his farming interest he has been engaged in buying and shipping stock. As a business man he has met with excellent success, and is considered one of the solid, substantial men of the county. He is a man who takes an active interest in schools, churches and other laudable enterprises, and has been a resident of Texas County for forty years. Mr. Denison is a Democrat politically, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.