Obit: Denney, James W. (1839 - 1912)

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Surnames: DENNEY EDWARDS PRKHILL

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 03/07/1912

Denney, James W. (11 APR 1839 - 26 FEB 1912)

As announced in last week’s issue of the Phonograph, James W. Denney, one of the early settlers of Colby and vicinity, passed from this life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F.A. Parkhill, at Vancouver, Wash., on Monday afternoon, Feb. 26th, 1912, aged 72 years, 11 months and 15 days..

James W. Denney was born in Susquehanna Co., Penn., April 11th, 1839, where he resided until manhood. He served in a Pennsylvania regiment in the Civil War until wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor, when he returned to his home. He was married in 1864 to Elizabeth A. Edwards. In 1870 he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and shortly after to Black River Falls, Wis., where he resided until the spring of 1873, when he came to Colby. He took up a homestead on Section 35, township 29, range 2 east, now town of Holeton, Marathon Co., where he continued to reside until the fall of 1902, when he sold his farm and moved into the village of Abbotsford, Wis. His wife died Feb. 25th, 1903, after which time he made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Parkhill, and removed with them to Vancouver, Wash., about three years ago.

Jim Denney, as he was familiarly called by his hosts of friends, was enjoying his usual health and was working about the place every day. It was after dinner when he went out to attend to some light work, that Death called him to the Home on high. His son-in-law went to the field soon after and found him lying on the ground, beside a block he had been sitting on, and immediately called assistance, but neighbor and friend Jim, had passed from this life.

He leaves to mourn his death, his daughter, Blanche C., Mrs. F.A. Parkhill; son Harry J. who resides at Duluth, Minn., and hosts of friends.

The remains reached Colby, Saturday morning, accompanied by F.A. Parkhill, Harry J. Denney, and Mr. and Mrs. N.E. Denney, and were met by a delegation of masons. The funeral was held from the M.E. Church at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, under the auspices of Colby Lodge No. 204, F.A.&M., of which lodge he was one of the charter members. Rev. Wm. E. Marsh delivered a short sermon, after which the Masonic burial service was carried out and the body laid to rest beside his wife in Colby Cemetery.