| Birth: | Apr. 9, 1854
Arbacoochee
Cleburne County
Alabama, USA | | Death: | Mar. 19, 1936
Helicon (Winston County)
Winston County
Alabama, USA | 
Seaborn McDaniel (S.M.) Denson was born near Arbacoochee AL in Randolph County (now Cleburne County), the son of a Methodist minister, Levi Phillips Denson. His mother was Juliann (Jones) Denson. He married Sidney S. Burdette in Cleburne County AL on 26 June 1874. There were eight children born of this marriage: Ida, Iva, Seaborn I. ("Shell"), James Thomas ("Toss"), William Philpot (Phil), Sidney Whitfield ("Whitt"), Robert E., and Evan E. Denson. S.M. Denson and his brother, Thomas Jackson (T.J.) Denson, were successful teachers, directors, and song leaders of Sacred Harp (fa-sol-la) singing throughout Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, in the early 1900s and up to the time of their deaths. When he wasn't teaching music, he farmed. In addition to teaching Sacred Harp music, he also played the fife and the violin. In 1911, he and his brother assisted Joseph Stephen James in his revision of the Original Sacred Harp Songbook (compiled by William Walker and B.F. White in the mid-1800s). In 1933 the brothers bought the rights to the 1911 Sacred Harp revision, which eventually led to a publication of the Denson revision in 1936. He is credited with writing the alto part to many of the old Sacred Harp songs as well as writing a number of his own songs for the 1911 revision. He and his wife moved to Winston County AL after their children were grown. He died at the home of his son, Seaborn I. Denson near Helicon AL on 19 March 1936 and was buried in Pisgah Cemetery, near the present day towns of Nesmith and Addison AL. In 1944, a monument was erected to the memory of these Denson brothers on the grounds of the Winston County Courthouse at Double Springs AL to commemorate their ceaseless efforts in promoting Sacred Harp singing during the course of their lives. He was affectionately known to many as "Uncle Seab."
Family links:
Parents:
Levi Phillips Denson (1819 - 1889)
Juliann Jones Denson (1822 - 1898)
Spouse:
Sidney Seward Burdette Denson (1853 - 1928)*
Children:
Ida Octavia Denson McCoy (1877 - 1952)*
Iva Denson Blake (1879 - 1918)*
Seaborn Ivy Denson (1882 - 1964)*
James Thomas Denson (1884 - 1952)*
William Philpot Denson (1887 - 1949)*
Sidney Whitfield Denson (1890 - 1964)*
Robert E. Denson (1892 - 1983)*
Evan E. Denson (1895 - 1933)*
*Calculated relationship
Inscription:
Daddy a lover of music having taught over 200 schools.
| | | Burial:
Pisgah Cemetery
Addison
Winston County
Alabama, USA |
Created by: William Bjornstad
Record added: Jun 19, 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 27673269 |
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