Son of German immigrants. He was orphaned by an influenza epidemic at a young age, and sometime between 1853 and 1855 (by age 10) he was shipped west on an orphan train, ending up in Michigan. He also supposedly had a sister, but they must have been split up and adopted by different families, and they were probably never reunited. William was adopted by the Trott family. The story goes that Mr. Trott burned all of William's adoption papers so that William's age could be hidden and the Trott family could continue receiving the financial benefits that accompanied the adoption of orphans. In 1863, at the age of 18, William enlisted in the 94th regiment of the Illinois Infantry, Co. B, and fought in the Civil War. He was transferred to the 37th Regiment, Co. F, in 1865 and discharged from Houston, TX in May 1866. William married Malinda Hawkins 3 years later in McLean Co, IL. They had 8 children there.
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From The Leroy Journal (Leroy, IL): 5 Nov 1909
DIED AT HARVEL
William Denman, a former resident of Downs township, died at his home near Harvel, Ill., last Monday at 2 p.m. from a stroke of paralysis with which he was stricken one week ago last Sunday, aged 62 years. Mr. Denman was born in New York and came with his parents to Illinois when 7 years old. He was a member of Co. B., 94th Reg. in the Civil War. He was married December 23, 1899 to Mrs. Malinda C. Hawkins, in Downs township, where they lived until about seven years ago, when they moved to Harvel. His wife and seven children survive. They are Mrs. John Towns and Frank, of LeRoy; Mrs. C. N. Callons [sic], of Shelbina, Mo.; Mrs. Nancy Lindehouse of Iowa; Mrs Stella Reynolds, near home, and Edward and Howard at home. Internment was at the Shilo [sic] cemetery.
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From The Leroy Journal (Leroy, IL): 5 Nov 1909
DIED AT HARVEL
William Denman, a former resident of Downs township, died at his home near Harvel, Ill., last Monday at 2 p.m. from a stroke of paralysis with which he was stricken one week ago last Sunday, aged 62 years. Mr. Denman was born in New York and came with his parents to Illinois when 7 years old. He was a member of Co. B., 94th Reg. in the Civil War. He was married December 23, 1899 to Mrs. Malinda C. Hawkins, in Downs township, where they lived until about seven years ago, when they moved to Harvel. His wife and seven children survive. They are Mrs. John Towns and Frank, of LeRoy; Mrs. C. N. Callons [sic], of Shelbina, Mo.; Mrs. Nancy Lindehouse of Iowa; Mrs Stella Reynolds, near home, and Edward and Howard at home. Internment was at the Shilo [sic] cemetery.
Son of German immigrants. He was orphaned by an influenza epidemic at a young age, and sometime between 1853 and 1855 (by age 10) he was shipped west on an orphan train, ending up in Michigan. He also supposedly had a sister, but they must have been split up and adopted by different families, and they were probably never reunited. William was adopted by the Trott family. The story goes that Mr. Trott burned all of William's adoption papers so that William's age could be hidden and the Trott family could continue receiving the financial benefits that accompanied the adoption of orphans. In 1863, at the age of 18, William enlisted in the 94th regiment of the Illinois Infantry, Co. B, and fought in the Civil War. He was transferred to the 37th Regiment, Co. F, in 1865 and discharged from Houston, TX in May 1866. William married Malinda Hawkins 3 years later in McLean Co, IL. They had 8 children there.
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From The Leroy Journal (Leroy, IL): 5 Nov 1909
DIED AT HARVEL
William Denman, a former resident of Downs township, died at his home near Harvel, Ill., last Monday at 2 p.m. from a stroke of paralysis with which he was stricken one week ago last Sunday, aged 62 years. Mr. Denman was born in New York and came with his parents to Illinois when 7 years old. He was a member of Co. B., 94th Reg. in the Civil War. He was married December 23, 1899 to Mrs. Malinda C. Hawkins, in Downs township, where they lived until about seven years ago, when they moved to Harvel. His wife and seven children survive. They are Mrs. John Towns and Frank, of LeRoy; Mrs. C. N. Callons [sic], of Shelbina, Mo.; Mrs. Nancy Lindehouse of Iowa; Mrs Stella Reynolds, near home, and Edward and Howard at home. Internment was at the Shilo [sic] cemetery.
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From The Leroy Journal (Leroy, IL): 5 Nov 1909
DIED AT HARVEL
William Denman, a former resident of Downs township, died at his home near Harvel, Ill., last Monday at 2 p.m. from a stroke of paralysis with which he was stricken one week ago last Sunday, aged 62 years. Mr. Denman was born in New York and came with his parents to Illinois when 7 years old. He was a member of Co. B., 94th Reg. in the Civil War. He was married December 23, 1899 to Mrs. Malinda C. Hawkins, in Downs township, where they lived until about seven years ago, when they moved to Harvel. His wife and seven children survive. They are Mrs. John Towns and Frank, of LeRoy; Mrs. C. N. Callons [sic], of Shelbina, Mo.; Mrs. Nancy Lindehouse of Iowa; Mrs Stella Reynolds, near home, and Edward and Howard at home. Internment was at the Shilo [sic] cemetery.
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