GURDON H. DENNIS WAS HERE 67 YEARS

Sycamore True Republican February 22, 1911

Gurdon H. Dennis, a well known farmer, who was one of ten children who removed with their parents from Alleghany county, N.Y., and located in Mayfield township, this county, in 1844, died at his home on the corner by Electric park, a mile and a half southwest of Sycamore, early on last Sunday morning after an illness of a few weeks of pneumonia and a complication of diseases.

His father George W. Dennis bought 40 acres in Mayfield, erected a primitive log house and later added this his farm and improved it. He devoted much of his time to his trade, that of a carpenter.

The son Gurdon H. was the fifth in the order of birth of the ten children. He was 12 years old when he arrived with his parents in Mayfield, and 14 when he left the parental roof to hew out his own destiny. After working out for three years, and when he was but 17 years old, he bought a farm of eighty acres of wild prairie, which he at once began to cultivate, and which he paid for in two years.

When he was 23 years of age, on August 29, 1855, he was married to Miss Louise Osterhout. By this union six children were born: Fremont A., Nettie A., Mary E., Carrie B., Mina L., who died in 1872; Amos H., and May , who died in 1893.

Mr. Dennis resided on the farm until 1880, when he sold it and removed to North sycamore and two years later to Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he bought a farm of 255 acres, where he resided until 1886 when he exchanged it for the farm on which he died which consists of 174 acres.

The second marriage of Mr. Dennis was solemnized on March 16, 1880, when he married Miss Edith Chatfield, daughter of Robert Chatfield. By this union three children were born: Grace C., Robert G., and Myrtle T.

Mr. Dennis was a good citizen, a man of character and good common sense, and was well known throughout this part of the county.

The funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The remains were interred in Elmwood cemetery.

Rev. J. P. Brushingham, pastor of the Methodist church, conducted the services.