ROBERT J. DENTON, one of the thrifty agriculturists of Jackson township, Sullivan county, is a native of Vigo county, Indiana, born April 23, 1839, son of Joseph W. and Anna (Miller) Denton, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Tennessee. The father came to Terre Haute, Indiana, when it was yet a small place. He located on lands near Terre Haute, where he resided with his parents, and they both died near Lewis, Indiana. Mr. Denton remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he married and moved to a farm in Honey Creek township, where he followed farm life until 1862. He then removed to Lancaster, Owen county, where he stayed one year, then went to the old home place. During this term of years by frugal and industrious habits he had succeeded in accumulating over one thousand acres of land in Vigo, Clay and Owen counties. At the time of his death he resided near Lewis, having sold the old place and purchased another farm about three miles from the old one. He died about 1878, his father having survived until 1880. Mr. Denton's mother died in 1860, and his grandmother in 1877.


Robert J. Denton remained under the paternal roof until twenty years of age, when his father gave him eighty acres of land. He then located on his own farm in Pierson township. On October 10, 1864, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Heavy Artillery, in which service he was faithful to every known duty for twelve months. He was a member of Company C. Upon his return home he engaged in farming on the place where he now lives, which land he had purchased prior to going into the army. At one time this place contained four hundred and forty acres, but has been sold off until he now has but seventy acres. He bought and sold stock for about twenty years and carried on general farming in connection with his extensive stock business. Of late years he has lived more of a retired life and enjoys the fruits of his long and strenuous life.


Mr. Denton is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Hymera. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Denton is a member. Politically he is a believer in the principles of the Republican party, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president.


He was married, October 4, 1860, to Martha Lovett, born in Ohio June 10, 1857, daughter of Jonas Lovett. Martha Lovett came to Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1859, her sister having resided here some years before. She taught school in Indiana from the time she was sixteen years of age until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Denton have been born six children, as follows: Charles A., married and resides on a farm near his father; Joseph Ellsworth, married and lives near the father; Mary Etta, deceased; Arthur, deceased; William, married and lives in Oklahoma City; and Rhoda, wife of Charles Liston.