Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-02-13
LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS.
An Iowa Mans Delightful "reminiscences
---Some Noteworthy Anecdotes---The
Martyr Presidents Honesty and the
Little GIANTS Prediction
Davenport (Iowa) Gazette


For the last fifteen years Mr.. Nixon
Denton has been one of the most prom
inent men in Delaware county, in this
State. His residence was in Manches-
ter, where he was as popular as any
citizen Of town can we'll become.
Nick" Denton was everybody's friend.
lie possessed a fine education, was one
Of the noblest looking men in the State.
and was brilliant in mind. He cared
little for public honors- else he might
have become noted man in Iowa. Mr..
Denton went to Texas couple of weeks
since with three or four car loads OF
blooded cattle to offer to stock-breedcrs
in that State, and met with an accident
on the railroad that caused his death.
His remains were brought to Manches-
ter the other day and buried. A resi-
dent of this city, who knows Denton
well, has related to us an anecdote
which illustrates Nick's readiness in
repartee, and has given us the details of
incidents which will be read with inter
est by every one who reveres the name
of Abraham Lincoln, by every one who
cherishes the memory of Stephen A.
Douglas.
When the Illinois Central railroad was
being built, Nick Denton" was one of
the civil engineers who made surveys
for it, and superintended it's construc-
ton. After trains were running between
the northern term:ni, Dunleith and Chi
cago, to Cairo, the civil engineers indul-
ged in a banquet at hotel in Centralia,
John Wyman-afterward Brig. General
Jack" Wyman, who was killed at Vicks-
burg was one of those engineers.
While the festivities were at their height,
Jack Wyman rose to propose volun-
teer toast. He raised his glass" Here's
to the two Nicks: Old Nick and Nick
Dentonn The merriment was furious
the joke was on Denton. The victim
waited until quiet had been restored
and then raised his glass" Here's to
the two Jacks, Jack Ass and Jack Wy
man. 1t lasted Wyman until his ca
reer closed. When in the army with
his brigade he would get the recognition
from far distant voice Heres to
the two Jacksn in the tones of pro-
| lOnged hail. sl -..
| The Illinois Central was not fenced
in" in its early day, and cattle were fire.
quently killed by the trains Much
trouble with the owners of live stock
ensued. At last two COWS belonging to
a Methodist minister in the central part
Of the State were killed. The company
resolved to make test of it. The pres
ident of the Central directed Denton to
take $500 in gold and go to Springfield
and retain Abraham Lincoln for the
company Denton was we'll acquainted
with Lincoln He did as directed; en-
tered Mr.. Lincoln's Office and told him
"the Illinois Central wished to retain
him as counsel in that Methodist min
ister's cow case" Mr.. Lincoln replied:
Il am sorry you didn't come yesterday,
Nick, for | have been retained by the
preacher and his friends" Dentor ex-
planned fully the importance of the
case to the company. and then, pulling
two buckskin bags filled with gold out
of his pockets, he put them down on
the table before the lawyer, with a
startling chink, saying: "Mr Lincoln
the president of the company author
$500 to take our case" Mr.. Lincoln
jumped to his feet with anger over this
apparent attempt to hire him to aban-
don his client, and replied Nick Den
ton, / have giYen my promise to that
preacher and his friends, and the I'LL
nois Central hasn't money enough to
buy me away from his side. don't
know that ever shall get dollar from
him-but I'll do my best to make your
company pay for those COWS" Denton
used to say that he never felt so mean
and small in his life as he did at that
moment. And in 1860, though a Dem
ocrat, he used to say, during the presi-
dental campaign, that Lincoln was the
noblest man in America.
In 1860, Douglas, Democratic candi-
date for president, made a speech in
Dubuque. Denton, who had been &C
quainted with Douglas for many years,
went to Cedar Rapids with committee
to accompany the senator to Dubuque.
On the way Denton and Douglas had a
private talk together. Judge" said
Denton, "what do you think Of the
campaign how is it coming out?
What's best for young man to do who
has a notion of getting into politics ?"
"Nick," replied Douglas, as things are
now, if I was young man ambitious
for political place would support Lin
coin. He will be elected-and therell
be war! The entire South will withdraw
from the Union; both sections will ap-
peal to arms. All the northern Demo-
Gratis who support me will uphold Lin
coins administration to save the Union.
No other course will be possible Or
tolerated. The slave holders will invite
war, and they'll get war till they are
sick of it. War will free the slaves;
there'll be devastation and ruin in the
South
Denton reported the conversation to
some Of his friends the evening Of cleo
ton day After the result of the cleo
ton was known, Denton was firm in his
belief, and didn't conceal it, that war
was at hand, when almost everybody
else thought different, and events proved
that Mr.. Douglas was correct.
Christian Names in England
In looking through many volumes of
county records, have, of course, seen
many thousands and tens of thousands