Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-08-19
DEATH OF HON. GEORGE IL.
DENNIS.

'HOi~' aiA VI gSaiS, ohA hohS'S S~S''
as only the consciousness of earthly
duties well and faithfully performed
alone can bring, he quietly breathed
his last at his home, near Kingston,
Somerset county, at noon on Sunday.
He was conscious up to within a few
hours of his death, although it was OBJ
served by those in attendance for sew
eral days previous to his death that the
sands of his life were fast ebbing He
suffered from general breaking up of
the system, result of his unremitting
labors, and from malarial affections.
During the past two years, although he
had sought for health and rest in places
recommended by his physicians, his
system was very debilitated, but still
his recovery was not considered hope
less. AS late as last Thursday two weeks
he was able to visit Ocean City to at
tend meeting of the stockholders of
the Atlantic Hotel Company, of which
corporation he was a director. His
demise was peaceful, his last mo
ments being cheered by the presence
of his faithful wife and loving children.
DIR. Dennis was born at White Haven,
Somerset county, April 18th, 1921,
and was son of the late John U.
Dennis, who resided in this county,
about six miles below Pocomoke City.
Dannock Dennis, the first of the name
in this country, settled in Somerset
county in 1905. He was a man of in
fluence in the early days of the colony.
His youngest son, John Dennis, the
direct ancestor of the deceased, was for
many years one of the judges of the
Provincial Court, having been appoint
ed to that position in 1910. I.ittleton
Dennis son of the Judge, was also a
prominent lawyer, and was for many
years Judge of the court of Appeals
Of Maryland. His brother, John Den
mis-, was elected a representative in
Congress in 1897, at the early age of
twenty.six, and was re-elected for five
terms successfully, until his death. Both
earned high distinction for ability and
integrity. John Dennis, son of the
last named John, was also representa-
tive in Congress for two terms, and
Littleton =. Dennis died while serving
term in that body in 1884. Senator
Dennis was the seventh in descent from
the first settler. HIS academic educa-
ton was received from private tutor,
and at the old Washington Academy,
near Princess Anne, at that time a
school of high repute. Subsequently
he graduated at the Polytechnic Insti-
tute, of Troy, N. Y, and after leaving
that institution went to the University
of Virginia. Determining upon medi-
cine as prof ssion, he studied for two
years at the University of Pennsylvania,
graduated in 1884, and Immediately
commenced practice. He soon found
his sphere of duty wide one, covering
an extent of many miles, and the
eighteen years in which he devoted
himself with untiring assiduity to the
profession, while they brought with
them we'll deserved laurels and a crown
ing reputation for charity and good
deeds, told seriously upon his health,
and neccssitated his withdrawal from
practice in 1860. But the arduous du-
ties of his profession did not engross
his attention to the exclusion of other
matters affecting the welfare Of the
country, and even while most actively
engaged in practice he took an active
interest in matters relating to public
education and in the various works of
internal improvement in our State. He
was one of the promoters of the East
ern Shore Railroad, and up to the time
of his death was president of that cor.
poration he was also a director of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, on the part
of the State, until his resignation upon
his election as Senator. In politics
he was, up to the time of the breaking
out of the war, Wing, as all of his
name had been before him upon the
new issues which then arose he attached
himself to the Democratic party, with
which he continued to act up to the
time of his death. In 1856 he was
elected delegate to the National Wing
Convention which nominated Fillmore
for President, and in 1868 to the Ma
tional Democratic Convention which
nominated Seymour, serving as vice
president of that body. He served
one term in the House of Delegates
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