Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-12
HEROES OF TEXAS.
.Inhn II. Denfnn.
From "Methodisn in Texas"

John B. Denton (not Paul Denton, IS
made by fiction writers of dime novelsD
gas a native of Clarke county, Arkansas.
While yet an infant he had the misfortune
to lose both his parents, L: was the
further misfortune of this uouoly Or
phsned boy to be thrown into family
destitute Of moral culture, end who
hsrdly observed the decencigs of life. 10
this wretched family, amid squalid pow
cry, young Denton performed the most
meuial offices. Until he was twelve years
old be had never enjoyed the luxury Of
hat or shoes. Disguised with this de-
graded kind Of life, he ran sTsv,
10 hopes Of lettering his condition.
Without rmiOg any detlOite plans for
the future, while scarcely GU! OF his teens,
he married. Son after this he proiessed
religion; and, with this change in his
moral nature. came yesrniDg for mental
culture and the desire to be come q minis
tor. But how could he crafty his laud-
able promptings. fortunately, his young
wife encouraged him ana tSIght him let
| tiers ut night Gy the light Of pine knots.
| 1t wss not lopg until he was licensed TO
preach, when his wonderful powers began
| TO develop.
The people OF Virgins Tera not more
surprised st the mastery elCqueuce dis
played by Patrick in the C LIBERATED 1.-THE
suit, than were the A. kansizns s. the Or
storical powers Of this unlettered and IN
cultured frontier boy This furnishes su
other illustration OF the fac. that orators,
Ike poets, are borr, not made. Yourg
Denton b d fine personal p oearsnce nd
musical voice. His language rose with the
grandeur Of the theme, until 1t would re-
mind the classical scholar Of Cicero. HIS
action was Ike tina: Of R4sclus, his use Ct
figures most appropriate. We have read
so spostrophe to water in
one Of his temperance speeches.
which, for impasstoDed eloquence, is
equal to almost anything found in our
Ian .uage. His mastery over the humln
passion WAS complete. He could touch
them as the skilled musician touches the
cords OF his instrument. Wher he sd
dressed the muititudss that fJcked to
hear him preach upon the sublime,
themes Of the gospel, his appeals were ell
but irresistible.
Mr. Denton was first admitted on trial
in the Missouri conf renee in 1888, but
his mesger support aud growing
family compe.l:d him to CIV
up travelling, He stuffed lsH,
prospered in business, paid al his debts,
ard determined 10 re-en'er the i1er-
aucY. Daring the esriy part Of 1889 ne
visited the Red!ands and preached eXteu-
slveIy. La the fSll he was readmItted
into the Arkansas Conference. ant APP
pointed to the Sulphur FIX clrcu t.
Falling in company with Rev. Littleton
Fowler the two crossed R.d r,V=r
together, snj, MI. Fowler preached his
first sermon preeChed in Texas in the
house Of R5Y. Vim. G. Duke"
II seems that DEMON and his colleague
did not have much success on their cir
cult. During the summer Preparations
were made for campmeeting in Slel-
toms Csmp-grOunds, bat Sn Iudisn raid
prevented the meeting from being held.
Returning to Arkansas for his family,
Denton removed 20 Texas, settling IN
Old Warren. For the next few years
Denton was actively engaged ss farmer,
preacher and soldier. Inuisn raids were
FRI quent in that section and Denton was
ever ready 10 Join in scouts to repel and
punish the depredstiDg and fendish red
skins.
In June, 1S4l, Denton Joined an expo
dition under General Z II. TArrGnt to
punish party Of Indians who had raided
the country, committing several muir
ders. In the engagement thst followed
Denton met his death, pierced by three
balls, one in his arm, ore in his shoulder
and one through his night breast. Den
ton was buried under The bark Of "a
vine ct the point OF 6 rocky ridge, and
not far from where Birdville stands. Ten
or twelve feet from the grave stood
large post oak tree, at the roots Of which
two stones were partially set in the
ground.
Much interest has ever attached to the
death of Denton, and many versions have
been given, sometimes in terms OF CEN
sure and at others in fulsome euiogy. NJ
meroue, also, have been the 6cEions about
the rem.ins Of Denton. "The trush in q
nutshell is,' says Colonel John Henry
Brown, in his graphic account OF the VII
lage creek fight and death Of Denton,
etc "that six or seven years ago, st the
request Of ]. j. Jsrvis, Egg, Of
Fort Worth, 8 friend Of the chill
dren of Denton, Captain Henry NJ.
Stout, (Rho was with Denton when he
was killed, and who now lives In Wood
county, Texas revisited the scene TO
seek the remains. Approaching the vicin
ity from Fort Worth, he failed to identify
the place of interment; but on going to
the spot where Denton was killed he ira
versed the old trail On which they had
travelled, and In the presence Of citizens
Of the vicinity, easily identified the tree,
attested oy the two stones. The bones
we're Cxlumed aud given in charge OF the
Rev. Mr.. White Of Grapevine, q friend Of
the children, and suit ct to their
disposal A gentleman Of
the vicinity present at the time, said al
least 200 men had told him of being pres
ent at the death and burial of Denton
nearly three times the lumber in the ex
petition"
A gallant msp, eccentric, mercurial in
temperament, Of native but uncultVated
| eloQuence, his name is bonorably pre-
served in that OF fine tributary Of the
Trinity, as well as in that OF splendid
county. tbs Is lasting. Falsehoods
drepsed in discolored gloss detrEct not
from his unique and interesting character.
|