The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1916-05-19


Phillip ]. Dennison, son IL th'
late Robert R. and Nancy Wake
Dennison, one Of a family Of sixteer
children, was born on the hill OF
the South side of Chesterfield. this
county, and near the former village
OF Lone Elm. Novemer 22, 1851. ant
passed to his final rest, in Lexing
ton, Tenn, in his former home anc
the present home of his cousin. Mrs
R0zetta Blount, at the hour of 11:40
last Saturday morning. May 18th
1915. For the past few years Mr.
Dennison had been apparently in
declining health, with occasional
rallies, but his last illness was NOT
regarded as unusually serious until
about a week before his death, as
shown by the fact that his adopted
daughter, Miss Robbie Clements
Dennison, was not called from Mem
phis until exactly a week before
Mr.. Dennieon answered the final
summons. Neither was it deemed
necessary to notify Mrs. F. H. Wat
son. at Jonesboro, Ark, until about
the same time. This reference is
made to Mrs. Watson because as
Vena Williams, a neice of the late
Mrs. P. j. Dennison, she was princi-
pallo reared in that household here
in Lexington. Mr.. Dennison him.
self did not seem to realize the
seriousness Of his condition until a
very short time before the end.
In the year 1872 our subject was
married to Miss Clemmie McKelvey,
daughter Of Turner and Tennessee,
McKelvey, who moved to Tenn. from
S. Carolina. While no children came
to bless this union, in point or affec-
tionate devotion the marriage was
a happy one, until Mrs. Dennison
died, July II. 1908.
In the year 1875 Mr.. Dennison
went into business at old Lone Elm,
with his father as a partner, we are
informed, and there he remained
until 1882, when he came to Lex
ington and bought out the grocery
business Of Howard & league (Sam
Howard and Dock" league, both
dead now, and in this grocery bust
ness Mr.. Dennison was not long af-
ter its purchase, Joined by Geo. W..
Mccall. who came over from the
Lone Elm neighborhood and pur-
chased an interest therein. The
business Of Dennison & Mccall was
located at the present W. w. Sweat
stand and in the. early part of 1884
they converted it into a dry goods
business, which they continued un-
til 1887, when MI. Mccall sold his
interest to Mr.. E. E. Muse. The
firm of Dennison & Muse stood and
did well for four years, when the
stock was divided and Mr.. Dennison
moved to the W. C. McHaney build
ing on the west corner Of the public
square, where he remained alto
gether some twelve or more years,
finally selling out to CT. McHaney
and j. R. Kirby. In 1905 MI.
Dennison took business connection
with the Nashville cotton firm Of
Gilbert Bros, which connection as a
buyer Of cotton he retained to the
last--and there are lying on his cot
ton yard today several bales Of cot
ton last bought by him, as mute re-
minders to the people Of Uncle
Phillip" in the capacity and connec-
ton in which perhaps he was best
known to the greater number Of
people.
For the period Of s years and up
to 2 years ago, MI. Dennison was
also engaged in the railroad tie bust
ness in connection with our towns
man, Mr.. T. A. Enochs, and that
business connection resulted in a
personal friendship between the
partners which remained mistaken
to Mr.. Dennison's last hour. In
that connection Mr.. Dennison also
became warmly attached in friend
ship to Mr.. W. j. Hills, Superintend-
ent of the Pm branch Of the Nash
vile, Chattanooga & St. Louis Rail-
way.
MI. Dennison is survived by three
sisters, Mrs. Francis Duke, Of this
county, Mrs. Amanda Smith, Of the
town Of Kenton, and Mrs. Mary
Myracle, Of this county; also two
brothers, Henry, Of Trenton, Gibson
county, and r. Lafayette, Of this
county. Of others nearest to him,
he is also survived by Mrs. r. H.
Watson, referred to in this obituary,
and by his adopted daughter. Miss
Robbie Clements Dennison, who was
adopted by him two or three years
ago, and who has since made her
home here with him and in Mem
phis with her mother, Mrs. Jennie