Bengamin F. Denton

DENTON, B.F. – B.F. Denton, one of the most loved, respected and highly esteemed citizens of Washington County died at his home in Greersburg, Vineyard Township, where he had lived for many years loved and respected by all who knew him, on the 18th inst. and was buried on the following day in the cemetery near Vineyard Church. He was born in Tennessee April 27, 1848 and moved to this State with his father in December 1857. December 24, 1867 he married Miss Tillie J. McNight, which union was blessed with two sons and one daughter, who with the bereaved companion, are still living. In 1874 he professed religion and joined Vineyard Missionary Baptist Church. He was devoted to the principles of his church and continued steadfast in that faith, and contributed of the means God had blessed him with and did all he could to aid the church ion the noble work of extending the Redeemer’s cause. His daily life and walk was such as to convince the most skeptical that he was a sincere and devout Christian. He practiced what he talked and taught. Who could doubt such a man? He was a zealous worker for the cause of Christ and his greatest pleasure and happiness was in pleading the cause Him who suffered that all might have eternal life. And in exhorting sinners to turn from their sinful ways and accept Christ as their personal savior, and by his death the church and Sabbath school have lost a leader whose place will be hard to fill. We have often heard him say that “if we live right, we will die right,” which expression was fully exemplified in his triumphant death.

The funeral services were attended by a large number of neighbors, friends and relatives. During the services which were conducted by Elder G.F. Fat***, Pastor of the Vineyard Church. There were few dry eyes in the large congregation. Although Brother Denton’s presence will no longer be felt in the world again, he has left an influence for good that will go on and on for many years to come. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, yet with the spirit they will rest from their labors and their works to follow them.” (Poem unreadable) – One Who Loved Him [Fayetteville Democrat 2/25/1892]

Matilda J. Denton, widow of Benjamin F. Denton, who died February 28, 1892, filed Widow Application #13520 with the Confederate Pension Board of Washington County for a Confederate widow pension and it was received as allowed August 14, 1912 at the State, citing her husband’s service with Company A, 2ndArkansas Cavalry from 1862 thru 1865. [State of Arkansas Confederate Pension Archives]