Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 6 February 2005

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GEORGE L. DENISE, farmer; P. O. Franklin; son of John and Mary (Lane) Denise; was born March 5,1809, in Montgomery Co., Ohio, on the west bank of the Great Miami River; his parents were natives of Middlesex Co., N. J., and, July 4, 1808, they arrived in Cincinnati, where they remained a short time only and then came to Montgomery County; he attended school there till 12 or 14 years of age in a log cabin; his father died about this time and his mother again married, to John H. Schenck; he worked on a farm till nearly 19 years old, then went to learn the blacksmith trade with John Molleson; he served four and one-half years and then formed a partnership with William Conover, which lasted one year. He then bought a blacksmith shop at Carlisle, where he remained six years, then came to Franklin and opened a shop on Center street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, where he carried on a heavy business till 1859. Mr. D. was very successful in his business, as he started with nothing, and, when he retired from his trade, he had accumulated $30,000; he then bought two farms in this township—one of 169 acres and the other of 98; he lived in town and carried on farming; he has since sold the 169 acres, but has a fine brick residence on an eminence in town, with 4 acres of land; also one house and lot on the bank of the canal, between Fifth and