Third Generation

10. James Madison DENNIS⁴ was born in 1835 in Tennessee.¹

Madison was not listed as living with his mother Sarah in her divorce proceedings in 1857 - neither was Benjamin who is known to have been married by that date. Either he had married, moved away, or died. His name was clearly "Madison" in the 1850 census.

In 1860 in Madison Co, living two doors from Benjamin Dennis was "Matthew" Dennis, listed as age 22. His wife was Flora Dennis and is reported to have been Flora Thaxton, sister to Rhoda Thaxton who married the eldest brother Richard. She was listed as being age 26. There were three children: Martha age 6, Calvin 2, and Blake 2. If Matthew, or Madison, was the father of these children, he would have been only about 14 when Martha was born. The 1850 census gave Madison as being age 15, or born about 1835 which would have made him about 25 in 1860 and then he would have been about 19 when Martha was born - much more reasonable.

The 1870 census provided a clue to his name. This time he was listed as "James" Dennis. Probably named for President James Madison. His family was living in Seminary Precinct, Hopkins Co, Kentucky, p.142, Hh 142.
James Dennis age 37, b. TN [b.1833]. Flora was listed as age 29 [she wasn't]
Children: Martha 16, Calvin 11, Blakely 11, Sarah 10, Flora 8, Benjamin 6, Roda 4, James 3, Bettie, age 1. All the children were born in Tennessee except for Bettie who is listed as born in Illinois.

1880 Census. Monroe Precinct, Pope Co, IL, Hh 147
James Dennis, age 50
Flory Belle, 48, wife
Sarah, 20, dau. Flora, 18, dau. Benjamin 17, son. James, 16, son. Bellie, 12, dau. Henry, 10, son. Cansada, 4, dau - only child born in Illinois

James Madison DENNIS and Flora THAXTON were married about 1852. Flora THAXTON, daughter of James THAXTON and Cynthia BASSHAM, was born in 1834 in Tennessee.

1850 Census, Jackson Co TN, District 12, Hh 550
Cyntha Thaxton, age 35, b. TN
Flora 16, Meradith 15 [m], Blake 13, Rhoda 7, Delia 5, Uriah 2

James Madison DENNIS and Flora THAXTON had the following children:

77	i.	Martha DENNIS was born in 1854 in Tennessee.
78	ii.	Calvin DENNIS was born in 1858 in Tennessee. http://www.tngenweb.org/jackson/court_reels/court_reel_65.htm Jackson Co TN Court Records - Loose Papers, abstracts DENNIS, JOHN H. & DUDNEY, S.S. vs MURPHY, CALVIN, et al Ch 1896 COMPROMISE: Complainants dismiss, Calvin Murphy assume court costs. BILL OF COMPLAINT: 11 Sept 1886, Calvin Murphy & wife Kissie Murphy executed mortgage deed to John H. Dennis, land 1st Dist of Jackson Co., bounded north by Wm & Denie Patterson, east by John P. Murray, west by Wm Stephens being the same land Calvin Murphy purchased of Wm Steephens, 100 acres, more or less. Some money still unpaid.
79	iii.	Blake DENNIS was born in 1858 in Tennessee.
80	iv.	Sarah DENNIS was born in 1860 in Tennessee.
81	v.	Flora DENNIS was born in 1862 in Tennessee.
82	vi.	Benjamin DENNIS was born in 1864 in Tennessee.
83	vii.	Rhoda DENNIS was born in 1866 in Tennessee.
84	viii.	James DENNIS was born in 1867 in Tennessee.
85	ix.	Bettie DENNIS was born in 1869 in Illinois.
86	x.	Henry DENNIS was born in 1870 in Tennessee.
87	xi.	Cansada DENNIS was born in 1876 in Illinois.