HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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ney founded is now conducted by his brother under the old name, and has had a continuous history of fifty-two years, with a wide reputation for honorable dealing.
EBENEZER DENNEY, now the head of the firm of Denney Brothers, furniture dealers. Aurora, Ill., was born in Kirby Moorside, Aug. 15, 1840, came to the United States as a boy 13 years old, and grew to manhood in Aurora. In 18G1 he enlisted in the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His regiment saw service in the West, and Mr. Denney was for some time attached to the Staff of Gen. M. F. Force. At various times he was detached from his regiment to fill important positions, and was later appointed Second Lieutenant in the Fiftieth United States Regiment Colored Troops, in which rank he was mustered out in the spring of 1866, after nearly five years of continuous service. After the close of his military life he returned to Aurora, and joined his brother in the furniture business of which he is now the head. His connection with the house, which began with his arrival in this country, has covered a period of forty-eight years, and he is known as one of the oldest merchants now in business in Aurora, where he is also a Director of the Aurora National Bank. At the present time he is serving his third term as a member of the Aurora Board of Aldermen, and was City Treasurer during 1901 and 1902. He has also been Treasurer of the Township. Mr. Denney is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His first marriage occurred in 1860 with Miss Mary Elliott, daughter of W. T. Elliott, who died ten months after her marriage. In 1865 Mr. Denney married Miss Mary Nix, of Raymond, Miss.
HALLIFIELD DENNEY, retired merchant, was born in Kirby Moorside, Jan. 27, 1833, and spent the first twenty-one years of his life in England, where he was reared to mercantile life in his father's store. Coming to the United States in 1854, he joined his brothers, William and Joseph Denney, in the furniture business in Aurora, being continuously connected with this business until 1894, and doing his full share to give it the high standing it has always possessed. That year he sold out and retired to enjoy the fruits of a well-spent life. Long regarded as one of the pillars of the First
Congregational church, the year 1904 will complete his half century of membership in that body. In 1854 he married Miss Alice A. Hardin, also a native of Kirby Moorside, and their voyage to this country was their wedding trip. Their first home was in Aurora, and here they have since resided.
THOMAS DENNEY, retired merchant, was born in Kirby Moorside, April 1, 1826, where he was reared to the business of manufacturing and dealing in furniture. After his marriage he established himself in the furniture trade at Kirby Moorside, where he remained until 1855. In that year he came to the United States, and established himself in Aurora, where his brothers, Joseph, William, and Halli-field, were already in business. Upon his arrival he entered the store, and later became one of the partners in the business. He took a prominent part in the upbuilding of the business, and was identified with it until 1882. That year he retired from the firm of Denney Brothers and started a furniture business of his own, which he conducted for ten years, and then sold it to retire altogether from business. In 1855 he became a member of the First Congregational church, into which three of his brothers had already been received, and of which he has been a stanch and faithful member to the present time. It is an interesting fact that the five brothers should have united with this church, and that four of them have worshipped in this church about a half-century each. Mr. Denney married Miss Mary Fowler, of Kirby Moorside, in 1850. She died in Aurora in 1899.
HARVEY B. DENSMORB (deceased), pioneer, Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, Ill., was born in Windsor County, Vt, Sept. 15, 1815, son of Job and Mary I. (Sprague) Dens-more, and grandson of Israel Sprague, a Revolutionary soldier who was a participant in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. The subject of this sketch grew up in his native State, and was educated in the schools and Cortlandville Academy, Cortlandville, N. Y. He came to Kane County, Ill., in 1836, locating in what is now Sugar Grove Township. His trip from Vermont to Chicago was made by team and Chicago was then a mere village. After spending a short time in Chicago, he purchased a land claim in Sugar Grove Township and
