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"Settling Nemaha County" The story in the Courier-Tribune last week "Deputy Killed in 1866 to be Honored" fits into the project the Nemaha County Historical Society is starting which is called "Settling of Nemaha County" With our new computer and software we are attempting to catalogue all the items we have in the museum. We are also hoping to add all new items as we acquired during this time and complete this in the next three years. This will be a busy three years at the Museum. We could use more stories like the one concerning Jesse Dennis. There is a lot more to this story that has not been told and which we are learning . As Paul Harvey would say "Now the rest of the story" This Friday, May 5, 2006, Jesse Dennis will be honored at the State because of the fact he had died in the line of duty as a deputy of the Nemaha County Sheriff posse in 1866, some 140 years ago. Jesse Dennis was a young man with a family of six children and one to be born after he was shot down by what was earlier called a desperado. He was a law abiding citizen who was willing to help the Nemaha County Sheriff try and put a stop to lawlessness in this county in the early day. Jesse must have came to Nemaha County about 1856 as this is when his parents came and settled a mile south of Seneca, before there was a town know as Seneca. . He would have been about 25 years old at the time. I do not know if he was married at this time. Ten years later when he was murdered he had six children and one on the way when he died.. Should any one have more information we would like to add it to our history at NCHS and I will add it to my web page for all to see. It will likely grow in time as we collect more information. The web page is at www.seneca-ks.com. This we do know of his family: at this time. Jesse Dennis was the son of one of the early settlers to the area by the name of Batson and Mary Ann Callender Dennis. Baston was born in Henry County, Kentucky. Mary Ann Callender was born near Richmond Va. and moved to Kentucky as a young woman where she was married to Barston Dennis. They moved to Johnson County in Indiana, lived there about eight years They then moved to a farm near Blooomington Ill and remained there until1856. At this time they moved to Kansas and locating on a squatters clam (/a) one mile south of what is now Seneca, Kansas. There were seven children in the family, Samuel , Sally , Joseph, John H, Jesse, Batson Jr. and Nancy. The father, Batson live on the farm south of Seneca until he died in 1877. The family cemetery was located on this land on hill overlooking the Nemaha River. This cemetery grew in time and was used even after there was a Seneca cemetery. Today the cemetery is in the center of the farm however it is fenced and has the appearance of a cemetery that has had someone giving it some care. The fences are kept up and it is not over-run with brush or fallen trees. It gives one the feeling of a peaceful place where those before us are at rest. The cemetery is on a hill which rises some 75 to 100 feet from the floor of the flood plain of the Nemaha River. There are many trees which have been there for many years. There are many large grave markers and also many small ones. There may be unmarked graves or graves where the small stones have been covered. It would be interesting to know how many are buried within its boundaries. There are two articles regards the tragic death of Jesse Dennis, one in the history relating to Nemaha County and the other from Doniphan County where the horse thieves were from. I was aware of the article from the history of Nemaha County however had not seen the one from Doniphan County which is quite lengthy and will be on my web page soon along with some picture of the Dennis Cemetery. These pictures and information was given to me by Bill Claas of the Seneca City Police. It is indeed great that we take time to honor Jesse Dennis and those who gave their lives in the line of duty. In honoring him we honor all law enforcement people who make the world a safe place to live and raise a family. It is quite likely they honoring Jesse here in Nemaha County at the time of his death. Nemaha County is a good place to live and it is because of the people that care and wanted a safe and law-abiding place to bring up their families. We appreciate good law enforcement and the people will respect good law-enforcing. We should let those who risk their lives at times to maintain law and order know that we appreciate their dedication. I am hoping this will help generation more information on this tragedy that happened some 140 years ago. Should you have such information or photos from the past to share with others please contact one of the Nemaha County Historical Society at P. O. Box 41, Seneca, Ks, 66538 or contact a board member. (/a) One who
moves onto free land without a deed and claims it to be theirs by living
there.
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