Jacob Denney was born on June 10, 1852, the son of Alford and Sarah (Kingery) Denney. Alford Denney was born on January 21, 1821, and was the son of James and Catherine (Marshall) Denney. He was married to Sarah Kingery, who was born on October 28, 1823, in Union county, Indiana and who was the daughter of Jacob Kingery, who was a farmer in Union county and who spent the latter part of his life in Buck Creek and Vernon townships of this county. James Denney, who was the father of Alford Denney, was a native of North Carolina. He came with his family and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, and was in the War of 1812. He was married twice. The latter part of his life was spent in Hancock, county, Indiana, on a farm.

Alford Denney, his son, was six years old when his parents moved from North Carolina to Wayne county, Ohio. There Alford received most of his education. He later came with his parents to Hancock county, where he became a large landowner, possessing a tract of five hundred acres in Vernon township. He was a member of the German Dunkard church. He was the father of the following children: Ison, of Vernon township, who was married three times, first to Manda Cook, second to Lydia Southard, and third to Elizabeth White; Jacob, who is the subject of this sketch, and Mary Catherine.

Jacob Denney was educated in the common schools and was married on August 28, 1873, to Mary Bock, who was born on July 1, 1854, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and who was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gabel) Bock. Samuel Bock was a farmer and was also a minister in the German Baptist church. He was the father of the following children: David, Daniel, Samuel, Elizabeth, Jacob, Catherine, Daniel, Benjamin and Mary. The father of Samuel Bock was David Bock, who was born in Pennsylvania. To the marriage of Jacob and Mary (Bock) Denney was born the following children: Ison, who married Dora Wilson and who has two children, Bessie Jane and Albert; Samuel, who lives in Vernon township and who married Sophronia Simpson and who has one child, Gordon; Alva; Lee, who lives in Anderson, Indiana, and who married Bertha Enoch, and has five children, Forest, Leslie, Mildred, Merlit and Margery; Herman, who is deceased; an infant daughter and Albert J. The wife of the subject of this sketch is a member of the Dunkard church. Jacob Denney is a Democrat in politics and was at one time constable. He is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land and does general farming.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 933-34.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 9, 2001.

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