Capt. S. E. Dent
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas: Comprising a Condensed History of the State, a Number of Biographies of Distinguished Citizens of the Same, a Brief Descriptive History of Each of the Counties; Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1890; 820 pages. Transcribed and contributed by Gary Telford.
Capt. S. E. Dent, merchant, Riverside, Arkansas. This prominent and highly esteemed business man owes his nativity to
Putman County, Illinois, where his birth occurred, in September, 1843, and is the son of James and Dorcas (Berkshire)
Dent, she a sister of Judge Berkshire, of the Old Dominion. Both parents were natives of Virginia, and were married in
Monongalia County, W. Virginia, where they remained until 1838. Then they immigrated to Illinois, and located in Putman
County, where they passed their declining years, both dying since the war. They had a family of ten children, six now
living: Mrs. Nancy McCoy (in Illinois), Mrs. Emily Parrott (widow of Judge Parrott), Margaret (deceased), Mrs. Lucinda
Douglas (in Johnson County, Iowa), Mrs. Gilla Taylor (in Red Cloud, Nebraska), Judge J.B. and S.E. (who is the youngest
of the family). The last named was principally reared and educated in Illinois, and his principal occupation in boyhood
was in attending the common schools and in assisting on the farm. He remained under the parental roof until the breaking
out of the war, and although quite young at that time, he determined to enlist. Through the influence of his brother,
Judge J.B. Dent, he was successful and enlisted first in the First Illinois Cavalry. He was captured at Lexington,
Missouri, and about a year later the regiment was mustered out. He went to Nashville in the Sixth United States
Infantry, and served until the surrender. He was captain of Company F, Sixth Regiment, at the time of the battle of
Nashville. He was an intrepid and fearless young man, and fought his way with vigor.
After being mustered out he went home, and in March, 1867, came to Woodruff County, Arkansas, located on a farm, and has since been engaged in tilling the soil. In September 1885, he embarked in mercantile pursuits at Riverside, carries a large and select stock of goods, and also buys and sells cotton and cotton seed. He will handle about 1,000 bales of cotton this season. His marriage occurred in 1878 to Miss Ella K. Darling, by whom he has two children living: Emma and Robert both attending school in Illinois. Capt. Dent was married the second time, June 1, 1885, to Miss Blanche Bancroft, a daughter of Judge Bancroft, and the result of this union was two children: Major and Olga. Mr. Dent is a member of the Masonic order, K.T., K. of H. and K. & L. of H. The Dent family are relatives of the Grant family. Capt. Dent has always been a Democrat in politics, and, although not and aspirant to any political office, he takes a deep interest in the political welfare of the country. He organized the first Democratic club of Woodruff, in the campaign of 1888, and the club is still in existence. He is a prosperous and influential citizen of the county.
After being mustered out he went home, and in March, 1867, came to Woodruff County, Arkansas, located on a farm, and has since been engaged in tilling the soil. In September 1885, he embarked in mercantile pursuits at Riverside, carries a large and select stock of goods, and also buys and sells cotton and cotton seed. He will handle about 1,000 bales of cotton this season. His marriage occurred in 1878 to Miss Ella K. Darling, by whom he has two children living: Emma and Robert both attending school in Illinois. Capt. Dent was married the second time, June 1, 1885, to Miss Blanche Bancroft, a daughter of Judge Bancroft, and the result of this union was two children: Major and Olga. Mr. Dent is a member of the Masonic order, K.T., K. of H. and K. & L. of H. The Dent family are relatives of the Grant family. Capt. Dent has always been a Democrat in politics, and, although not and aspirant to any political office, he takes a deep interest in the political welfare of the country. He organized the first Democratic club of Woodruff, in the campaign of 1888, and the club is still in existence. He is a prosperous and influential citizen of the county.