The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 812
A portrait of George W. Denton appears in this publication.

GEORGE W. DENTON.

In the death of George W. Denton, who passed away December 37, 1917. Yakima
county lost one of its substantial, public-spirited and highly honored citizens.
His demise not only brought deep sorrow to his immediate family but was greatly
regretted by many friends, all of whom esteemed him as a man of high character
and principles. A native of Missouri, he was born March 13, 1864, a son of
Absalom and Matilda (Barnes) Denton, Missouri pioneers, who later removed to
Arkansas, where George W. Denton of this review received his education in the
public schools. After laying aside his textbooks he turned his attention to
agriculture, in which line his father had also been engaged, and under his
guidance learned reliable methods in that line of business.

In 1881 Mr. Denton and his young bride came to Yakima county and he is therefore
entitled to be numbered among the honored pioneers of this section. For three
years he worked as a farm hand for others and afterward paid a visit to his old
home, but subsequently returned and again took up farm work as an employee. In
1898, however, he had acquired the means which enabled him to purchase property
and he then bought thirty acres of rich land on the upper Naches, which at that
period was covered with sagebrush. He immediately began its cultivation and
improvement and as the years passed he developed a valuable property, erecting
a fine home and planting five acres to orchard. He was always ready to embrace
the latest ideas and it was therefore but natural that success followed his
efforts.

On November 6, 1881, Mr. Denton was united in marriage to Medora Alice Parten,
also a native of Missouri, and a daughter of John and Sarah (Johnson) Parten,
who were born in Tennessee and in early life removed to Missouri, of which state
the father became a pioneer. There the mother died and the father later removed
to Arkansas, continuing as a farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Denton two children were
born: Frank, who died at the age of ten; and M. Clayton, who now manages the
old homestead. He married Florence Chase, of Yakima.

Mr. Denton throughout his life's course always displayed those qualities and
characteristics which call forth esteem and admiration. Many were the friends
whom he made in the Yakima valley and all who knew him were willing to vouch for
him to the extent of their ability, as his whole career stood out before all as
an example of honest endeavor. When death came to him many were the condolences
received by the family and the tokens of sympathy given them were touching and
came from the heart, thus solacing the bereaved widow and loving son. In
politics Mr. Denton followed the standard of the republican party and
fraternally he was a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge, and throughout his
life's course ever practiced the honorable principles underlying that
organization. Mrs. Denton is a member of the Christian church and in its various
good works takes an active and helpful interest. She also belongs to the Order
of the Eastern Star at Naches city. She enjoys the highest esteem in the
community on account of her womanly qualities of character and has also proven
herself a lady of considerable business ability, cooperating with her son in
continuing the work which was begun by the husband and father. The memory of
George W. Denton as a loyal, true and kindly man will live as a benediction
with his family and his many friends for years to come.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.