Person:John Denfip (1)

John Alfred Denfip, Sr.

John Alfred Denfip was born on April 2, 1832 in Strasbourg, France. Family tradition says that “John came to the United States at age 19 (about 1851) on a sailing boat where he earned his way over by working on the boat,” Family tradition also has the idea that John changed his name from Beuchat or Beauchat upon arrival in the US. Furthermore it is believed that the family of that name who settled in Louisville, Stark County, Ohio were part of his family. This researcher has spent some time in trying to link John Denfip to the Beauchat family of Louisville without any reasonable scenarios.

John Alfred Denfip Pre-War Family

John Alfred Denfip married Melissa McCall in 1858. Melissa McCall is enumerated as the 1880 US Census as being born in Alabama about 1834. A possible connection with the McCraven family in discussed on Melissa’s page. Nothing else is known of Melissa’s birth family.

Melissa and John Denfip had two of their seven children before John’s military service in the Civil War.

(1) Charles Henry Denfip

Charles Henry Denfip was born on May 30, 1859 in Illinois.. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Charles married Bettie Holmes about 1885 and had two children. Charles Denfip died in a sawmill accident on June 4, 1901 and is buried in Hargis Cemetery, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial page with a photo of his grave marker is found on the Find-A-Grave website.

(2) Smith Henderson Denfip

Smith Henderson Denfip was born on November 27, 1862 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Smith Denfip went by the family nickname “Yarb”. Smith Denfip married Nancy Emeline Oller on April 19, 1896 in Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois. They had five daughters. Smith Henderson Denfip died June 6, 1933 in Sandusky, Alexander County, Illinois and is buried with his wife in Hargis Cemetery, Alexander County. Memorial pages with photos of Smith and Emeline’s grave markers are found on the Find-A-Grave website.

John Alfred Denfip Civil War Veteran

John Alfred Denfip enlisted on February 24, 1865 and served during the Civil War in the Union’s Company B, 18th Illinois Infantry Volunteers. He served in Arkansas as a pontooner, which is interpreted as building temporary bridges across rivers.

His Civil War discharge reads: ___________________________________________________________________

                                                         Jan 9 1866
                                                         W C Lupton
                                                         P.M. n 5 R.
 To all whom it may concern.  Know Ye! That John Alfred Denfise a private of Captain Thomas Gage, Company B, 18 Regiment of Illinois Infantry, Volunteers who was enrolled on the 24th day of February 1865 to serve one year or during the War is hereby discharged from the service of the United States this 16th day of December 1865.  Service at Pine Bluff, Ark. under Circular 30 from War Department Service.  No objections to his being reenlisted is known to exist.  Said John Denfise was born in Stratsburg in the State of France, is 33 years old, 5 ft 6 inches high, light complexion, blue eyes, sandy hair and by trade or occupation when enrolled a laborer.  

Given at Pine Bluff, Ark. this 16th day of December 1865. Thomas Gage Captain, Com'd B Company. Henry A Non com Captain Ass't Council of Muster, Department of Ark. __________________________________________________________________

John Alfred Denfip Post-War Family

John Denfip returned from his military service to father five more children.

(3) Levi Denfip

Levi Denfip was born on November 27, 1866 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Levi Denfip married Frances Bishop, daughter of Sarah Bond and Joseph Bishop. They had one child and shortly after Frances was thrown from a horse and died. Levi Denfip latter married Matilda Catherine Bishop, the sister of his first wife. Levi and Catherine had three children.

(4) Effie C. Denfip

Effie C. Denfip was born about December 1869 in Illinois. She was most likely born in Alexander County. Effie never married. She died August 12, 1933 of “Malarial Fever”. Effie is buried in Hargis Cemetery, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial on the Find-A-Grave website contains a photo of her cemetery marker.

(5) Ida Ann Denfip

Ida Ann Denfip was born on January 8, 1872 in Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois. Ida Ann married Everett Orlando Lewis. They had seven daughters.

(6) Frank Benjamin Denfip

Frank Benjamin Denfip was born on February 8, 1874 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Young Frank is shown with his mother and younger brother, John Jr. below. Frank married Roselle Octavia Brown Dunning. They had five daughters.

Frank died on August 13, 1943 and is buried in Olive Branch Cemetery, Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial page with photo of his grave marker is found on the Find-A-Grave website.

(7) John Alfred Denfip, Jr.

John Alfred Denfip, Jr. was born on 16 March 1876 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Young John, Jr. is shown below with his mother and older brother, Frank. John Denfip, Jr. married Charlotte Westerman. They had four children.

John Alfred Denfip, Sr. Latter Years

In a "Modern Woodsman of America Application/Benefit Certificate" completed by John’s son, Smith Henderson Denfip on March 9, 1905, it is stated that John died of a “sun stroke” on August 16, 1880. John Denfip died in Alexander County, Illinois and is buried in the Hargis Cemetery at Diswood, Illinois. Diswood is between the current towns of Olive Branch and Tamms. The Cemetery is well off the road on top of a ridge and has become overgrown. Hargis Cemetery is located at Lat-Long N37 13.418, W89 20.054. A memorial on the Find-A-Grave website has a photo of John Alfred Denfip’s cemetery marker and directions to the cemetery itself. The marker, an obelisk, for John Denfip and Daughter Effie C., contains the following epitaph for John:

"His toils are past,
 His work is done,
 He fought the fight,
 His victory won." 

There is also a foot stone marked J.D. Hargis Cemetery is located at Lat-Lon N37 13.418, W89 20.054

Image:John Denfip Military Record.pdf