Presley Denny
(1845-1900)
Dublin Core
Person Item Type Metadata
District
20th District Representative
Political Party
Republican
Latter-day Saint
No
Age at Election
50
Birth Date
August 1845
Birthplace
Morgan, Ohio, United States
Death Date
October 31, 1900
Spouse(s)
Isabel Low (1858-1937) Married in 1879
Occupation
Lawyer
Biographical Text
Presley Malbourne Denny moved to Oregon in 1852 and attended Willamette University. After graduating in 1865, Denny taught school and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and had a growing practice in Portland, Oregon. Having heard of Utah's "fame," Denny moved to Beaver, Utah, in 1874 and founded a large, successful practice. He participated in many prominent cases, including John D. Lee's prosecution for his complicity in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
During the first session, the Republican majority unanimously elected Denny speaker of the house. Both Republicans and Democrats appreciated his service in this position. On the last day of the session, "The members testified to their esteem of his services in that capacity by presenting him with two handsome gifts…a gold watch from his Republican colleagues and a gold-headed cane from the Democratic side." (Drumm 1896, 73). Denny went on to serve as attorney for the county and the city of Beaver. He died suddenly from complications of Bright's disease.
During the first session, the Republican majority unanimously elected Denny speaker of the house. Both Republicans and Democrats appreciated his service in this position. On the last day of the session, "The members testified to their esteem of his services in that capacity by presenting him with two handsome gifts…a gold watch from his Republican colleagues and a gold-headed cane from the Democratic side." (Drumm 1896, 73). Denny went on to serve as attorney for the county and the city of Beaver. He died suddenly from complications of Bright's disease.
Bibliography
Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCS1-SMX
Image of Presley Denny by courtesy of HathiTrust Cropped from page 81 of Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7?urlappend=%3Bseq=87
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCS1-SMX
Image of Presley Denny by courtesy of HathiTrust Cropped from page 81 of Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7?urlappend=%3Bseq=87
Collection
Citation
“Presley Denny
(1845-1900),” Utah State History Digital Exhibits, accessed May 4, 2024, https://utahstatehistory.omeka.net/items/show/238.
(1845-1900),” Utah State History Digital Exhibits, accessed May 4, 2024, https://utahstatehistory.omeka.net/items/show/238.