Individual Details

Madison was not listed as living with his mother Sarah in her divorce proceedings in 1857 - neither was Benjamin who is known to have been married by that date. Either he had married, moved away, or died. His name was clearly "Madison" in the 1850 census.

In 1860 in Madison Co, living two doors from Benjamin Dennis was "Matthew" Dennis, listed as age 22. His wife was Flora Dennis and is reported to have been Flora Thaxton, sister to Rhoda Thaxton who married the eldest brother Richard. She was listed as being age 26. There were three children: Martha age 6, Calvin 2, and Blake 2. If Matthew, or Madison, was the father of these children, he would have been only about 14 when Martha was born. The 1850 census gave Madison as being age 15, or born about 1835 which would have made him about 25 in 1860 and then he would have been about 19 when Martha was born - much more reasonable.

The 1870 census provided a clue to his name. This time he was listed as "James" Dennis. Probably named for President James Madison. His family was living in Seminary Precinct, Hopkins Co, Kentucky, p.142, Hh 142.
James Dennis age 37, b. TN [b.1833]. Flora was listed as age 29 [she wasn't]
Children: Martha 16, Calvin 11, Blakely 11, Sarah 10, Flora 8, Benjamin 6, Roda 4, James 3, Bettie, age 1. All the children were born in Tennessee except for Bettie who is listed as born in Illinois.

1880 Census. Monroe Precinct, Pope Co, IL, Hh 147
James Dennis, age 50
Flory Belle, 48, wife
Sarah, 20, dau. Flora, 18, dau. Benjamin 17, son. James, 16, son. Bellie, 12, dau. Henry, 10, son. Cansada, 4, dau - only child born in Illinois

Birth	1835	Tennessee
Marriage	Abt 1852	Flora Thaxton

Spouse	Flora Thaxton (1834 - )
Child	Martha Dennis (1854 - )
Child	Calvin Dennis (1858 - )
Child	Blake Dennis (1858 - )
Child	Sarah Dennis (1860 - )
Child	Flora Dennis (1862 - )
Child	Benjamin Dennis (1864 - )
Child	Rhoda Dennis (1866 - )
Child	James Dennis (1867 - )
Child	Bettie Dennis (1869 - )
Child	Henry Dennis (1870 - )
Child	Cansada Dennis (1876 - )

Father	MILES DENNIS (1805 - 1858)
Mother	SARAH ANN FOX (1811 - 1860)
Sibling	Richard Henry Dennis (1831 - 1904)
Sibling	Benjamin Franklin Dennis (1833 - 1916)
Sibling	Elizabeth Dennis (1837 - 1915)
Sibling	Martha Jane Dennis (1838 - )
Sibling	Sally Almira Dennis (1840 - )
Sibling	Miranda Dennis (1842 - )
Sibling	LEROY W. DENNIS (1844 - 1923)
Sibling	Miles Pinkney Dennis (1848 - 1907)
Sibling	William Gilbert Dennis (1850 - 1926)