This was written by Genealogical Society volunteer, Beth Mitchell for the Wilmington News Journal
As our volunteers in the genealogical society continue to work on our many projects, we sometimes find a previously unknown or unnoted tidbit that may help fill in a portion of the history of an early citizen of Clinton County. The information for the General James W. Denver family and the Matthew Rombach family has influenced the history of Clinton County. In this article I will attempt to refresh the memory of some or provide information for those who do not know the history. Mark Huber, Archival Assistant for the Clinton County History Center, is in the process of scanning the papers of the Honorable James W. Denver.
One day Mark was scanning and had a letter from one George Kautz in Brown County, Ohio. My comment was, “My gosh, I wonder if those are my people.” The Kautz family was one of the early settlers in Brown County. The clue sent me on a search. Who was George Kautz and why would he be writing a letter to General Denver? Sometimes truth really does seem stranger than fiction.
I would first like to review a bit of the history of General Denver. Patrick Denver, Jr., father of James W. Denver, came to Clinton County in 1832 and purchased 222 acres of land on what is now Dwiggins Road. The Denvers built a replica of their previous home in Virginia. There were originally five fireplaces in the home. According to an article in our family files this house still stands and is located across the road from “Peelle’s pool”. Many old-timers in Clinton County will know the exact spot. The “pool” was formed when the gravel in that spot was used on the county roads and left a large hole, which, when filled with water as it rained became the public pool in the 1920’s – 1950’s. It was the site of many family reunions and church picnics.
The story of James W. Denver himself is quite striking in his journey from childhood to the time of his death. He had received limited schooling as he was the eldest of ten children and his labor was required on the farm of his father. He left the farm and studied law at the University of Cincinnati – graduating in the Spring of 1844. After graduating he moved West toe Platte City, Missouri. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he recruited Company H, Twelfth United States Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned Captain by President James K. Polk. This seems to have been the impetus for his political and military career. He returned to Wilmington in 1848 to recover from yellow fever. After leading a group of thirty-four people to Sacramento, California in 1850, he was elected to the California State Senate and in 1853 became California Secretary of State. He was elected to the U. S. Congress in 1853.
In 1856 General Denver married Louisa/Louise Rombach, daughter of Matthew Rombach and Catharine Kautz, both of German heritage – hence the Louisa/Louise name whether you chose the German or English version of the name. It seems Mrs. Denver sometimes traveled with General Denver but preferred staying at the home in Wilmington.
In 1857 General Denver was appointed U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs by President James Buchanan. In 1858 he moved to the Kansas Territory and was appointed governor of that territory. The city of Denver was established in the Kansas Territory but it is said General Denver visited Denver only twice. In 1861 he was appointed Brigadier General by President Lincoln and served in the Civil War. After the Civil War he had a law practice in both Washington D. C. and Wilmington, Ohio. At one point it was suggested that he run for president of the United States but as we all know, politics is very fickle and that event did not occur. After a very illustrious career he died in Washington D. C. in 1892 and is buried at Wilmington in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Part 2 later…