The Denham House

From Our Island Heritage, Vol. 2, 1977, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith:

This house was built by Mr. Goodrum Davis about 1890.  Mrs. Davis (Tabitha Margaret Smith Kendrick)  had a store across the street, about where the Denham garage is now.  (Editor's note:  this is now the location of the Sicily Island Police Department)  Most merchandise was shipped in wooden crates.  These crates were used to seal the inside of the house, and Bea Denham recalls that you could look at the ceiling and read what was shipped and by what company.  At some later date, someone covered this with beaver board.

Tabitha Davis, Old Pine Hill Cemetery

After Mrs. Davis' death in 1901, Goodrum lived here with his daughter, Julia until his death in 1920.  His granddaughter, Willie Bruce, bought the house and took Miss Julia to live with her in her home.

Miss Julia was probably not happy being away from home and she moved back.  Her two nephews, Hal and Warren McGee, stayed with her and went to school in Sicily Island.

When Julia and C. R. "Pop" Denham were married, "Pop" bought the house and they lived here.  "Pop" died on April 1, 1958 and Julia died on December 30, 1958.

Mrs. Suttles rented the house and lived here until 1973 when high water forced Lewis Ratcliff out of his house on the "Louie" and he bought the house.

In 1977, the back part of the house was damaged by fire and the remainder was torn down.

Benjamin and Mary Pamelia Warner Kendrick Family

Benjamin Kendrick was born in Georgia circa 1807 to the marriage of William Kendrick and Margaret Watts. By 1820, he and his family had moved to Louisiana and were living in the St. Helena area.

Benjamin met Mary Pamelia Warner in Louisiana and they married circa 1830.  Mary was born circa 1806 to the marriage of Thomas Cargill Kendrick and Tabitha Cargill.

For at least the first ten years of their marriage they lived in East Feliciana Parish before moving to the Western District of Tensas Parish as shown in the 1850 U. S. Census.

The 1860 U. S. Census shows the family living in the Trinity area of Pine Woods, Catahoula Parish.

In 1870, Benjamin, Mary, children and grandchildren are living in Ward 7 of Catahoula Parish.

By 1880 Benjamin, Mary and a granddaughter are living in Ward 2, Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish.  This granddaughter, Margaret A. "Mary", married James William "Buck" Smith.  Her father was either Benjamin John or Daniel Kendrick.  The name of her mother is unknown at this time.

The dates of death and burial locations for Benjamin and Mary Pamelia Kendrick are unknown at this time. Several online family trees list Benjamin's death as January 2, 1893 and Mary's death as November 6, 1889.

The following children were born to the marriage of Benjamin Kendrick and Mary Pamelia Warner:

Dr. Cornelius George W., 1831-1859; buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery near Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Dr. William Thomas, 1833-1860; buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery near Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Benjamin John, 1836-between 1868 and 1870

Tabitha Margaret Smith, 1839-1901 (m. 1. Thomas/Tobias Ford Owen, 1825-1873; 2. Goodrum Preston Davis, 1852-1935); Tabitha is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery near Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.  The location of Thomas' burial is unknown at this time.  Goodrum's burial location is listed as the Old Pine Hill Cemetery but no grave marker has been found.

Children born to the marriage of Tabitha and Thomas/Tobias Owens:

Sarah Mary Elizabeth, 1857-1859
George Kendrick, 1859-after 1878 (m. Sallie S. Cox)
W. A., 1866-?
Dowetta, 1868-? (m. John Kerr)
Stephen Eugene, 1869-1947 (m. Frances "Fannie" Bartow Harris, 1871-1965)
Eugenie 1873-?

Children born to the marriage of Tabitha and Goodrum Preston Davis:

Lucy, 1874-?
Lula, 1879-? (m. James McGee,1874-?)
Julia W., 1881-1958 (m. Cecil Robert "Pop" Denham, 1861-1958)

David Dudley, 1840-1924 (m. 1. Nancy Virginia Ballew, 1845-before 1865; 2. Frances "Fannie" Blankenship, 1843-1938); Nancy's date of death and burial location is unknown at this time.  Both David and Fannie are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery near Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Children born to the marriage of David and Nancy Kendrick:

William Dudley, 1860-1907 (m. Maude Jeannette Ballard, 1871-1901)
Robert Cornelius "Neal", 1861-1950 (m. Mary Jane Kimball, 1868-1950)
Benjamin D., 1862-1893 (m. Lena Spencer)

Children born to the marriage of David and Fannie Kendrick:

Sallie, 1865-? (m. W. L. Watkins, 1853-?)
Margaret Elizabeth, 1873-1960 (m. 1. Ben Kimball, 1872-1899; 2. John Tidwell, 1884-1954)
Sophie, 1879-?
Ellis Warner, 1884-? (m. Annie Lucille)
Frank H., 1887-1946

Daniel B., 1843-after 1863

Pamelia "Amelia" Harriett, 1846-1880 (m. M. L. Thompson, 1848-?)

Emily D., 1849-after 1860

Sunday's Obituary - Julia Davis Denham

Monroe News Star - 12/31/1958

Julia Davis

Born on March 24, 1881

Daughter of

Goodrum Preston Davis and Tabitha Margaret Smith Kendrick

Wife of

Cecial Robert Denham

Died on December 30, 1958

Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana