Joel Dennis born 1827/28 is found living with his mother Jemmima b 1805, older brother William b 1825, younger siblings, John b 1829 Elijah, James, Alexander and Nicodemus in District 101 Wayne Co. MO dwelling 642. They are near neighbors of Henry and Mary Cato as well as Wilson Cato per the 1850 Census.

1860 Census finds him in Liberty Twsp Bollinger County, dwelling 337 farming by himself.

1870 finds him in Wayne Twsp, Bollinger Co. Living with Elizabeth Slagle, brothers Alexander and Nicodemus in Dwelling 109. Brother John is now married and living next door in Dwelling 110.

He does appear (though it took awhile to find him) in the roster of 2nd Battalion Cavalry, 1 Division Missouri State Guard Co. A. as a Corporal (another Daniel McGee fellow). There is also a listing for a Joel Dennis in the 6th MO Infantry. John is also listed as being a member of the the 2nd Battlion Cav, Co. A as a private, as well as Perkins Battalion MO Infantry.

Joel and John both have land patents for Bollinger county on file in 1859 and 1860.

A Willam Dennis has an 1838 land patent in Wayne county in the right twshp to match the 1850 census however the 1840 census does not show his wife to be the correct age and lists no children. Alexander Dennis also in the 1840 census does have the right age distribution for wife and children, which leads me to believe he may be the father. Jemmima was from North Carolina. Alexander is again found in the 1830 Wayne Co. Census with children of the right age. This makes Alexander Dennis one of the early settlers of Wayne County.

FWIW
John R.