Colonel Benjamin Stephenson and the History of Early Illinois details the life of Colonel Benjamin Stephenson through unique access to primary sources, including the house in which Stephenson lived--and which still stands--and connects it to the larger history of the surrounding area, state, and country. Once published as a series of articles, Denny's unpublished manuscript was discovered in 2024, just months after his passing. This book continues his legacy, informs modern readers of the significance of Colonel Stephenson, and situates his life story among the broader and deeper history of Illinois pioneers and American politics.
Sidney G. Denny (1940 - 2023) was co-author of The Ancient Splendor of Prehistoric Cahokia and professor emeritus of anthropology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Sid was president of the Faculty Senate in 1987. He also served as chair of several key University committees including one that transitioned the campus from a quarter to a semester system and one that consolidated schools into what is now the College of Arts and Sciences. Professionally an archaeologist, Sid was one of the first board members of the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society, president of the Illinois Archaeological Survey, and a member of the Illinois Department of Conservation Historic Sites Advisory Board. He always felt, however, that his most important job was teaching. He taught for more than 30 years, retiring in 2000. Sid's extensive research into the history of the 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House, probate records, and the Stephenson family was a significant contribution to the mission of the House and the success of the hands-on, living history museum that it is today. His knowledge of history and the site was unsurpassed. A long-time supporter and volunteer, Sid served on the Friends of the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House Board, organized archeological digs on site, gave lectures, acted as a historical interpreter, and cochaired the 50/50 Antique and Collectible Auction for more than 20 years. Sid grew up in Union, Missouri, working summers on the family farm, hunting, fishing, and exploring the banks of the nearby Meramec River. He had a lifelong interest in archaeology, history, and antiques, and he displayed his Ozark roots as an accomplished storyteller. Sid lived in Edwardsville, Illinois, with his wife and three daughters.
"This book serves as a reminder that the most vivid historical narratives tell stories rooted in the lives of the ordinary--and extraordinary--people of a bygone era. Within the pages of this fine work of scholarship, Sidney G. Denny brings a forgotten Illinois statesman back to life and capably recapitulates the myriad issues that agitated the Illinois Country and the early republic alike."--James A. Edstrom, author of Avenues of Transformation: Illinois's Path from Territory to State "Denny's book reveals how important community research is for our understanding of history. His. . .labor of love has recovered the important story of Benjamin Stephenson and the complex family ties and neighborhood politics that helped build national histories of settlement, slavery, and Native dispossession in Illinois. Hopefully this book's rich collection of significant events and players from Edwardsville's early history will encourage future researchers to continue Denny's work."--Robert Paulett, author of An Empire of Small Places
