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Chase County Kansas Historical
Sketches
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Madden, Robert Carleton
1836-1878
Robert Carleton Madden was born April 29, 1836, in Navan, County of Meath, Ireland, from which country he emigrated to England while quite young and afterwards entered the British army.
The command, to which he belonged, was for some time stationed at St. Johns, New Brunswick. From there, young Madden came to the United States and shortly after his arrival, entered the military service of this country. After some service at Carlisle Barracks, we find he served with his command in New Mexico at various posts, at one time occupying the position of Orderly Sergeant.
At the breaking out of the Civil War, we find him on a claim near Council Grove. Early in the summer of 1861, he went to Emporia, where he enlisted as a private under Lieut. L. T. Heritage in Co. H, Eighth Kansas Cavalry, Vols. Promotion was rapid and on Feb. 17, 1862 he received his commission as Second Lieutenant. The Company was reorganized and became Co. B, Ninth Kansas Cavalry. On April 5, 1862, Mr. Madden received his commission as First Lieut. of this company.
After serving about a year, he resigned at Fort Halleck, then Idaho Territory. Making his way to the states, he entered the Artillery service in the Army of the Cumberland and was soon ordered to the Potomac. A notation on the back of his discharge says that he saw service in Mississippi, near Philadelphia, and in eastern Tennessee. He fought in the "Battle of the Wilderness" May 5th and 6th, 1864.
After the close of the war he returned to the frontier and joined the campaign against the Indians. We read of his honorable engagement in the campaign, at Beaver Creek, Kansas, May 13, 1869 and at Spring Creek, Neb., May 15, 1869.
Receiving an honorable discharge from the Fifth Cavalry in 1870, he returned to Kansas to live among his soldier comrades. Later we find him employed in farm work and as a driver for the S. W. Stage lines at various points between Wichita and Emporia. At last he settled down to farm work with his old friend and comrade, Henry Brandley, living with him several years.
On Dec. 2, 1873, Mr. Madden was married to Mrs. Olive Earle Simington of Bazaar. The Earle's lived on what was later the E. B. Greene, and now the Dr. Titus ranch.
The Maddens continued to reside with the Brandleys for a year or two. Then Mr. Madden located upon a claim on Little Cedar, two miles east of the Brandley home.
To Robert and Olive Madden two children were born. The first died in infancy. The second, Lizzie, born Nov. 30, 1875 is now Mrs. Andy Walker.
Robert C. Madden was thrice elected Trustee of Bazaar Twp., (then including what is now Matfield Twp.) He died on April 9, 1878, from an attack of pneumonia, contracted while discharging the duties of his office. Owing to exposure while making his rounds as assessor, he contracted a very severe cold, but not realizing the seriousness of his illness, he continued his work. He was forced to take to his bed at the home of Joseph Langendorf, near the head of Spring Creek, and passed away after an illness of eight days. His body rests in the cemetery at Matfield Green.
As a soldier, Lieutenant Madden was thorough and strict in executing discipline. He was an excellent drill-master. As a citizen, he was honorable and generous to the extreme. He was reared a Catholic, from which faith he never changed. He had many friends over the state, especially in Lyon, Chase and Douglas Counties.
After his death, Mrs. Madden continued to reside upon the claim, upon which she made final proof April 9th, 1881. Mrs. Madden had two daughters by a former marriage, who lived with her until their marriage, the older, Sallie, to Alfred Fent, the younger, Belle, to Frank Corbin. In 1903 Mrs. Madden moved to Cottonwood Falls with her daughters Lizzie and Belle, (the latter by then widowed).
Belle Simington Corbin died Sept. 9, 1915 and is buried beside her husband in the Matfield Green Cemetery.
Mrs. Olive Madden died May 15, 1915 and was laid to rest in the same cemetery.
(Facts for above article obtained from obituary of Robt. C. Madden, by Henry Brandley, from Army commissions, discharges and other papers in possession of Mrs. Lizzie Walker, Cottonwood Falls, Kans., Sept. 1935).
by Lorna Marvin
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