Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 217 - 218

WILLIAM A. MADDEN, one of the representative farmers and prominent citizens of Sherman Township, is the subject of this personal narrative. Added to his farming he unites stock-breeding, and his home is situated on section 8. Believing that "from labor, health, from health, contentment springs," he has bent every energy toward perfecting his agricultural projects, and has proved himself eminently one of the best citizens of Sedgwick County.

             Our subject was born in Rowan County, N. C., Oct. 11, 1833, and is the son of Davidson and Martha (Smith) Madden, who were natives of the same State. His paternal grandparents were William and Sarah Madden, and upon his mother's side, James and Sarah (Gay) Smith, all of whom were born in the Old North State. Davidson Madden, the father of our subject, was reared a farmer, and followed that vocation in his native State until 1872, when he emigrated to Texas and settled on a farm in Montague County. After a residence in that State which covered a period of about four years, in 1876 he removed to Arkansas, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1877. Mrs. Martha Madden, the noble mother of our subject, died in North Carolina in 1843.

             The subject of this sketch received his education in the district schools of North Carolina in his boyhood days, and was early trained to the business of carrying on a farm. He remained at home assisting his father until early manhood, and in 1857 came westward and settled in Jersey County, Ill., where he purchased an improved farm and commenced agricultural pursuits for himself. While a resident of that place, and peacefully following the avocation of his chosen calling, like many others of the citizens of this great Republic he was rudely awakened from his dreams of the future by the tocsin of war. Although of Southern birth, he was intensely loyal, and in response to the call of the General Government for men to suppress the Rebellion, he enlisted in June, 1861, in Company D, 2d Illinois Cavalry, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Butler, Sangamon County, August 24 of that year. The regiment was under the command of Col. Silas Noble, and was considered one of the most efficient in the service. Our subject was an active participant in the battle of Belmont, and in the assaults on Fts. Henry and Donelson, after which he was kept on detached duty. He was honorably discharged at St. Louis, Mo., in April, 1862, on account of disability which grew out of a severe attack of camp measles, from the effects of which he has suffered ever since. He then returned to Illinois, to Jersey County, and resumed his duties upon the farm.

             Our subject was united in marriage, Aug. 15, 1865, with Miss Sarah A. Madden, a native of Jersey County, Ill., born Sept. 21, 1836, and daughter of Elisha and Nancy (Gaiter) Madden, natives of North Carolina and Maryland respectively. After their marriage our subject and his wife settled down upon his farm, where they made their home for seven years. Early in 1873, however, with a natural desire to better his condition in the world, Mr. Madden concluded that he would seek a more congenial field for his labors, and accordingly in March of that year, came to Kansas, and pre-empting 160 acres of land on section 8, in Sherman Township, commenced its improvement. Having erected a dwelling-house in which to install his family, and otherwise having provided for their comfort, in the spring of 1874 he moved to this place and made a permanent settlement. He was one of the pioneers of Sherman Township, which at that period was a portion of Greeley, and materially assisted in the organization of the present subdivision of the county. He has also been influential in the setting off and organizing of many of the school districts in this section, and was the first Director of School District No. 95.

             Mr. Madden is the owner of 160 acres of fine, arable land, which is under a state of excellent tillage, and which he has greatly improved by the erection of a neat and comfortable residence, tasty and commodious barns, and the setting out of quite an extensive orchard of small fruit. All his energies have been expended upon his place, until now it is one of the finest of its size in this portion of the county. He has it well stocked with excellent grades of Durham cattle, and finely bred mules, and devotes considerable attention to general stock interests. He is quite active in the political field, voting with and supporting the principles of the Republican party, although not desirous of surrendering the quiet of his home life for the perplexities and turmoil of political office. Socially, he is a member of Garfield Post No. 25, G. A. R., of Wichita, and takes greet interest in the welfare of the "boys in blue."

             To Mr. and Mrs. Madden have been born a family of three children, who have come to increase their joys and enliven their domestic fireside. Their names are as follows: Ida, Charles A. and Gracie A. The last-named died Aug. 16, 1884, when she had attained the interesting age of eighteen years.

[ Home ]