Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 1085

W.C. DRYDEN, Mayor of the city of Mulvane, Kan., and a member of the firm of Dryden & Carter, hardware dealers, is a man possessing more than ordinary judgment and business capacity, and since becoming a resident of this city has been an important factor of its remarkable growth, for, although it is of recent origin, it has large business interests, and already has a population of 1,200 intelligent, wide-awake people, and no other city in Sedgwick County has before it a more promising future.

             Mr. Dryden was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1850, and is the son of James M. and Elizabeth Dryden, both natives of Virginia. His mother died in 1872. His father is living in Mercer County, Ill., where for thirty years he has been engaged in farming; he is a man of sound common sense and of sterling worth. 

            Our subject was quite young when his parents removed to Illinois, and his education was conducted in the public schools of that State, and there he grew to maturity. In 1874 he decided to try farming in Kansas, and, with that object in view he came to Harvey County, and engaged in his chosen calling with much success until 1880. He then came to Sedgwick County and followed farming here the succeeding two years, and by his active industry and good management he coined money fast, being much prospered in his agricultural ventures. In 1882 he entered upon his present mercantile enterprise, which has also proved very successful financially, and he and his partner are conducting a large business with a fine and well selected stock of goods.

             Mr. Dryden was married, in Kansas, March 14, 1877, to Miss Maggie Badger, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Badger, natives of the North of Ireland, and descendants of the Scotch people who colonized that part of Great Britain. They came to America in 1859 and located in Michigan. Mrs. Dryden was born in the home of her ancestors in Ireland, Nov. 12, 1850. She is an intelligent woman, inheriting in a marked degree those well-known traits which distinguish the Scotch people, and which make her truly a helpmate to her husband, and an important factor in social circles of this city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dryden are conscientious Christians and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their union has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Nellie, born Jan. 9, 1879; Amy, May 2, 1880; Lillie, March 12, 1882, and Alvah, Feb. 12, 1884.

             As a leading citizen of Mulvane, and as a member of a firm carrying on an important enterprise, Mr. Dryden is widely known in business circles in Sedgwick County, and wherever known is regarded as a man of rare energy, superior business tact, and undoubted integrity of character. In his position as Mayor he has displayed administrative talents of no mean order, and his course in public life is above reproach, reflecting honor not only upon himself, but also upon his fellow-citizens who elected him to that important office; he has also served creditably as Justice of the Peace. In politics he is prominently identified with the Republicans of this county, firmly supporting the principles of the party by voice and vote whenever time and occasion offer.

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