Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 596 - 597 

SAMUEL MARSHALL BELDEN. Numbered among the pioneers of Sedgwick County is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Since coming here in October, 1870, and settling upon 160 acres of land, the southeast quarter of section 11, Park Township, he has made this his residence ever since, and has been closely identified with its interests, and the almost marvelous development of Sedgwick County. Perhaps, in the whole history of the settlement of the various parts of our country, there is nothing so startlingly rapid as the development of this portion of Southern Kansas, and one of the prominent figures in its history, in its pioneer days, was Mr. Belden.

            The gentleman of whom we write is a native of East Wheatley, Franklin Co., Mass., and was born Sept. 13, 1841. His ancestors came originally from Wales to the United States, at an early day, and located on the Connecticut River, purchasing the land on which they carried on their farming operations from the British Government. Mr. Belden is the son of Dr. M. and Judith M. (Marshall) Belden, both of whom were also natives of the old Bay State. In 1848 he came with his parents westward, and settled in Bureau County, Ill., but after a two-years residence the family moved to Palmyra, Wis. A few years after this they went to Dane County, in the same State, in the neighborhood of Madison, where his father practiced medicine. The latter was quite a talented man and very proficient in his profession, and was noted far and wide as an excellent physician. They were the parents of six children who are living, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. The others are: Nellie, the wife of Judge F. E. Parkinson, of Madison, Wis.; Katie, Mrs. Thomas Soden, who is living In Washington Territory; Stephen L., who is a resident of Stoughton, Wis.; Carrie, deceased; and Maud, the wife of C. E. Parish, editor of the Stoughton Courier, in the town of that name, in the Badger State. Dr. Belden died Sept. 3, 1878, at the age of sixty-one years, ten months and twenty-eight days. His death was no doubt caused by the sudden decease of his wife, who was called hence July 16, 1878, at the age of fifty-four years, as he was very much devoted to her.

            Samuel Belden was about ten years old when the family settled in the Badger State, and during his youth he received his education in the district schools of Illinois and Wisconsin. At the age of nineteen years he commenced an apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmithing, which business he followed for about four years, then took up the vocation of broom-making. He resided in Wisconsin until 1870, when he came to Kansas as related above, and where he has since lived. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits since his arrival here, and, true to the instincts of the calling he had followed on the other side of the Mississippi, he has raised several crops of broom corn, the only man in the county who has done so. Having this on hand, he occasionally keeps his hand in by making a quantity of brooms.

            The ceremony that united the destinies of Samuel Belden and Miss Mary Soden took place June 3, 1866. The bride is a native of Rock County, Wis., born Jan. 12, 1847, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Sophia (Emery) Soden. There have come to brighten the fireside of this family seven children. Harriet E. died in 1880, at the age of thirteen years, in Wisconsin, while she was on a visit to her grandmother. The children living are: Edgar L., Minnie M., Sophia R., Fanny E., William L. and Frederick M.

            Politically, our subject is a strong Democrat, and takes considerable interest in politics. He has frequently served as a delegate to various conventions, and has held the offices of Township Treasurer three years, Township Clerk four years, and Clerk of the School Board for twelve years. He is a member in good standing of Wichita Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., and is an active worker in the fraternity. He is also a consistent and sincere member of the Universalist Church, and endeavors, by a blameless life, to set a good example to the rising generation.

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