William Hadden

    William Hadden, one of the old and honored pioneers of Blackford County, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1785, a son of William and Susannah Hadden. The father was born in the North of Ireland, coming to America before the Revolutionary war, and was a soldier in that war, and was once taken prisoner. He was married June 1, 1778, to Susannah Hadden, and to them were born six children, five of whom reached maturity.

    William Hadden, Jr., moved to Muskingum County, Ohio about 1810, where he was drafted to serve in the war of 1812, in which he served about six months. he was united in marriage April 12, 1814, to Miss Catherine Cabeen, who was born May 21, 1791, died April 5, 1849. Mr. Hadden died October 21, 1855. Both are buried on the old Hadden homestead, on the land given by William Hadden for a cemetery. He was a prominent man in the county, and was always interested in any enterprise having for its object eh public welfare. He was Colonel of the militia. In 1840 he was elected probate judge of Blackford County, and filled that position for seven years. He was a ruling elder in the Untied Presbyterian Church. His ancestors were Scotch covenanters.

    Mr. and Mrs. William Hadden, Jr., were the parents of nine children -Susannah, born April 7, 1815; Rachel, born October 11, 1816, is deceased; Thomas, born April 1, 1818, died June 12, 1839; William, born May 30, 1820, died September 16, 1839; John, born August 22, 1822, died July 22, 1839; Catherine, born October 11, 1824, died April 11, 1852; James, born November 12, 1826, died May 20, 1865; Samuel, born May 1, 1828, died November 9, 1850, and Robert, born March 13, 1830, died January 20, 1851.

    James Hadden was a worthy representative of this old pioneer family, and was one of the leading citizens of Washington Township. He was married June 29, 1858, in Delaware County, Indiana, to Miss Jane Ginn, and immediately after his marriage came to the old Hadden homestead in Washington Township where he lived until his death. He served a short time in the Union army, and died May 20, 1865, leaving a widow and one child, a son, William L., who was born September 20, 1859, who inherited the Hadden farm. The son was married to Miss Amanda C. Cassel, February 17, 1885, and to this union has been born one son, Walter C., the date of his birth being January 11, 1886.

    To show the estimation in which James Hadden was held by his neighbors, we copy an obituary written by his pastor: "He died in the thirty-eighty year of his age; was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at Hartford City. Having for a time served his country in the army, and then being discharged by a saved Government, though sick, he returned as we all hoped to spend many many happy and useful years in the bosom of his family and the church. But his work was done. Few indeed ever have such a deep hold on the affection of others. To bereaved ones, as husband, father, brother, friend and spiritual counselor in God's house, his loss seemed irreparable. Oh, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof. Here he walked with God; now he is with the general assembly and church of the first-born, where there are pleasures for ever more. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.