The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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was married until he started for Kansas in March, 1873.  He and the Robinsons shipped their goods from Brighton, Iowa to St. Jo Missouri, and drove from there to Norton; making the trip in fifteen days.  Since coming here he has devoted himself to farming and stock raising, and is considered one of our most reliable citizens.  He was chairman of the county convention in 1873; this convention was known as anti Billings convention.  This convention nominated C. C. Vance for the legislature.  Madden was the democratic nominee for county clerk in 1877; but M. J. Fitzpatrick, the republican candidate was elected.  He was tendered the nomination for sheriff on the low salary ticket in 1881 but declined it.  He became a republican that year and was erected township trustee and has been nominated and elected three times since.

In 1890 he became a populist and has affiliated with that party since but says he is not satisfied with them and declares his intention of voting the prohibition ticket hereafter.  During the county seat contest Madden was always a Norton man. He is a temperate man in his habits and does not use intoxicating beverages or tobacco in any form.

On June 8, 1893 Mrs. Madden was thrown from a carriage and had her leg broken.  She is still suffering from the injuries she received and unable to use her limb.

He worked at the mason trade, his first work was on Simpson's big hotel; it still stands in Norton; W. W. Robinson helped do the work.

robinson.JPG (37016 bytes) William W. Robinson was born in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, August 28, 1839.  His mother died when he was seven years old and from that time until he grew to manhood he lived among strangers; he received but very little schooling.  He attended a district school for five months when he was fifteen years of age.  He learned the trade of harness maker but never followed it after he grew to manhood.  In the fall of 1855 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Robertson.  He at once moved to Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, where his wife died in 1856.  He remained in Iowa as a farmer until 1861 when he enlisted in company K 13 Iowa infantry.  He was in the following battles: Second battle of Corinth, in this engagement he and Corporal D. A. Robertson carried ammunition and water for the company during the fight.  He was in the battle of Jackson and Mississippi, sieges of Vicksburg, Atlanta and Georgia.  At Savannah he was left in the hospital; was sent from there by boat to Alexandria, where he met his regiment and was discharged with them.  He then returned to Iowa and followed farming and breaking prairie.  On June 29, 1869 he was married to Amanda A Hodgen.  She was born in Jefferson county, lowa May 29, 1846, five children have been born to them, Francis E. and Cora were born in Iowa.  Harry A., Carl A. and Oliver O. were born in Norton countv.  Francis H. their eldest son, was married to Mary E. Dey December 14, 1893; they now reside on a farm near Norton.

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