Madden, Martin D.

MADDEN, KANE, MCLAUGHLIN, MCDONALD, MALONEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/28/2003 at 18:55:39

MARTIN D. MADDEN 

For many years this gentleman was one of the most active and enterprising business men of Lyons, and also took a very prominent part in public affairs, but is now living retired in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumulations. He was born in County Galway, Ireland, November 1, 1836, a son of Michael and Mary (Kane) Madden, who on their emigration to America from the Emerald Isle first located in Buffalo, New York, and later removed to Racine county, Wisconsin, where the father was quite extensively engaged in stock buying. He died at the age of seventy-six, his wife at the age of seventy-four years. They were the parents of nine children: Martin D., Bridget, John H., James, Thomas C., Malon K., Maria and Michael H., all of whom reached maturity, while one died in infancy.

The subject of this sketch was a lad of nine years when the family removed to Wisconsin, and there he grew to manhood. On completing his education he engaged in school teaching for a time, and later carried on the grocery business at Portage City, Wisconsin. Before leaving Wisconsin he married Elizabeth Kelley, a daughter of Hugh Kelley, of Columbia county, that state, and to them were born eleven children, as follows: Alma, now the wife of J. T. McLaughlin, of Chicago; Frances E., wife of L. M. McDonald, of Great Falls, Montana; Josephine; Clara; Lewis E., who married Jennie Maloney, and is now serving as deputy postmaster of Lyons; Frederick J., who has been engaged in mining in Alaska for the past four years; George, who died young; Charlie; William D., who is attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago; James A., a student at Ann arbor; and Lucy, a clerk in the postoffice at Lyons.

It was in 1859 that Mr. Madden removed to Lyons, where he was employed as clerk by A. P. Derlin, then postmaster and editor of the Lyons Advocate, remaining with him until he entered the army at the opening of the Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted as second lieutenant in Company A., Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and had command of Company I part of the time, but on account of failing health he was obliged to resign his commission in 1862 and return home.

For a time Mr. Madden engaged in clerking in the grocery store of J. J. Wright and later embarked in the same line of business with his brother, Thomas C., as partner. Subsequently his brother, Malachi K., became a member of the firm. In 1887 our subject sold his interest in the business, and for two years was employed as a commercial traveler, after which he was engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Lyons, Mr. Ray being his partner for a few years. They also conducted a branch establishment on the east side of the river at Fulton, Illinois, and Mr. Madden continued in business for sixteen years. In 1895 he was appointed postmaster of Lyons, and capably filled that office for four years, when he was succeeded by the present postmaster. He purchased a block of ground of the Buell estate at the north end of Sixth street, and has erected thereon an elegant residence and good barn. There was a natural grove of oaks upon the place and he has set out other shade and fruit trees, which enhance the beauty of the place. It is one of the finest locations of the city, being on an elevation with a beautiful view of the Mississippi river, the valley and the city.

Mr. Madden is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, and has ably served his fellow citizens as trustee, alderman and school director, having held the first named office several years. In politics he supports the principles of the Democratic party. He and his family are communicants of the Catholic church, and are quite prominent socially.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.