Pullen, M. B.

PULLEN, DIDLEY

Posted By: Linda Ziemann (email)
Date: 5/20/2005 at 08:55:10

IOWA
ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION
VOLUME III
1804-1926

M. B. PULLEN
One of the best known men of a past generation in Monona county, Iowa - one
whose record is well deserving of a conspicuous place in his community's
history - was the late Malden B. Pullen, who during his active years not only was
numbered among the eminently successful business men of the locality where
he lived but also was an influential and potent factor in the community's
development and prosperity.

Mr. Pullen was born in Week's Mill, Maine, on the 6th of February, 1847, and
his death occurred in Onawa, Iowa, on the 4th of May, 1918, in the
seventy-second year of his age. He was a son of Daniel and Mary (Didley) Pullen, the
former of whom died July 24, 1849. After our subject came west, the mother
came to live with him and resided here until her death, which occurred in
1883. The paternal grandfather was William Pullen, of Vassalboro, Maine, a
prominent lumber dealer of his day, and who, while Maine was still a part of
Massachusetts, represented his district in the legislature.

Malden B. Pullen was the eighth in order of birth of the nine children born
to his parents. He secured his educational training in the public schools of
his native state, and at the age of sixteen years was apprenticed to learn
the carpenter's trade. After completing his apprenticeship he continued to
work as a journeyman with his former employer until 1869, when he came west,
locating at Omaha, Nebraska, where he secured employment in the shops of the
Union Pacific Railroad. In 1871 he came to Onawa, Monona county, Iowa, and
engaged in business as a carpenter contractor, in which capacity he erected many
of the prominent homes and business structures of the city. In 1880 he added
undertaking to his business and was the first embalmer in this locality. He
was a man of marked business ability and reliable judgment, absolutely
square in his dealings with the public, and a gratifying measure of success
crowned his efforts.

On December 29, 1881, Mr. Pullen was united in marriage to Miss Julia E.
Whiting, daughter of Hon. Charles E. and Nancy (Criner) Whiting, the former of
whom was the earliest settler in Monona county and the founder of the Whiting
settlement. He became prominent in public life and was a judge of the county
court. Mrs. Pullen was born in New Market, Madison county, Alabama, January
2, 1850, and was but six years of age when she came with her parents to
Monona county. She was educated in the public schools of Onawa, completing her
studies in Knox Seminary, at Galesburg, Illinois. To her is accorded the
distinction of belonging to the first family to settle in this county, and she
attended the first school in Onawa. Laer, prior to her marriage, she taught
five terms of school. Besides the widow, the following children survived:
Myrick W. Pullen, born January 25, 1883, on Woodlawn farm at Whiting, is
professor of electricity in Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. On
September 13, 1912, he was married to Miss Ruby C. Faus, who died March 5, 1916,
leaving two children, Cordelia V. and Myrick C. On June 19, 1923, Myrick W.
Pullen was married to Miss Julia S. Fuller. Gail C. Pullen, born September
26, 1884, at Onawa, was married December 29, 1909, to Miss Zoe Hagen, and they
have two children, Malden H. and Don Martin. Keats A. Pullen, born July 4,
1886, at Onawa, now resides at Los Gatos, California. He was married May 14,
1913, to Miss Mabel J. Faus, and they have three children, Curtis F., Keats
A., jr., and Robert Whiting. Mary Bernice Pullen, born December 27, 1893, died
July 26, 1918.

Politically Mr. Pullen was a stanch supporter of the democratic party,
taking an active interest in local public affairs, and held a number of local
offices, including that of mayor of Onawa. He was equally noted as a citizen
whose career, useful and honorable, conferred credit on the community and as a
man whose marked abilities and sterling qualities won for him well merited
success, and he held distinctive precedence as one of the representative men of
the community in which he lived and labored.