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 OL. R. H. McFADDEN, Justice of the Peace, and solicitor of military claims at No. 9 West Broadway, is one of the prominent citizens of Mattoon. He was born Sept. 13, 1833, in Zanesville, Ohio, and is the son-of Robert and Nancy (Barrett) McFadden, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Culpeper County. Va. Their marriage took place in Ohio, where Mr. McFadden was occupied as a cabinetmaker until 1853, when he emigrated to Illinois, first locating in Shelby County. After remaining there eighteen months, he came to Paradise, Coles County, and in 1855 moved to Mattoon. He there carried on a successful business in cabinet-making, in which he was occupied most of the time until his death, which occurred in 1880 at Dayton, Ohio. His bereaved widow survived him only two years, and died in 1882 at Mattoon. They had a family of six children, five of whom are now living. Their names are as follows: William W., a resident of Mt. Victory, Ohio; Eliza, the wife of Mr. Clark, a resident of Fulton County, Ill.; Ann M., the wife of Mr. Rutherford, a resident of this county; R. H., the subject of this sketch, and David H., a resident of Larned. Hugh McFadden, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of the North of Ireland, and came to America at an early day, settling in Carlisle, Pa. He was a skillful mechanic, and worked at his trade there until 1818, when he removed to Ohio, and there passed the remainder of his life. His wife, who was a native of Wales, died in 1846, and his own death occurred five years later, in 1851. They had a family of six children, of whom Robert was the youngest. Our subject’s maternal grandparents were Thomas and Nancy (Thornton) Barrett, natives of Culpeper County, Va. Mr. Barrett was a farmer in that State, and subsequently removed with his family to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until his death, which resulted from an accident in 1833. While riding, his horse stumbled and fell upon him, crushing him so severely that he died in a few days. His widow survived him many years, and died in 1852. They had a family of fifteen children, of whom Nancy was the youngest. Young McFadden attended school until he was thirteen years of age, when he began to work with his father in the shop at the trade of cabinet-making. He remained there until he was sixteen years of age, and then came to Shelby County, Ill., where he was engaged in cabinet-making about four years. In 1853 .he moved to Paradise, Coles County, and after passing two years there, changed his location to Mattoon, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade until 1860. He then made another change, and engaged in the livery business until the spring of 1861. He then responded to the call of his country, and enlisted as Second Lieutenant in Co. B, 7th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three months. At the expiration of that time, he re-enlisted in Co. D, 41st Ill. Vol. Inf., as First Lieutenant, and served in that position until Feb. 15, 1862, when he was promoted to the rank of Captain for his gallant conduct at the siege of Ft. Donelson, which was carried on during one of the wildest storms of a severe winter. The gunboats were ordered to shell the fort in front, while the command marched to the rear, through sleet and rain and cold of such intensity that the hands and feet of many of the soldiers were frozen. The sleet fell heavily day and night, throughout the siege, and the troops were entirely unprotected from the fury of the storm. They were so near the fortifications that no fires could be lighted to warm themselves by, and they had no food except the cold cooked rations in their haversacks. July 12. 1863, Capt. McFadden was promoted to the rank of Major of the regiment, and served in that position until Dec. 23, 1864, when he was made Lieutenant Colonel of the 53d Illinois Infantry. July 14, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel of that regiment, and during the latter part of the same month they were mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Chicago, Ill. Col. McFadden was a brave and efficient officer throughout his entire military career, and passed through some of the hottest charges of the enemy, receiving only a slight wound at the siege of Ft. Donelson. After his return home, he took a position as clerk in a dry-goods house one year, and then worked at the trade of cabinet-making until 1872. He was then elected Police Magistrate and retained the position eight years, since which time he has been Justice of the Peace for the township. In 1871, he served one term as Mayor of the city. He has been a member of the Board of Education, Alderman, School Director, and served in several local offices. In 1855, our subject was married to Miss Sarah A. Norvell. She is the daughter of Grief and Mary (Woods) Norvell, natives of Kentucky. Col. and Mrs. McFadden have a family of four children, whose record is as follows: Mae I., the wife of Mr. Godfry, a resident of Indianapolis, is the mother of two children—Ruth M. and Nora; John A. is a resident of Peoria, Ill.; Lizzie M. became the wife of Mr. Lawrence M. McNair, of this city, and is the mother of one child, Zillah ; her husband died in September, 1886, while in Chicago; Eddie is engaged in the jewelry business in this city. Col. McFadden is a Republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R., and the K. of H. |
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