Historical Sketches of Kentucky by Lewis Collins, Maysville, KY. and J. A.
& U. P. James, Cincinnati, 1847. Reprinted 1968. Franklin County.

Governor GEORGE MADISON was born in Virginia, about the year 1763.  His
career was one of distinction in arms as well as the cabinet.  He was one
of the soldiers of the American revolution.  Before he was of age, whilst
yet a boy, he threw himself in the ranks, and with a gallant bearing
passed through the scenes of his country's first and great struggle for
independence.  He was also engaged in the battles which were fought by the
early settlers of Kentucky with the Indians of the north-western
territory.  At the head of his company, Captain Madison was wounded at St.
Clair's defeat in 1791; and he was again wounded in the attack upon the
camp of Major John Adair, by the Indians, in 1792.  Major Adair, in his
report of that battle to Brigadier General Wilkinson, speaking of Captain
Madison, whom he had ordered to take a party and gain the right flank of
the enemy, says: - "Madison's bravery and conduct, need no comment; they
are well known." This was his reputation in military life - to speak in
favor of his courage was considered superfluous - all who saw him in the
field, both men and officers, knew him to be brave - that knowledge came,
as if by intuition, to all who beheld him - his looks, his words, his
whole demeanor on the field, were emphatically those of a soldier.  No
hero ever shed his blood in the cause of his country more freely than
George Madison; when called into her service, there seemed no limit to his
patriotism, no bounds to his zeal in her behalf.  It did in truth, appear
as if he considered himself - all he had, and all he could do - a free
gift, a living sacrifice, to be offered up on the altar of his country. 
     Having passed through two wars with honor and distinction, and having
settled permanently in Kentucky at a very early period, he was soon called
upon to take part in the civil administratiion of the State.  On the 7th
of March, 1796, he was appointed by Governor Shelby auditor of public
accounts, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of William
Mcdowell, which office he held for more than twenty years.  During the
whole of this period, his official duties, and his position at the seat of
government, threw him in constant personal intercourse with persons from
every quarter of the State; and the influence which he thus acquired, and
the universal confidence and love with which he inspired all who knew him,
were so unbounded throughout Kentucky, that there was no office within the
gift of the people which he could not easily have attained, without the
slightest solicitation.
     In the summer of 1812, a requisition was made on the State of
Kentucky to aid in the expedition against Canada and the Indians on the
north-western territory, who, at that time, were in alliance with the
British.  In obedience to the call of the government, Colonel John Allen
raised a volunteer regiment of Kentuckians, and George Madison, then
auditor of public accounts, accepted the office of second major under him,
at the earnest solicitation of Captains Hickman, Ballard and others, who
had served with him in previous campaigns against the Indians, and knew,
therefore, how to appreciate his skill as an officer.  At the memorable
battle of the river Raisin, which occurred in January, 1813, in which that
regiment suffered so severely, and in which Colonel Allen, Captain
Simpson, McCracken, Hickman, and a host of others fell, Madison behaved
with exemplary firmness and courage.  He was in immediate command of the
force that stood within the pickets, and by his calm and collected
bearing, and his desperate resolution, exacted terms of capitulation from
General Proctor, the commander of the British and the Indians, by which
his men and all wounded were to be thrown under the protection of the
British commander, and saved from the vilence of savage cruelty. 
Accordingly, Madison and such of the Americans as were able to march, were
removed to Malden, whence he and the other officers were sent to Quebec. 
The non-commissioned officers and privates were shortly afterwards
discharged on parole, and permitted to return to the United States.  In
consequence of the shameful violation by Proctor of the terms of
capitulation entered into with Madison - in permitting the Indians to
massacre our wounded men left at the river Raisin - a retaliation was
apprehended, and Madison and our other officers were kept in confinement
at Quebec as hostages.
     In the year 1816, having resigned his office as auditor of public
accounts, Major Madison was urged from every section of the state to
become a candidate for governor.  So loud and so general was the call made
on him, that he consented to run.  Colonel James Johnson, who had
distinguished himself at the battle of the Thames, was announced as the
opposing candidate.  Colonel Johnson had not, however, been engaged very
long in the canvass, before he foud it impossible to resist the popularity
of Major Madison.  He accordingly retired during the very heat of the
canvass, and declined the race, declaring that it was utterly futile for
him, or any body else to run against a man so universally popular and
beloved, as he found his opponent to be.  He was not, however, permitted
to enjoy very long the high honor conferred upon him by the State with
such marked distinction.  He died on the 14th day of October, 1816, and
left a whole people to mourn over his loss with a sorrow as deep as was
the love which they had borne him.

Madison St._Clair Adair Wilkinson Shelby McDowell Allen Hickman Ballard
Simpson McCracken Hickman Proctor Johnson
=
VA Canada

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/madison.g.txt