W. A. Maddux, another prominent farmer of Cole County, Mo., was born in Indiana in 1842, and of the nine children born to his parents, William and Lois B. Maddux, he was the fourth in order of birth. The parents were natives of Kentucky, were married in that State, and immigrated to Indiana in 1837. He settled in Clinton County, followed farming, and was justice of the peace for over twenty years. In 1872 he came to Sedalia, Mo., where he made his home with his youngest son, Samuel W., until his death, which occurred November 29, 1879. This son now has a clerkship in the treasury department at Washington, and his mother makes her home with him in Washington. Another son, Ungeon B., owns a farm in Benton County, Mo., and another son, John, is also engaged in agricultural pursuits, and lives in Indiana. W. A. Maddux, our subject, was reared to farm labor, attended the public schools, the Farmers' Academy and a well-known institution at Lebanon, Ind. In 1862 W. A. Maddux enlisted in Company G, Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and served three months. He was in the battles of Frankfort and Paris, Ky. After his term of enlistment had expired he returned home and 1862, and since then he has taught every winter with three exceptions, in all twenty-four terms. September 3, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hopkins, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of David H. and Elizabeth Hopkins. In 1870 Mr. Maddux moved to Missouri, settling in Jefferson Township, and that winter he returned to Indiana and taught another term of school. Upon his return to Missouri the next spring he rented the fine farm of Dr. McWorkman, seven miles west of Jefferson City, and on that farm Mr. Maddux remained for seven years. After that he lived for three years in Marion Township, and in 1882 he bought a farm of seventy acres on the Boonville road, eight miles west of Jefferson City, for which he paid $2,250, but a flaw in the title resulted in the loss of the farm, after he had occupied it for five years and after he had made many improvements. Mr. Maddux is well known all over the county as a first-class teacher, and is often referred to by his neighbors as authority on such matters. He is also engaged in general farming, keeps a good grade of cows, some blooded hogs, and makes a success at this, as he does in most of his undertakings. He is quite active in politics, and has served as a member of the central committee for four years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Maddux were born five children: Annie Q., Trinnie I., Apphia B., Horace E. and William D.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).