Yolo-El Dorado-Nevada County CA Archives Biographies.....Marden, William Harrison 1824 - 1905
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Author: Tom Gregory (1913)

WILLIAM HARRISON MARDEN

    Never yet has there been found an individual with soul so unappreciative
that he fails to render the reverence and gratitude due those who blazed the way
into the unknown west and amid dangers and hardships indescribable established a
civilization destined to be tenfold more powerful than its founders dreamed. In
common with the majority of this world's heroes, no glory surrounded the lives
of those who risked their all and bore the trials incident to the settlement of
a new land, their only reward, and sufficient to them, being the regard and
confidence of their associates. In this connection it is interesting to note
that for over fifty-five years, owing to his courageous attitude as the leader
of an emigrant train which crossed the plains in 1850, the appellation of
"General" lovingly bestowed upon him by his associates was borne by Mr. Marden,
who passed away at his home four miles southeast of Davis on May 29, 1905.

    Mr. Marden was born March 4, 1824, in Coos county, N. H., this also being
the birthplace of his parents, William and Polly (Stokes) Marden, who were of
English parentage, and who, in 1831, took their family to Chenango county, N.
Y., where few settlers had preceded them. Mrs. Marden passed away in 1855, and
accompanied by his son Elisha the father later removed to Greenwood county,
Kans., where he resided until his death. Of the eight children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Marden, only one survives, Elisha, a resident of Greenwood county, Kans.

    Educated in the district schools common to that period, William H. Marden
assisted his father on the farm until he was sixteen years old, when he engaged
in teaching school and ultimately was made county superintendent of schools.
Following his educational career he went to Waukesha county, Wis., arriving at
his destination March 24, 1848. For two years he worked at the carpenter trade,
as it was the only thing he could find to do. His cheerful personality and
clear, good judgment won him many friends, and it was not surprising that upon
his decision to go west he was eagerly joined by others, who urged him to act as
their captain, secure in the belief that his strong young manhood and unfailing
optimism would assuredly carry them safely to their journey's end, where, they
doubted not, the proverbial pot of gold awaited them. With ox teams and prairie
schooners, thoroughly outfitted, the party of sixteen started in the spring of
1850, crossing the Missouri river on May 8. The journey proved very tedious,
although, in contrast with other companies, who lost large numbers by various
fatal diseases, they arrived in California in good physical condition. After
several months in the mines at Georgetown, Eldorado county, Mr. Marden settled
near Davis, Yolo county, where he engaged in agriculture and stock raising, his
original tract consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added from
time to time, his estate at the time of his decease aggregating five hundred and
twenty-eight acres. In 1869 he opened the pioneer butcher shop in Davis, his
Business increasing rapidly, and finally he started a hotel and established a
hardware store. Until 1880, when he relinquished his business duties and took up
his residence on his ranch, he was actively associated with the development of
the town and did all in his power to increase its commercial strength as well as
to induce settlers to locate in its midst.

    Mr. Marden's marriage, which occurred in Auburn in 1856, united him with
Miss Marium Leigh, who was born in Bath, N. Y., and who came to Sacramento
county, Cal., in 1854, joining her brother, A. H. Leigh, a resident of Dixon,
who had settled in the west in the early '50s. To Mr. and Mrs. Marden, the
latter of whom passed away April 16, 1899, at the age of sixty-eight, four
children were born: William E., a fruit grower and dairyman of Fowler, Fresno
county; Susan Annette, who resides on the old homestead, her husband, O. B.
Wilber, being the manager of the Marden ranch; Minnie M., Mrs. Collins, of
Oakland; and Grant, a business man of Fresno. Fraternally Mr. Marden was a Mason
of Knight Templar degree. He ably assisted in all public enterprises requiring
the support of loyal citizens. From the day he cast his first ballot for Abraham
Lincoln he remained a firm advocate of Republican principles and lent material
aid to his party. He was postmaster at Davis for a great many years; and was the
candidate of his party for sheriff and later for supervisor, but at that time
his party was hopelessly in the minority, so he failed of election. A man of
broad sympathies and kindly manner, his loss was felt keenly by the entire
community which he so stanchly served during his identification therewith, and
those who knew and loved him best will not soon forget his memory.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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