WILLIAM McFADDEN, late of Sherman Township, came to Riley County in 1870, and homesteaded eighty acres of land on section 4, which he doubled in due time and labored thereon until his decease, which occurred on the 25th of June, 1886. He was a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, honest and upright, a stanch Democrat, politically, and a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cecil County, Md., Feb. 7, 1821, and is the son of John McFadden, who was of Irish extraction. The latter, after coming to America, settled in Maryland, but subsequently removed to Ohio during its pioneer days, opened up a farm from the wilderness, and there spent the remainder of his life. He was a man respected by his fellow-citizens, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife Martha was a native of Maryland, who died in Ohio when ripe in years. There were born to them eight children—Hugh, John, Robert, Joseph, Ann, Margaret, William, and George.

William McFadden was the seventh child of his parents, and lived with them on the farm in Ohio until a lad of fourteen years. From that time until twenty years old, he was employed in freighting mostly on his own account. About 1842, soon after reaching his majority, he engaged in mercantile business at Dundee, Ohio, which he followed twenty-eight years, and until his removal to Kansas. In the meantime he was married March 9, 1848, to Miss Susanna Shanks. This lady was born in Ohio, July 25, 1826, and is a daughter of James and Christina (Helwig) Shanks, who were respectively, of French and Scotch extraction. Mr. Shanks was one of the early settlers of the Buckeye State, where he pursued his trade of tanner, and died at the advanced age of seventy-five years; his estimable wife was a member of the Lutheran Church, and lived to be eighty-six years old. To Mr. and Mrs. McFadden were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, named respectively: Oliver, C. Roberts, William Frank, Emma, (Mrs. Alfred Randolph), living in California; Flora, John, Edward, and Harry. All the boys are living in California, except Harry, who resides with his mother.