It would be difficult indeed to find in Macoupin county a more worthy
subject for review in a historical work pertaining to this section than
Harvey Madison. He has been a resident of the county since 1836 and, by a
life of earnest and persistent industry, he many years ago became one of the
most highly respected men in Nilwood township — a man whose integrity has
never been questioned, and whose acts have reflected credit upon himself and
all with whom he has associated. He was born August 11, 1824, a son of Henry
and Mary (Smith) Madison, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the
latter in New York state. He is also a grandson of Daniel Madison, a native
of England, and David Smith, who was born in Germany.
In 1836 he
came with his parents to Bird township, Macoupin county, and continued under
the paternal roof until 1848. In the district schools of Sangamon and
Macoupin counties he gained his preliminary education, but he was not
satisfied with the limited training afforded in his youth and has greatly
widened his knowledge by reading and observation. At the age of twenty-four
he went to Montgomery county and engaged in farming on his own account,
remaining there until 1855, when he returned to Macoupin county and for a
short time engaged in selling merchandise in Nilwood township. Upon giving
up this business, he resumed the occupation to which he had been reared and
gave his close attention to agriculture and stock-raising for about forty
years. In 1900 he took up his residence at Carlinville but moved to Chicago
in 1908 in order to be near his children. He was not satisfied with life in
a large city and, after a residence of one year at the great metropolis of
the lakes, he returned to Girard where he has since resided.
In 1848
Mr. Madison was married in Bird township to Miss Mary Waters, of Morgan
county, Illinois, a daughter of Zachariah and Mary (Canady) waters, both of
whom were natives of Kentucky. Four sons were born to this union, two of
whom, John R. and Peyton C., are living in Chicago. The other two, Zachariah
and William, are deceased. The mother of these children died in 1882, and
two years later Mr. Madison was married in Nilwood township to Miss Rebecca
Paden, of Montgomery county, Illinois, a daughter of Leroy and Jane
(Fletcher) Paden, the former of whom was born in South Carolina and the
latter in Kentucky. Mrs. Madison has proved to her husband a sympathetic and
helpful companion and they now enjoy at ease the results of many years of
patient application.
Mr. Madison gives his political support to the
prohibition cause and has long been an earnest advocate of the abolition of
the saloon, believing that it is the greatest evil with which the country is
afflicted. He was for a number of years an active member of the Sons of
Temperance and the Good Templars and assisted to the extent of his ability
in advancing the interests of those organizations. He served as highway
commissioner and also for several terms as member of the school board. As a
young man he became connected with the Methodist church and ever since 1850
— a period of sixty-one years — he has been a steward in the church. This is
a record that it would probably be impossible to parallel in the state of
Illinois. Throughout life steadfast and outspoken in his views, he has been
upright in his dealings and is, therefore, eminently worthy of the deep
respect which is due to one who has ever heeded the voice of conscience and
the call of duty.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 87-88.
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