Placer
County
Biographies
JAMES M. WALDEN
Among the early arrivals in
California after the discovery of gold was made was James Madison Walden, who
came to the state in 1859 and is now a valued resident of Rocklin. A native of Georgia, he was born in the city
of Macon, November 3, 1842, and that state was the birthplace of several
generations of the family. His paternal
grandparents reared their children in that state, among the number being James
Walden, the father of our subject, who was born and reared there. After arriving at the years of maturity he
wedded Miss Matilda Tuchri, also a native of Georgia,
and by their union there were three daughters and three sons. The wife died
when her son James M. was only three years of age, and the father departed this
life in the fifty-second year of his age.
He had removed to Alabama where he was the owner of a plantation and he
became one of the widely and favorably known citizens of that state.
James Madison Walden was educated
and reared to manhood in Alabama, and when only seventeen years of age he came
to California by steamer from New Orleans, landing at San Francisco. A desire to see the country was the principal
reason that led him to the Pacific coast.
From San Francisco he made his way to Sacramento where he was induced to
accept a clerkship with an auctioneer, and in 1860 he came to a farm within
three miles of Rocklin. He worked at
different places and engaged in teaming from Sacramento to the different mining
towns, including Virginia City and Carson.
That was then a paying business for there were no railroad facilities
and the freight rate was quite heavy. In
1864 Mr. Walden accepted a clerkship in the store of Smith & Hobbel, at Smithville, where he continued until 1867, when
he went to Newcastle, Placer County, where he was engaged in the livery-stable
business. In 1868 he engaged in hauling
stone at a quarry, and the following year he became a salesman in a store owned
by L. G. Smith, at Rocklin.
After his marriage, which occurred
in 1870, he conducted a hotel in Rocklin for a short time, and in June of that
year entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, with which he
was connected as locomotive fireman until 1872.
He then removed to Loomis and was in the employ of William Quinn until
the fall of 1873, when he was elected constable of Township No. 9. In March of 1874 he entered upon the duties
of his office and in 1875 he was elected to the same position, being again
chosen for that place in 1879, 1882, 1884, 1886 and 1888. That he discharged his duties in the most
prompt and satisfactory manner is indicated by his long continuance in a
position that is held through popular suffrage.
He was fearless, earnest and reliable and received the commendation of
all law abiding citizens. In 1890 he was
elected to the office of justice of the peace and in 1894 was re-elected to the
same position in which he served continuously until 1899. His decisions were strictly fair and
impartial, and such was his ability and knowledge of the law that his judgment
was never once reversed by the higher court.
He was entirely without prejudice in administering justice, basing his
points upon the law and the evidence introduced. In 1893 he was appointed clerk of the city of
Rocklin and in that position, by re-election, has been continued since. For the past ten years he has served as a
notary public, appointed by the different governors of California, and he is
also the health officer of Rocklin.
On the 15th of February,
1870, Mr. Walden was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Ryon,
of Auburn. Their married life was a
happy one for six years, being then terminated by the death of the wife,
whereby Mr. Walden was left with the care of his five children, namely: Herbert James, Albert Madison, Lester, Violet
Joseph and Melvin John. On the 19th
of April, 1890, Mr. Walden wedded Mrs. Carrie Gillis, a widow who had one
child, Ernest, by her former marriage.
Our subject and his estimable wife are valued members of the
Congregational Church, in which he is serving as treasurer and as president of
the board of trustees. He does all in
his power to promote the work of the church in its various branches and
contributes liberally to its support. As
a public official he has made for himself a most enviable record. He has ever retired from office as he entered
it, with the confidence and good will of his fellow men, and his services have
ever been a public benefit. His career
shows the power of honesty and fidelity in winning prominence and success in
life.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 797-798. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.