Biography - John Paden
John Milton PADEN, contractor and builder, Litchfield, son of James and Margaret (McELVAIN) PADEN, was born in Todd County, Ky., August 31, 1821. He was in his fifteenth year when he came to this county, in 1835, with his parents. He received a part of his education in the private schools of Kentucky, and finished his schooling in the old Hillsboro Academy, which he left in 1840. He learned carpentering with Hamilton HIGH, of Hillsboro, serving two years, when he began taking contracts, which were principally in the neighborhood of his old home. He continued at this until 1852, when he bought a saw-mill, which he conducted two years, one mile east of Litchfield. In 1854, he purchased, in South Litchfield Township, a farm of 175 acres, on which he lived until the spring of 1882, when he moved to Litchfield. He engaged in contracting and building in the vicinity of Litchfield, in addition to his agricultural pursuits, for twenty-five years. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Litchfield since its organization, and helped to erect that church building. He has been Trustee and Deacon for many years. In politics, Mr. PADEN is a Democrat. He served as Deputy Sheriff of this part of the county four years, and also one term as Deputy Assessor for the western part of the county. In April, 1843, he married Miss Martha STREET, daughter of James STREET, and raised a family of four sons and three daughters, one son dying at the age of twenty-six years.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 162-163.
