REV. W. C. CARDEN,
Pastor in charge of the M. E. Church (South) at Abingdon, Washington
county, was born at Cleveland, Tennessee. He is a son of Leonard
Carden, of Tennessee, whose father, Robert Carden, was a Virginian,
and settled in Tennessee. His mother is of the old and honored Hale
family of Old Virginia, T. C., daughter of Lewis Hale of Grayson county.
In the Sequatchie Valley, March 5, 1875, Rev. W. C. Carden was united
in marriage with Martha Stewart, who was born in the Sequatchie
Valley, Tennessee. Their children are: Robert A., Leonard A., Frank
and Mary. Mrs. Carden is the daughter of James Stewart, granddaughter
of George Stewart, both of the Sequatchie valley, the founder of the
family coming there from Ireland. Her mother was Mary Kirklin, and
her mother's mother was the first white child born in the Sequatchie
valley.
At the time of the late war, Mr. Carden was a cadet in the Military
Institute at Marietta, Georgia, commanded by Major Capers. He was
called out to the defense of Atlanta, in 1864, and kept in front of Sherman's
army in its advance to the Sea through Georgia. At Savannah,
the troops with which he was fighting crossed the river, and moved to
Augusta, Georgia. He was paroled after General Johnston's surrender.
He has served as grand chaplain of the Knights of Honor of Tennessee,
and passed the Chapter and Council to the 11th degree in Masonry.
