WI BIO - Dane Co - OGDEN, Francis A.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 423-424

Francis A. OGDEN, one of the capitalists of Madison [Dane County, WI] and 
Chicago [Cook County, IL], was born at Painted Post, Steuben County, New 
York. His father, Abram OGDEN, was born in Delaware County, New York, and 
was the son of Abram and Sarah (CRAIG) OGDEN.

The father of our subject was reared in New York and engaged in the lumber 
business there. In 1836 he [the father] emigrated westward, journeying with 
a team to Buffalo [Erie County, NY] thence via lake to Detroit [Wayne County, 
MI] and then started again with his team for an overland journey to Chicago. 
As the roads were very poor he stopped in Berrien County, Michigan, and was 
one of the early settlers of that place. He bought a tract of land, which 
was a part of the Indian reservation, and built a log house on the land. 
Here he remained until 1847, engaged in agricultural pursuits. At that date 
he sold out, and with his family made a journey overland to Madison [Dane 
County, WI], where he invested in real estate. He had been there but a short 
time when he was elected Justice of the Peace and served in that capacity 
until 1856, when his death occurred. He was killed by the cars while trying 
to board a moving train.

The maiden name of his [the father's] wife was Mary SMITH, who was born in 
Rensselaer County, New York, 29 August 1798. She is still living with mental 
faculties unimpaired. She was the mother of eight children, four now living: 
Caleb S., a Judge in Waupaca County [WI]; John, a practicing physician in 
Arkansas; Sarah, married to John D. WELCH and still a resident of this city. 
Her husband was a soldier in the late war and later served as Sheriff of Dane 
County [WI], but is now deceased.

Our subject [Francis A. OGDEN] received his early education in the pioneer 
schools of Berrien County [Michigan]. The furniture of these schools was of 
the most [p 424] primitive kind. After coming to Madison [Dane County, WI] 
he attended the State University, where he completed his course and then 
engaged in the lumber business, which he continued some years. For several 
years he has been engaged in the real estate business here, in which he has 
been very successful. He built the Hotel Ogden, which bears his name, and 
has improved a considerable amount of other property here. He is also 
largely interested in Chicago [Cook County, IL] real estate and makes his 
home a part of the time in that city.

Mr. [Francis A.] OGDEN is a member of the Baptist Church and in politics is a 
Democrat, following in the footsteps of his honored sire in this respect, as 
he too was an advocate of the principles of Democracy. The dear old mother 
is also a stanch partisan of the party and continues to take a deep interest 
in the affairs of the nation.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly