William Soden

William Soden, wagon and carriage maker, Oregon. He was born in the town of Butternuts, Otsego County, New York in 1837. He moved to Rock County, Wisconsin with his parents in 1845. He lived and worked on his father’s farm for 11 years and then began as  apprentice to a wagon-maker in Fulton. He lived in Madison for 6 months and finished under William Bedford in Oregon. Soon he moved to Edgerton and then to Stoughton.

He enlisted in the 1st W.V.I. for three months, served out his time, and in Oregon, July, 1862, enlisted in the 23rd W. V. I., served three years in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. He was in the battle at Arkansas Post and through the Vicksburg campaign.

On April 8, 1864 he was in Pleasant Hills, Louisiana. His unit was part of the 13th Army Corp. 4th Division, First Brigade. The ensuing battle at Sabine Cross Roads resulted in his capture and eventual imprisonment in Tyler, Texas. The Oregon Area Historical Society owns a copy of the map that Williams drew of the battle. He was released May 17, 1865, having spent thirteen months in the prison camp. He returned to Wisconsin and was mustered out of service on June 24, 1865 and returned to Wisconsin and lived and worked on his father’s farm.

William married Harriet “Hattie” L. Hayes in Oregon. Hattie was born in 1841, in Indiana but moved to Oregon in 1845. Hattie and William have four children: Lora, Minnie, Willie and Freddy. the eldest was born in Edgerton, Minnie in Oregon, Willie in Evansville, and the youngest in Porter, Rock County.

In the spring of 1880, Williams bought property in Oregon with plans to stay.

William was a Republican and member of the M.E. Church, and of the Oregon Lodge, A. F. & A.M.When William was 70, he moved to Edgeley, North Dakota to be near his two daughters. William died on 31st May, 1917 at 79 years of age as the result of a stroke. Hattie died on 25th August, 1917. They were married for 51 years.