Capt. Wm. M. Magden, attorney at law, was born in Genesee County, N.Y., in 1818; he removed to Wayne County, Mich., and engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements; afterwards studied law in the office of Morgan & Joslin, at Elgin, Ill., and with Gen. Baker, at Clinton, Ia., two years, and admitted to the bar in Clinton County, in Dec., 1859, Judge Dillon presiding. He practiced in that county until 1862 and enlisted in the 26th Ia. Inft., served three years, and was promoted to captain. He was in a number of prominent battles and was wounded in the right arm by a ball, in the right side by a bursting shell, and lost the ends of two fingers of the left hand. He was discharged in 1864, and returned to Clinton County; removed to Dunlap, Harrison County, in 1870, and soon after opened an office at Woodbine. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M. order. In 1855, he was married to Elizabeth Gates, at Eligin, Ill., and has ten children.
