[The county history lists the name as Stodden, but this is an error as the name is Stadden.]

William Stodden was born near Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, Dec. 5, 1800, a son of John and Elizabeth (Green) Stodden, of English descent. His early education was limited, but having an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he was a great reader, and became well posted on matters of public interest. He came to La Salle County in the spring of 1831, and settled in Dayton Township, but during the Black Hawk war moved his family to Springfield, returning at the end of two years. He was by trade a millwright, and built several mills on the Illinois River, one at Dayton for himself, which he ran a few years. In 1834 and 1835 he was Sheriff of La Salle County, and in 1838 was elected to the State Senate and served three years. In 1848 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention at Springfield. He died Oct. 13, 1849. His wife is still living, aged seventy-eight years, her birth being March 29, 1807. Their family consisted of seven children – Mary, born Nov. 12, 1827, married David Green; Jonathan, of Rutland Township; Elizabeth, now Mrs. George, of Leland; William, died June 15, 1884; Maria, died Nov. 3, 1876; Aaron, deceased; and Richard, of Chicago, Ill.¹

---

1. History of La Salle County, Illinois, 2 vols. (Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co.,1886), 2: 190-191.