Stan Madden, Appalachian Poet

(Volume 1 of Stan's poetry is available on Amazon in Kindle eBook or Paperback form)

Stan Madden near his Dizney KY home

Stan Madden, Appalachian Kentucky Poet, was born Sunday, April 7, 1935 deep in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky in Harlan County, in a little coal mining community known as Dizney.  His life ranged from being an awarded author to being bed-bound with a severe handicap for decades but through it all, he wrote, penning poems and short stories which shared accounts of life in Appalachia, love, patriotism, God and general reflections. 

Although the mountains can be beautiful in the springtime and it was only two weeks before Easter when he was born, all was not well. The Depression raged across America. Stan was born during the “Bloody Harlan” years – a time when men died in too frequent coal mine accidents, tuberculosis, influenza, gunfights and violence related to unionization efforts by miners. Stan’s paternal grandparents died in a flu epidemic and left 8 children, ranging from about 3 to 14. His other grandfather died in a gunfight in front of the family home. His grandmother contracted TB and survived but was badly affected by the disease.  

            

Levi Thomas & Lige Madden, Stan's parents

Life was hard in Harlan County and while the coal was making a few men rich, most were barely able to support their families and shortened their lives with black lung from time in the underground mine tunnels with limited ventilation. Yet, there were times of joy with fiddles playing, singing, church services or for some, moonshine made in their own hidden still (distillery).

Stan was the youngest child of eight. he had grey eyes and brown hair and early photos show a slender young man.  Perhaps it was natural that he was considered to be a bit “spoiled” since the two children before him had both died in infancy and he was the final child of the family. Stan was afflicted early in life with severe physical issues. One relative remembered that he was working in the apple orchard during a very hot summer and seemed to suffer a heat stroke. The doctor advised he should go to a Spa for therapy but that didn’t happen. Like many young people of the time, Stan enjoyed riding horses. Cars were a rarity in Harlan County at that time and the only way to get from place to place was your own feet or a horse!  Stan’s physical afflictions may well have contributed to his bigger-than-normal wish to have horses nearby as walking would have been difficult at times.

Stan Madden

His 6’2” frame eventually shrank to about 5’10” with the degenerative effects of disease.  Other family members remember that he was badly handicapped with rheumatoid arthritis (then known as crippling arthritis). He drank a lot to mask the pain but for the last 25 years of his life he was sober and committed to a Christian life.  Much of his life he had very limited mobility and was often unable to leave his bed.

His writing gave him a voice and he earned some recognition which was encouraging for a poor, crippled man from a remote mountain coal camp.  Stan’s short story about a dog won the National Enquirer story of the year.  The National Enquirer ran a story about him, and he had bags and bags of mail delivered from readers who wanted to contact him – it was estimated that he received over 26,000 letters. This was a huge show of love for Stan who led a fairly isolated life due to illness. He was excited to be awarded a 1992 Golden Poet Trophy at The World of Poetry; this award was presented to many amateur poets but he really valued it. In 1995 He won First Prize award at the Legacies contest. These recognitions were among the high points of his life and made him feel he was making a difference through his writing. His poetry resonates with his love for God, country and the mountains. Some writings give voice to his despair over seeing the world mostly through a window but, at the same time, showing much greater insight than you would expect for a handicapped man who rarely left Kentucky and spent most of his life in the deep mountains or confined to a room.

Stan was always fairly dependent on family members who loved and assisted him. For some years he had a wife to whom he devoted many of his poems during that period. His sister Dorothy and her family were his primary caretakers for many years.  He passed away at the age of 67 and was buried in Harlan County in the Dizney Church of God Cemetery by his mom and dad – a wish he had expressed in his poetry.  

Stan’s legacy, his memories, are reflected in his writings. We are publishing them so that his voice remains, and it is our hope that some readers will enjoy a glimpse into the musings of the Appalachian poet in years to come.

(Volume 1 of Stan's poetry is available on Amazon in Kindle eBook or Paperback form)

Elizabeth M Hartmann Mueller  (1894-1938)

Elizabeth “Betty” Hartmann was born in Chicago on Wednesday, March 14, 1894 to 36 year old John J Hartmann and 32 year old Catherine M Meyer Hartmann. She was the 2^nd of 5 children and the middle daughter. Her parents were both born to German immigrant families.   St. Patricks day was 3 days after her birth – this holiday was celebrated even then in Chicago with a parade.  She is listed in some census as Lizzie though the family typically referred to her as Betty. Her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Kecheison Meyer, was born in Hannover, Stadt Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany and died in Chicago just one month after Betty's birth. S

1900 Census Chicago Ward 4

We often think of people marrying very young in the late 1800s and early 1900s but that was not always the case.  When Peter and Elizabeth married June 14, 1924 in Chicago, IL they were both 30 years of age. In fact, this was not unusual among midwestern Catholic families where the family stayed together longer, often working large farms. Her parents were 29 and 25 when they married, his were 34 and 24.  

In 1900 (census above) Betty was attending school at age 6 while her father was noted as a teamster (wagon driver, later to be truck drivers). According to Teamster.org in 1900 the typical teamster worked 12-18 hours a day, seven days a week for an average wage of $2 per day. A teamster was expected only to haul his load, but also to assume liability for bad accounts and lost or damaged merchandise. Within a year of the census, in 1901 a group of teamsters formed the Teamsters Union right there in Chicago.

We find her 10 years later in the 1910 census as a stenographer in an office. Generally a stenographer indicated a clerical worker, typist or secretary at that time although the word stenographer is also used for court recorders. At the 1920 census her occupation was indicated as “Mail order house – office.” Interestingly, Sears Roebuck had a big business at that time selling Craftsman style homes via mail order. Sears Roebuck did originate in Chicago (remember the Sears Tower?). We haven’t yet confirmed which company she worked with in 1920, but that’s a possibility.  Census records indicate that she lived with her parents until her marriage. We don't know a lot about Betty's childhood but daughter Rose Ella tells about going back to the family home on Cicero in Chicago and having fun with grandparents, aunts and cousins. 

In Chicago in 1924 at the age of 30 she married Peter Michael Mueller (1893-1976), who was just a few months older. Peter lived in Racine County, Wisconsin with his family who were also first generation German immigrants.  His parents were Frank “Franz” and Maria Fischer Mueller.  Peter is listed as farmer, farm hand, Manager-Implement Shop, business owner and fireman during his life.

Elizabeth had two children, lovely daughters. Rita arrived in 1929 followed by Rose Ella in 1931. They had moved to Sturtevant, a village near Peter’s family farm in Mount Pleasant. Peter was a business man and fireman. The family was active in their church, St. Sebastian’s where generations of their family would continue.  She had heart issues and passed away when her girls were just 9 and 7 years old. At the time of her death she was living in Sturtevant, Wisconsin in a white frame house downtown. She was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery near generations of the Mueller family.

Peter’s brother, Joe Miller and wife Barb, became a big part of the family with Aunt Barb providing lots of maternal care and guidance for the girls through the years. Rita and Rose Ella each had large loving families (8 and 5 children, respectively) and we are sure that Elizabeth would have been proud of her beautiful daughters and their influence on so many lives with laughter and love.

Heinrich Carl Harmann 1860-1933 (Jeff's Great Grandfather)

Heinrich (Henry) Carl Harmann was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 18, 1860 to blacksmith/farmer Heinrich Harmann (1824-1886) and Albertina Dobratz (1832-1900).  His father was born 1824 in Mecklenburg (Germany) and his mother was from Prussia (Germany).   Heinrich (Henry) was one of five known children, with two sisters, Augusta Rose and Martha; and two brothers, Frank and Edward.

Henry and Eliza married on Tuesday, February 15, 1887 (See the photo), the day after Valentine's Day (yes, it was celebrated then)!  Their marriage lasted over 40 years (when Eliza died) and they had eleven children: Henry Jacob, Meta Martha, Lilian Albertina, Flora, Paul, William, Clarence, Norman David, Cora Lorraine, Arthur (Jeff's grandfather) and his twin sister, Rose.

The 1870 and 1880 census reports show Henry living in Wauwatosa, WI with his parents.  Following his 1887 wedding to Eliza, we find him in the 1900 census in Racine, Wisconsin and in 1905 his residence is specifically listed as Mount Pleasant, where some of his ancestors still reside in 2014.  His 1910 residence was on Union Grove Road in Mount Pleasant.  In 1930 his residence is listed as Sturtevant.

The following information is from notes provided by Betty Luebke and it is not clear whether this is referring to our Henry or his son, Henry Jacob, born 1888.  Henry worked as a farmer and also as President of the Corliss State Bank.  Henry Harmann was president.  (Corliss is part of the area now known as Sturtevant, WI).  In 1835 Ives Grove was a small part of the wilderness in the northwest territory now the southeastern part of Wisconsin.  In this area were many wild animals.  Native American tribes, the Sac and the Fox, cleared the land in small areas so the land was generally heavily wooded.  In 1845 Mr. Royal Beach moved to Ives Grove from Massachusetts and bought a farm west of Ives Groves which he sold to Mr. Harmann. (this is from a book of area history and was noted years ago - if anyone has the book name/author/etc please let me know so I can add that info).

Henry passed away March 19, 1933 in Wisconsin and was buried in Graceland Cemetery.

Verna Madden (1923-2014)

earliest known photo of Verna,
with her dad George Madden ca 1927

Verna Madden was born on November 9, 1923 to 18 year old Dora Thomas Madden and 26 year old George W. Madden, their first child.  Verna lived primarily in Kentucky and briefly in Michigan during her 90 years.  "Monkey" was her nickname among many of her nieces and nephews.  Verna's outstanding traits included her humor, kindness, wisdom, and love of God.  She was an accomplished seamstress and has sewn many quilts for her family, working with her Aunt Callie and others.  She was such a blessing in my life.

Verna was married at a young age to Paris Charles, Jr. but they separated early.  She was single until her later years when she was briefly married to Mr. Troglen of the Harlan area.  Though Verna's only two children were lost to miscarriages, she served as an additional mother to many of her siblings' children.  Ruth

One of the many quilts
Verna made 

and Fay's children and grandchildren lived in the same neighborhood on Bill's Creek (Dizney, Harlan County, Kentucky) much of their life and share many wonderful stories of how Verna was there for them and they were certainly a great blessing to her.  Ed and Ewell's children lived further away but cherished the visits, phone calls or sweet cards from Aunt Verna during the years.  As long as she lived in the old family homeplace on Bill's Creek, extended family was welcomed back with open arms and, as long as she was able, she would always cook the guests' favorite foods or have their favorite drinks ready.

It was a real treat when Verna came to visit us in Tennessee, usually accompanied by Ruth or Fay.  When brother Ed passed away, Verna was so broken hearted.  She spent many years caring for elderly or sick people in the community.  She would help those struggling financially or in other ways as much as she could.  She was faithful to pray for others and I believe that God blessed me and many others through her prayers over the years.

Verna had a great memory right up until the end - able to recall things from throughout her life with great clarity.  Our family tree research was greatly helped through her memories, photos and tales.  She would surprise me from time to time with a new "old" photo that she had found in her green trunk!

Verna loved the Lord and would share sweet testimonies of how God had blessed her life, even through hard times.  She was faithful to the Lord and to the little church on the hill behind her house, a Pentecostal church.  She would never speak ill of others religious beliefs.  She shared with me during an August 2013 visit a story of how she was lying in bed, praying one night and asking God if He could really love her, when she heard Him speak to her.  When she was telling this story, I turned on my phone recorder and got the last little bit - it is included below and I hope when family and friends hear it, they will be able to remember her sweet voice telling you that she loves you and reassuring you of God's love, too!  When she was in the hospital a few weeks before her death, she told me that she was praying and reached up to heaven and she saw Jesus reaching down to her and telling her that He was with her.

When Verna turned 80 we had a big birthday party and started counting off to the 90th birthday party.  She was often in severe pain from arthritis and osteoporosis (degenerative discs, etc.) and had some heart issues but when she would talk about being ready to 'go home' to heaven, we would remind her that she had a 90th birthday party to attend.  She helped us with the planning of that 90th birthday party which was held on November 2, 2013 and it was such a blessing for many family and friends to be with her on that special day, sharing their love.  Here are some links related to that last birthday party with her.

1) The collection of 90 years of photos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmj2s9AFqyQ
2) The various photos from the 90th birthday party:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWpZrOiMAEU

A few months after her 90th birthday, Verna fell and broke her hip.  She went through surgery and rehab but had complications and began failing and passed away February 10, 2014 in Kingsport, TN at the hospital, with family at her bedside.  Her funeral service was at Locust Grove Baptist Church and she was laid to rest on the hill behind her house, near her parents and grandparents.  

Verna and her great-niece,
Elizabeth Harmann Lisic

Lauren Smith (great niece), Verna, sister Ruth Smith,
great nieces Veronica Shackleford Carlson
 and WhitleyShackleford Blair

The Barn Charlie Built

Today, I took Evan to my mom's and we spent some time out on the farm.  I'm thankful that we are able to visit the land where 5 generations have lived (6 if you count the occasional visits from the previous generation).  Such family historical spots are increasingly rare with today's mobile families.

Evan played in the barn built by his great great grandfather, Charlie Ramsey, who owned this land from about 1930 until he passed it on to his daughter, Betty Madden. I remember Granddaddy Charlie building the barn soon after the house was built in the late 1960's.  My brother Randy Madden and later my son Joey have maintained it over the years. It is amazing how entering the barn takes me back to childhood and the times we played there and the animals that we had through the years - the pony Taffy, the pigs, goats, assorted birds including turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, peacocks, quail, easter egg chickens, Bantam (aggressive banty rooster), domineckers, and assorted others. A favorite game was to try to lock one another in the barn/stalls and then try to escape. I learned that i could crawl through the little adjoining doors (tiny doors for baby animals), then climb up the hay drop (what's the word for that area), then go through the loft and to the opposite row of stalls where I could work the lock loose. What adventures we had!

The old feed room is still in good shape, as is the tack room and the stairway.  It is a touching experience to spend time there, knowing that Charlie built it, his daughter Betty and husband Ed worked in it, his grandchildren Randy, Mike, and I kept animals there and played in it.  His great grandchildren Joey, Elizabeth, Randall, Jessica, Tyler, Zac and Eric played there and Joey has kept goats there for several years.  Now the great great grandchildren have the chance to visit and play.  

Elizabeth turns 2 - 1987

Elizabeth's 2nd birthday party was held at my mom and dad's house in Cookeville, TN on the old Ramsey family farm property on or near July 20, 1987.  Gran and Granddad, as the kids called grandparents Betty & Ed Madden, were always excited for their grandchildren to come and visit.  Both my brothers and their families were present.  At this point there were three grandchildren: Joey (8 years old), Elizabeth (2) and Randall (a few months younger than Elizabeth).  Randy, Donna, Mike and Marlene were present in the video.  Special guests were my dad's sisters from Harlan County, KY.  Verna Madden, Ruth Smith and Faye Cochran.

Joey with the Harlem Globetrotters 1984

In 1984 Jeff and 5 year old Joey went to Tennessee Tech University to see the Harlem Globetrotters play basketball.  Joey had a great time and we were delighted to watch him on TV during a time for kids to go on court with the team.  He had a great time.  The video quality isn't fantastic since it was recorded on VHS from our poorly received local station but we still enjoy watching it!