Malden B. Pullen History

Malden B. Pullen

The following information was obtained from the ‘History of Monona County, Iowa’ published by the National Publishing Company, Chicago Ill., 1890.

MALDEN B. PULLEN, the most prominent carpenter and builder in the village of Onawa, and the leading undertaker traces his ancestry back to William Pullen, who was born at Vasselboro, Me., January 21, 1774, who was a prominent lumber dealer of that locality and a representative in the Massachusetts Legislature when Maine was a part of the Old Bay State. He died at China, Me., January 5, 1841. He had married Abigail Steward, August 1, 1793, who was also a native of the same place, born February 7, 1775, and died August 13, 1819.

She was the mother of ten children: Patience, born March 5, 1795, died December 10, 1873; James, born May 23, 1797, died December 28, 1825; Elmira, born October 1, 1799, died September 10, 1881; Cecelia, born January 21, 1802, died August 8,1862; Abigail, born December 29, 1804, died September 9,1863; Laura, born April 18, 1807, died September 23, 1886; William, born July 30, 1809, died June 20,1872; Daniel, as below; Charles, born November 3, 1814, died August 20, 1884; and Cyrus, born July 13, 1817, died March 3, 1818.

Daniel Pullen, the father of our subject, was born at China, Kennebec County, Me., July 28, 1812. After attaining man’s estate, he became a millwright, which business he followed all his life. He was married November 24, 1825, to Miss Mary A. Dudley, a native of Leeds, Me., who was born May 5, 1812, and was the daughter of William and Experience (Wing) Dudley, of English descent. Her father died about 1840, and her mother in 1862, the latter having reached the age of seventy-six years.

Daniel Pullen died July 24, 1849, having been the father of nine children: Harriet A., born February 6, 1837; Marquis D., June 16, 1838; Cynthia, August 29, 1839; Sarah C., January 2, 1841; Daniel W., May 24, 1842; Melvina, September 15, 1843; Abbie E., May 11, 1845; Malden B., February 6, 1847; and Ephraim B., February l0, 1849.

Maiden B. Pullen spent his time in attending school until reaching his sixteenth year, when be was apprenticed to learn the carpenter’s trade, and served for some three years. As a journeyman, he remained with the same employer until August, 1869, when he came west, and at Omaha, Neb., worked in the car shops of the Union Pacific Railroad. After remaining in that city two years, in 1871 he came to Onawa, where he has since been employed at his trade. In connection with the latter, in the summer of 1880, be added the undertaking business, which he still follows.

Our subject was united in marriage, December 29, 1881, with Miss Julia E. Whiting, a daughter of Hon. Charles E. Whiting, one of the pioneers of this region and one of its most prominent citizens, a sketch of whom is given else where in this work.

Mrs. Pullen was born in New Market, Ala., January 2, 1850, and came to Monona County with her parents when some six years of age. She received her education in the common schools of this county, and in Knox Seminary, at Galesburg, Ill., and followed school teaching for some five terms previous to her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Pullen are the parents of three interesting children: Myrick W., born January 25, 1883; Gail C., September 26, 1884 (Note: my grandfather, G.C. Pullen left a hand written note in a copy of this document correcting this date from September 6, 1884 to September 26, 1884); and Keat A., July 4, 1886.