The Gloden surname may have originated in Germany. Our Gloden ancestors originated in Luxembourg, one of the smallest and oldest countries in Europe. The countries of West Germany, Belgium and France surround the small country of Luxembourg. The country was originally called Lucilinburhuc, which meant "little castle". Luxembourg became prominent in 1308, when Count Henry IV of Luxembourg became Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor. Luxembourg was owned at one time by Burgundy and Austria. In 1555, Luxembourg became Spanish property, but still remained part of the Holy Roman Empire. The ownership was given back to Austria in 1713. France gained control of Luxembourg in 1795.
Luxembourg was raised to the rank of grand duchy in 1815, which meant that a grand duke or duchess ruled the country. Luxembourg was then given to The Netherlands. The western portion of Luxembourg was given to Belgium in 1839. The eastern part, which is the present country of Luxembourg, remained an independent country under the rule of the king of The Netherlands until 1890, when a female took the throne of The Netherlands, and Luxembourg broke away because its laws did not, at that time, permit a female ruler.
At the beginning of World War I, Germany overran the country and Luxembourg remained under German control until the end of the war. Luxembourg was invaded by German troops during World War II. The Battle of the Bulge was fought in the northern part of the country in 1944-1945. The people of Luxembourg were of French, Belgian, Dutch and German origin.
We have found few early Gloden immigration records. Among the earliest immigrants were A. Gloden who immigrated to New York in 1823; Andrew Gloden who immigrated to New York in 1821; Joseph Peter Gloden who immigrated to Ohio in 1867; J. P. Gloden who immigrated to Ohio from Luxembourg in 1871; Peter Gloden who immigrated from Luxembourg in 1869; and Martin Glodin who immigrated from Luxembourg in 1844. The heaviest settlement of Gloden's in America was in the Dutch settlements primarily in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
My sincere thanks to Steven Gloden for the information he contribututed on this family.
Our 3rd great grandfather was John Gloden. He married our 3rd great grandmother, M. Stomuel (?). We know nothing at all about this couple. To our knowledge they never came to America. A Macon County, Illinois marriage record book lists them as the parents of Michael Gloden, when he married his second wife, in 1880. My sincere thanks to Steven Gloden for providing me with this information and a copy of the record book.
Our great-great grandfather, Michael M. Gloden, was born between about 1830 and 1836, in Luxembourg. We believe he immigrated to America around 1857-1858. We believe Michael had a brother, Franklin Dominek Gloden, who immigrated to America a few years after Michael immigrated.
Steven Gloden provided a copy of Michael's naturalization papers which were filled out in October 1868, in which Michael said he had been in the U.S. for 11 years. If that information is correct, Michael immigrated to America about 1857.
Michael served in the Civil War. He enlisted on August 14, 1862, at Decatur, in Co. I, 116th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was honorably discharged on June 7, 1865, near Washington, D.C. His military papers describe him as 5' 3" tall, with dark complexion, grey eyes, dark hair, a farmer, who was born July 17, 1825, at Luxemberg, Germany. Census records indicate he was born about 1832, but we have found no other record of his birth.
Steven Gloden has posted a photo of Michael Gloden and his good friend Isaac Jennings. The couple are in Civil War dress. We believe the photo was taken about 1863-1865. Click here to view the photo. My sincere thanks to Steve for allowing me to use this photo.
Our great-great grandfather, William Branham, had moved his family from Blount County, Alabama, to Searcy County, Arkansas, in 1860 or early 1861. Sometime prior to 1865, William moved his family to Macon County, Illinois. That is where Michael Gloden met Lucinda Branham.
Michael married our great-great grandmother, Lucinda Adaline Branham, on September 6, 1865, at Decatur, in Macon County, Illinois. Lucinda Adaline Branham was born May 3, 1844, in Blount County, Alabama, the daughter of William Branham and Arenna R. (last name unknown). Lucinda was not only our great-great grandmother, but also our great-great-great aunt.
The 1870 Macon County census shows Michael, Adaline and their two oldest children, John, age 3, and William, age 1, living in Decatur Township. Living next door to them is Lucinda's sister Jane H. (Branham) Farley and her 10 year old son, Joab Farley.
Lucinda's sister, Jane Farley, married Franklin Dominek Gloden on January 5, 1871, at Decatur, in Macon County.
Lucinda died August 18, 1878, at Decatur, in Macon County, leaving five small children. She is buried in Wheeler Cemetery at Decatur. We believe that Lucinda's sister, Jane, helped Michael with the children.
Michael married Margaret Herman on February 2, 1880, in Macon County. Margaret Herman was born about 1854, in Aultbiren, according to census. Macon County, Illinois marriage records show Margaret was the daughter of Andrew Herman (Hermann).
The 1880 Macon County census shows Michael, Margaret, and his five children living in Decatur Township. Living next door to Michael's family was Frank and Jane (Branham) Gloden.
On June 3, 1895, Michael filed for an invalid pension on his Civil War service. His application indicated he was unable to earn a support by manual labor because of a gunshot wound in the left arm and rheumatism, impaired vision, disease of the heart and general disability.
The 1900 Macon County census, Whitmore Township, shows Michael Gloden, 72, born February 1828, in Germany, father and mother born in Germany, married 30 years, a farmer and his wife Margaret, 46, born December 1854, in Germany, father and mother born in Germany, married 30 years. Living next door to Michael was Franklin and Jane H. (Branham) Gloden. Also living next door to Michael is son James, 26, who is listed as boarding with the Smithson family. Census shows that Michael owned his farm.
Michael filed for his Civil War pension again on February 27, 1907, at Decatur.
Michael died August 28, 1911, at Decatur. Margaret died there on August 18, 1914. Michael, Margaret and Lucinda are all three buried in Wheeler Cemetery at Decatur.
Children of Michael Gloden and Lucinda Branham
1. John Michael Gloden, b. 1867, Macon Co, IL
2. William Franklin Gloden, b. 1869, Macon Co, IL (our line)
3. Margaret Irene Gloden, b. 1871, Macon Co, IL
4. Mary J. Gloden, b. 1872, Macon Co, IL
5. James Moses Gloden, b. 1874, Macon Co, IL
I am not a professional genealogist and although I have researched much of the information found at this site, some of it was given to me by other researchers and may not have been documented. Each bit of information found here should be carefully researched and proved or disproved by you, the researcher. Researchers may copy information found at this site for their own personal use and to share with other researchers or genealogical organizations. Any commercial use or distribution without the written consent of this author is prohibited.
If you would like to be listed as a Gloden researcher, or if you find errors or have additional information to contribute, please contact roykat@cyberback.com
Others researching the Gloden line:
Linda
Gloden -- descendant of John Michael Gloden
Steven
Gloden -- descendant of John Michael Gloden
Linda
Pyshny -- descendant of William Franklin Gloden
Marsha
Gearon -- descendant of John Michael Gloden