John appears to have been the son of Emley Golden and his wife Mariah Hawley Golden, who were married in 1832 in Ripley Co., Indiana. Emley in turn was the son of Andrew Golden and his wife Hannah Snook Golden, both originally from New Jersey and both of whom also came to settle in Miller Co., Missouri.

In 1850, John wasn't listed living with Emley and his second wife, Sarah (married in 1846); instead, he was listed living nearby with his grandparents, Andrew and Hannah:

1850 census, Miller county, Miller, Missouri
house 446
Emly Golden M 35 New Jersey
Sarah Golden F 22 Virginia
Zalmon Golden M 19 Indiana
Eberett Golden M 15 Indiana
Laura Golden F 12 Indiana
Eliza Golden F 10 Missouri
Mary Golden F 7 Missouri
Elvira Golden F 2 Missouri
William Golden M 1 Missouri

1850 census, Miller county, Miller, Missouri
house 476
Andrew Golden M 66 New Jersey
Hannah Golden F 67 New Jersey
John Golden M 8 Missouri

There was also another John Golden the same age, son of Abraham Golden and his wife Eliza Pack Golden. This Abraham (aka Andrew) was Emley's brother:

1850 census, Miller county, Miller, Missouri
house 518
Abraham Golden M 42 New Jersey
Eliza Golden F 23 Virginia
John Golden M 8 Missouri
Cyntha Golden F 1 Missouri
John Pedler M 20 Germany

In 1860, John is living with his sister Laura Golden Wyrick and her family in Equality Township:

1860 census, Equality Township, Miller, Missouri, p 11
Michael Wyrick M 30 Tennessee
Laura Wyrick F 22 Indiana
George W Wyrick M 5 Missouri
Malachi Wyrick M 2 Missouri
John Golden M 18 Missouri
Daniel M Wyrick M 22 Tennessee

Also living in Equality Township is Hester Ann Scott and her family:

1860 census, Equality Township, Miller, Missouri, p. 3
Thomas Scott M 43 Indiana
America Scott F 40 Indiana
Hester A Scott F 20 Indiana
Thomas R Scott M 19 Indiana
John W Scott M 12 Missouri
James N Scott M 11 Missouri
Henry C Scott M 9 Missouri
Arthur F Scott M 7 Missouri
Daniel W Scott M 5 Missouri
Leona E Scott F 5 Missouri
Rachel J Scott F 1 Missouri

Living in neighboring Camden Co., MO are Abraham and Eliza Golden. Their son John hasn't been found on the 1860 census, but a little Scott girl is living with them as a foster child:

1860 census, Linn Creek Osage Township, Camden, Missouri
Abreham Goldan M 52 New Jersey
Eliza J Goldan F 38 Virginia
Syntha A Goldan F 12 Missouri
Julia A Goldan F 9 Missouri
William F Goldan M 5 Missouri
Cloughe E Goldan F 3 Missouri
Eliza Scott F 3 Missouri; pauper

John married on 24 Jan 1861, Miller Co., MO to Hester Ann Scott, daughter of Thomas S. Scott and America Elizabeth Stillwell Scott.

Aug 1862 - John enlisted as a private in Company E of the 33rd Missouri Infantry, as did his father Emley. Emley was honorably discharged a couple of months later for ill health, but John served until 1865, perhaps until the end of the war.

1870 - John and Hester haven't been found on this census.

1870 census, Portland, Calloway Co., MO
Abraham Golden M 62 New Jersey; a cooper
Eliza J Golden F 47 Virginia
Cinthy A Golden F 22 Missouri
Julia A Golden F 19 Missouri
Francis W Golden M 17 Missouri
Ellen C E Golden F 15 Missouri
James L Golden M 10 Missouri

In 1880, they were still in Miller Co., MO, now with five children:

1880 census, Equality, Miller, Missouri
Jahn Golden Self M 39 Missouri; parents b. IN; railroad tie maker
Hester Golden Wife F 40 Indiana
William F Golden Son M 16 Missouri
Daniel W Golden Son M 12 Missouri
Albart A Golden Son M 6 Missouri
Ida L Golden Daughter F 4 Missouri
Thomas L Golden Son M 1 Missouri

1880 census, St Aubert, Callaway, Missouri
Eliza J Golding Self F 56 Virginia
Wm F Golding Son M 27 Virginia
Jas B Golding M 19 Virginia

John's son John F. Golden, Jr. was born Mar 1882, so John was still living in 1881. He died sometime before 1890 and was likely buried at Gott cemetery near his mother.

In 1890, Hester was listed on the special census of Civil War veterans as John's "former widow" living in Laclede Co., MO (she had since remarried to Benjamin Sing):

1890 -
United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890
Name John Golden
Spouse's Name Hester A
Event Type Census
Event Date 1890
Event Place , Laclede, Missouri
Name of surviving soldier or spouse: Hester A. former widow of John Golden
Private in Co. E of 33rd MO Inf
Enlisted Aug 1862
Discharged 1865
Address: Lebanon, MO

In 1900, Hester has been widowed a second time and is still living in Laclede Co., MO. Her son John F. Sing is actually her son John F. Golden. She states that she has had ten children, only two of whom were still living. These two were her son John F., who was still at home, and her son William, who would die in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1927:

1900 census, Franklin Township, Laclede, Missouri
Hester Sing Head F 63 b. Aug 1837 Indiana; 10 chdn; 2 living
John F Sing Son M 18 Missouri

1910 census, Place Auglaize, Laclede, Missouri
Hester Sing, 70, widow, b. IN

Hester died in 1915 and was buried at the Lebanon City Cemetery, Laclede Co., MO.

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Children:

1. William Golden, b. 1861, Miller Co., MO; he d. 10 Mar 1927, Shreveport, Caddo, LA; buried

Name William Golden
Event Type Death
Event Date 10 Mar 1927
Event Place Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana
Gender Male
Age 67
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1860
Birthplace Missouri
Father's Name John Golden
Mother's Name Ester A Scott

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2. Daniel W. Golden, b. 1868, Miller Co., MO; he d. 1880-1900, Miller or Laclede Co., MO;

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3. Albert A. Golden, b. 1874, Miller Co., MO; he d. 1880-1900, Miller or Laclede Co., MO;

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4. Ida L. Golden, b. 1876, Miller Co., MO; she d. 1880-1900, Miller or Laclede Co., MO;

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5. Thomas L. Golden, b. 1879, Miller Co., MO; he d. 1880-1900, Miller or Laclede Co., MO;

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6. John Franklin Golden, b. 11 Mar 1882, Miller Co., MO; m. 8 Apr 1906, Laclede Co., MO to Myrtle Mae Hamilton [b. 2 Feb 1888, Falcon, Laclede Co., MO; d. 22 Oct 1935, Marshfield, Webster Co., MO; daughter of Hezekiah Gilbert Hamilton and Mary Adaline "Ada" Emmerson]; he d. 11 Jan 1966; buried Clovis Cemetery, Clovis, Fresno Co., CA.

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7. - 10. Four other Golden children who all died before 1900.

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