David Hadden was born in 1809, the son of Joseph Hadden and Hanna Armstrong of Goland, Carnteel parish, County Tyrone, Ireland (now Northern Ireland).

In 1828, David left County Tyrone and emigrated to Philadelphia. He settled in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1834.

David wrote an autobiographical account of his life that was handed down to his descendants. This one-page document, which may have been part of a longer document, is in very scrawling handwriting on faintly-lined paper. It has spelling errors and ink blots, and was obviously written by David after 1863, since he identifies Wheeling as being "now Weste Virginia," a state that wasn't created from Virginia until 1863. He wrote:

"David Hadden was born in County Tyrone in the north of Ireland 14 April 1809 and came to the United States in May 1828 - Stoped at Wheeling now Weste Virginia - was very successful there - remaned 6 years and got maried there in 1833, lost my wife eleven months and [so] was genearlly broken up. I traveled through the west states ectensively, spent most of the sumers in Baltimore, Richmond, Petersburgh and Fredericktown Maryland. Made many valuable acquaintances and spent my time pleasantly. There was not over 1500 to 2000 inhabitants in Wheeling at this time. I united with the [church] in 1832 under the Pastoral care of the Revd Dr. Henry R. Weed. I was as usual quit active and was elected an Elder in the fall of 1834 and have been an acting and active Elder ever since with the exception of the past two year. I entered into all the interests and enterprises of the church ever since first divided? by Nec?&Old? school [blot/scribble] 1837."

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His citizenship papers were filed in the commonwealth of Virginia, Ohio County court, 27th June 1834. The documents include a certificate that he brought to court that day - "... which certificate is as follows: Ohio County March Term 1830..." with a biographical report that includes: ".... I was born in the Town of Ballygualy in the County of Tyrone in Ireland in the year 1809."

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The village of Ballygawley is about 2 miles west of Goland in County Tyrone. Apparently David's parents, Joseph and Hanna, had a house in Ballygawley as well as on their family farm at Goland.

David Hadden married Lydia Lord Edgerton in 1835 in Wheeling, Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia), but she died less than a year later. He married the widowed Elizabeth Lattimore Hazard in 1843 in St. Tammany parish, Louisiana. Elizabeth had a son, William Hazard, from her previous marriage. She and David Hadden then had four children: Samuel Harper Hadden, Frances Armstrong Hadden, Anne Elizabeth Hadden and Mary Virginia Hadden.

Sadly, the Haddens' first three children died young. Only their last child, Mary Virginia, lived to adulthood. She married James Monroe Pagaud, Jr., and had three children, then died when giving birth to twins in 1889.

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David Hadden visited his relatives in Ireland in 1866, and some of the letters he wrote to his wife Elizabeth in New Orleans were preserved and handed down. These letters give a wealth of detail about the Haddens, Armstrongs, their neighbors and kinfolk, and everyday life in Ireland in the 1860s.

In his 1866 U.S. passport application in Orleans parish, Louisiana, dated 11th April 1866, David was described by the passport official: David Hadden - Age: about fifty-seven years - Stature: 5 feet, 9-1/2 inches, English (measurement) - Forehead: Broad & Bald - Eyes: Dark - Nose: Large - Mouth: Full - Chin: Wears a beard slightly gray - Hair: Brown, tinged with gray - Complexion: Dark - Face: Broad & Heavy

As a well-to-do New Orleans merchant, David extended help to his family back in Ireland. He sponsored the emigration and education of several nephews, including Joseph Hadden Calvin, whom he sent to Princeton University to be educated for the Presbyterian ministry. Joseph became a minister in Alabama, married Caroline Malvina Crenshaw (a young lady in his congregation), and became a professor of languages at a school in Texas. By 1860 he was serving as the professor of Greek language at Oakland College in Claiborne County, Mississippi. After the Civil War, Joseph was appointed president by the college board, and served in that position until his death in 1867.

David Hadden helped another nephew, Joseph Beatty Hadden, who came to New Orleans in 1849. This Joseph moved on to Texas and served in the 1st Texas Cavalry during the Civil War. He married Elizabeth Giles in 1865, and remained in Texas for the rest of his life. Joseph was mainly a farmer, but he also held the position of postmaster in Comfort, Kendall County, Texas, for several years.

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David Hadden's obituary gives an account of his long and busy life.

OBITUARY - Friday, November 9, 1883

The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana · Page 4

"Yesterday, after a life of usefulness and honor, David Hadden passed away at the ripe age of 74 years. Throughout his long life he won for himself the esteem and regard of all who knew him by his strict integrity, sterling worth and steady observance of every duty as a parent, friend and Christian. Mr. Hadden was born in the county of Tyrone, North Ireland, at a point forty miles from Belfast. In 1833 he came to New Orleans and soon became a partner in the firm of Hadden & Hall. Some time after he severed his connection with that firm and became a member of the firm of Schultz, Hadden & Leach, large dealers In Western produce. He was subsequently a prominent member of the well known firm of David Hadden & Co., cotton factors. He remained with this house until about three years prior to his death, at which time he became an Invalid and was confined to his room and house. The deceased was identified with the Presbyterian Church, being one of the founders of the Prytania Street Presbyterian Church in 1840. He leaves a wife and daughter to mourn his loss. The daughter is the wife of James M. Pagaud, the esteemed cashier of the Whitney National Bank. The usual funeral services will be performed this evening at 3 o'clock, from the Prytania Street Presbyterian Church."