Joseph A. Sladen

Joseph Alton Sladen was born in Rochdale, England on April 9, 1841, a son of James and Mary Sladen.{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Michael D. |date=2017 |title=Seth Pope's Journal of the Oregon Scottish Rite |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fkQnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA154 |location=Portland, OR |publisher=Orient of Oregon Scottish Rite |page=154 |isbn=978-1-365-98035-0 |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|Robinson}}}} James Sladen worked as a coal and lime merchant, and died when Joseph Sladen was five years old.{{sfn|Robinson|page=154}} Mary Sladen moved to Lowell, Massachusetts with Joseph so they could join his older siblings who already resided there.{{cite web |url=https://oregonscottishrite.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/32-joseph-alton-sladen-story.pdf |title=Biography, Capt. Joseph A. Sladen |website=Oregon Scottish Rite |publisher=Orient of Oregon Scottish Rite |location=Portland, OR |access-date=June 6, 2020 |page=1 |ref={{sfnRef|Oregon Scottish Rite}}}} Joseph Sladen began working in local mills and factories at age nine, helping support the family while attending the public schools.{{sfn|Robinson|pages=154-155}} After completing his education, Sladen worked for two years as a cloth carder.{{sfn|Robinson|page=155}}

In 1862, Sladen joined the Union Army for the American Civil War, enlisting as a private in Company A, 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=1}} He took part in several of the regiment's engagements, including the Battle of Chancellorsville and Battle of Gettysburg.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=1}} Sladen took part in the May 13–15, 1864 Battle of Resaca.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=2}} While serving as a clerk at the regimental headquarters, Sladen left his post to voluntarily join the battle.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=2}} His personal example inspired his comrades at a critical moment in the fight, and they rallied to defeat their Confederate opponents.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=2}} In 1895, he received the Medal of Honor in acknowledgement of his Civil War heroism.{{cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/2085 |title=Awards: Joseph Alton Sladen |website=The Hall of Valor Project |publisher=Military Times |location=Springfield, VA |access-date=November 28, 2020}}

Having received promotion to corporal, in 1864 Sladen was commissioned as a first lieutenant of Volunteers and assigned to the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=2}} Detailed as an aide-de-camp to General Oliver Otis Howard, he remained in the Union Army until 1866.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} Sladen took part in the September 1864 Battle of Jonesborough, for which he received regular army brevet promotions to first lieutenant and captain.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=2}}

After the war, Howard was appointed commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in Washington, D.C.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} Sladen was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Army's 17th Infantry Regiment and detailed to Howard's staff.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} In 1866, he was transferred to the 26th Infantry Regiment, and in 1870, he was transferred to the 14th Infantry Regiment, but he continued to serve at the Freedman's Bureau.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} When Howard became president of Howard University, Sladen served as the school's secretary.{{cite web |url=https://www.howard.edu/secretary/about/secretaries.htm |title=Historical List of Secretaries (1867-2018) |date=2018 |website=Howard.edu |publisher=Howard University |location=Washington, DC}} While serving in Washington, Sladen also attended Howard University College of Medicine, from which he graduated with an M.D. degree in 1871.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} He then attended Bellevue Medical College in New York City, from which he received an M.D. in 1872.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} After completing his education, Sladen served on Howard's faculty as an instructor of anatomy.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=5}}

File:Joseph Alton Sladen MD 1872 public domain USGov.jpg

In the summer of 1872, the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant directed Howard to meet with the Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise and attempt to negotiate a settlement to his decade-long guerilla war against American settlers.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=4}} Sladen accompanied General Howard, a guide, and two Apache scouts on the mission, which took them throughout New Mexico and Arizona as they attempted to locate Cochise and his followers.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=4}} Sladen kept a journal of the expedition, which was later published as Making Peace With Cochise.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=4}} Howard and Cochise agreed to a treaty in September 1872.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=4}}

When Howard was assigned as commander of the Army's Department of the Columbia in 1874, Sladen joined his headquarters staff in Portland, Oregon and served at different times as aide-de-camp, assistant adjutant, adjutant, and acting judge advocate.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|pages=5-6}} Sladen remained with the Department of the Columbia until 1881, and took part in the Nez Perce War of 1877 and Bannock War of 1878.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=7}} On October 12, 1875, Sladen was on a trip to Fort Walla Walla, Washington when he mounted an unfamiliar horse.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|pages=6-7}} The horse threw him against a tree, resulting in Sladen breaking his right leg.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|pages=6-7}} Gangrene developed, and on October 25 a surgeon amputated Sladen's leg above the ankle.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|pages=6-7}} On August 16, 1876, Sladen was a passenger on the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's John L. Stephens when he fell and broke his right leg a second time, this time above the knee, which likely led to an additional amputation.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|pages=6-7}}

In 1881, Howard was appointed Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, and Sladen served on his staff as the academy's adjutant.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=8}} In 1882, Howard University awarded Sladen the honorary degree of Master of Arts.{{cite book |date=1965 |title=Directory of Graduates: Howard University, 1870-1963 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xw_tAAAAMAAJ&q=%22joseph+a.+sladen%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Howard University |page=xx |via=Google Books}} In 1882, Howard was assigned to command the Department of the Platte at Fort Omaha, Nebraska and Sladen was assigned to his headquarters staff.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=8}} In 1885, Sladen joined the 14th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|pages=8-9}} On June 15, 1888, Sladen was promoted to captain.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=8}} In April 1889, he retired from the Army as the result of disability caused by the loss of his leg.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=9}}

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Joseph Alton Sladen, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 14 May 1864, while serving with Company A, 33d Massachusetts Infantry, in action at Resaca, Georgia. While detailed as clerk at headquarters, Private Sladen voluntarily engaged in action at a critical moment and his personal example inspired the troops to repel the enemy.

Awarded for Actions During: Civil War Service: Army Division: 33d Massachusetts Infantry Date of Issue: July 19, 1895

After leaving the military, Sladen settled in Portland, Oregon, where he started a business career.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=9}} He was general manager of Aetna Life Insurance Company's Portland office and a special agent for the Columbia Fire and Marine Insurance Company.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=9}} In addition, he served on the board of directors for the Savings Bank of the Northwest Loan and Trust Company.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=9}} Sladen also served as a special agent for the German American Insurance Company, and also carried out an appointment as professor of military science at Portland's Bishop Scott Academy.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=12}}

In 1894, Sladen was appointed clerk of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Oregon.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=12}} He held this position until 1908, when he learned he had been promoted to major on the Army's retired list.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=13}} Long active in Freemasonry, Sladen held several leadership positions in the organization and attained the 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite in 1904.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=16}} In addition, his civic and professional memberships included Portland's Boys & Girls Aid Society, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Baptist Church.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=13}}

In retirement, Sladen continued to reside in Portland.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=14}} He died there on January 25, 1911. Sladen was originally interred at River View Cemetery in Portland.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=14}} In 1929, he was reinterred at West Point Cemetery in West Point, New York.{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, Entry for Joseph A. Sladen |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 28, 2020}}

On November 29, 1866, Sladen married Martha "Mattie" Frances Winchester (1842-1929) of Lowell, Massachusetts.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=3}} They were the parents of three sons and two daughters.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=17}}

:Fred Winchester Sladen (1867-1945) was a career officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of major general.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=17}}

:Caroline Louise "Carrie" Sladen (1869-1956) was the wife of John Jewsbury Bradley, a brigadier general in the U.S. Army.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=17}}

:Bessie Howard Sladen (1871-1872){{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, Entry for Bessie Howard Sladen |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 28, 2020}}

:Harry Stinson Sladen (1874-1953), a Stanford University graduate and electrical engineer.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=17}}

:Frank Joseph Sladen (1882-1973), a graduate of Yale University and Johns Hopkins University, he became a medical doctor and researcher.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=17}} Dr. Sladen was long associated with the Henry Ford Hospital and Henry Ford Health System.{{sfn|Oregon Scottish Rite|page=17}}

While residing in Portland, Sladen's family resided in a mansion Sladen had constructed.{{cite web |url=https://slabtowntours.com/2014/02/02/fun-fact-7-lost-flanders-street-home-found-thanks-to-local-history-detective-mike-ryerson/ |title=Fun Fact #7 Lost Flanders Street Home Found Thanks to Local History Detective Mike Ryerson |last=Ryerson |first=Mike |date=February 2, 2014 |website=Slabtown Tours |publisher=Guided Northwest & North Portland Walking Tours |location=Portland, OR}} The home, which was designed by the Whidden & Lewis architectural firm, was built on NW Flanders Street. It still stands and is now the location of the Miller & Wagner law firm. The Sladen mansion is one of the buildings that make up the Alphabet Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.{{cite web |url=https://www.livingplaces.com/OR/Multnomah_County/Portland_City/Alphabet_Historic_District.html |title=Alphabet Historic District |website=LivingPlaces.com |publisher=The Gombach Group |location=Morrisville, PA |access-date=November 29, 2020}}

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Category:1841 births

Category:1911 deaths

Category:People from Rochdale

Category:Military personnel from Lowell, Massachusetts

Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor

Category:Foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients

Category:British emigrants to the United States

Category:Union army officers

Category:Howard University College of Medicine alumni

Category:Bellevue Hospital Medical College alumni

Category:American military personnel of the Indian Wars

Category:Military personnel from Portland, Oregon

Category:Burials at West Point Cemetery

Category:19th-century United States Army personnel

Category:Military personnel from the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale