Capt. William A. Darden, Business Agent of the State Alliance, was born May 15, 1836. He entered the freshman class at Randolph-Macon College and remained there until his junior year, when he was compelled to leave on account of impaired health. He then, at the age of 21, settled upon a farm and continued that occupation until the breaking out of the war. Among the first volunteered on the 23rd and of April, 1861, and was elected Second-Lieutenant in Capt. R.H. Drysdale's Company, the Third North Carolina Regiment . He was elected - and was the youngest member of the body- delegate to the State Convention which passed the Ordinance of Succession, May 20, 1861. After the adjournment of the Convention Capt. Darden again volunteered and was elected Second Lieutenant, Capt. A.J. Moore's Company, 61st North Carolina Regiment, Clingman's Brigade. He was with the Regiment during the siege of Charleston, including fifteen days of Battery Wagoner. Capt. Darden was a brave soldier as ever shouldered arms and was in every engagement in which his Regiment participated, except one, from the second of November, 1862, until he was captured. After his capture he was taken to Fort Delaware and held there until the month of June 1865.

With the close of the war he returned to his home and again settled on his farm, where he was engaged in agriculture until he was placed in his present position by the State Alliance. In every campaign since the war, beginning with 1868, when he took strong grounds against the Canby Constitution. Capt. Darden has taken the stump in behalf of the Democratic Party. In his county ( Greene) he has been a tower of strength to his party. He was Chairman of the Inferior Court of Greene County four years. Whether Democrat or Republican controlled the county, Capt Darden's eminent and recognized fitness has caused his services to be commanded for public duty. At two different elections he received an unanimous vote from the Democrat and Republican Party for Justice of the Peace. In 1884, although his county is Republican, Capt. Darden was elected to the House and made a faithful and efficient member. In 1884 he was a candidate in the Democratic Convention for Nomination as State Auditor and revived a large vote. His name was again presented to the the Democratic Convention in 1888 for the same office.

Capt Darden has been twice married and is now a widower. He has enjoyed the compete confidence of the people of his section and State, and they have always been ready to honor him. There is no truer man- no more faithful- and conscientious public servant- and there no braver a soldier. The Alliance in making Capt. Darden State Business Agent, selected one of its truest men and one who firmly believes in the principles of the Alliance-
- Progressive Farmer

Son of William Augustus Darden and Harriet Speight

Children with Sarah Catharine Moye:
Rachel (Hattie) Harriett Darden Borden
William Moye Darden
Elbert Arthur Darden

Children with Catherine (Kate) Speight Adams:
Richard Adams Darden
Nannie May Darden Bryan
Martha (Matt) Eugenia Darden
Edwin Speight Darden
Catherine (Kate) Julia Darden Aycock
Archibald Robert Darden
Ossie Iola Darden
Walter Lee Darden
Sarah Moye Darden Baker