Berry Gladden was born September 22, 1838. His parents were William and Mary Gladden. William had been born in North Carolina, Mary in Georgia.

At the time of Berry's birth the federal government was rounding up the last Cherokees from Murray County and sending them to Indian Territory (later Oklahoma). This forced exodus came to be called the "Trail of Tears."

The 1860 Census for Murray County shows the six children of William and Mary were all still at home. They were Berry W., age 21; Naoma, age 19; Mary M, age 17; Martha E., age 15, Elizabeth C. P., age 13; and Amanda 8.

Gladden Springs was named for this family.

Berry W. Gladden served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, enlisting in Co. B, 37th Georgia Regiment, 4th Georgia Brigade.

Shortly after the war ended, Berry married.

The 1870 Census lists Berry W. Gladden, age 31; Julia, age 24; and William, age 2. They used the post office at Spring Place.

The Census of 1880 recorded this family as Berry, head of household, age 41; wife Julia, age 35. She and both of her parents were born in Georgia. The children listed: Willard A., age 7; Mary T., age 3; and Julia J., age one month.

It appears that William had died during the decade between the censuses.

Several years after the Civil War, veterans in Murray County formed the John B. Gordon Camp of Confederate Veterans. The meetings included four considered most important: Robert E. Lee's birthday (January 19), Confederate Memorial Day (April 27), the anniversary of the first Battle of Manassas (July 21), and the fourth Saturday in October.

B. W. Gladden was elected Commander of the Camp in 1908. He is thought to have served until he died in 1919. After his election the annual picnics were held at his home at Gladden Springs, on the southside of intersection of Highways 52/76. By the early 1930s the Gladden homeplace was being called the George McHan homeplace.

A life-long resident of Gladden Springs, Homer Luffman, recalled that the reunions continued to be held at the Gladden homeplace until the early 1930s, at which point most of the few remaining veterans were in poor health.

Every member of this family was buried in Spring Place Cemetery. Each has a marker with birth and death dates. Berry W. Gladden, Sept. 22, 1838, Nov. 27, 1919. Julia A. Gladden, wife, April 24, 1845, Nov. 21, 1910.

Murray County Families