James M. Madden, born in Jersey City, New Jersey, has a BS in marketing from Saint Peter's University and is a political consultant and local historian who has contributed to or authored many books and publications. He is a trustee and treasurer of the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association and its 150th Anniversary Committee, a member of the Lincoln Group of NYC, the Association of Professional Genealogists, Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society and the Company of Military Historians.