Alden, William

ALDEN, LISK, ROCK, MENTZER

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2019 at 08:50:18

Biography ~ William Alden

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 509:

“WILLIAM ALDEN, section 23, Hamilton Township, is a native of Otsego County, New York, born September 17, 1822, a son of William M. and Sarah (Lisk) Alden, natives of Connecticut, his father being a descendant of the Aldens of Plymouth Rock. His parents were married in Connecticut, and moved to Otsego County about 1800, and from there to York Mills, Oneida County, New York, in 1830. The father died at Nauvoo, Illinois, August 7, 1844, and the mother at Schenectady, New York, November 11, 1852. They reared a family of nine children – Briggs, Philura, Eunice, Clarissa, Jabin, Sarah, Julia Ann, Nancy, and William. William Alden was reared in Oneida County, New York, living there until 1844, when he moved to Hancock County, Illinois, and lived a year at Nauvoo, and then moved to Warren County, the same State. In 1846 he went to Franklin County, Illinois, and lived a year a Nauvoo, and then moved to Warren County, the same State. In 1846 he went to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he was married November 11, 1846, to Miss Leah Rock, who was born in that county, April 7, 1827, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Mentzer) Rock. After his marriage, Mr. Alden lived in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, until 1856, when, with his wife and three children, he moved to Decatur County, Iowa, and located on a tract of wild land on section 24, Hamilton Township, where he lived eight years. He then sold his land and spent one winter in Mercer County, Missouri, and in the spring of 1866, bought forty acres of his present farm, which was partially improved. To his original forty he has added until he now owns 170 acres, all well improved, with a pleasant residence, good farm buildings, orchard of 200 trees, and an abundance of small fruit. In politics Mr. Alden is a believer in the principles of the Greenback party. He and his wife are members of the Reorganized Church of Latter-Day Saints. They have had nine children – Sarah Lick, Alma M., Jabin Rock, Katie, Henry B.,Euretta May, Mary A., William T., and Virgil C. His children have had good educational advantages, four of them being fitted for teachers. Sarah has taught forty terms, Henry is now principal of the Decatur schools, Euretta has taught two terms, and William, who is now in the employ of the Government, in the postoffice department at Chicago, taught a short time. Alma died, aged twenty-three years, in 1873, and Katie B. and Virgil C., died October 12, 1886, within five minutes of each other, the former aged thirty, and the latter eighteen years.”

Transcribed by Christy Jay for Decatur County, Iowa, Rootsweb.