Alvin J. Alden farmer, Jackson Township, is a native of Jackson Toenship, born January 16, 1823; is a son of Isaac and Ruth (Morgan)Alden, He a native of New Hampshire, and she of New York. In the spring of 1817 Mr. Alden, then a young single man, with his cousin, Samuel Alden, left their homes and native State, and came to Cincinnati, and soon after to Dearborn County, Ind. Alvin entered seventy five acres of the northwest quarter of Section 23, Samuel the southwest quarter of the same section. They erected a small cabin near the line between their lands, where they lived together and kept bachelors' hall. At that time the country was all one denxe forest, the nearest neighbor being three miles distant, and to get to them and back without losing their course, they mad a blazeed path through the woods. These were probably the first settlers in Jackson Township.
Mr. Alden, during the first two or three years, returned to Cincinnati during the winter season where he could procure employmentand earn some money to carry on his improvements during the summmer season upon his land. Subsequently he erected another log cabin on his land, and in 1822 he married, located in his new home, where resided until his death, June 5,1844, in his forty-ninth year.
His death occurred very suddenly, as follows: He had killed a calf, and in the act of dressing it he made a stroke with his knife which passed through the hide entered his own body,severing the femoral artery, and he died in a few minutes from loss of blood. His widow still survives, and resides with her daughter in Missouri, aged eighty years. They had twelve children, ten now living: Alvin J., George and Warren (twins), the former--George--resides in Illinois; Lydia, now the widow Wade, resides in California; Samuel J., also in California; Mary, wife of Jesse Ehler, residing in Missouri; Jonathan, residing in Kansas; Caroline, wife of John Tangman, of Ripley County; Eliza, wife of George Jeter, residing in Missouri, and Isaac, Now at the Black Hills.
Of those deceased, Phineas was scalded to death by falling into a kettle of hot water, when about four years of age, and Louisa, twin sister of Eliza, who grew to womanhood, married John T. Jackson, removed to Missouri, where she died in the spring of 1884,
Alvin J. Alden, the eldest child of his parents, born and reared, was fully acquainted with the early scenes of this county. December 5, 1847, Mr. Alden was married to Miss Sarah J. Catchall, born November 27,1827, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (McKinly) Catchall,, natives of Pennsylvania, who became early settlers of Franklin County, Ind., where he died in May, 1832 or 1833. She stil survives, and resides in Jackson Township, aged eighty-five years.
They had four children, three now living: Ann, now the widow Homer, residing in Ripley County, Sarah Jane, and Rachel, now wife of William Ehler. Mr.Alden and wife have had seven children, four now survive: Alice, now fhe wife of William H. Woods, residig in Chicago, Ill., Ruth E., wife of William Ahrends, Opha I. and Carrie E. The three Deceased Mary L., Samuel E., and Ida E., All died within four weeks' time, in May and June of 1860, of diptheria.
Mr. Alden has passed his entire life in Jackson Township, a period of sixty-two years, has given his principal sttention to farming, and has lived at his present place of residence thirty six years. He has served in the State Legislature three terms; was first elected in 1848, then in 1854, and again in 1878, serving to the general satisfaction of his constituents. In 1863 he was elected to the office of recorder of Dearborn County, and served four years.
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Source of this article "HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA"-1885
SUBMITTED BY: John Minneman