Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/69

ALCOTTALDEN. "Little "Women." The work occupied her three months, and she offered to sell the manuscript for one thousand dollars. Her publishers, however, induced her to accept a royalty, and she received many thousands of dollars from the sale of this one book. Eighty-seven thousand copies were sold in three years, and the advanced sale of "Little Men," which she wrote soon after, was fifty thousand copies. "Little Women" established her reputation, and editors of magazines began to solicit contributions instead of declining them. She said she invariably supplied their requests by thrusting her hand into the flour barrel, and sending to the editor the article which he had previously returned "with thanks." Her books were so popular with the young that she could not write them fast enough to supply the demand and it is estimated that she received from them a total of over one hundred thousand dollars. After the publication of her "Life, Letters, and Journals," edited by Ednah D. Cheney, the respect which Miss Alcott had commanded as an author was deepened by the respect felt for her as a woman. This book revealed a personality that was greater than her work; it showed a life deeply and simply religious, void of cant and capable of unselfish living. Her publications are: "Flower Fables or Fairy Tales" (1855); "Hospital Sketches" (1869); "An Old - Fashioned Girl" (1869); "Little Men" (1871); "Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag," series (1871-'82); "Work: A story of Experience" (1873); "Eight Cousins" (1874); "Rose in Bloom" (1876); "Silver Pitchers" (1876); "Under the Lilacs" (1878); "Jack and Jill" (1880); "Moods" (1864, revised edition 1881); "Proverb Stories" (1882); "Spinning - Wheel Stories" (1884); and "Lulu's Library" (1885). She died on the day her father was buried, March 6, 1888 of Boston Mass. ALCOTT, May, artist, was born at Concord, Mass., in December, 1840, daughter of Amos Bronson and Abby (May) Alcott. Her education in art was obtained in Boston, London, and Paris, where she resided after her marriage to Ernest Nieriker. She became a successful copyist, and did good work in still life in oils and water colors. John Ruskin complimented some of her copies from Turner, and her own work was placed in the South Kensington school in London for the pupils to observe and copy. "Concord sketches," with a preface by her sister, Louisa May Alcott, was published in 1869. She died in December, 1879. ALCOTT, William Alexander, author, was born at Wolcott, Conn., August 6, 1798. He first attended a district school in winter, and worked on a farm during the summer, and subsequently by teaching he obtained a primary education and means to study medicine at Yale college. Completing his medical course he began to practise and also to write upon hygiene, confining his work chiefly to dietary subjects. With William Woodbridge he prepared school geographies and maps, and edited Annals of Education and Juvenile Rambles, the pioneer juvenile weekly in America. In 1832 he removed to Boston and there published a book entitled the "Young Man's Guide," treating of physiological principles, that was widely read. This success induced him to write other similar books. In all, he wrote about one hundred works, which have been influential in reforming educational methods, and improving the physical and moral well-being of mankind. Among his books are: "The Young Housekeeper," "The House I Live In," "The Library of Health," (6 vols.), "Moral Reform," "My Progress in Error," and "Prize Essay on Tobacco." He died in Auburndale, Mass., March 29, 1859. ALDEN, Bradford, R., soldier, was born at Meadville, Pa., in 1810, son of Major Roger Alden, aide-de-camp to General Greene, and great-great-grandson of John Alden, the immigrant. In 1831 he was graduated at West Point, was assigned to the 4th infantry, and from 1833 to 1840 as instructor at West Point, and appointed on the staff of General Scott as aide-de-camp in 1841, serving two years, and three years on garrison duty. From 1845 to 1852 he was commandant at West Point, and then was stationed in the West, when an uprising among the Oregon Indians was in progress. He was wounded in action Aug. 24, 1853, and the next month he retired from the army because of the wound he had received, and from which he never fully recovered. He spent several years in Europe, and died Sept. 10, 1870. ALDEN, Ebenezer, physician, was born at Randolph, Mass., March 17, 1788. In 1808 he was graduated at Harvard, then studied medicine, being graduated from the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania in 1812, and began to practise in his native town, where he remained during his life. He wrote "Historical Sketch of the Massachusetts Medical Society" (1838); "Memoirs of Mrs. M. A. O. Clark" (1844); and when he was nearly eighty years of age the "Alden Memorial." This book traces the line of ancestors of the American descendants of John Alden, the author being a direct descendant in the seventh generation. Dr. Alden was the last survivor of the Harvard class of 1808. He died Jan. 26, 1881. ALDEN, Edmund K., clergyman, was born at Randolph, Mass., April 11, 1825, son of Ebenezer Alden, physician, who was of the seventh generation from John Alden of the Mayflower. The son was fitted for college at Randolph academy, and was graduated at Amherst in the class of 1844. He taught in Williston