Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/70

ALDEN.ALDEN. the following year; and then entered the Andover theological seminary, and was graduated in 1848. He became an Abbott resident, and preached in various places in New England until he became pastor of the Phillips Church in 1859. He was a member of the prudential committee of the American board of foreign missions from 1869 to 1876, when he became secretary of the home department of the board. In addition to his office of secretary of the American board he held the office of trustee of Amherst college, and a similar office in relation to the theological seminary at Andover. He died in Boston, April 30, 1896. ALDEN, Henry Mills, editor, was born at Mount Tabor, Vt., Nov. 11, 1836, eighth in descent from John Alden, the immigrant. He attended a district school, worked in a cotton factory, taught school, and in that way made his college course possible. He was graduated, at Williams college in 1857, and at Andover theological seminary in 1860. On the day of his graduation he delivered the master's oration at Williams college on the Hellenic type of men. He also wrote the class hymn for Andover. He was licensed to preach, but never took a charge. He located in New York city in 1861, and was employed in teaching and in writing editorials for the daily newspapers and contributing articles to the Atlantic Monthly. In the summer of 1861 he was married to Susan F. Foster of Andover. He continued his literary work until 1863, when he took Richard Grant White's place as editor with A. H. Guernsey of "Harper's Pictorial History of the Rebellion," and as reader of manuscript. In 1864 he was made editor of Harper’s Weekly, and in 1869 was transferred to the editorial chair of Harper's Magazine. He wrote "The Ancient Lady of Sorrow," a poem that was highly praised by critics. In the winter of 1863-'64 he delivered a course of twelve lectures before the Lowell institute of Boston, on the "Structure of Paganism." He received the degree of LL.D. in 1888 from Williams college. He is the author of two notable books on religious subjects, "God in His World: an Interpretation," published anonymously, and which created much discussion among religious thinkers and "A study of Death," a reflection or meditation on immortality. ALDEN, Isabella Macdonald, author, was born at Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 3, 1841, daughter of Isaac and Myra (Spafford) Macdonald. She was educated at the Seneca Collegiate and Young Ladies' institute, in New York; and married in 1866 the Rev. G. R. Alden. D.D. She edited Pansy 1873-96; was a member of the editorial staff of the Herald and Presbyter, Cincinnati; the Christian Endeavor World, Boston, and Trained Motherhood, New York. She is the author of about seventy-five volumes, known as the "Pansy books," written under the pen-name "Pansy" the most popular being "An Endless Chain"; "The King's Daughters"; "Mary Burton Abroad"; "Chautauqua Girls at Home"; "Four Girls at Chautauqua"; "New Year's Tangles" and "Six Little Girls." She also wrote "The Prince of Peace" and "Unto the End" (1902) her first novel, and other books of fiction. ALDEN, James, naval officer, was born in Portland, Me., March 31, 1810. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman in 1828; served on the Wilkes expedition 1838-41; became lieutenant in 1842; served in the Mexican war, being present at the bombardment and capture of Vera Cruz, Tuxpan and Tabasco, and subsequently engaged in the Puget Sound Indian troubles. He commanded the South Carolina in 1861, took reënforcements to Fort Pickens, Fla., and participated in the battle of Galveston harbor. He was with Farragut and commanded the "Richmond" of the fleet that ran the gauntlet of Forts St. Philip and Jackson, and aided in the capture of New Orleans, April, 1862. In 1863 he was promoted captain, and commanded the sloop of war "Brooklyn," and with her engaged in the capture of Mobile Bay in 1864, his ship leading the attack. Then with the "Brooklyn" he aided in the capture of Fort Fisher, N. C. In 1866 he was made commodore, and in 1888 had charge of the navy yard in California. He was ordered to Washington in 1869 as chief of the bureau of navigation, and in 1871 was promoted rear-admiral and assigned to the European squadron, and shortly after retired on account of age. He died in San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 6, 1877. ALDEN, John, Pilgrim, was born in England in 1599. He was a cooper and when the Mayflower put in to Southampton, in a leaky condition, he was hired to make repairs and persuaded to join the Pilgrims, with the privilege of returning to England with the vessel. Before making a landing at Plymouth he signed the contract in the cabin of the Mayflower off Cape Cod. He was the youngest of the signers and the last survivor. He became an active member of the colony, was an assistant in 1633, and served from 1650 to 1686. From 1641 to 1642, and from 1645 to 1649 he was deputy from Duxbury. He was a soldier in Captain Miles Standish's company in 1643; a member of the council of war in 1653 to 1660, and 1675 to 1676, and treasurer of the colony from 1656 to 1659. The romantic incident of his life in connection with Priscilla Mullins, whom he married in 1623, has been told by Longfellow in "Miles Standish's Courtship." His blundering attempts to woo the Pilgrim girl for his friend, the maid's refusal of the doughty captain, and her arch, "Why don't you speak for yourself