Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/78

ALGERALGER. ALGER, Horatio, Jr., author, was born at Chelsea (Revere), Mass., Jan. 13, 1834. He was graduated from Harvard university at the age of eighteen, and occupied the next few rears in teaching, writing, and doing newspaper work. For a year he travelled in Europe, acting as correspondent for American newspapers; returning to America he studied divinity at Cambridge, and in 1864 was ordained to the Unitarian ministry at Brewster, Mass. In 1866 he settled in New York city, where he studied the condition of the street boys, and found in them an abundance of interesting material for stories. Besides more than fifty books written for young readers, he published "Helen Ford," a novel, and many magazine articles, poems, etc. Among his books are: "Nothing to Do: a Tilt at our Best Society" (1857); "Gran'ther Baldwin's Thanksgiving, with other Ballads and Poems" (1875); "From Canal Boy to President" (1881); "From Farm Boy to Senator: the History of Daniel Webster" (1882); "Abraham Lincoln, the Backwoods Boy" (1883); "From Log Cabin to White House"; "Digging for Gold" (1892); "Victor Vane, the Young Secretary" (1894); "Only an Irish Boy" (1894); "Adrift in the City" (1895); and books illustrating New York street life, as the "Ragged Dick," "Luck and Pluck," and "Tattered Tom" series. He died at Natick, Mass., July 18, 1899 ALGER, Russell Alexander, cabinet officer, was born in Lafayette, Ohio, Feb. 27, 1836; son of Russell and Caroline (Moulton) Alger and grandson of John Alger, a Revolutionary soldier. His parents died in 1848, leaving Russell the oldest of three orphan children, without money and with a brother and sister to care for and support. He had been accustomed to work for the neighbors for a small quantity of provisions, or a few pennies a day, even before the death of his parents, who were very poor. He now found homes for his brother and sister and secured work for himself on a farm, his remuneration being his board clothes, and the privilege of attending school three months in the year. He afterward secured a place where he was paid regular, though small wages, and he was able from his savings to pass several terms at the Richfield academy. He thus fitted himself to teach a district school, which he commenced in the winter of 1856, boarding around among the farmers as a part of his remuneration. After this time, by close economy he was able to assist his brother and sister in obtaining an education, and to advance himself in the study of law. In 1859 he was admitted to the bar and began practice in Cleveland, O. Overwork and indoor confinement soon broke down his health, and in 1860 he was obliged to relinquish for a time his profession. Borrowing a small sum of money he went to Michigan with a friend, where they engaged in the business of lumbering. In 1861, through the failure of another firm, he lost all his capital, and was left in debt. On the breaking out of the civil war he promptly enlisted as a private in the 2d Michigan cavalry, and was soon promoted to a captaincy. He served three years, through many hard-fought battles, and step by step he gained promotion until at the close of the conflict in 1865 he was made a brevet major-general "for gallant and meritorious service." Not discouraged by his former failure, he once more embarked in the lumber business, this time with such success that in twenty years he had amassed a comfortable fortune. In 1884 he was nominated by the republican party of Michigan for governor and was elected. His administration was exceedingly popular, for he brought into the conduct of state affairs business methods combined with strict honesty and a close attention to every official duty. The best men of both parties desired to see him again in the gubernatorial chair, but he declined and devoted himself to business affairs. His name was prominent as a candidate for the presidency before the republican convention of 1892, that nominated Mr. Harrison, he receiving 143 votes on the fifth ballot. President McKinley made him secretary of war in his cabinet, March 4, 1897, and he held the portfolio and conducted the department during the war with Spain. He offered his resignation, July 19, 1899, which was accepted. He was appointed to the U.S. senate from Michigan, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James McMillan, in 1902, for the term ending in 1907. ALGER, William Rounseville, clergyman, was born at Freetown, Mass., Dec. 30, 1822. He obtained, by his own labor, the means to acquire an academical education, and then entered the Cambridge theological school, from which he was graduated in 1847. He was ordained to the Unitarian ministry, and became pastor of the Mount Pleasant Unitarian society in Roxbury, Sept. 8, 1847. In 1852 Harvard college conferred on him the degree of A.M. He resigned the pastorate of the Mount Pleasant church in 1855, and answered a call from the Bulfinch street society of Boston. Two years later he accepted an invitation to deliver a Fourth of July oration, on "The Genius and Posture of America," before