Claude LeRoy Alden (1884 - 1966)

Born 11 Jun 1884 in Ainsworth, Brown, Nebraska, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 May 1966 at age 81 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

Biography

Claude was born in 1884 to William Alden and Elizabeth Morehouse in Ainsworth, Nebraska. He grew up in Grand Island.

For two years, Claude worked for the Pacific Fruit Express at Denver.

In 1907, Claude joined the Chemistry Club at the University of Nebraska. In 1908, Claude earned a BA in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska.

In 1908, Claude became a teacher at Kearney High School. In 1909, Claude became superintendent of Overton schools.

In 1910, Claude married Nellie Ludden. They had at least three children.

In 1910, Claude moved to Kimball, where he formed a real estate partnership with W. T. Young.

In 1957, Nellie passed away in Kimball.

In 1966, Claude passed away in Mesa, Arizona.

The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska) Thu, Sep 17, 1959, page 1

Who’s Who Jackpot Still Open; Total Now $219.50

…Claude Alden, one of Kimball's prominent businessmen for nearly half a century, was the subject in last week's Who's Who. He too well known for many to miss his identity, but it took sharp eyes to find all the clues.

…Claude Alden, now in the real estate and insurance business with his son, John, was born in Ainsworth, Nebr., in 1884. He was reared in Grand Island, Nebr. One of the first jobs away from home was working for the Pacific Fruit Express at Denver for two years.

He attended the University of Nebraska and got a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Chemistry was never to be his vocation, however. After teaching high school at Kearney and serving as superintendent of schools at Overton, he came to Kimball in 1910.

Mr. Alden and W. T. Young became partners in a real estate business which included the young Kimball Telephone Co. They rebuilt the telephone lines and built Kimball's first long-distance line, a line to Potter.

He was a tennis fan in his younger days and once was Western Nebraska Champion. In recent years he has taken up golfing also. Fishing was another favorite sport and he was among the Kimball men who discovered the thrill of fishing the remote, unspoiled streams and lakes of the Pinedale, Wyo. Area.

The Alden family traces its lineage back to Plymouth Rock. Mr. Alden's great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was Miles Standish's celebrated messenger of romance, the John Alden who won Priscilla for his own.

Mr. Alden served as cashier of the old Bank of Kimball, was an abstractor for 15 years, served on the school board for 20 years, was formerly county superintendent of schools and was county assistance officer. He is a member of Kimball lodge No. 294, AF & AM.

The highest point in Nebraska, 5,424 feet above sea level, was discovered by Mr. Alden in 1951. It is in the extreme southwestern corner of Kimball county and is now recognized by the U. S. Geodetic Survey as the highest point in the state.

Sources

• 1930 Federal Census
• 1940 Federal Census
• Findagrave profile

Acknowledgments

• This person was created through the import of thayer jan11.ged on 05 January 2011.