Individual Details
Royal Alden
(8 Jun 1802 - 1 Jan 1870)
Royal Alden was born on June 7, 1802 in Stafford, Tolland County, Connecticut to Samuel & Miriam (Glazier) Alden. He was one of 5 children. He also had another 5 half-siblings from his father's second marriage to Keziah Blodgett. Royal Alden, like his father before him was a direct descendant of Mayflower Pilgrims, John Alden & Priscilla Mullins.
Royal Alden was a well-educated man and a teacher. After attending university he made his way to Newberry, South Carolina where he met and married Melinda Almira Frazier on December 25, 1827. Royal and Melinda had 9 children. Their first 5 children were all born in Newberry, South Carolina: George Marcus Alden, Samuel Alvin Alden, William Levi Alden, James Luther Alden, and John Spencer Alden.
By 1836, only their first three sons had survived. It was about this time that the family began their migration from South Carolina to Illinois where Melinda's family, the Fraziers, had already settled a few years earlier in Hamilton County. During their move west, they settled for a time in Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee. Kingston is where their sixth child, Andrew Jackson Alden, was born on March 14, 1837. The family eventually arrived in Hamilton County, Illinois sometime in 1838. They would have three more children in Hamilton County: Warren Franklin Alden, Sarah Priscilla Alden and their last child, Charles Timothy Alden, born on August 9, 1843. Tragically just 10 days after Charles' birth, his wife Melinda Almira Frazier Alden passed away on August 19, 1843. Baby Charles Timothy Alden passed away a few weeks later on September 1, 1843. Royal & Melinda owned 80 acres in the south-east corner of Hamilton County, and it is believed this is where both Melinda and their baby Charles Timothy Alden are buried. On March 15, 1846, Royal Alden married for a second time, to Louisa Vickers Lasater. Louisa Vickers was born in Tennessee about 1814. Her first marriage was to Absalom Lasater and they had five children. The 1850 census record in Hamilton County shows Royal & Louisa living with her five Lasater children and Royal Alden's four youngest children from his first marriage to Melinda. Together Royal and Louisa also had nine children of their own: Marion J. Alden, Absalom A. Alden, James Preston Alden, Almira A. Alden, Robert M. Alden, Martha Edna Alden, Calvin Newton Alden, Leander H. Alden and Flora H. Alden. Of their nine children, only their daughter Martha Edna Alden survived into adulthood. For more than 25 years Royal Alden was a schoolmaster in Hamilton County, Illinois. A news article dated September 25, 1861 in the local McLeansboro newspaper, The Hamilton Sucker, noted that Royal Alden was a candidate for Associate Judge of Hamilton County. The McLeansboro newspaper, The Hamilton Sucker, was founded by Royal's sons, George Marcus & Andrew Jackson Alden. That newspaper is still in existence today, now known at the McLeansboro Times. Royal Alden passed away at the age of 68.
Children:
George Marcus Alden (1828 - 1905)*
Samuel Alvin Alden (1830 - 1851)*
William Levi Alden (1831 - 1903)*
Andrew Jackson Alden (1837 - 1906)*
Warren Franklin Alden (1839 - 1901)*
Sarah Priscilla Alden Adams (1841 - 1863)*
Charles Timothy Alden (1843 - 1843)*
Royal Alden was a well-educated man and a teacher. After attending university he made his way to Newberry, South Carolina where he met and married Melinda Almira Frazier on December 25, 1827. Royal and Melinda had 9 children. Their first 5 children were all born in Newberry, South Carolina: George Marcus Alden, Samuel Alvin Alden, William Levi Alden, James Luther Alden, and John Spencer Alden.
By 1836, only their first three sons had survived. It was about this time that the family began their migration from South Carolina to Illinois where Melinda's family, the Fraziers, had already settled a few years earlier in Hamilton County. During their move west, they settled for a time in Kingston, Roane County, Tennessee. Kingston is where their sixth child, Andrew Jackson Alden, was born on March 14, 1837. The family eventually arrived in Hamilton County, Illinois sometime in 1838. They would have three more children in Hamilton County: Warren Franklin Alden, Sarah Priscilla Alden and their last child, Charles Timothy Alden, born on August 9, 1843. Tragically just 10 days after Charles' birth, his wife Melinda Almira Frazier Alden passed away on August 19, 1843. Baby Charles Timothy Alden passed away a few weeks later on September 1, 1843. Royal & Melinda owned 80 acres in the south-east corner of Hamilton County, and it is believed this is where both Melinda and their baby Charles Timothy Alden are buried. On March 15, 1846, Royal Alden married for a second time, to Louisa Vickers Lasater. Louisa Vickers was born in Tennessee about 1814. Her first marriage was to Absalom Lasater and they had five children. The 1850 census record in Hamilton County shows Royal & Louisa living with her five Lasater children and Royal Alden's four youngest children from his first marriage to Melinda. Together Royal and Louisa also had nine children of their own: Marion J. Alden, Absalom A. Alden, James Preston Alden, Almira A. Alden, Robert M. Alden, Martha Edna Alden, Calvin Newton Alden, Leander H. Alden and Flora H. Alden. Of their nine children, only their daughter Martha Edna Alden survived into adulthood. For more than 25 years Royal Alden was a schoolmaster in Hamilton County, Illinois. A news article dated September 25, 1861 in the local McLeansboro newspaper, The Hamilton Sucker, noted that Royal Alden was a candidate for Associate Judge of Hamilton County. The McLeansboro newspaper, The Hamilton Sucker, was founded by Royal's sons, George Marcus & Andrew Jackson Alden. That newspaper is still in existence today, now known at the McLeansboro Times. Royal Alden passed away at the age of 68.
Children:
George Marcus Alden (1828 - 1905)*
Samuel Alvin Alden (1830 - 1851)*
William Levi Alden (1831 - 1903)*
Andrew Jackson Alden (1837 - 1906)*
Warren Franklin Alden (1839 - 1901)*
Sarah Priscilla Alden Adams (1841 - 1863)*
Charles Timothy Alden (1843 - 1843)*
Events
| Birth | 8 Jun 1802 | Stafford, Tolland County, Connecticut | |||
| Marriage | 25 Dec 1827 | Newberry County, South Carolina - Melinda Almira Frasier | |||
| Death | 1 Jan 1870 | Dahlgren, Hamilton County, Illinois | |||
| Burial | Sugar Camp Cemetery, Jefferson County, Illinois |  |  |
Families
| Spouse | Melinda Almira Frasier (1806 - 1843) |
| Child | George Marcus Alden (1828 - 1905) |
| Father | Samuel Alden (1776 - 1855) |
| Mother | Miriam Glazier (1778 - 1812) |
Notes
Burial
His grave marker shows: 68Y 5M 8DEndnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial# 33739518.