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Solomon Ellsworth Alden

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Birth	:	14 Nov 1811 Enfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA
Death	:	18 Aug 1881 Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
Burial	:	Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.8327600, -122.2395200
Plot	:	1 Lot 347
Description	:	Solomon Ellsworth Alden (November 14, 1811–August 18, 1881) was an early California settler who at one time owned most of what is now Temescal in Oakland. From 1899 to 1908 the post office for North Temescal was known as the Alden Post Office, and the Temescal Branch Library (built in 1918) was originally known as the Alden Branch of the Oakland Free Library. Alden was born in 1811 in Enfield, Connecticut, the direct descendant of John Alden, who was one of the principal Pilgrims, and the last surviving male who came to Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620. He married... Read More	Solomon Ellsworth Alden (November 14, 1811–August 18, 1881) was an early California settler who at one time owned most of what is now Temescal in Oakland. From 1899 to 1908 the post office for North Temescal was known as the Alden Post Office, and the Temescal Branch Library (built in 1918) was originally known as the Alden Branch of the Oakland Free Library. Alden was born in 1811 in Enfield, Connecticut, the direct descendant of John Alden, who was one of the principal Pilgrims, and the last surviving male who came to Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620. He married Ann Edwards Cornwall (October 10, 1810–April 16, 1882) on August 10, 1846 and they had a daughter, Elsie Ann Alden (December 21, 1849–June 15, 1931). In 1852, Solomon traveled West from Southport, Connecticut, by steamer in search of adventure. He camped for a time in the Eastbay and a few months later purchased a house and few hundred acres, on the present 51st Street, which extended North to Berkeley and South to Oakland. In 1854, he sent for his wife and three-year-old daughter, Elsie Ann, to join him. They arrived in the San Francisco harbor that same year on a steamer ship. The voyage around the horn took them many months, as whenever the ship would dock the crew would desert for the California gold fields or other adventures; consequently, their passage would be delayed until the ship could find a new crew. When Mrs. Alden arrived in North Temescal, as the district was then called, she disliked the barrenness of the yard, and she was homesick. She sent back to Connecticut for a small bay tree, and when it arrived planted it outside in the front yard. There were no water pumps in those days, so every day after the dishwashing she would pour the water on her growing bay tree. It grew immensely and for many years has afforded shade to Oaklanders. In 1915 the Alden house was sold to the Oakland Baby Hospital. Eventually, the old Alden homestead was taken down and a new Baby Hospital was built. The bay tree which Mrs. Alden planted still stands outside the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Solomon's sister Emily (January 22, 1810-October 7, 1881) and niece Ann also lived with the family. An 1862 advertisement listed about 350 acres for sale, with "a good dwelling house, containing ten rooms; two servants' rooms", plus a farm house, carriage house, two barns, and stables. Alameda County records list Alden's property at 300 acres; the same year the Assessor's office listed him as the fourth wealthiest property owner in Alameda County after Edson Adams, Samuel Merritt and Frederick William Delger. Besides farming his land, he served as director of the Oakland Bank of Savings along with Walter Blair and Frederick Delger. Alden was also one of the founding trustees of Mountain View Cemetery. Despite all this, the 1870 census lists his occupation as "farmer." By 1880 his occupation had advanced to "capitalist." Elsie Alden married John Edgar McElrath (January 2, 1844–May 6, 1907) an attorney from Tennessee, who had served as a Major in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The 1908 city directory lists their address as 5101 Dover Street. Alden's property became the site of the Children's Hospital Oakland. Solomon Alden died of diabetes in 1881, and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Plot 1, Lot 347, along with the McElraths.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Solomon Ellsworth Alden's memorial?
Solomon Ellsworth Alden's memorial is located at: Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, USA.
When did Solomon Ellsworth Alden death?
Solomon Ellsworth Alden death on 18 Aug 1881 in Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Solomon Ellsworth Alden's memorial?
Latitude: 37.8327600
Longitude: -122.2395200

Family Members:

Parent

Darius Alden

(1778 - 1855)

Marilda Ellsworth Alden

(1774 - 1846)

Spouse

Ann Edwards Cornwall Alden

(1810 - 1882)

Siblings

Emily Alden

(1810 - 1881)

Elsie Alden

(1815 - 1847)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mountain View Cemetery
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8327600, -122.2395200

2. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8349991, -122.2418976

3. Home of Eternity Cemetery
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8322970, -122.2448270

4. Chapel of the Chimes Columbarium and Mausoleum
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8318863, -122.2456894

5. Chapel of Memories Columbarium
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8310471, -122.2480927

6. Cathedral of Christ the Light Mausoleum
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8105316, -122.2633896

7. Saint Paul Lutheran Church
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8020820, -122.2222780

8. Home of Peace Cemetery
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7790604, -122.2036285

9. Northbrae Community Church Columbarium
Berkeley, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8905500, -122.2763200

10. Sunnyside Cemetery
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7806260, -122.1822410

11. Golden Gate Fields
Albany, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8854000, -122.3117000

12. Evergreen Cemetery
Oakland, Alameda County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7719002, -122.1782990

13. Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church Garden
Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8866040, -122.1606950

14. Golden Gate Mausoleum and Columbaria
El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9073150, -122.2857220

15. Sunset View Cemetery
El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9077721, -122.2871017

16. Saint Stephens Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
Orinda, Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8982650, -122.1729170

17. Yerba Buena Island Cemetery (Defunct)
San Francisco, San Francisco County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8127420, -122.3707880

18. Saint Anselms Episcopal Church Columbarium
Lafayette, Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8737230, -122.0933820

19. Gan Shalom Cemetery
Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.9528122, -122.1975098

20. Lafayette Cemetery
Lafayette, Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8964005, -122.0986023

21. First Street Cemetery (Defunct)
San Francisco, San Francisco County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7906170, -122.3991770

22. Bush Street Cemetery (Defunct)
San Francisco, San Francisco County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7907950, -122.4011960

23. Old Saint Marys Cathedral Crypt
San Francisco, San Francisco County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7929010, -122.4058220

24. Hulls Walnut Creek Chapel Columbarium
Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.8955350, -122.0782110