History of Meadville, (Lancaster County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Bradford R. Alden, soldier, was born at Meadville, Pa., in 1810, son of Major Roger Alden, aide-de-camp to General Greene, and great-great-grandson of John Alden, the immigrant. In 1831 he was graduated at West Point, was assigned to the 4th infantry, and from 1833 to 1840 as instructor at West Point, and appointed on the staff of General Scott as aide-de-camp in 1841, serving two years, and three years on garrison duty. From 1845 to 1852 he was commandant at West Point, and then was stationed in the West, when an uprising among the Oregon Indians was in progress. He was wounded in action Aug. 24, 1853, and the next month he retired from the army because of the wound he had received, and from which he never fully recovered. He spent several years in Europe, and died Sept. 10, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Andrew Osborn, governor of Kansas, was born in Meadville, Pa., Oct. 26, 1836. He attended the public school and Allegheny college, and 1earned the printer's trade. He studied law under Judge Derrickson of Meadville in 1856, removed to Pontiac, Mich., in 1857, where he was admitted to the bar, and in November of that year removed to Lawrence, Kansas Territory, being employed as a compositor on the Herald of Freedom. In 1858 he engaged in the practice of law in Elwood, Kansas; was elected attorney of Doniphan county, and was a member of the state senate, 1859-62, serving as president pro tempore of that body in 1862. He was lieutenant-governor of Kansas in 1863; U.S. marshal by appointment from President Lincoln, 1864-67, and Republican governor of Kansas, 1872-76. He was U.S. minister to Chile, by appointment from President Hayes, 1877-81, and conducted important negotiations between various South American governments, and in 1881 was transferred to the Brazilian mission, where he served until 1886. He located in Topeka, Kan., on his return, and in 1888 was state senator from Shawnee county. He was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Rose by the Emperor of Brazil for special services. He died at Meadville, Pa., Feb. 4, 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

David Hilton Wheeler, educator, was born in Ithaca, N.Y., Nov. 19, 1829; son of Solomon and Alice (Babcock) Wheeler. He was graduated from Rock River Theological seminary, mount Morris, Ill., 1851; was professor of ancient languages in Cornell college, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1853-55, and 1859-60, and professor of Greek language and literature, 1857-59 and 1860-61. Meanwhile he served as superintendent of the public schools of Carrollcounty, 1855-57, and also as editor of the Carroll county Republican. He was U.S. minister to Genoa, Italy, 1861-66; professor of English literature in Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., 1867-75; editor of The Methodist, New York city, 1875-82, and president of Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., 1883-88 and 1889-93. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Cornell college, 1867, and that of LL.D. by Northwestern university, 1881. Dr. Wheeler translated Celesia's "Conspiracy of Frischi" (1866), and is the author of: Brigandage in South Italy (2 vols., London, 1864); By-Ways of Literature (1883); A Sketch of J. A. Froude (1883), and Our Industrial Utopia (1895). He died at Meadville, Pa., in June, 1902.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor