The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-03-12
CHARLES ALDR|CH
Died YESTERDAY
CURATOR or STATE HISTORICAL
DEPARTMENT PASSES.
DIED AT HIS HOME In BOONE.
Founded An Institution Which is His
Monumcnt--Journaiist Soldier,
Legislator, Publicist, and
Man of Affairs.

: y . . z
Boone, Ia. March 9.-Hon. Charles
Aldrich, who passed away at his home
in this city yesterday morning at )
O'Clock, was the founder of the his
torical department of Iowa, branch
of the activity of the state govern
ment He originated its beginnings
and he developed its field. He put it
on permanent foundations and before
his death realized the cherished am
bition of a quarter of century when
the building in which the department
is housed through the generosity and
appreciation of the state was finished.
For years he mas peen in delicate
health but the love of his work and
the undying hope of seeing the col
lection appropriately quartered have
supplemented an extraordinary ner-
vous force in lengthening his years
until his hope was realized.
Mr. Aldrich was journalist, pri-
marily. He learned the printers
trade as boy and he was connected
with half dozen newspapers during
his early life. His first serious work
was the publication of newspaper.
He became a pioneer of Iowa and he
was a part of the whole of the history
of the state. He entered political life
and served in the union army as an
Iowa soldier. And through it all the
| literary instinct persisted and led him,
naturally, into the labor of love which
builded him a monument while it
gave to the people of his state an in
stitution of tremendous value.
One of mis- chief and most beloved
tasks in recent years was the editing
of the Annals of Iowa,a quarterly pub
llication devoted to Hawkeye histor-
ical subjects. He was assisted in the
work by Miss Whitcomb, but directed
lit, generally. The Annals were es.
tablished in 1863 but during the last
twelve years or more their publica.
ton has been wholly in his hands, and
the volumes which he has issued CON
tain probably the most accurate and
complete account of the historical
features treated than any other au-
thority published. In their produc-
ton, the editors newspaper expert
ence and talent st9 ss, hin y. y 1,s, &C. ~;
stead p--.-
Some facts in his career are thus
briefly stated:
Born, Ellington, N. ", Oct, 2 1928;
died, Boone, Ia, March s, 1908.
Educated, jamestown, N. Y. acad-
envy.
Established Cattaraugus Sachem, a
weekly, at Randolph, N. Y, 1850.
Married Matilda Olivia Williams.
Knowlesville, N. Y, July, 1851; died,
September 1892.
Established Weekly Journal at
Olean. N. Y, 1876.
Founded Webster City, (Ia.) Free
man. June 20, 1857.
Chief clerk Iowa house of represent.
atives 1860, 1862, 1866, 1870.
First lieutenant and adjutant Thir-
lty-second Iowa Volunteers. 1S62-'64
Editor Dubuque Daily Times. 1866.
Published Marshall County Times,
I1S66-'69.
Member of state commission, 1872.
70, and federal commission, 1S74-76,
to investigate claims of Des Moines
river land settlers
Member Hayden United States
Geological survey in Rocky Noun
tains, 1875.
Member Iowa house of representa-
tives, 1882.
Gave historical collection to the
state, 1884
Visited Europe, 1SS3'S4, 1886,
1889.
Made curator state historical de-
partment, 1892.
Member commission on monument
to Spirit Lake massacre victims, 1895.
Married Thirza Louise Briggs, Web
ster City, Ia. Nov. IL, 1898.
| Member Iowa State Historical so.
eiety, American Historical associa,
ton, Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the
Republic, American Ornithologists' un.
ion, Pioneer Law Makers society.and
many other organizations.