deeply engaged in the formation and success of the public library, and largely through his endeavor was the valuable gift from Mr. Bailey secured to the library, and from his own, not long before his death, he gave a number of volumes, especially of reference.
   He was instrumental in preserving to the town, as a public common, the Old Training Field opposite his church, at one corner of which may still be seen the large stone once serving as a horse block, whereupon the colonial dames were accustomed to mount and dismount.   He was active in all matters geneological and historical, compiled a history of the 1st church of our town, from its earliest days until the present, read and studied the old church and parish records, and was well informed concerning them.   After carefully copying from the old books and from inscriptions in the ancient graveyard nearby, he arranged these, both in alphebetical and chronological order, and at his own expense caused to be made type-written copies, also collecting various facts of general interest concerning localities and people, and especially in later years was often visited and consulted in reference to these matters.
   The parsonage, built just before his call to Marshfield, he entered with his family as its first occupants.   There the children were born, and from thence two little ones were transplanted to the paradise of God, while four survive, to honor, cherish and love their parents' memory.   In 1883 Mr. Alden bought the house so long his home, and with the proceeds, the parish purchased another, the present parsonage.   He was permitted to welcome to christian fellowship many gathered into the fold through his instrumentality.   His mortal remains rest in the cemetery close by the church where he so well had ministered, there awaiting the resurrection in which he so confidently believed.   Of him may truthfully be said: 'He walked with God and he was not, for God took him.' "