January 29, 1941 (Wednesday)
- Jill Johnson Tewsley
- Jan 29, 2021
- 2 min read
EDNA RECEIVES A TELEGRAM
Nice day - not so cold.
Did baking, cleaning and
some ironing.
Orlo working on the
low wagon.
Rec'd a telegram from
Henry saying he
arrived in New York City
at 9:40 this morning.
Was OK. Staying at
Pennsylvania Hotel.
Lyd, Alden + Mattie Mishler
went to see Jen this P.M,
Jen is doing fine.
Let's talk about Aldens!
Alden is not an incredibly popular name these days. In fact, a baby name site indicates that in 2021, the name Alden is ranked as 1,525th in terms of popularity in the United States.
In the the Johnson family, the name Alden is quite popular. Both Henry and Hank were given Alden as a middle name. My own son is named Alden and several of Hank's grandchildren and a great grandchild carry the name of Alden.
The Alden Edna mentions in her journal entry on January 29, 1941 is Alden Nash Porritt. Alden is the son of Lydia Johnson Porritt, Henry's sister.
In 1966, Alden Porritt's twin sister Olive documented the story of her grandfather's journey with his family from Ohio to Bowne Center, Michigan.
"In October of 1852, Alden James Nash sold his property in Welshfield, Ohio and with his wife Olive Noyes Poole Nash and their five children (ages 1 - 14) ventured to the area of Bowne Center, Michigan in a covered wagon. They crossed Lake Erie from Clevland, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan and were soon on their way to a new world and a new life. Uncle Dan (Daniel Nash) rode in the wagon and held onto his two sisters - Mary (3 years) and Eleanor (5 years) - to keep them from being bounced out of the wagon. The going was rough."
Upon arrival, Alden James Nash traded his wagon, buggy, and horses as payment for 160 acres of heavy timbered farm land in Bowne Township.
Before the journey to Michigan, Alden James Nash built the Nash Hotel in Northeast Ohio. The original structure still stands and operates as the Welshfield Inn.
The Nash Hotel served as a stagecoach stop as well as a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is rumored and unsubstantiated that Alden James Nash departed Ohio for Michigan because of his role in the Underground Railroad.
Alden James Nash eventually sold his farm in Bowne Township and moved the Muskegon area. He died of pneumonia on April 13, 1871. He is buried in the cemetery at Bowne Center.
If you are from the the Alto/Lowell area you are familiar with the name Alden Nash because it is a stretch of roadway that reaches from the Bowne Center area to north of Lowell. Now you also know a little bit about the person behind the name.
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