Theodore Elihu Alderman, often referred to as the father of Nevada, was born in Washington County, Ohio on September 8, 1825. He was the son of Elihu Huff and Sarah (Baker) Alderman. In 1849, he went to Lee County in Iowa. He was married June 6, 1850 to Miss Hannsh Reynolds.
The first three years of their married life was spent farming in Lee County. But a serious eye problem afflicted Mr. Alderman, which resulted in complete blindness for a year. When he recovered partial sight, he was advised by physicians to seek an indoor occupation so he pursued opportunities in unsettled lands further west. In June 1853, he accompanied the commissioner who had been appointed to locate a county seat for Story County. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Alderman chose a location and built a log house on two lots at the west end of the south half of the Story County Courthouse square (now the Story County Administration Building.) The family (T.E., Hannah and 2-year old Oscar) occupied this one-room log built home on October 11, 1853. This house was the first store, post office, and inn of the county. It also became the office of the county judge and of the only physician in the east half of Story County. It was not until the next spring that a second family came and built a cabin in town. The couple had five children: Oscar, Mary Nevada (who died within a year), Oscar, Ed, Ulysses, and Minnie.
Mr. Alderman's mother, Sarah Baker Alderman, followed the couple to Story County remarrying James C. Smith in 1854 in Story County and resided in Lafayette Township. Mr. Alderman's first cousin, Hezekiah Brink Alderman and wife Rhoda (Smith) Alderman, settled in Indian Creek Township. Despite other family in the county, life in early Nevada was difficult and lonely. Mrs. Alderman trapped prairie chickens in what is now downtown Nevada so she could feed her family. Howling of wolves was heard in the darkness and an occasional Indian was known to come through the fledgling community.
Mr. Alderman prospered in the general mercantile business but gradually moved into the hardware business. The business thrived and he became quite well to do. He continued in this line of business in various locations until 1892 when he handed the business down to his sons. T.E. Alderman was devoted to the interests and building up of the community.
In the fall of 1898, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Alderman failed and their son, Ed, suggested a home in southern California. On October 12, 1899, Hannah Reynolds Alderman died at her home in Santa Ana, California. Mr. Alderman remarried Mina Bruner in California January 5, 1903 and in October of that same year, Mr. Alderman suffered a stroke at Los Angeles, California. He was returned to the home of his daughter, Minnie Mills, and was cared for by his children until his death on January 21, 1906.
The first three years of their married life was spent farming in Lee County. But a serious eye problem afflicted Mr. Alderman, which resulted in complete blindness for a year. When he recovered partial sight, he was advised by physicians to seek an indoor occupation so he pursued opportunities in unsettled lands further west. In June 1853, he accompanied the commissioner who had been appointed to locate a county seat for Story County. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Alderman chose a location and built a log house on two lots at the west end of the south half of the Story County Courthouse square (now the Story County Administration Building.) The family (T.E., Hannah and 2-year old Oscar) occupied this one-room log built home on October 11, 1853. This house was the first store, post office, and inn of the county. It also became the office of the county judge and of the only physician in the east half of Story County. It was not until the next spring that a second family came and built a cabin in town. The couple had five children: Oscar, Mary Nevada (who died within a year), Oscar, Ed, Ulysses, and Minnie.
Mr. Alderman's mother, Sarah Baker Alderman, followed the couple to Story County remarrying James C. Smith in 1854 in Story County and resided in Lafayette Township. Mr. Alderman's first cousin, Hezekiah Brink Alderman and wife Rhoda (Smith) Alderman, settled in Indian Creek Township. Despite other family in the county, life in early Nevada was difficult and lonely. Mrs. Alderman trapped prairie chickens in what is now downtown Nevada so she could feed her family. Howling of wolves was heard in the darkness and an occasional Indian was known to come through the fledgling community.
Mr. Alderman prospered in the general mercantile business but gradually moved into the hardware business. The business thrived and he became quite well to do. He continued in this line of business in various locations until 1892 when he handed the business down to his sons. T.E. Alderman was devoted to the interests and building up of the community.
In the fall of 1898, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Alderman failed and their son, Ed, suggested a home in southern California. On October 12, 1899, Hannah Reynolds Alderman died at her home in Santa Ana, California. Mr. Alderman remarried Mina Bruner in California January 5, 1903 and in October of that same year, Mr. Alderman suffered a stroke at Los Angeles, California. He was returned to the home of his daughter, Minnie Mills, and was cared for by his children until his death on January 21, 1906.
Theodore Elihu Alderman, often referred to as the father of Nevada, was born in Washington County, Ohio on September 8, 1825. He was the son of Elihu Huff and Sarah (Baker) Alderman. In 1849, he went to Lee County in Iowa. He was married June 6, 1850 to Miss Hannsh Reynolds.
The first three years of their married life was spent farming in Lee County. But a serious eye problem afflicted Mr. Alderman, which resulted in complete blindness for a year. When he recovered partial sight, he was advised by physicians to seek an indoor occupation so he pursued opportunities in unsettled lands further west. In June 1853, he accompanied the commissioner who had been appointed to locate a county seat for Story County. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Alderman chose a location and built a log house on two lots at the west end of the south half of the Story County Courthouse square (now the Story County Administration Building.) The family (T.E., Hannah and 2-year old Oscar) occupied this one-room log built home on October 11, 1853. This house was the first store, post office, and inn of the county. It also became the office of the county judge and of the only physician in the east half of Story County. It was not until the next spring that a second family came and built a cabin in town. The couple had five children: Oscar, Mary Nevada (who died within a year), Oscar, Ed, Ulysses, and Minnie.
Mr. Alderman's mother, Sarah Baker Alderman, followed the couple to Story County remarrying James C. Smith in 1854 in Story County and resided in Lafayette Township. Mr. Alderman's first cousin, Hezekiah Brink Alderman and wife Rhoda (Smith) Alderman, settled in Indian Creek Township. Despite other family in the county, life in early Nevada was difficult and lonely. Mrs. Alderman trapped prairie chickens in what is now downtown Nevada so she could feed her family. Howling of wolves was heard in the darkness and an occasional Indian was known to come through the fledgling community.
Mr. Alderman prospered in the general mercantile business but gradually moved into the hardware business. The business thrived and he became quite well to do. He continued in this line of business in various locations until 1892 when he handed the business down to his sons. T.E. Alderman was devoted to the interests and building up of the community.
In the fall of 1898, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Alderman failed and their son, Ed, suggested a home in southern California. On October 12, 1899, Hannah Reynolds Alderman died at her home in Santa Ana, California. Mr. Alderman remarried Mina Bruner in California January 5, 1903 and in October of that same year, Mr. Alderman suffered a stroke at Los Angeles, California. He was returned to the home of his daughter, Minnie Mills, and was cared for by his children until his death on January 21, 1906.
The first three years of their married life was spent farming in Lee County. But a serious eye problem afflicted Mr. Alderman, which resulted in complete blindness for a year. When he recovered partial sight, he was advised by physicians to seek an indoor occupation so he pursued opportunities in unsettled lands further west. In June 1853, he accompanied the commissioner who had been appointed to locate a county seat for Story County. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Alderman chose a location and built a log house on two lots at the west end of the south half of the Story County Courthouse square (now the Story County Administration Building.) The family (T.E., Hannah and 2-year old Oscar) occupied this one-room log built home on October 11, 1853. This house was the first store, post office, and inn of the county. It also became the office of the county judge and of the only physician in the east half of Story County. It was not until the next spring that a second family came and built a cabin in town. The couple had five children: Oscar, Mary Nevada (who died within a year), Oscar, Ed, Ulysses, and Minnie.
Mr. Alderman's mother, Sarah Baker Alderman, followed the couple to Story County remarrying James C. Smith in 1854 in Story County and resided in Lafayette Township. Mr. Alderman's first cousin, Hezekiah Brink Alderman and wife Rhoda (Smith) Alderman, settled in Indian Creek Township. Despite other family in the county, life in early Nevada was difficult and lonely. Mrs. Alderman trapped prairie chickens in what is now downtown Nevada so she could feed her family. Howling of wolves was heard in the darkness and an occasional Indian was known to come through the fledgling community.
Mr. Alderman prospered in the general mercantile business but gradually moved into the hardware business. The business thrived and he became quite well to do. He continued in this line of business in various locations until 1892 when he handed the business down to his sons. T.E. Alderman was devoted to the interests and building up of the community.
In the fall of 1898, the health of Mr. and Mrs. Alderman failed and their son, Ed, suggested a home in southern California. On October 12, 1899, Hannah Reynolds Alderman died at her home in Santa Ana, California. Mr. Alderman remarried Mina Bruner in California January 5, 1903 and in October of that same year, Mr. Alderman suffered a stroke at Los Angeles, California. He was returned to the home of his daughter, Minnie Mills, and was cared for by his children until his death on January 21, 1906.
Inscription
FATHER
THEODORE E.
ALDERMAN
SEPT. 8, 1825
JAN. 20, 1906
Family Members
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