Alden, Edmund Kimball, son of Dr. Ebenezer and Anne (Kimball) Alden, was born in Randolph, Norfolk County, April 11, 1825. He is a lineal descendant in the eighth generation, by two family lines. Of “John” and “Priscilla” of Mayflower fame.
After attending the Randolph Academy, he entered Amherst College, where he graduated in 1844; was then a teacher in the Williston Seminary, at Easthampton, for a year, and graduated from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1848, continuing his studies there for a few months as Abbott resident.
From 1850 to 1854 Mr. Alden was pastor of the First Church of Yarmouth, Maine; was pastor of the Congregational church at Lenox, from 1854 to 1859; and then became pastor of Phillips Church, Boston, so continuing till 1876. He received from his alma mater, in 1866, the honorary degree of D. D.
Mr. Alden was married April 25, 1850, to Maria, daughter of Deacon Gershom and Sarah (Hyde) Hyde, of Bath, Me.
He was a trustee for fourteen years of Phillips Academy and the Andover Theological Seminary, resigning this trust in 1881; he has also been a trustee of Amherst College since 1873; he is at present corresponding secretary, home department, of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, having held the office for thirteen years.