The Truth About Reverend Alden

 

If you grew up watching the original TV show or reading the "Little House" books, Reverend Robert Alden is portrayed as the ultimate pillar of frontier morality. He was the kind-hearted man who brought the church to Walnut Grove and famously gave the Ingalls girls their Christmas Bibles. Laura Ingalls Wilder spoke about his with affection.

But as is so often the case with the real people behind Laura’s stories, the historical Robert Alden was a lot more complicated and controversial than the saintly figure portrayed by both. You can imagine my disappointment when I learned about the real Reverend Robert Alden. 

The Truth About Reverend Alden

While it is true that Robert Alden was a missionary who helped establish the Congregational church in Walnut Grove, his life outside of the Ingalls’ circle was marked by ambition and some very questionable financial dealings. After his time in Minnesota, Alden moved further west, and it was during his years in the Dakota Territory and beyond that his reputation began to sour. Unlike the humble man of God we read about, the real Alden was deeply involved in the messy politics of the U.S. Indian Agency, a career move that eventually led to accusations of corruption and shady bookkeeping.

Reverend Alden's Shady Side

One of the most jarring aspects of the real Reverend Alden’s history is his tenure as an Indian Agent for the Fort Berthold Agency in North Dakota. At the time, these positions were often rife with graft, and Alden was eventually caught up in the middle of it. He was accused of mishandling funds and government supplies that were intended for the Native American tribes he was supposed to be assisting.

 Instead of a man purely focused on spiritual salvation, records from that era paint a picture of someone who was perhaps a bit too interested in the financial perks of his government appointment. The discrepancies in his accounts became serious enough that they led to his eventual removal from the position under a cloud of scandal.

There is also the matter of how he left the communities he served. While Laura’s books suggest a long, steady bond, the real Alden was known to be somewhat transient and occasionally left churches in a state of financial or social disarray. He had a habit of making big promises about church buildings and community growth that he couldn't always fulfill. For a man who represented the moral compass of the frontier, his actual track record suggests he struggled to balance his religious calling with his personal desire for status and profit.

Reverend Alden Had His Share of Drama

Even his personal life had its share of drama that wouldn't be appropriate for a children's book series. He married several times, and his later years were spent wandering through various states, trying to outrun the scandals of his middle age. By the time he passed away, he was a far cry from the revered figurehead of Walnut Grove.

Understanding the shadier side of Reverend Alden doesn't necessarily take away from the kindness he showed the Ingalls family. It's a good reminder that the frontier was filled with real, broken people.