​ALDRICH, Charles, journalist, was born at Ellington, N.Y., Oct. 2, 1828. He founded The Freeman in Webster City, Iowa, in 1857; was chief clerk of the house of representatives 1860-'2; 1866 and 1870, and a member of the house, 1882-4, where he originated several state laws. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Iowa college in 1869; was a member of the U.S. geological survey in 1875; founded the American ornithologist union in 1883; presented his historical collections to the state in 1884, and became curator and secretary of the historical department, Iowa, which he originated in 1892. He contributed to periodicals.