Born in England in 1851, John Alderman migrated to Palmyra, New York, in 1880. He later sent for his wife, Jane (Payzer), whom he had married in 1878, and with her came their small son. She had been a seamstress in the Royal Palace. A daughter, Edith, was born while at Palmyra. In 1882 the family came to Ashtabula, Barnes County. A week after their arrival the son passed away from typhoid fever. Two more children were born later.

Ruby in 1884 and Alfred in 1887. In 1884 the Alderman post office was established in their home and John Alderman was postmaster for twenty years. In 1885 the Alderman native stone school was built on land donated by John Alderman.

Edith Alderman married Charles H. Ford in 1899. Ruby, after teaching for a time, married Harvey Harper. Alfred, the son, married Rose Wakefield.

Mrs. John Alderman died in 1921 after retirement in Valley City. John Alderman passed away in 1937.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 13