Joseph H. Alexander

ALEXANDER, DAWSON, LITTLE

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 10/19/2010 at 19:48:07

Joseph H. Alexander, a veteran of the civil war, who is now living in retirement in the village of Royal, after having many years been prominently identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests here, is a native of Warren county, Indiana. He was born December 16, 1843, a son of G. W. and Ruth (Little) Alexander. His father was a native of Springfield, Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty years of age, at which period of his life he went to Indiana with his mother, remaining there until 1847, during which year he located in Green county, Wisconsin. Twenty years were there passed and in 1867 he removed to Jasper county, Iowa. He afterward lived for one year in Cherokee county and thence went to O’Brien county, where he was well known as a general merchant and farmer and where he departed this life in June, 1894. In Indiana he was united in marriage to Ruth Little, who was also born in Ohio, and departed this life in Cherokee county, Iowa, in the year 1873. They were the parents of the following children: Rebecca, Fannie, Mattie, Marguerite A., Clara B., Ada R., Emma, Lincoln and Joseph H.

In the common schools of Green county, Wisconsin, Joseph H. Alexander acquired his preliminary education and subsequently pursued a course of study in the university at Evansville, that state, upon completing which he returned home and lived with his parents until August 11, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years and was honorably discharged on June 29, 1865. He witnessed much hard fighting and was with his regiment in the battles at Resaca, Georgia, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Atlanta. During his military career Mr. Alexander was on the scouting force and served in the capacity of scout throughout the Georgia campaign and until the close of the war. His duty was often arduous and dangerous, but he never faltered when the interests of his country were at stake. After receiving his discharge he returned home and in 1867 removed to the southern part of this state, while subsequently he went to O’Brien county, where for a period he followed farming, and in 1898 came to this county, where he is now retired.

In 1866 Mr. Alexander wedded Miss Annie J. Dawson, and unto them have been born eight children, namely: J. S., and agriculturist of Sully county, South Dakota; Ada, deceased; George Jesse, who is in the real-estate business at Heron Lake, Minnesota; Wilfred G., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cherokee county, this state; Eve, wife of Solomon Beryl, who is connected with an elevator at OSG, this state; Nellie P., wife of Fred Treadle, who is in the restaurant business in Milldam, Minnesota; Frank C., a solicitor for a creamery in Cherokee county, this state; and Verne, of that county. Mr. Alexander has taken considerable interest in politics, his political faith being in accord with the principles of the democratic party. He served for three years as justice in Cherokee county, Iowa, for fifteen years in the same office in O’Brien county and in this county he has been justice of the peace for the past eight years. In the office he has gained considerable distinction for his fairness and administrative ability and at all times he is loyal in citizenship. He is a comrade of Spencer Post, G. A. R., and, being a man of sterling character, he has always merited and received

Contributed by: Susan Gregory. Source: History of Clay County Iowa – Steele – 1909, page 372.