ALEXANDER, W. A.

ALEXANDER, FLINN, LAYTON, YANNEY, MERWIN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 00:15:32

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 231-32. Chicago. 1915

W. A. ALEXANDER

W. A. Alexander, who is one of the successful business men of Leon, where he owns a drug store, was born in High Point township, this county, November 22, 1857, a son of Captain Eli H. and Sallie E. (Flinn) Alexander, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Our subject is the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children and was reared in this county. He attended the Garden Grove Seminary under Professor Harkness and after attaining his majority engaged in teaching school for about two years. He then came to Leon and became a partner of Dr. H. R. Layton, the firm conducting a drug business for about four years, after which our subject purchased the interest of Dr. Layton, becoming the sole proprietor of the establishment. In 1883 he added a line of musical instruments and furniture and has since built a large business in that connection, operating over a radius of about one hundred miles. Since the wonderful development of phonographs of various kinds he has also become agent for the Edison talking machines. He sells musical instruments, talking machines and furniture at both wholesale and retail. He still gives much attention to his drug business, has maintained a high standard of accuracy in his prescription department and handles only drugs of known strength and purity. He also carries a well selected stock of druggists' sundries. His business occupies a two-story building, including the upper floor and also a large warehouse and he employs on an average ten people, all of which indicates that his is one of the most prosperous establishments in the county. He also towns twenty residences at Leon and elsewhere, frequently buying and selling city property. He is characterized by insight, sound judgment and energy, quahties which go far toward securing success in any line of business.

In 1884 Mr. Alexander was united in marriage to Miss Ida Yanney, of Elyria, Ohio, and she passed away in 1894, leaving three children. Lucile, who is teaching music, studied for three years at Drake University and for one year at Chicago. Clive M., of New York, an expert chemist, is a graduate of the State University of Iowa, where he was instructor for a time, and also has the degree of Ph. D. from Columbia University. Enid, who is also a resident of New York City, is a graduate of the West high school of Des Moines and the Randolph-Macon Woman's College of Lynchburg, Virginia. She is a violinist of unusual talent. Mr. Alexander was again married on the 7th of October, 1902, Miss Adella L. Merwin, of Leon, becoming his wife. She was born at Spencer, Iowa, but for some time resided at Cresco, whence she removed to Leon.

Mr. Alexander is a republican but his extensive business interests require his undivided time and attention, leaving him no opportunity to take a very active part in political affairs. Fraternally he belongs to the lodge of the Knights of Pythias and also to the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan. He is likewise identified with the Yeomen and his wife is a member of the Pythian Sisters. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he belongs, and he guides his life by its teachings. He has a high standing in business circles and is personaly esteemed and respected as his dominant traits of character are such as invariably command regard.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014