ALEXANDER, Frank W. 1856 - 1881

ALEXANDER, EVANS, CUMMINGS, FARMER, FEGAN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 2/17/2007 at 12:08:02

"The Fairfield Evening Journal"
Friday, April 22, 1881
Front Page, Column 3

ATTENTION, KNIGHTS!

A special meeting has been called for 8 o'clock, sharp, this (Friday) evening, to make arrangements for the funeral of Brother Frank W. ALEXANDER. Your presence is required. By order of the C. C.

Al Hilbert, K. of R. and S.

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DEATH OF FRANK ALEXANDER.

It becomes our painful duty to announce the death of one of our most popular and promising young men, in the person of Mr. Frank W. ALEXANDER, son of W. K. ALEXANDER, which event occurred at 7 o'clock this morning. This early termination of a promising life, although not unexpected, will cast a sad gloom over his relatives and hosts of friends. He had been suffering for a year with that insidious disease, consumption, but like most persons thus affected was flattered with the hope of ultimate recovery, to the last; and was about the street, apparently cheerful until a few days before his death. Born and raised in our midst, he was greatly beloved by a large circle of devoted friends, who will deeply miss his bright and cheerful presence in business and social circles.

We tender our sincere condolence to the afflicted parents who are now bereaved by the loss of the only child who was a yet a member of the family household.

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"The Evening Journal"
Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa
Monday, April 25, 1881
Front Page, Column 3

DUST TO DUST.

The funeral obsequies of the late Frank W. ALEXANDER took place at the family residence yesterday afternoon. At the close of the services, which were conducted by Rev. Frank W. Evans, of the First M.E. Church, in a solemn, impressive and touching nature, all that was mortal of a noble, generous and promising young man, were silently conveyed to the city of the dead, and hid forever from mortal view. It can truthfully be said of him who has entered upon that final rest, that he was loved and esteemed by all for his many good qualities and ways, and never knew what it was to have an enemy.

The remains were followed to the grave by the members of Forest City Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which deceased was an honored and loved member, and a large number of friends and relatives. At the grave the services of the order were read by Capt. W. T. Burgess, and each member deposited a sprig of evergreen in the grave. The pall-bearers were F. W. Voorhies, Ed M. Gage, L. Howard, G. W. Young, Harry Booker and James Hampson.

It is not a correct measurement of the value of a human life to estimate only deeds that find a place in recorded annals, and characters that are prominent in the world. What one has _been_ is as important as what one has _done_. An antiquarian searching in a county of England, failed to find any records in church or court of a family name, but was pointed to a bed of flowers that carried the name. So the fragrance of a life will linger long and sweet when that life is unmarked by any one bold or single achievement. Such is the fragrance of the life of the young friend whose body was lowered into the cold and silent grave on the beautiful and holy Sabbath of yesterday.

What the magnet is to the steel are our gathered treasures above, to win our affections toward the heavenly world. We become intensely concerned about the habits, customs of the country where our friends are, and thus, when link by link, the earthly chain of friendship grows shorter here, and the heavenly chain, link by link, grows longer there, we come at length to feel that home is not here but yonder.

Forest City Lodge, K. of P. passed the following preamble and resolutions of respect at their last meeting:

Whereas, The Judge of All has called our departed brother to pass through the valley of death, thereby leaving his chair vacant in this Lodge-room and filling our hearts with sadness; therefore,

Resolved, That we have met with a sorrowful loss by the death of our young brother, Frank W. ALEXANDER, cut down in the morning of his manhood, whose sun has scarcely risen above the hill-tops and whose usefulness was just beginning to be felt in the Lodge and in society; and that as a proper tribute to his memory, this Lodge be draped in mourning for a period of thirty days.

Resolved, That, to the bereaved friends of our deceased brother, we tender our kindest sympathies.

J. J. CUMMINGS,
S. C. FARMER,
F. R. FEGAN,
Committee.

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"The Fairfield Ledger Weekly"
Wednesday, April 27, 1881
Page 3, Column 8

Stricken Down by Death.

Frank W. ALEXANDER died at the home of his parents in this city Friday, from consumption, after a weary illness of many months. Frank was the youngest of six children born to W. K. and E. ALEXANDER, of whom but two now survive, a brother and a sister. He was born in this city Dec. 31, 1856, and in the identical room in which his death occurred. Passing his earlier days as do most boys, in 1873 he entered the C., R. I. & P. office in this city and began the study of telegraphy; during this same year he also held a clerkship in the office of the clerk of the district court. Returning to the railroad in the spring of 1874, he perfected his training and remained with the company until the summer of 1878, serving both as operator and agent at Platte City, Mo., Allerton, and in this city. Frank then entered the store of his elder brother here, and remained until the business was closed up, after the death of the latter in 1879, he aiding in all the work. He again resumed his work at his profession and continued until failing health last summer compelled him to resign. A trip to the Colorado mountains it was thought strengthened him, but on his return to Iowa disease again grasped him; when he had decided to return to Colorado it was found too late. Since then his decline has been steady, and death has finally claimed a young man of promise, who scarce a twelve month ago was the picture of health. In his profession he was skillful and diligent, as in all other business relations. Quick to see and act, honest and industrious he will be missed in his old home. The remains were interred in this city Sunday, Rev. F. W. EVANS officiating, and the Knights of Pythias taking charge of the burial.

The Knights of Pythias, of this city, passed the following resolutions upon the death of their brother, F. W. ALEXANDER:

Whereas, The judge of all has called our beloved brother to pass through the valley of death, thereby leaving his chair vacant in this lodge room and filling our hearts with sadness: therefore,

Resolved, That we have met with a sorrowful loss by the death of our young brother, Frank W. ALEXANDER, cut down in the morning of his manhood, whose sun had scarcely risen above the hilltops and whose usefulness was just beginning to be felt in the lodge and in society, and that as a proper tribute for his memory this lodge be draped in mourning for the period of thirty days.

Resolved, That to the bereaved family of our deceased brother we tender our kindest sympathies.

J. J. CUMMINGS,
S. C. FARMER,
F. R. FEGAN,
Committee

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, April 28, 1881
Page 3, Column 3

A Melancholy Death.--The said death of Frank W. ALEXANDER, of this city, occurred last Friday morning about five o'clock. It was an event not unlooked for. The slow consuming ravage of that most insidious of all modern ailments could not be stayed, and he lurking disease had grown more and more bold until naught but death could be expected. It was thought for a time after the disease manifested itself that by good care and careful nursing he could recover; but this was not to be. He had every attention and everything done for him that human skill could suggest. All was to no purpose. He continued to decline constantly until the final summons came last Friday. Frank ALEXANDER was born in the city in 1856 and had lived here all his life. His acquaintance was wide and the news of his death was received with sorrow by all. The relatives have the sympathy of the entire community in this severe loss, this tearing afresh of the wounds of grief which the family have been made to suffer so keenly within the last year or more. The funeral, Rev. Evans officiating, took place Sunday afternoon from the residence of his parents, and was very largely attended. The remains were escorted to the cemetry (sic) by the Knights of Pythias, of which he was a member, and the services at the grave conducted by them. Resolutions in respect to his memory were adopted by the lodge, but we are unable to publish them this week.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Frank was interred in Lot Old.P.326 in Evergreen Cemetery.