Dr. Benjamin J. Alexander (1918)
ALEXANDER, HENSER, SMITH
Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:38
The Hiawatha Daily World
Hiawatha, Kansas
Tuesday, May 21, 1918ALEXANDER—Dr. B.J. Alexander died at his home, corner of Sixth and Shawnee Streets, Monday evening, May 20, at 5:45 o’clock.
Dr. Benjamin J. Alexander was born August 31, 1855, in Mercer County, Missouri. At the age of 12 years he moved with his parents to Madison County, Iowa. He attended the Winterset, Iowa, high school and began the study of medicine under Dr. Sloan. He attended the Des Moines college and later the St. Louis College of medicine for two years, finishing his medical course in the Department of Medicine in Drake University, Des Moines Iowa.
He was united in marriage to Ida M. Smith June 27, 1883, and began the practice of medicine in Greenwood, Nebraska. He was in the drug business in Weeping Water, Nebraska for a time and then moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where he occupied the chair of anatomy for a number of years, coming to Hiawatha in the fall of 1895. He has been a member of the Kansas State Board of Health for about 17 years.
Dr. Alexander was 62 years, eight months old. Dr. Alexander is the first of seven brothers to depart life. The brothers are J. W. Alexander, San Angelo, Texas; C. A. Alexander, Pomroy, Washington; T. J. Alexander, Blanco, Texas; F. M. Alexander and G. B. Alexander, Winterset, Iowa; J. G. Alexander, Greely, Colorado. The funeral will be held from the home Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock conducted by Rev. Mr. Taylor, pastor of the Christian church of which Dr. Alexander was a faithful member. Rev. Mr. Taylor will be assisted by Rev. L. Hassenpflug who has been a neighbor and close friend of the doctor for 20 years.
The sympathy of the entire community goes out to those of the family who survive, Mrs. Alexander and daughters, Mrs. Chester Henser, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Miss Ruth Alexander.
Hiawatha, Brown County and Kansas lost a most valuable citizen when Dr. Alexander passed on Monday evening. Ever since coming to Hiawatha 23 years ago Dr. Alexander has been a positive for town, county and state development. As a physician he was greatly beloved. In his home he was an exceptional husband and father. However the memory of Dr. Alexander will stay with us all longer because of his worth as a citizen.
In Hiawatha he always responded to every call for community service. On the State Board of Health he gave the people of Kansas a real service of the unselfish type. The improved condition of many of our state institutions resulted from efforts extended by Dr. Alexander.
Dr. Alexander was found in the harness for community betterment up to the time when failing health demanded that he rest. He started out in the campaign that won Dr. Capper’s loving cup for Brown county—the cup that went to the Kansas county which is the best place in which to raise children. Dr. Alexander threw his energy into this campaign at the start and helped organize. Then he became ill. However, he lived long enough to see the cup come to the town and county he loved so well.
Dr. Alexander was a man of strong convictions. He commanded respect because he never dodged—he always acted as his conscience said he should. His acquaintances always knew where to place him on any proposition. It was 23 years ago that Dr. Alexander came to us to build a practice and to help build a greater community , 23 years—and those years seem too short because they were such busy years—busy years for Dr. Alexander in caring for the ill, in working for the community and the state. In those 23 years Dr. Alexander left an imprint on our record that will always result to community betterment.
Then it seemed, that almost in his prime our friend and physician became stricken. Through many long months he suffered and through those months sympathetic friends in this community and over the state made most tender inquiries and hoped they could do something to relieve the suffering. As a physician Dr. Alexander realized his condition and he bore then long hours of suffering with a fortitude that was most noble. Throughout it all the good wife gave a tender care that brought most sincere admiration from the home folks. During the hours in bed it must have been much comfort to Dr. Alexander to know that he had given his best to his community—in his profession and as a citizen. The people of this community feel that they lost a real man when the end of suffering came to Dr. Alexander Monday evening.
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