- WILLIAM ALEXANDER, one of the leading and representative
farmers of the town of Lima,
- residing on section 15, was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland,
on the 25th day of August, 1825, and is the only child of William
and Janette (DOUGLASS) ALEXANDER, who were also born in the same
shire. The first home of the family in America was in the Empire
State, where they resided until 1842, when they became residents
of Rock County, where Mr. ALEXANDER made his home until his death,
which occurred about the year 1856. For a number of years, he
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but after his removal
to Milton, worshiped with the Congregationalists.
- Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his
home beyond the sea, and received
- his education in the schools of his native land. In 1851,
he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary A. GOODFELLOW, and the
following spring with his young bride crossed the broad Atlantic
to America. On reaching the shores of this country, he at once
continued his journey until reaching Milton, Wis., where he arrived
in the month of April. Having no capital with which to begin
life in his new home, he at once began looking about him for
employment and soon secured work, but received as a compensation
for his services only $12 per month, from which meager sum he
paid his own board. For five years he was variously employed,
and from the wages thus secured he saved enough to purchase a
farm. He bought eighty acres of land on section 15, in the town
of Lima, and in 1856, moved into a small frame house, which was
but partially finished. As soon as he had made a comfortable
home, he began the work of developing a farm, clearing the land
of the brush, splitting rails with which to fence the field and
turning the broad furrows on the hitherto uncultivated prairie.
His life in those days was surely a busy one; from morning until
night he labored in the fields, cultivating the land and planting
the crops, which, in the autumn season, brought an ample return
for his labors. As the days sped by, his efforts were crowned
with success, and the bountiful harvests which he gathered, together
with the natural increase in the value of land, made him one
of the well-to-do farmers of the community. To his original purchase
he has added until now 325 broad acres pay a golden tribute to
his care and cultivation and his farm has become one of the finest
in the township, with a good grade of all kinds of stock, its
improvements many and beautiful, and the entire surroundings
indicating that he is a man of thrift and enterprise. In the
dwelling, where they have so long made their home, unto Mr. and
Mrs. ALEXANDER have been born six children: William G., who now
has charge of the farm; John H., a leading physician of Waukesha
County, Wis.; Janet, who is still with her parents; Mary, wife
of Rev. George RUNCIMAM, a Presbyterian minister, residing at
the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, Erie Co., N.Y.; and Andrew
and Thomas, deceased.
- Since Mr. ALEXANDER became a resident of Rock County, he
has been numbered among the
- leading citizens of the town of Lima, and has identified
himself with its best interests. His life has been well spent,
and he is widely and honorably known. His excellent knowledge
of the value of stock and farm property has led to his election
to the responsible position of assessor, at each election for
six years and he was two years chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
and the prompt and able manner in which he has ever discharged
his duties is testified by the general approbation in which his
services are held. He is a man of sound judgment, firm in his
convictions of right and wrong, and is held in universal respect.
In politics, he is one of the stanch supporters of the Republican
party, and in his religious associations, is a member of the
Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a communicant for thirty-seven
years. His wife, who is a most estimable lady and greatly beloved
for her many excellencies of character, also holds membership
with that church.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 767-768.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|