In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1901) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1817
From Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901), Encyclopedia of the history of St. Louis, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (v. 1) (1899)
Alexander, Joshua Henry, for many years a prominent man of affairs in St. Louis, was born April 10, 1817, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died in St. Louis, June 30, 1879. “His parents were William and Hester Alexander, who lived and reared their children in Philadelphia. He was educated and fitted for a business career in the public schools of that city and came west in 1835, when he was eighteen years of age. He obtained his earliest business experience at Alton, Illinois, where he was employed in the commission house of his elder brother, Andrew Alexander. In 1841 he came to St. Louis and embarked in the steamboat business, then so profitable and attractive, becoming connected with a line of boats plying between St. Louis and New Orleans. Some time later he formed a partnership with Samuel Copp and established a general commission business in St. Louis under the firm name of Alexander, Copp & Co. Later he became connected with the famous old-time banking house of Page & Bacon, and was afterward vice-president and treasurer of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway Company, then building its line of railway from Cincinnati to St. Louis. This latter connection caused him to become interested in other transportation enterprises, one of which was the establishment of the fast freight line owned by Valentine & Co. the first. fast freight line which came into ex ао е He also started the first ed; carried passengers from ast St. Louis, and established the St. Louis Transfer Company, which has since developed into an institution of great importance. At a later date, he was head of the firm of JH& үз, Alexander, his nephew, Frank R. Alexander, being the junior member of this firm During the years 1863 and 1864 he w; tary of the Union Merchants’ Ех E Lud
? 5 Exchange, and vard was a member of the commission vise Richeson, Able & Co., Thomas Richeson and Barton Able being his partners. He was senior member of the firm of Alexander, Cozzens & McGill when that firm conducted one of the leading dry goods commission houses of the city, and during the later years of his life was engaged in business as a railroad contractor. During all the years of his active career as a business man in St. Louis he was recognized by his contemporaries as a man of sterling integrity and great moral worth, and he was honored at different times with official positions, which evidenced the esteem in which he was held. At опе time he served as city comptroller of St. Louis, and he was one of the early presidents of the Mer- - cantile Library Association. А Presbyterian in his religious faith, he was prominently identified with the history of that denomination in St. Louis, and for many years served the Pine Street Presbyterian Church as deacon and elder. May 20, 1841, he married Miss Mary J. Chappell, daughter of William L. Chappell, who lost his life in the memorable Gasconade Bridge disaster of 1855. Five children were born of this union, of whom William A. died August 9, 1896. The living children are Henry B. Alexander, now receiving teller of the Mechanics’ National Bank; Arthur К. Alexander, business manager of the Oakes Candy Company; Blanche Alexander, residing with her mother; and Charles M. Alexander, chief clerk of the Fifteenth United States Lighthouse District, all of St. Louis.
As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of St. Louis, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (v. 1) (1899). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Alexander, Joshua Henry, for manv years a prominent man of affairs in St. Louis, was born April 10, 1817, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died in St. Louis, June 30, 1879. His parents were William and Hester Alexander, who lived and reared their children in Philadelphia. He was educated and fitted for a business career in the public schools of that city, and came west in 1835, when he was eighteen years of age. He obtained his earliest business experience at Alton, Illinois, where he was employed in the commission house of his elder brother, Andrew Alexander. In 1841 he came to St. Louis and embarked in the steamboat business, then so profitable and attractive, becoming connected with a line of boats plying between St. Louis and New Orleans. Some time later he formed a partnership with Samuel Copp and established a general commission business in St. Louis under the firm name of Alexander, Copp & Co. Later he became connected with the famous old-time banking house of Page & Bacon, and was afterward vice president and treasurer of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway Company, then building its line of railway from Cincinnati to St. Louis. This latter connection caused him to become interested in other transportation enterprises, one of which was the establishment of the fast freight liie owned by Valentine & Co., the first fast freight line which came into existence in the West. He also started tihe first omnibus line which carried passengers from East St. Louis, and established the St. Louis Transfer Company, which has since developed into an institution of great importance. At a letter date he was head of the firm of J. H. & F. R. Alexander, his nephew, Frank R. Alexander, being the junior member of this firm. During the years 1863 and 1864 he was secretary of the Union Merchants' Exchange, and afterward was a member of the commission firm of Rioheson, Able & Oo., Thomas Riche- 9on and Barton Able being his pairtniers. He was senior member of the firm of Alexander, Cozzens & McGill when that firm conducted one of the leading dry goods commission houses of the city, and during the later years of his life was engaged in business as a railroad contractor. During all the years of his active career ais a business man in St. Louis he was recognized by his contemporaries as a man of sterling integrity and great moral worth, and he was honored at different times with official positions, which evidenced the esteem in which he was held. At one time he served as city comptroller of St. Lx>uis, and he w:as one of the early presidents of the MercantLIe Library Association. A Presbyterian in his religious faith, he was prominendy identified with the history of that denomination in St. Louis, and for many years served the Pine Street Presbyterian Church as deacon and elder. May 20, 1841, he married Miss Mary J. Chappell, daughter of William L. Ohappdl, who lost his life in the memorable Gasoonade Bridge disaster of 1855.
As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.