From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and
Brown Counties, Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; pages 288-289, a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
William L. Alexander, of section 30, Huntsville township,
settled in the county in 1861. He was born in Russell county, Virginia,
December 19, 1836. His parents were William and Mary (McReynolds)
Alexander. The grandfather of our subject was John Alexander, born in
the north of Ireland. He came to the United States, where he settled
and pursued farming. He married and reared a large family. His son
William was born in 1802 and was a farmer, marrying in Virginia. In
1840 he came to Illinois and settled in Adams county, North East
township, where he became the owner of 400 acres of land on which he
made good improvements. He died in 1887, his wife having died a few
years previously. They were members of the Presbyterian Church and the
father was a Democrat in politics. He was poor when he settled in
Illinois, owning only a horse and wagon. They had thirteen children,
all of whom attained their majority: Nancy, John, Mary, Rachel,
Margaret, William L., Davis, Daniel, Mitchell, Martha, Samuel, Robert
Wilson and Rebecca.
William L. was reared on the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in
Company I, Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close
of the war. He was in the battles of Perryville, Kentucky, Stone river
and Chickamauga, Tennessee, and the Atlanta Campaign. He returned with
General Thomas and participated in the fight at Franklin and Nashville.
He was mustered out at Camp Harker, Tennessee. He was a
non-commissioned officer. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he received
a gunshot wound in the head, for which he now receives a pension.
After the war he returned to Schuyler county, where he owned
sixty acres of land, purchased in 1864. He has since pursued farming
and now owns 541 acres of land and has two good sets of farm buildings.
In addition to his farming he has raised stock and dealt in the same.
Since 1889 he has rented all his land.
He was married in 1861 to Rachel J. Derry, daughter of Basil and
Sarah Derry. She was born in Adams county, near Quincy. Mr. and Mrs.
Alexander have four children: Martha A., wife of William H. Naylor,
resides in Baxter Springs, Kansas; Edward died, aged nineteen; Emma,
wife of Edward Straub of Galesburg, Illinois; Keely L. is at home. In
politics Mr. Alexander is a Democrat and has been a member of the
School Board. His wife is an earnest Christian lady, but not a member
of any sect. Mr. Alexander has made his property and is a well-to-do
man, richly deserving the respect in which he is held by all who know
him.
