William E. ALEXANDER was born in RinggoId County, Iowa, on the 24th of April, 1859, and his childhood days were spent upon a farm. At the age of eleven years he accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri where they remained two years, and in 1872 they came to Kansas, William E. then being a youth of thirteen summers. Throughout the period of his boyhood he attended the public schools near his home. The family located at Austin, Kansas, and he resided with his parents until seventeen years of age, completing his education in the schools of that town. He then began teaching and successfully followed the profession for five years. After his marriage he began farming, operating a tract of land for three years. His next venture was in a commercial line. Removing to Chanute, Kansas, he accepted a position as salesman in the hardware store of A. H. TURNER with whom he remained for six years when he entered the employ of F. W. JEFFRIES of the same place. There he remained for two years when he took up his abode in Big Creek township and once more engaged in farming and threshing grain. He operated a threshing machine for six years and in the meantime operated a mill at Leanna. In 1898 he became a resident of Savonburg, where he purchased a residence and five acres of ground in the east edge of the town. He has gradually improved his place and has now one of the most attractive little homes in this section of the county.

In 1898 he entered into a partnership with M. K. HUNTER, known as the Savonburg Milling Company, and erected a mill for the purpose of grinding meal and feed. They have since conducted this enterprise and are the proprietors of a well equipped plant supplied with good machinery and modern processes. They make a specialty of the manufacture of graham flour and are doing a good business, owing to the excellence of their product and their reliable and trustworthy business methods. When Mr. ALEXANDER once secures a patronage he has no difficulty in retaining it, owing to his well known honesty, to his obliging manner and his courteous treatment of his patrons.

In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of William E. ALEXANDER and Miss Ida COCHRAN, of Missouri. They now have two interesting daughters, Ina B. and Hallie, aged respectively fourteen and ten years.

In his political affiliations Mr. ALEXANDER has been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential vote for James A. GARFIELD. He was elected, and served as trustee of Canville township, Neosho County, in April, 1884, and proved an acceptable officer. He was chairman of the McKINLEY and ROOSEVELT club at Savonburg during the campaign of 1900. He belongs to Savonburg Camp, No. 1271. M. W. A., and for two years held the office of venerable consul. While at Leanna he served two years as venerable consul of Camp No. 3750.

Mr. ALEXANDER is a man of strong force of character, true to his honest convictions, trustworthy in business relations and reliable in citizenship. With him friendship is inviolable, and by all who know him he is esteemed for his genuine worth of character.

SOURCE:  DUNCAN, L. Wallace & SCOTT, Chas. F. History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas Pp. 376-77. Iola Registers. Iola, Kansas. 1901.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009