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HIRAM ALEXANDER - The early progenitor of the Alexander family, in Sangamon county, was Thomas Alexander, born in Ireland, about 1768. At four years of age his parents moved to America, landing at Charleston, South Carolina; he married Lynna Goodlett, born October 11, 1780; they moved to Christian county, Kentucky, in 1806, where they had two children. They came to Sangamon county in October, 1828, and settled in Chatham township, 1829, on eighty acres of land.

Thomas Alexander died December 18, 1855; Mrs. Alexander died August 12, 1844. Their daughter, May Ann, born in Kentucky, 1810, married John L. Drennan, in 1830, had three children. Mr. Drennan died in 1842.

David Alexander, born in Kentucky, October 3, 1814; came to Sangamon county, with his father, in 1828; married Catharine Darneille, March 13, 1833; she was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, August 2, 1817; was a daughter of John Darneille, who came to Sangamon county from Kentucky in 1819, and was one of the first families that settled in Chatham township. David Alexander had fourteen children, seven of whom died in early life.

John T., born December 25, 1835, was among the first to respond to the call for seventy-five thousand troops to crush the Rebellion; served his three months, re-enlisted for three years, and enlisted as veteran, January, 1864; he lost his right hand at St. Charles, Arkansas, by premature discharge of a cannon, in firing a salute over Lee's surrender; lives on home farm.

David S., born November 20, 1842; enlisted in the war, August 13, 1861, was discharged one year later for physical disability; died March 10, 1866, from disease contracted in the army.

Catharine, born December 20, 1844; married Lafayette Brach, May 29, 1862; lives near old home.

Hiram Alexander, the subject of our sketch, was born March 30, 1847; enlisted in the Missouri Eleventh Infantry, March 14, 1864 - then seventeen years old, for three years; served until July 14, 1865, when he was discharged for physical disability; married March 9, 1873, to Mary E. Van Doren, born December 3, 1856, daughter of P. C. Van Doren, who was born in New Jersey, April 18, 1818. In 1824, the family moved to Ohio, where he married Margaret Hathaway, and with his father's family, moved to Sangamon county, settling in Curran township, May 22, 1839.

Mr. Hiram Alexander is now living near the old home, four miles southwest of Chatham village, on a farm which he is cultivating in the finest manner. His farm is mostly fenced with living hedges; his buildings are commodious, and are surrounded with fruit and ornamental trees, all of which bespeak the thrifty farmer.

William, born October 1, 1849, married Emma Price, and now lives in Loami township; Mary Belle, born June 17, 1856, lives at home with her mother; Cyrus M., born January 29, 1859, lives at home, managing farm, and settling his father's estate. David Alexander, died January 28, 1881, on the farm, where he settled with his father, in 1829. His educational facilities were very limited, yet he acquired a business education sufficient for general purposes, conducting all with the strictest integrity. He, by his untiring industry, added over six hundred acres to the original purchase, of eighty acres.