BIO: Francis M. ALEXANDER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  FRANCIS M. ALEXANDER is one of the most prominent and influential 
citizens of Huston township, Centre county, residing on the Bald Eagle 
Valley road.  He is the owner of much valuable property, which has been 
accumulated by his own thrift and industry, guided by sound judgment.  
His tastes have always inclined him to agricultural pursuits, and he is 
recognized as one of the most progressive, skillful and energetic 
farmers of the community.
  A native of Centre county, our subject was born in Union township, 
July 21, 1843, a son of Joseph and Ellen (Blair) Alexander, who were 
also born in that township, and there the father died in the fall of 
1876, aged sixty-three years, soon after his return from the Centennial 
Exposition at Philadelphia.  He was a son of Joseph Alexander.  
Throughout life he engaged in farming and the manufacture of charcoal, 
and also aided in the construction of the Bald Eagle Valley railroad, 
which passes through our subject's farm.  In politics he was a 
Democrat, and in religious belief a Methodist, to which Church his wife 
also belonged.  She passed away while on a visit to our subject, July 
14, 1894, at the age of seventy-six years.  She was the mother of five 
children: Francis M.; Nancy J., wife of Wilbur T. Twitmeyer, a hardware 
merchant of Bellefonte, Penn.; Katie, wife of John Stover, a farmer of 
Centre county; Julia, wife of Samuel Emerick, a farmer of the same 
county; and Joseph B., also an agriculturist of Centre county.
  Francis M. Alexander pursued his studies in the schools of his native 
county, and remained upon the home farm until thirty years of age.  For 
some time he was then employed at various occupations, including 
teaming and lumbering, until the spring of 1873, when he located upon 
his present farm, a tract of 133 acres, which he rented for one year 
and then purchased.  So successful has he been in his business ventures 
that he has added to his property from time to time, until he is now 
the owner of about one thousand acres of valuable and productive land 
in Centre county, being one of its most extensive land owners.
  In 1868, Mr. Alexander married Miss Hannah Idding, and five children 
were born to them: Ella. now residing in Union township, Centre county; 
Mary, wife of Walter Tallhelm, railroad agent at Julian, Centre county; 
Reuben, a farmer of the same county; and two that died in infancy.  On 
April 7, 1890, Mr. Alexander was again married, this time to Miss 
Josephine Richards, and they have three children: Kyle, born June 26, 
1892; Gladys Elmira, born February 14, 1895; and Carey, born August 12, 
1896.
  Mrs. Alexander was born July 28, 1857, in Huston township, Centre 
county, was provided with excellent educational advantages, and for 
sixteen years successfully engaged in teaching, for one term each 
having charge of schools in Cass and Audubon counties, Iowa.  She 
attended the Centre County Normal School at Centre Hall, and is a lady 
of cultured and refined tastes, widely and favorably known.  Reuben W. 
and Elmira (Harrison) Richards, her parents, were natives of Centre 
county, where the father engaged in general farming until he died, 
April 11,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  365

1892, at the age of sixty-two years.  He was a son of George and Tamar 
Richards, who spent their entire lives in the same county.  The mother 
of Mrs. Alexander, who is still a resident of Huston township, was born 
December 20, 1836, a daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Furey) Harrison, who 
spent their entire lives in Centre county, and were buried at 
Bellefonte.  Mrs. Richards, like her husband, is an earnest member of 
the United Brethren Church; in politics he was a stalwart Democrat.  
The seven children born of their union are as follows: Josephine is the 
wife of our subject; Nettie is the wife of Robert Radkey, of 
McKeesport, Penn.; Zilla died at the age of five years; Julia is the 
wife of W. B. Parsons, of Unionville, Penn.; Roland is a farmer of 
Centre county; Morgan is on the old homestead with his mother; and 
Milton B. is a fireman on the Beach Creek railroad, residing at 
Clearfield, Pennsylvania.
  Being a strong temperance man, Mr. Alexander is an adherent to the 
principles of the Prohibition party, but cares nothing for the honors 
or emoluments of public office.  Socially he is connected with the 
Grange at Unionville.  He is an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee; she of the Baptist Church, 
and they are true and sincere Christian people.  They give a large 
portion of their time and liberally from their means to aid in the 
religious and moral elevation of the community.  A generous hospitality 
is shown at his comfortable home, and few men are more genial in social 
circles, or have a more happy faculty of making every one feel at their 
ease.