John Alexander
John Alexander, proprietor of a farm on rural route No. 2 out of Yellow Springs, in Miami township, was born in the neighboring township of Bath and has lived in that neighborhood and in the adjoining county of Clark all his life. He was born on February 13, 1866, son of Samuel and Lydia (Hess) Alexander, who were married in Pennsylvania and later came to Ohio, the rest of their lives being spent in Greene county and in the neighboring county of Clark.
It was in the year 1851 that Samuel Alexander and his wife came to Ohio and settled in Clark county. Two years later, in 1853, they came down into Greene county and located on a farm in Bath township, where they remained until 1870, in which year they returned to Clark county, established their home on a farm there and there spent the remainder of their lives. Samuel Alexander died in 1892 and his widow survived him for about seven years, her death occurring in 1899. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are still living, the subject of this sketch, the sixth in order of birth, having a sister, Mary, widow of Joseph Flatter, of Clark county, and two brothers, William Alexander, who lives in the West, and Samuel S. Alexander, who is engaged in the meat-packing business at Denver, Colorado.
John Alexander was four years of age when his parents moved from Bath township, this county, up into Clark county and in the latter county he was reared and had his schooling, remaining at home, engaged in farming, until he was twenty-one years of age. A year later he married and established his home on the farm on which he is now living in Miami township, this county, and ever since has made his home there. Mr. Alexander has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock in connection with his general farming operations. He has served his district as supervisor of highways and is now serving as a member of the board of complaint under the new Warren taxing law. On February 27, 1888, John Alexander was united in marriage to Emma Oster, daughter of Martin and Eva (Slate) Oster, of this county, and to that union five children were born, namely: Margaret, who died in infancy; George, also deceased; Lena, who is at home with her father; Charles M., who is assisting his father in the management of the home farm, and Arthur, who is now engaged as the official tester of the Clark County Dairy Association. The mother of these children died on January 23, 1918.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918