Excerpt from Memoirs and Verses of John H. Alexander Last June he received a slight stroke of paralysis from which he never recovered; although at times he rallied, he has been gradually sinking since. He was born September 25, on the French Broad River, Greene County, Tennessee. He was the third son of James Russell Alexander, who served as Judge of the Circuit Court for twelve years, in Franklin, Indiana. Mr. Alexander was raised on a farm, where he developed a strong physique. He had hoped to go to col lege, but his father's heavy losses in the panic of 1837 made it necessary for him to 'stay at home. Though deprived of this boon, he was not disconcerted, and set about to acquire an education as best he could. He always carried a little p'ocket dictionary and would look up and study the meaning of any new word he might hear. Moving to St. Louis in 1844, he entered the employ of the Wholesale firm of J. H. Gay Co. As office boy. Here, by close application to business, attending night school, and by using every means at his command to cultivate and develop himself, he was rapidly promoted. In 1849 he caught the gold fever, and joining with a large party, he started across the plains for the golden State. After the usual experiences of such a journey, driving oxen by day, and fightingoff Indians by night, he arrived in the northern part of the State after having been six months on the road. He went immediately to the mines, where he did quite well; but the work there completely broke down his health and he re turned to St. Louis via the Isthmus route in 1850. He took his place in the old firm as book-keeper, where he remained until 1852, when the irresistible attractions of California again called him to this Coast. He spent some time in the mines, but mostly in Sacramento and San Francisco, where he was in the employ of D. Lord Co. As book-keeper and cashier. Here he remained until 1859, when he returned to St. Louis, again entering the employ of the old firm, now changed to Edward J. Gay Co., serving them faithfully and well until 1880, when he resigned his position as book-keeper and cashier on account of failing health. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.