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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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G. L. Alexander, druggist, Rogers, Ark., and one of the prominent citizens of Benton County, was born in Elbert County, Ga., in 1838, His father, Elijah Alexander, was born in Northfield, Mass., and when a young man immigrated to Georgia, where he met and married Miss Savannah Wilhight, and by her became the father of four children, G. L. Alexander being the eldest of their children. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died near Independence, Mo., on a steamboat while on his way to California; his wife in 1864, while in Georgia. G. L. Alexander was reared and educated in Georgia, and when the great Civil War broke out joined the Confederate army, and was a member of Longstreet’s corps. He was quite severely wounded, and while home on furlough his mother died. After recovering from his wound he rejoined his command and served until the close of the war. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant, and afterward, for distinguished service at the battle of Fussell’s Mills, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and served in this capacity with Company C, Fifteenth Georgia Regiment. Mr. Alexander has a number of interesting relics of the war in his possession, among which is a pistol with which he shot his way through a Federal regiment at the battle of Gettysburg. Two of his brothers were also Confederate soldiers, and the following are some of the battles in which they participated: Fredericksburg, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Richmond, Malvern Hill, second Manassas, Gordonville, Wilderness, Spottsylvania and numerous others of lesser note. Mr. Alexander has been married three times. The first time to Miss Emma Trenchard, who died after four years of married life. He was next married in Kansas to a Miss Early, a New York lady, and after her death was married, in Arkansas, to Miss Hattie Camden. While in Georgia Mr. Alexander dealt in cotton and other articles of merchandise, and after moving to Kansas followed various occupations for twelve years. In 1881 he came to Rogers, Ark., and engaged in the drug business, and by his honesty, energy and efforts to please has a large and paying trade. He is a stanch Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 240 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Benton County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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