Biography submitted to the Stark County OHGenWeb project.

Submitted by: Grayson Alexander

Email: grayglo@hotmail.com

Date Submitted: 17 Jan 2008

Joseph C. Alexander

*************************

From the "HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY, OREGON: Including its Geology Topography, Soil and Productions" ... Pub. By: David D. Fagan, Portland, Oregon, 1885, pg 505-506.

"ALEXANDER, Joseph C--born in Frederick Co, Maryland, 29 Dec 1809, where he spent his boyhood until March 1818, when his parents moved to Stark Co, Ohio, and the succeeding years until 1843, with the exception of a couple of years spent at the coopers trade, Mr. Alexander spent in boating on the Erie and Ohio canals. In the above year, he, with his wife and 2 children left Cleveland for Andrew Co, Missouri. The spring of 1846 found our subject and his family members of a company fitted out to cross the plains to Oregon. On the Platt river, although a stranger to the great majority he was, however, elected Captain of the train of 53 wagons, a position he filled until their safe arrival in Jackson Co, Oregon. Mr. Alexander then came direct to Benton county, and in the fall of 1846 located on the farm now owned by S.N. Lilley, near Corvallis and there resided until 1876, when he traded farms with Mr. Lilley and then moved to his present home in the south end of King's Valley, where he owns 677 acres of good land. Mr. A. has held several county and State offices. He was first appointed by Gen. Lane, one of the first county commissioners of Benton county, and at the same time was appointed Justice of the Peace, and in the latter office he had the honor of administering the oath of office to the first county officers of Benton County, thereby setting the first county government in motion. In 1862, he was elected Sheriff of Benton county and in 1868 to the state legislature."

NOTE: Joseph C. Alexander's parents were William and Nancy (Clingan) Alexander - GTA