Alexander, William
clergyman, theologist, was born Dec. 18, 1831, in Huntingdon county, Pa. In 1858 he graduated from Jefferson college; and in September of the same year entered Princeton Theological seminary, and graduated therefrom in 1861.
He has been pastor in various presbyterian churches, and was president of the Carroll college, Wis.; president of the City college of San Francisco, Cal.; and since 1871 has been theological professor in San Francisco theological seminary, of which institution he was the principal founder. He is the author of numerous published Sermons and Addresses, Commentaries on International Sunday School Lessons, and various other letters and papers. He is one of the editors and a contributor to The Presbyterian and Reformed Review.
ALEXANDER, WILLIAM COWPER, lawyer, state senator, was born in 1806 in Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1827, and soon gained a reputation for legal knowledge and eloquence and took part in political affairs. For several years he was president of the New Jersey state senate. He was nominated for governor, and lacked but a few votes of election.
After being a member of the peace congress of 1861, over which he was frequently called to preside, he withdrew from politics and devoted himself entirely to the business of insurance, having been elected president of the Equitable Life Insurance company when it was organized in 1859, of which he was president at the time of his death. He died Aug. 23, 1874, in New York city.
ALEXANDER, WILLIAM IRVIN, clergyman, lecturer, was born May 13, 1867, in Greenwood, Ind., a suburb of Indianapolis. He graduated in 1889 from Hartsville college, and in 1893 from Lane Theological seminary of Cincinnati, Ohio.
He taught school for awhile, and in 1893 accepted a call to the First presbyterian church of Decatur, Ind.; and during a pastorate there of two years the membership was doubled. In 1895 he accepted a call to the Willow Creek presbyterian church of Argyle, Ill. The largest country church in the United States, composed of a large and wealthy Scotch congregation in what is known as the Scotch settlement. The services of this rising presbyterian clergyman are in demand as an evangelist and lecturer.