************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************


ROBERT ALEXANDER, deceased, who is well remembered by many citizens of
Altoona, where his death occurred a few days after the happy celebration of
his Golden Wedding, August 13, 1884, was born June 5, 1805, near Alexandria,
in Hart's Log Valley, Huntingdon County, Pa. His father had emigrated from
Ireland and served his adopted country in the Revolutionary War. His life was
more or less a military one as later he took part in the troubles with the
Indians before they were finally driven from the Pennsylvania mountains. He
died in 1813.
     Robert Alexander (2), son of Robert, was probably one of a large family
and perhaps it was through hardship and struggle in his early years, that he
developed the sturdy traits which later made him so strong in upholding his
convictions of right, and so intolerant of pretense or hypocrisy. In 1827 he
went into the mercantile business at Williamsburg, which he continued until
1874, when he retired to Altoona. He is remembered by those who were early
agitators in this section concerning temperance legislation, and was a member
of that strong organization known as the Sons of Temperance, and was the
founder of the temperance society known as the Silver Grays, one that
accomplished a large amount of good, being entirely made up of earnest,
thoughtful men, like Robert Alexander. In his political views he was a
Republican and had he so desired, might frequently have held almost any
office in the gift of his party. He was married on August 4, 1829, to Miss
Mary Rodkey, and with her was permitted to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of this union. They both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church.