REV. MOSES C. ALEXANDER: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
  
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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      REV. MOSES C. ALEXANDER,
  
  [p. 451] The ministerial profession in Lawrence County 
includes among its members as earnest, learned, and able 
Christian gentlemen as may be found in any part of the 
State. The early history of this section is inseparably 
linked with the history of the early churches, which came 
into being as soon as there were a few of the same mind who 
could gather together and worship their Maker as their 
consciences dictated. The excellent moral tone that is so 
evident in all the circles of society and among all classes 
is directly traceable to the influence of the Christian 
organizations of all denominations that have indeed 
performed a worthy work in rearing generations that fear God 
and love their fellow-men. Rev. Moses C. Alexander, the 
gentleman whose name is the title of this life review, and 
whose portrait accompanies this sketch on the opposite page, 
is the beloved and esteemed pastor of the Unity Baptist 
Church of Harlansburg, Pa., and as such exerts a powerful 
influence for good in his own community in Scott township 
and in regions contiguous to his own residence and field of 
work. His preparation and consecration for the work of 
winning and bringing souls under the Standard of the Cross 
dates farther back than his own birth, for his father and 
grandfather before him were both zealous workers in the 
Master's vineyard.

Our subject was born in Cecil Co., Md., Jan. 24, 1859, and 
was a son of Rev. John T. and Annie E. (Sherwood) Alexander, 
and grandson of Rev. William T. Alexander. The latter was a 
native of England and came to America before his marriage in 
the latter part of the eighteenth century, and settled in 
the northern part of the State of Maryland, where he was 
mainly engaged in following pursuits of an agricultural 
nature, especially in the late years of his career. He was 
educated for the ministry, and as an expounder of the 
blessed truths of the Gospel he passed the years of his 
early manhood. He was an intelligent, far-seeing man, and in 
his business affairs was very fortunate, accumulating a 
handsome property, and being considered a very prosperous 
and well-to-do gentleman for that time. He married Margaret 
Sleigal, a native of Ireland, and to him and his wife were 
born the following named children: William J.; Robert E.; 
George W.; James A.; Justus; Rev. John T., our subject's 
father; Mary A.; and Julia D. His death took place in 1801, 
when he was aged about seventy-eight years. His wife crossed 
the River of Death to join those gone on before in 1812, 
when she had attained an age of seventy-five years. Our 
subject's grandfather was a minister of the M. E. faith.

Rev. John T. Alexander was educated in the common schools of 
his native town in Maryland, and after completing his 
elementary education pursued a further course in theology in 
Dickinson College, located in York Co., Pa., in the vicinity 
of Harrisburg. His ordination took place when he was 
twenty-five years of age in 1842, and he preached thereafter 
the remainder of his life, his death occurring July 7, 1868. 
He belonged to the Baltimore Conference of the M. E. Church, 
and became very prominent in religious circles, especially 
of his native State. His first charge was in Harford, 
Harford Co., Md.; his second in Elk Neck, Cecil Co., Md.; 
his third in Towson, Baltimore Co., Md.; his fourth in 
Baltimore City, Md., where he was pastor of the old Fayette 
Church. He was then transferred into northeast Maryland, but 
finally returned to Elk Neck, where his demise took place. 
His wife, Annie E., was a daughter of Phillip F. and Mary 
(Ward) Sherwood of Baltimore, Md. Their union resulted in 
the children whose record is given below: Charles P. is 
deceased; John T. married Louisa A. Shallcross of Cecil Co., 
Md.; Horatio S. married Myram Jenny of Cecil County, and has 
three children: Walter, Frederick, and Annie B.; Alonzo F. 
is deceased; Joseph R. married Mary Leithead of 
Philadelphia, Pa., and has a family of three, consisting of 
Mary E., Bessie C., and Smith T.; James A., now deceased 
married Susanna Baldwin of Harford Co., Md.; Annie E. became 
the wife of Joseph Coslett of Cecil Co., Md., and bore him 
this family, Grace L., Roy E., John T., Albert J., Florence 
M., and Ruth M.; Alonzo I. is unmarried; Moses C. is the 
subject of this personal history; Rev. Aaron I. married 
Catherine McNealy of Greene Co., Pa., and their children 
number three, Edward E., J. Clark, and Nora H.; Mary L., the 
youngest of the family, is now deceased. Mrs. John T. 
Alexander still survives her husband and enjoys a contented 
life, full of manifold blessings, at the home of her son, 
Rev. Moses C. Alexander.

The early education of Mr. Alexander was received in the 
schools of Cecil Co., Md.; he graduated at the West 
Nottingham Presbyterian College in 1880, and during the two 
following years attended the Louisville Theological 
Seminary, from which institution he received his degree in 
1882. His first pastorate was at Mount Rocky, Chester Co., 
Pa., where he remained one year, after which he filled out a 
year's service in the church at Wrightsdale, Lancaster Co., 
Pa. He then removed to Welsburg, Brook Co., W. Va., where 
his pastoral duties detained him for two years. In 1887, he 
moved to Wheeling, W. Va., where he was ordained a minister 
of the Baptist faith; after which he accepted a call to the 
Harvey Church of Greene Co., Pa. In 1889, he moved to 
Columbia, N. J., where he labored in the field until 1891, 
when he returned to Wheeling, where he took the last course 
in bible theology. Now thoroughly equipped as a minister of 
the Baptist persuasion he returned to Columbia, N. J., where 
he remained until 1895, when he came to Harlansburg, Pa., 
and took charge of his present pastorate, in which he has 
been very successful and has had his zealous efforts for the 
good and betterment of the community crowned with the best 
of results. His work is well planned, and he is able to get 
through with a large amount of work, because of the great 
amount of experience that he has had in religious circles. 
Broad in his views, sincere and outspoken in his attitudes 
on living questions that concern the life and welfare of the 
people, and zealous and earnest in all that he sets his hand 
and his heart to, he is a man whose influence is felt on all 
sides, and one who will leave a lasting impression on his 
community.

On April 28, 1897, Mr. Alexander led to the altar Mary B. 
Davis, daughter of George L. and Mary (Boone) Davis of 
Glasgow, Cambria Co., Pa., and made her his wife. They live 
in a pleasant home where they delight to entertain their 
parishioners and to extend a hearty welcome to all who honor 
them with their presence.
  
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