Source:  Portrait & Biographical Album Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885
Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Page(s)

DR. EDWARD V. H. ALEXANDER

Dr. Edward V. H. Alexander, dentist at Sterling (office on Locust Street), and the oldest operator in that line in the city, was born in Hartford, Conn., April 29, 1830, and was the fourth child in a family of six. His father, William Alexander, died in 1832, and his mother, nee Maria Wilber, survived until April 14, 1885, the very day that this sketch was written.

The subject of this biographical outline attended the common schools until he arrived at the age of 16 years, and after he became of age he attended Macedon Academy, Wayne Co., N.Y., for two years, and then for eight years he taught school during the winter seasons, alternating with farm work the remainder of the year.

April 10, 1856, he married Miss Mary Ada Hale, a native of Wayne Co., N.Y. There are now two children living: Edward H. and Jessie. After marriage the Doctor moved to Beloit, Wis., where a daughter, Mary Hellen, was born. At this place he was engaged in farming and teaching for two years; then he returned to Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., where the daughter died, and was buried at Lyons, that county. There he purchased a farm of 80 acres, cultivated it one year, sold it, and moved West again, this time locating in Sterling. Here for the first two years he conducted a grocery and drugstore; this he sold, and in April 1864, he visited the gold regions of Montana, being in the vicinity of Virginia City, Helena, the Yellowstone and Deer Lodge Valley, for three and a half years; next, he went to Portland, Oregon, for a few weeks, and thence to Salem, the capital of the State, where he remained two and a half years. At the latter place he finished his studies in medicine and surgery, which he had pursued years before, and graduated at the Willamette University in 1870. Having acquired the art of dentistry, and previously practiced it, upon returning home to Sterling in 1870 he entered the dental profession, in which he has remained to the present time, a successful operator and a leading man in the profession.

In his political views, Dr. Alexander is a stanch Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a representative and worthy gentleman.

Mrs. A. died May 16, 1882, while on a visit at Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., and was buried there beside her daughter.