Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1868-01-01
8atsfEllaap.
Death of R. A. Alexander.

R. ATCHEsON ALEXANDER, the mos
prominent breeder Of Thoroughbred
stock in this country, died, recently &
his residence in WoodfOrd county, Ky
We clip from the Cincinnati CONNER
ciaI the following sketch of bis life:
Those who have seen him will remem
Der him as a man Of medium hight
slightly STOPPING, with spare form, thin
face, unsteady eye, thin, prominent nose
and a cold, ezpressionless facial cast.
At the Derby, in France, at New Or
leans, Cincinnati, Mobile, st. Louis
Louisville, Saratoga-almost every where
he may have been seen within the last
twenty years, always with timing watch
in hand, sometimes in the judges stand,
sometimes lodging around his horses,
and then again quietly pacing the guar.
ter stretch, never having much to say,
except when spoken to, and never allow
ing his eye to light up with feeling or
enthusiasm, even when his horses would
dash under the string in wonderful time,
and win him purses, reputation and in
crease Of business.
There is much of romance connected
with the history of the solitary man who
passed so many years of his life amid
negroes, horses and cattle, with no wife
or children to care for-no social pleas
ures to divert him. Had he chosen, he
might, by use of his wealth and posi-
ton, have passed his time in a palace,
instead of a leaky frame cottage, for he
was baronet aud, several times over,
millionaire.
Born in Frankfort, in 1919, the years
of his early childhood we're passed in
his humble cottags-like home, so fast
falling into decay and so strongely con-
trssting with the magnificent surround
ings-the lavish expenditure upon
grounds and stock, and comfortable
barns and houses for the tenantry. His
father, then President of the Kentucky
Bank, and lawyer by profession, had
left his home in Scotland, studied law in
London, and came to this country to
make his way in the world-leaving at
home, upon the fine family estates, in
Lanarkshire, an elder brother, to whom
he sent his son in 1887, to be educated.
Through preparatory school he passed
to the walls of Trinity College, where
he took his degree. He then became
heir to his uncle's vast estate and the
title of baronst, and concluded to see
the world. In London be had lodgings,
and there he lived two or three years.
He then went abroad, on account of his
health, and passed a year in travelling
the various countries of the
Continent. Three years more Of life in
London and two in Scotland Whetted so
strongly the desires to visit his old home,
that in 1851 he came back here and pur-
chased from his brother the old home
stead, and its thousand acres, in Wood
ford County, obtaining possession in
1852. For several years he travelled
hack and forth between the Kentucky
property and the estate in Scotland,
both, and constantly adding
to the Woodford county grounds when
ever a neighbor desired to sell. In 1853,
1T a fair at Lexington, Kentucky, Mr..
first conceived the idea of
stock, and fully occupying his
time and grounds in the business of stock
and in this he had in view the
,aising of fine sheep and COWS more
han fast horses. That same year he
made his first importation of sheep
md cattle from England. It was fully
,hree or four years before he decided 70
ouch horses to any extent. In 1856,
Mr.. Alexander made up his mind to re-
5ide permanently in this country. The
surrounding the daily
ife of the wealthy landholder in the
were distasteful to him. He
preferred the freedom and comforts of
lome, as he had known it here, and so,
lpon his last visiting Scotland, he plac-
ID his business there in the hands Of an
lgent, and in 1857 settled down to bach
.lor life in Woodford county. That
ame year he imported the celebrated
tallion, Soythian, that had won a Ches-
er cup and made a stir in the racing !
world, Scythian vas By Orlando, out
If Scythia, by Hetman Plafof. At about
he same time that he made this purch-
se, Mr.. Alexander met Ten Brock in
London, and wet him to the Goodwood |
Races. Ten Brock wanted to sell Lex
ngton, and wanted $4,000 for him.
dr. Alexander wanted to buy him, but
Knew that $40, 600 was too much, They !
inally agreed upon $4,000. Lexing- |
on was totally blind, but in all other
aspects was in his prime. His blind
less was produced BY bad care in feed
ng and working. In addition to the
rs, 900, Mr.. Ten Brock was to have GER
ain privileges-the purchase back Of |
which ultimately cost Mr.. Alexander
bout $1,000, making the total cost of
lexington S16,6OO.
Such were the frst steps that Mr.. |
Alexander took in making himself the |
,reatest importer and grower of blood
d horses and fine stock in this country, |
Tbe business, thus inauguratsd, he pros
cuted with a diligence that was marvel
us, His life appeared to be entirely |
oyless, save in the matter Of his bust
iess His death is a great loss to the |
took growing interest Of this country. |
-SeS--
WHAT II A SKATING RINKP