The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-09-08
THE CATTLE-kING.
The Career OF the Late John It. Alex
snder-IIis Wealth and His Experi-

The Career OF the Late John II. Alex
snder-IIis Wealth and His EIperi-
enCes.
Correspondence Quincy whig5l
/ JACKSONVILLE, ILL, Aug. -, 1876.
John L. Alexander, known As the
"Great Cattle-king OF the Mississippi
/ Valley died AZ his home in this coun-
/ " AZ II O'Clock last night, and his re-
mains will be inferred in Diamond
Grove Cemetery, AT this city, to-mor-
row morning.
ALEXANDER's " DIRK.
Mr.. Alexander was in ms 55th year,
and few men have done more to adj
vance the interests of the West. He
was Nirginian by birth, but spent hi>
early years in Ohio, and assisted his
\ father in driving cattle over the Ale
ghany Mountains to the Philadelphia,
/ Baltimore, New York and Boston mar
: kets. He was thus hrought up in the
cattle trade. and when, ut the age of
\ 20, his father suffered a severe tinan-
cial reverse. young Alexander came
/ West 10 try his own luck. He came 10
\ 81. Louis, and afterward travelled
7 through Central Illinois. from which
region he collected and drove, on foot,
/ his first venture in Western cattle 10
/ the East
OPENING HIS Farm.
After trading for three or four years,
he began. in 1913, 10 open MS farm in
this country, now on the Toledo, Wa
bash and Western Railroad, near the
station known by his name. These
lands were brought 10 a state Of excel
lent pasturage, and then Mr.. Alexander
started out on his venture, which was
one OF the very first Of the kind, deal
ing in Texas cattle. Although il was
then necessary To drive them To Logans-
port, Ind, the nearest railroad terlai-
nus, thence ship by rail 10 Toledo, and
thence again by steamer and rail 20
New York, he fast accumulated for
tame. He continued to ship from H.
500 TO 1900 head yearly, but with lit
lie further gain, till the breaking out of
che war. when he launched out At full
length in the mule trade, making his
purchases mostly in Missouri, where
pEices were, for a time. remarkably
easy. Not 20 dwell on the eXigenciss
OF this enterprise, it is enough 10 say
that by the time the war was over, be
had settled offs large amount Of debts
in which he had been involved by pre-
vious transactions in Texas cattle, was
out Of debt esltirely, had 200 acres Of
land valued at $40 an acre, and had q
deposit Of over 100000 in bank.
REVERsE>.
Il would appear that such an accu-
mutation of means could hardly meet
with a reverse; but such was not the
ease. He purchased the farm known as
the BROAD Lands" near the Toieds,
Wabash and Western Railroad, in
Champaign County, a tract of $1,000
acres, and began its Improvement.
About tire same time he suffered heavy
losses by the Reputation Of contracts
with certain railroad companies, so that
bis entire loss in the space Of a year and
a half amounted to near $3.50, 900, and
ne stood, apparently, face to face with
crisis in mis- affairs. He found what
seemed To be 4 way out of the troable
by a sale which he negotiated, IN eject,
with a Canadian company for the pur-
chase of the Broad Lands farm for
S625,OOO; but the company failed TO
ratify the purchase, and he turned his
entire estate into the hands Of three as
signees for the benefit of his creditors.
HIS LIABILITIES.
II was estimated that at this time his
liabilities were about ; 100000, but
his estate was ample to payit dollar foI
dollar, and he was determined il should
be done, and il is believed that it was
J done, and that by his own exertions sew
eral thousand acres Of the land were
: left
In 1873 he began TO recover from
these reverses, and has grown in wealth
and influence year 10y year. His energy
: has had its influence on the cattle-rais-
ing of the region for miles and mile:
around, and among the great cattle
} dealers of the West he has scarcely an
equal, and never a superior, as mar
OF energy, integrity and perseverance
2 He was as well known in the money
2 centers Of the East and West as in his
own neighborhood, and his name was
r as good as the best paper on the mar
t ket. 1t would be difficult TO point to 8
p man whose career had been more check
cred with the ups and downs Of haz
B ardOus business, or one whose labor:
were of more benefit TO the community
: at large.
Peach meetings.. heretofore a WASH