Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-07-31
Death Of James Alexander, ID. ID.

InlS venerable ana eminent christian
minister who died at his home in Mounds
vile, w. Va, on Saturday of last week,
was buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery,
Martins Ferry, on Monday. His re-
mains arrived at that place on the steam
mediately taken to the Presbyterian
church, where very impressive funeral
services were held in the presence of an
immense concourse of people. Minis
ters of the Presbyterian, United Presby-
terian, Baptist, Episcopal and Methodist
Episcopal churches, to the number of
twenty, or more, were present. The
services were conducted by Revs. Drs.
Beatty, Mitchell, Grimes and Hatterry
of the Presbyterian church, and Rev. DR..
Woods of the Episcopal church, of
Moundsville.
Drs. Beatty, Mitchell and Grimes, all
of whom had been favored with a life
long acquaintance with the deceased,
spoke of his great worth as minister, a
citizen, a friend and a parent. The
Presbyterian choir rendered a number
of pieces of very appropriate music, af-
ter which the hundreds who were pres
ent took last fearful farewell of the
precious remains that even death could
not rob of the impress of nobility. A
very touching incident was witnessed at
the cemetery that will not soon be for
gotten by those who were there. Four
Of his sons, noble specimens of man, re-
ceived the body at the gate of the ceme-
terry, bore it to, and lowered it into the
grave. 1t was regarded as beautiful,
tender and appropriate act; surely if
the spirit of Dr.. Alexander was wit
ness to the burial of the old house in
which he lived so many years, he too
would approve the act of his noble boys.
The following is an outline history of
DR.. Alexander's life:
Rev. James Alexander, d. D., was
born near Mercer, Mercer county. Pa.
Sept. -. 1899. After an academic course
he entered Jefferson College and gradu-
ated there in 1926, he studying theology
under Rev. Samuel Tate and committee
of the Presbytery of Erie, and was
licensed to preach April 1928. After
preaching a short time, he was called to
the pastorate of Greenville, Big Bend and
Slippery Rock, Pa, then to Mercer, Pa.
After number of years in these
churches, in 1884 he was called to Hope
well, near Clinton, Allegheny county,
Pa. In 1889 he was called to the church
of st. Clairsville. Resigning his charge
here in 1S46, he was settled in Martins
vile, this county, and Wheeling Valley,
and during his ministry there he estab-
lished the church in Kirkwood. After
this he was pastor of Allen Grove and.
Wolf Run, in Marshall county, w. Va.
He took charge of Moundsville in 1867,
serving that church about ten years. He
was in the active work of the ministry
fifty years or more, when he began de-
clining in health, and by the urgent solici-
tation of his family, he was induced to
give up preaching. 1t is said of him
that he never disappointed congrega-
tion. When he went to Hopewell the
congregation were replacing the old
house with brick church. Dr. S. Jen-
nings installed him as pastor over that
people in what was known as Strouse's
barn, where he preached to large con-
gregations-ladies occupying the floor
and men seated on beams and cross
timbers. He was elected a trustee of
Washington and Jefferson College in
1856; also director of the Western
Theological Seminary. He never failed
to attend the meetings of the Board. He
never faltered to attend on the sick. In
1882 he spent Sabbath in New Brigh-
ton and visited persons dying of cholera.
He visited persons with the small pox
and other contagious diseases without
fear, when duty called him.
His son, j. Kirkwood Alexander, is
now preaching in Jackson, Minnesota.
Walter l.. was licensed to preach by the
Presbytery in Wheeling May last. Will
liam is the well-known wholesale grocer
of Bridgeport.