Wichita eagle., 1888-04-01

| few months, when with five dollars in
cash and an extra suit CT clothes, as the
| sum total Of his possessions, he came to
| Michigan. He hung out his shingle at Grand
Rapids, but had not made much Roadway
| when the war broke out, and in August,
1861, he enlisted in the Second Michigan Cav
airy, and was soon after sworn in as Captain
of Company G of that regiment. His mill
tary record, as given III the military history
of the State, is as follows: Captain Second
Cavalry, September ,, 1881; Major, April 2,
1852; wounded and taken prisoner at
Bonneville. Miss, July /, 1862; escaped
same day; Lieutenant-ColonelS Sixth Michi-
gan Cavalry, October 16, 1852; Colonel
Fifty-Fourth Michigan Cavalry, February
2S, 1858; wounded in action at Boonsboro,
Nd, July s, 1858; Brevot igadierGeneral
u. 5. Volunteers for gallant and meritorious
service at Trevillan Station, June II, 1864;
Brevet M2jor-General U. S. Volunteers,
June Ii, 1865, for gallant and meritorious
services during the war;
In over sixty battles Alger did his share
and order after order by Sheridan, kilpat-
rick and Custer teens with the story Of his
gallantry and devotion to the cause of the
Union. After the Gettysburg discussion
with the enemy, and when pursuing Lees
army, The c2velry was frequently and furi-
ously engaged, and in one of these combats
Colonel Alge- was so seriously wounded
that he could no longer serve in the field,
but being especially recommended to Prcsi-
dent Lincoln, was detailed on certain serv-
ice which required him to report directly to
the President. The full nature Of that serv-
ice is known to but few. but those who do
kroware aware that it was one of the most
delicate and responsible commissions ever
placed in the hands Of a soldier outside the
camp and field
After the war General Alger entered the
lumber business at Grand Rapids, and soon
after he and his wife, who was Miss An
nette Henry, of that city, brayed the hard
ships of the lumber camp and Laid the foun-
dation of that enormous business which he
is now the head Of He then became
member of the firm of Moore & Alger, of
Detroit, and then the head of that Of r. A.
Alger & Co, and later the firm became Al
ger, Smith & Co, one of the greatest lum-
Der firms in the land.
His genius for bushes has not only given
him prominence as iumberman in Mich
igan, but he is now at the head of enter
prises of other kinds in Michigan, Ontario,
Louisiana, California, New Mexico, Idaho
and Washington Territory. LAUNDERING,
mining, car-bulld!ng and other interests
have felt the magic of his enterprise, organ
izing capacity aud mastery qualities OF
leadership. He has been successful in all
his undertakings, and 1t is worthy OF note
that no business that he has conducted has
had ore hour oftrouble between capital"
and labor Thousands Of men are in
his employ and there has never been a
strike or disturbance Of any kind nor has
he ever sued or been sued in all these en-
orrnous business dealings.
In 1854 he was the nominee Of his party
for the ofice Of the Governor of Michigan.
The opposition held that Office and all its
powers of place and patronage at that time,
but in the short, sharp canvass that fol-
lowed General AlgCr again blazed the way
to victory. He served for two years, and
peremptorily destined re-nominatior. No
one Of Michigan's long line of Republican
Governors made better record, and it is
safe to say that no man in his State is re-
garded with more Of respect and affection
than he.
His charity is as wide as the needs Of the
suffering, and while he freely gives of his
abundance to all organized charities that
come under his eye, his private beneficences
have been for several years Of the most
marked Of those of any man in the State.
For several winters he has furnished -four,
fuel and other necessities for over five hun
dred destitute families in the city of De- /
troit, and clothed the hundreds Of news
boys OF the town. Happy in his home life,
wealth and its power has not chilled his 4
heart, and he has kept close to the people 1
and their needs. Michigan knows him on 4
every side and knows him as man who 4
stands four square TO al the world-an
open-hearted, open-hsnded, loyal, brave,
generous, successful man with not spot 4
on his character that will not bear the f.
strong light that beats on one in higher .
power, and Michigan viii press him for the
highest place in the Nations councils, with /.
no uncertainty Of what VIII be the result If
he shall be the chosen man--EetYoit Plain
Dealer.