The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-06-16


to maintain and defend their dearly
won boon of freedom. Let us be true
to our country and its traditions
true Americans at all times-as was
the heroic soul that warmed and pulls
ated the ashes that rest in the hall
lowed ground where we now stand"
Address Of Henry Davis.
Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion:-
Through the initiative of your
genuinely patriotic organization we
meet here at the graveside of one VINO
rendered his services and staked his
very all that there might be born on
this continent nation dedicated to
the proposition that all men are ere
ated equal. We meet to place a
marker at the last resting place Of a
devoted Revolutionary soldier. 1t is
solemn occasion. 1t is a time for
reverence of our red-blooded ances-
tors. Brought by your efforts in
thought and position as close as it
is possible to be brought to the War
of the Revolution and with the thought
of the stirring events now going on
in the world, it is impossible that the
fires of patriotism should not be re-
kindled.
Beautiful orations have been de-
livered paying just tribute to the
leaders of that epochal period. His
tories have been written of their
mighty deeds and stately monuments
erected to their memories. A CRATE
full posterity renders homage to those
of less conspicuous position. But
your organization has set itself to the
patriotic task or marking the grave
of each Revolutionary soldier and of
having a word spoken commemora-
tive of that soldier.
"The survivors of that struggle
scattered over this then expanding em-
pire. Postal methods of communica-
tion were undeveloped and as a result
old friends lost sight of each other.
Records were inefficiently kept and
many burial places Of our first sol
diers were forgotten and are today
unknown. Such was the fate Of one
of my ancestors,
'It is a most commendable task to
which you Daughters have set your
selves. Not all the men of our Col
onial era could draft the sacred Dec
laration Of Independence. All could
not be the leader Of the army. Ev-
cry right-thinking man did lend his
services to the Father of his Country
to back up the famous ultimatum
penned by the immortal jefferson.
"The history of him who lies here
is meager. Like the history of count
less thousands Of pioneer settlers in
this new country, very little of his
life's story remains in the form Of a
record. In our country's capital he
is recorded as having served in the
Revolutionary army and in our hearts
his must be hero's name. To have
offered his services and, if need be,
his very life, as all soldiers did to aid
in the formation of great free Re-
public, compels our reverence and
marks him hero. When we remem-
Der that our forefathers were just
opening up civilization on. cur At
lantie seaboard, and when we consid
er that they were destitute of finances,
of military equipment and without ev
en- a common, united government, the
pluck, courage and indomitable will
power of every mothers son of them
shines out resplendently. One can
not read of the winter spent in Valley
Forge without wishing to place on the
shoulders of each soldier hero's
epaulette and upon the brow of each
conqueror's coronet.
"We mark the grave of William
Alexander, native of Lincoln coun-
ty, North Carolina. He was of Eng
lish decent. Joined the 10th North
Carolina Regiment on the 10th day of
May, 1881, and was commissioned an
ensign. On the 9Th day of September,
1881, promoted to the rank of Lieu
tenant. Was transferred to the 4th
North Carolina Regiment on the 9th
of February, 1889, and continued in
the active service until the close of
the war. Thus we see that he was
more than an ordinary soldier and
| this leads to the conclusion that he
must have been held in high esteem
| by his comrades and that his ability
was recognized by those in superior
positions.
"By occupation a farmer ne sought,
after the war, the more fertile fields
of the new West, as this central
State was then known, settling in
1917, while Missouri was yet a terri
tory, in Jefferson county, Mo. He re-
mained there four years and in 1921,
the year Missouri was admitted into
the union Of States, came to Farm
ington where he entered 700 acres of
land. Here he died some time in the
thirties leaving as his descendants the
| Alexander family, among whom are
| Corbin Alexander, long honored with
official positions in his native coun-
ty, and Mrs. Downing, an honored
member Of your Chapter.
ut is good to come here and per-
form this pleasant tasl-. The man w.
| ing here deserves it. Through the eff
forts of your organization proper
respect is paid to those long since
gone and by your actions the love Of
country is kent burning in our hearts
and souls. May your society in
crease"
Hon. W. P. Sebastian of Austin
4 Texas, and Mrs. Ella Sebastian vii
| liams, foster grandchildren of Capt
i Caldwell, each wrote feeling letters
i rerretting their inability to be pres.