Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-12-12
PIONEER CENTRAL IDAHO BUSI-
NESS MAN ANSWERS LAST
ROLL CALL.
INTERESTED IN A. &F.STORE
Lived Life of Retirement During the
Last Fifteen Years-In Idaho
Since 1868

Joseph Alexander, pioneer business
man of central Idaho, and one of tbs
owners OF the well-known firm of the
Alexander Freidenrich Co. Ltd, of this
city, died tuesday evening at 1925 in
his home in Lewiston. Death was caused
by infirmities incident to age. Mr..
Alexander was 81 years old.
Mr.. Alexander at the time of his
death was president of the Alexander
Freidenrich Co., Ltd. He was a. heavy
stockholder in the present store, which
is the outgrowth of a store founded in
Granqevile in 1879 by Mr. Alexander
and the late A. Freidenrich. The store
was in the old Grange hall, which stood
where the Schmadeka building now is
located. The firm at first was a part
nership between Mr.. Alexander and Mr.
Freidenrich, and in years long after
war was incorporated into the Alexan-
der-Freiderich Co., Ltd, which has de-
veloped into the greatest department
store in all north and central Idaho.
Store Burned to Ground.
Several years after the founding of
the original Observation-Disclosures store
in Grangeville, the stock was removed
to a frame building On the site of the
present A. & F. store. The building and
stock were destroyed in the big fire
which swept the business district of
Grangeville in 1905, and Immediately
afterward the present A & F. store build
ing was constructed.
Although Mr.. Alexander, a number
of years ago disposed of many of his
mercantile establishments, he continued
to be heavily interested financially in
the Alexander reidenrich Co. Ltd. 1t
was by far the biggest of his chain of
stores, and he often said that he would
retain his stock in this company until
he died.
Mr.. Alexander until few years ago
frequently visited Granoeville and vas
well known here, especially among the
pioneers.
In respect to Mr.. Alexander, stores
in Grangeville were closed this after
noon during the hour of the funeral,
which was held in Lewiston.
Mr.. Alexander was never married.
With the passing of Joseph Alexander,
life of utmost activity was brought
to a close. His name has, since the
earliest days of the white man. migra-
ton to central Idaho, been connected
with the development Of this part of
the west. Of him, also, it is said that
few men lived with bigger heart than
''Uncle joe" as he was affectionately
known by his legions of friends.
Born in Baden in 1887.
Joseph Alexander, of Hebrew paren
taee was born in Audeheim, Baden, Ger
many, on March II, 1897. Coming to
the United States in early boyhood, he
reached San Francisco in 1859, thence
going to Portland, to The Dalles and to
Walla Walla, reaching the latter place
in 1861 and Lewiston in 1863. he had
early taken up merchandising as voea-
ton in life and when he reached Walla /
Walla with a partner he decided to pack
a stock of goods to the gold fields then /
being opened in Montana, and his train {
was the first to reach the diggings at {
he present site of Helena. The cargo /
vas sold for fortune and he made trips
alter. He then located at Pierce City,
booming mining camp where he opened
store under the firm name of Alexan-
Ter & Hexter and later established the
T. Alexander store in Lewiston in 1868.
lis talents as a business man resulted in
vide expansion of his merchandising
becoming associated IN
lumber of branch stores, one of these
,eing the house of Alexander Fret
Ienrich. At periods he was interested
n stores at Genesee, Uniontown and
)akesdale, but maintained his princi-
,al establishment in Lewiston. Until ;
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