Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-06-28
Il T. i. T. !. i. i. !. i. i. i. j. ]. !.
II GREENVILLE BUILDERS. j.
Il j. 's' T. !. i. /. i. i. i. i. i. i. !.

or Greenyille, presents d very inter-
esting article concerning James Law
renee Alexander, who is q native of
Oconee, and who is pleasantly known
by many Of our people. Mr.. Alexan-
der was born IN the upper portion Of
Oconee, but has resided in other sec
tions Of the South for many years,
having gone to Greenville few years
ago to make his permanent home.
rhe News article follows:
j. Il. Alexantler.
Walhalla and Oconee county we're
too small for James Lawrence Alex
arder, who was born there April 20,
1869, and since that time he has
conducted hotels in some OF. the larg-
est and livest cities, both North and
South, making hundreds Of friends
and forming an acquaintance among
travelling men and tourists which
virtually bells the globe.
Mr.. Alexander was born On a farm
in Oconee county, and his love Of
people = probably stronger among
rural folk than their city-dwelling
brothers-has grown instead Of di-
unfinished with the passing Of the
years. After attending the various
schools about his home, young Alex
ander was sent to Judson College at
HeLLersonville, but completed his
collegiate course at Adger College,
which then was flourishing insti-
tuition at Walhalla.
In the spring of 1887, after finish
ing school, young Alexander went to
Asheville and was employed in tho
stewards department Of the Battery
Park Hotel, which became one Of the
best known resorts Of Dixieland.
While he left there to engage in the
hotel business for himself, he return
ed on several occasions, and in all
was connected with this hotel for a
period Of % years. Mr.. Alcxandcr's
connection with the hotel dates back
before the institution was opened for
visitors, as 1t was scarcely completed
when he first began working there.
He also operated the Toxaway Hotel
at the famous Lake ToXaway in
Western North Carolina. During that
time the fame Of Lake Toxaway and
It's hotels spread far and wide, and
visitors came there from all parts
Of the United States. IN 1907 Mr..
Alexander left Toxaway to return to
Ashcville, where he leased the Bat
terry Park Hotel as an .all-the-year-
round hostelry.
While operating the Battery Park
Hotel Mr.: Alexander entertained Jo-
sephus Daniels, former Secretary Of
the Navy, and William Jennings
Bryan, the famous Nebraska orator.
The occasion was a game dinner, the
various articles being collected very
largely from the hills and mountains
OF Western North Carolina. The game
features Of the dinner consisted Of
oysters, boiled vcnison, quail on
toast, wild turkey and black bear.
The black bears were captured on
Ea!sam mountain and were consid-
cred to be one Of the greatest deli
cacies on the menu. The wild tur-
keys from Western North Carolina
also won place in the hearts Of
those privileged to partake of this
rare dish, and the distinguished vis-
itors and others present never forgot
the bounteous game repast, gathered
largely from the hills about Ashe-
Vile.
Previous to the entrance Of Amer
lea into the World War, a struggle
in which several Of his sons respond
cd to the call for men. Mr.. Alexan-
der conducted the Washington Hotel
in st. Louis. For a time after leav-
ing st. Louis he was in Virginia,
coming to Greenville in 1919 to con-
duct the Ottaray Hotel.
In December Of last year, when
the South Carolina Hotel Keekers'
Association was reorganlzed, Mr.. AL
cXander was chosen president. He
had previously served as president
OF the Ashcville Hotel Keepers, AS
sociation, position which fitted him
for the honor bestowed by the South
Carolina hotel men.
During his residence in North Car
olina he was member Of the staff
OF Locke Craig, then Governor Of the
Old North State. Being a colonel on
Governor Craig's staff he acquired a
title by which many travelling men
aud hnrs l.nn11, Il Ia