Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
DELBERT T. ALEXANDER is one of the industrious men who have filled up the Big Bend country and brought it to its present state of prosperity. He resides about two miles south from Dyer postoffice on his estate of three hundred and sixty acres, part of which was taken by homestead right and part secured through purchase. From the time he came here until two years since, he devoted his energies to stock raising and made a good success of that enterprise. Then he sold his stock and bought some land and is now attending to grain raising almost entirely. He has improved his place in good shape and receives fine returns annually for his labors.
D. T. Alexander was born in New York city, on May 14, 1858. His parents, John and Mary A. (Trusdell) Alexander, were natives of New Hampshire and New York, respectively, and followed farming. The father served in the Rebellion with the New York Volunteer Infantry for three years, and on account of the hardships, his health was so shattered that he died soon after his discharge. Our subject attended the district schools of his native country until he secured a homestead and then remained on the farm caring for his mother until her death in 1884. He then went to Pennsylvania, later to Maryland, looking the country over, and afterwards returned to his home. In a short time, he went back to Pennsylvania and did logging at Blossburg for about three years. In 1889 Mr. Alexander went to Rochester, New York, and engaged in railroading. From that place he journeyed to Omaha, Nebraska, still following railroading. It was 1889, when he arrived at Pasco, this state, and from there he went to Seattle and did logging for two years. In the spring of 1892, he located in Douglas county, taking a homestead where he now resides. This was taken in May and as stated, he began stock raising, continuing in the same until 1902.
Mr. Alexander has one sister, Mrs. Marinda Swartwood and two brothers, Benjamin and Josiah. The marriage of Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Ellen Gilbert occurred at Douglas, in this county, on November 15, 1896, D. W. Martin, justice of the peace, officiating. Mrs. Alexander's parents were Joseph and Margaret (Byer) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania. She was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, on May 5, 1867, and has one brother, Amos, and two sisters, Mrs. Susie E. Cannon, and Mrs. Mattie Morgan. By her former marriage, Mrs. Alexander has two children, Charles and Carrie Gilbert. Mrs. Alexander's father served in the Rebellion with the New York Volunteer Infantry for three years. His health was so shattered that soon after his discharge he died.
Our subject and his wife were raised under the influence of the Baptist church, but do not belong to any denomination. They are prosperous and wealthy people and have a very comfortable and tasty home, one of the best in the community.
