The Wisconsin State Journal
February 1, 1946

Last Baraboo GAR Veteran, Alexander, Dies at age of 99

Taps sounded today for Henry Alexander, last Baraboo veteran of the Civil War, when the veteran, 99 years old, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W.W. Biege, in Baraboo.

In failing health for many months he had taken part in the Memorial Day parade in Baraboo last May, riding in a car as command and sole member of the Joe Hooker post of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in this city.

His last trip to any gathering of men with whom he had fought was in 1938, when he journeyed to Gettysburg to attend a reunion of the men in blue and gray commemorating the Battle of Gettysburg.

Came to U.S. at Age 4

Born in Germany, Mr. Alexander came to the United States with his parents when he was 4, landing at Pittsburgh. The family engaged passage on an Ohio River steamer and debarked, after going up the Mississippi, at Prairie du Chien. From there the family came overland to the town of Wesfield, near Baraboo.

He was one of 23 young men who lived within 2 miles of the Old Brick church in the town of Westfield who enlisted in the northern army during the Civil War. Included in the group were two of his brothers, Corp. John who fought with the Iron Brigade and who fell at Antietam, and Peter, who was wounded at Ft. Barkley, and died at a Memphis hospital.

Sons, Daughters, Survive

Mr. Alexander, who fought with the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry, is survived by five sons, John L., town of Greenfield; Will and Percy, town of Westfield; Alvin, Baraboo, and Philip, Hillsdale, and two daughters, Mrs. Biege and Mrs. Emma Davidson, Hillsdale.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Schneible-Dyrud funeral home with the Rev. James Austin, Lyons Church of God officiating and burial in the Westfield Cemetery.

Henry Alexander enlisted on April 6, 1865, in Co. K, 49th Pennsylvania Infantry. He mustered out on July 15, 1865, in Hall's Hill, VA.

Information Sources:
www.newspaperarchive.com
Ancestry.com American Civil War Soldiers
U.S. Census 1870, 1910-1930


Researched and submitted by Bro. Vince Barker

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