JOSEPH W. ALEXANDER, merchant and citizen of Spring Hill, Maury Co., Tenn., is a native of this State, born March 20, 1844, son of Randolph and Elizabeth (Sharber) Alexander, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Tennessee. The father was one of the early settlers of Rutherford County and was a tiller of the soil in the above named county. In 1830 he removed to Henry County, West Tenn., where he resided until his death which occurred in 1854. The mother followed in 1863. Our subject, Joseph W., was reared on the farm and remained with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he came to this place and residing with his uncle attended school. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E., Third Tennessee Regiment Infantry, serving as high private until he was wounded in the right lung at Jackson, Miss., July 14, 1863. He was afterward put on post duty at Selma, Ala., and was captured there by Wilson’s troops. He was paroled at Selma and in 1865 returned to Spring Hill, where he returned to school for some time and received a good education. In 1868 he began in the merchantile business, clerking about six months. After moving about for some time in 1872 he established his present business. December 12, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Mattie D. Crump, a native of this State. They have six children; Charley R., Annie L., Bessie W., Joseph B., Blanch and Marcus O., all of whom are living. Mr. Alexander has been postmaster at Spring Hill since 1878. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, a democrat, and himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: History of Tennessee: From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall Counties. Nashville, Tenn: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.