Alexander Sedam, the subject of this sketch, is a farmer by occupation. He was born in Switzerland County, Ind., September 24, 1843, and is the son of John and Isabelle (Bowman) Sedam. The former was a native of the same county in which our subject was born, and was a farmer by occupation. The latter was born in New Jersey, and now lives in Cass County. Our subject is the third of nine children, six sons and three daughters: Elizabeth, deceased, Philip, Alexander, Joseph, Sarah, William, Isaac, Charlie and Mattie. Alexander was reared on a farm, and at the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, with M. M. Boggs as captain. Among the important engagements in which he took part were, the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, in which he received a gunshot wound in the thigh, and was dishcarged. He went to Cass County, Ind., and in a short time thereafter came to Johnson County, and with the exception of something over one year, he has since lived in this county. The would he received while defending his country has disabled him, and although he has not been able to be an active participant in farm work, he has been actively engaged in the pursuit of farming, and by successful management, he now owns and cultivates a farm of 105 acres, which he has well improved. He began the battle of life with no capital, other than willing hands. He has a nature given to mechanism, and is a successful mechinist. He has operated threshers and saw-mills, and is a practical engineer, all of which knowledge he has gained himself. In March, 1865, he took unto himself as a companion, Martha Sutton, daughter of Isaac and Alice Sutton. Mrs. Sedam was born in Johnson County, Ind., in February, 1845. Her marriage has been blessed by the birth of six children, of whom three are living: Jacob J., William E. and Fred E. Mr. and Mrs. Sedam are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he is a Master Mason, and a past master. He is a member of Glenn’s Valley Lodge, No. 514.