Biography - James Evans Alexander

One of the best known and most popular men of public life in Florida today is the subject of this article, James Evans Alexander, of DeLand. He was born December 17th, 1860, in Tipton County, near Covington, Tennessee.

His ancestors were the Alexanders, who were prominently connected with the early history of North Carolina, and they were among the early settlers of Mecklenburgh County, and Charlotte of that State. Mr. Alexander's father, James Rankin Alexander, was a successful planter and merchant, who lived in Mississippi and Tennessee, during the Civil War, he was Captain of the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry under General N. B. Forrest, and surrendered with that great Cavalry Leader at the close of the Civil War. His father married Miss Frances S. San ford, of Tennessee, a lady of many gifts and graces, who still survives, though Captain Alexander died in 1872. Mr. Alexander was educated by Professor James Byars, of Covington, of the Tipton Male High School.

At the age of eighteen years he was teaching school in Hays County Texas and read law at night, going to Western Texas for the benefit of his widowed mother's health. After spending one year in Texas he returned to his home in Covington, Tennessee, and entered the Law Office of San ford & Cummings, one of the leading Law firms of the State, Colonel San ford being his uncle. After spending one year with said Law Firm he entered the Law Department of Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, and was graduated from that institution in June, 1882. On his return home he was unanimously nominated by acclamation for floterial representative from the Counties of Haywood and Tipton. He was defeated by his Republican opponent owing to a large Negro vote in Haywood County, although leading the Democratic ticket in both counties. He was a strong supporter of General William B. Bate for Governor and Isham G. Harris, for U. S. Senator; was assistant clerk for the Tennessee Legislature in 1883. On the adjournment of the Legislature in April he came to Florida and joined his mother, a younger brother and two small sisters at Gainesville, the ill health of his mother causing him to locate in Florida and settle at Enterprise, Volusia County, where he was twice Mayor and Postmaster under President Cleveland's Administration, and was soon promoted to Post Office Inspector, which he resigned in 1889 and resumed the practice of Law at DeLand. He was soon appointed by Senator Wilkinson Call as private Secretary and remained with the Senator until his retirement in March, 1897. In 1892 he was elected to the Lower House of the Florida Legislature and was again elected in 1908. In the same primary and on the same ballot he was elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Denver, Colorado, as a Bryan Democrat, being an original Bryan man, a supporter of the great commoner, first, last and all the time,

As a Legislator, he opposes child labor, favors a wider and better education, eight-hour working day, woman's suffrage, good roads and a forest commission. He is also a supporter of the proposition to submit the prohibition of the liquor traffic to a vote of the people and to give the largest powers possible to the State Railroad Commission, and is a firm believer in the primary system for nomination of candidates for public office.

DeLand, the home of Mr. Alexander, is the seat of Stetson University, and the citizens of that prosperous little city are among the most cultured to be found anywhere. That Mr. Alexander should have been able to build up a large law practice in such a community and to earn the general esteem of such people is all the evidence needed to establish both his personal character and his ability.

In his religious views he is a Presbyterian, and his social temperament has led him into membership with several of the fraternal and beneficial orders, among which may be mentioned the Elks, of which he is a life member in St. Augustine Lodge, No. 829, the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Red Men, Woodmen of the World, and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America.

Contributed 18 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1909 Makers of America, An Historical and Biographical Work by an Able Corps of Writers, Volume 2, pages 147-149.