GENEALOGY OF MARTIN ALEXANDER AS FAR BACK AS CAN BE REMEMBERED BY HIS WIFE ELEANORE HUBENETTE ALEXANDER

"Martin Alexander's father's name was Tolleson Alexander. He was a shoe maker. He made hand-made shoes in Grubbestad, Sweden. He was born in 1825. He married Anna Sanders and to this marriage was born seven sons. She was born in the year 1818. The sons' names were Aron, Harry Carl, Tolle, Hans, Theodore and Martin. Martin was born on March 30, 1866 in Gerum, Sweden. He came to Montreal, Canada with his brother Aron, who was twenty years his senior and who was a Sea Captain. That was in the year 1877. He was just eleven years old when his brother took him on those trips during vacation time. In the fall he returned to Sweden to finish school and at 14 he was confirmed in Sweden. After his confirmation, he hired out on a Norwegian brigg and sailed through Germany and Holland. The following year he sailed to England and hired out on an American ship that went to the West Indies and Cuba. He was a sailor until he was seventeen and then he came back to Philadelphia. He wanted to learn the Turner's Trade. He stopped at the First Lutheran Church in Philadelphia and the minister helped him get in a shop with some German people by the name of Harry Girk. Mr. Girk’s sister operated a grocery store, so he helped them on Saturdays and evenings. He was able to learn his trade in two years. He wanted more experience so he secured a job in New York. He wanted to see the Columbia World's Fair so he applied for a job in Chicago. He was able to get a job with Lockwood and Stickland in Chicago. The Illinois State Penetentiary wrote to Lockwood and Stickland to secure a Turner Foreman in the Carpenter Shop, so they recommended Martin Alexander for the job. He worked during President Harrison's presidency, but when Cleveland was elected he was let out. After that, he worked in different shops in Joliet. He started in business in 1889 with Mr. Fisher, which was known as the Old Saw Mill and located at the corner of Cass and Joliet Streets. That building was sold, so he went in business in the Adams Building on Cass Street. In 1909 the building was destroyed by fire. He then pur­chased a lot from Mr. Mahoney on the S.E. Corner of Joliet & Benton Streets and built a new building and went in business for himself, known as Alexander Sash and Door Mfg. Company. He was in business until he passed away, October 1922."