Picture at right accompanied an article in the Carthage Press, Saturday, April 3, 1915

Republican councilman nominee
Third Ward

R. N. Alexander, the Republican nominee for councilman in the third ward, needs no introduction to Carthage people, except perhaps to a few of the new-comers here. He has lived in Carthage the past 22 years, coming here from Wichita, KS.
About ten years ago he served a term as constable of this township and a few years later was elected public administrator, his term expiring in 1912. In both of these offices he gave entire satisfaction and the interests of the third ward and of the city as a whole, will be carefully looked after if he is elected to the council next Tuesday.
Mr. Alexander is engaged in the real estate business, with his son Ollie. He may not find time to make a full canvass of the ward, but asks all his friends including those whom he may not be able to see personally as well as others, to support him at the polls and no man who gives that support will ever have cause to regret it. He did not seek the nomination, but having received it, he very naturally desires to be elected.
If you don't know Mr. Alexander personally - ask anybody who does know him - you will hear many good things of him - and nothing that could be to any man's discredit - that is Mr. Alexander's record.
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Robert N. Alexander passed away at his home, 418 West Macon of complications of heart disease according to his He was 83 years old. His wife Sarah preceded him in death.
He had been employed as a salesman.
He was the son of James Oliver and Mary Ann Kress Alexander, both born in Ohio.

His death certificate can be viewed online at Missouri Digital Archives/death certificates online website.

18 years prior to his death, Mr. Alexander suffered serious injuries in a serious car/train accident. The story is given below:

CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
October 26, 1917

ONE KILLED, ONE HURT
WHEN TRAIN HITS MOTOR CAR

Accident at Central Crossing Cost James Hull His Life

ALEXANDER BADLY INJURED

Street Commissioner Has Chance for Recovery, However - Auto Smashed to Bits

James Hull was killed and R. N. Alexander was badly hurt at 7 o'clock when the automobile in which they were riding was struck by a westbound Frisco passenger train at the railway crossing on East Central Avenue.
Charles Stemmons, a colored section hand residing on High street, who happened to be near the scene of the accident was struck on the side of the head with a flying piece of iron and a hole was cut in his car and scalp. His hurts are not dangerous.

Hull Found on Pilot
The train ran about two blocks before it was stopped, near the Peoples Ice Plant. The machine was dragged about half of that distance and was mashed to pieces. Hull was found on the pilot of the engine after it was stopped. He was still living, but by the time he could be placed in the ambulance, which had been called, he had died.
Mr. Alexander was thrown about 30 feet at the time of the collision and landed clear of the machine and train. He fell, however, on gravel and hard ground and was badly skinned and bruised and may be injured internally. His knees are badly cut and it is thought that these struck one of the small concrete pillars at the side of the railway used for carrying the wires for operating the signals manipulated from the switch tower at the White River Railway crossing nearby.

Alexander Hurled High in Air
A farmer in a wagon who was near says he saw the accident and states that Mr. Alexander was thrown far up into the air and seemed to come down head foremost.
Mr. Alexander suffers great pain, especially in the chest, and he may have suffered internal injuries which are serious. Knowledge as to this will be more definite within a few days, but hopes are entertained for his recovery. One side of his back is very sore and it may be that a rib or two have been loosened. He has periods of pain and during these he is in great agony. Between these periods he seems conscious and recognizes those at his bedside, but seems not to remember what happened him.
Several cuts on his right cheek required several stitches for closing them. He also has some cuts on his head and other portions of his face, but there is no evidence of any concussion of the brain. His face and body are badly bruised and his face much swollen. He was taken home, following the accident, but was transferred at 11:30 o'clock this morning to the hospital where his case can be better treated than at home.

Hull Was 33 Years Old
James Hull was about 33 years old. He was born in Greenfield, MO.
Mr. Hull had been a worker on the street force off and on for the past ten years and also worked part of the time at the quarries. For the past three years he had been employed steadily by the city. He and Mr. Alexander were on the way to the city gravel pits near the upper river bridge when the accident occurred.
Hull was unmarried. His father lives at Chilhowee, MO. Efforts to locate his sister have been unavailing. Mrs. Jennie Kackley of this city, and J. E. Hull, manager of the Farmer's Co-operative elevator at Jasper, are cousins of the dead man. Two half-sisters and a half-brother also survive.
No funeral arrangements have been made and will not be until word is received from relatives.
The inquest probably will not be held until Sunday as the train crew will not pass through Carthage again until tomorrow night, and they are the most important witnesses to be examined.