"Obituary
ALEXANDER – In Oakland, Indiana, at the residence of Dr. Brown, on Saturday May 5th, 1883 at 3 o'clock a.m., W. B. Alexander, of Wahoo, Nebraska, aged twenty-three years and four months.
The entire community has been made sad by the intelligence that came over the wires last Saturday that W. B. Alexander better known as "Bake" was dead.
Late in March last, we met him one evening in Mr. Beermaker's store, when he told us that he was going back to Indiana to visit his old home and concluded his remarks with—"Well Major, you must give me a good send off"—And so we facetiously alluded to his departure that week and thought no more about it. But when the news of his sickness was announced, somehow it seemed to us as though it would be his last—a premonition it may have been that he would never return to us alive. And so it proved.
W. B. Alexander was the eldest son of Thomas and Sarah D. Alexander. He was born in Salem, Washington county Indiana, on January 5th 1860. Six months after his birth, his parents removed to ___ncisco, Gibson county, Ind. where Baker lived until he came to this county with his grandfather. Wm. Davis, in April 1873, where he has since resided. His later boyhood and early manhood—his development is well known in this county. He worked in this office for several years, he taught school in this county several terms, labored here to obtain means to go to the university some years. Choosing the profession of law, he entered the office of Perky & Sornborger in this town and has been in the office of Mr. Sornborger since, up to the time of his departure. His life is known here, his character has been developed here; his relatives live here and here was his home.--Upon this home the shadow of this great bereavement falls and we are rejoiced to know that whatever he may have said as to his religious condition and belief to those who sco_ _ at the truths of the Bible and the sayings of Paul the apostle, yet he revealed inner thoughts to his most intimate friends that enables them to mourn, not as those who have no hope. Evil associates may have dimmed for a time and obscured the grand truths of a christian life imparted in early childhood, but they could not wholly eradicate them.
Shortly after his arrival he took cold and was down some days with lung fever. Recovering partially from this he continued visiting the places and companions of his early childhood. At the residence of Dr. Brown, his cousin, he was taken worse on April 30th. On Tuesday, May 1st, they telegraphed to his mother. Inflamatory rhumatism developed in his feet and ankles and in its extension over the body, reached the heart on Saturday morning, May 5th, 1883; it ceased to beat and our young friend was no more. When his symptoms first became alarming, Mrs. Alexander, who had arrived, told Dr. Brown and the consulting physicians that she desired to be informed at once if there was no hope in his case as she wanted to talk with him. They told her as the disease progressed that they had but little if any hope and that she had better say what she wished. And so she asked him how he felt about dying—told him that the doctors thought he might not live. "Do you feel ready and willing to die"? said the mother, and "do you understand what I am saying to you"? He opened wide his eyes and said "Yes mother, I understand all you are saying and I feel ready and willing to die if it is the Lord's will and I want to have you and the doctor—alluding to his cousin Dr. Brown—pray for me. I have been praying for myself and I want you to pray for me too." And so amidst the mother's sobs, as she could, they talked on and among other things she recalls his expressions—"I have faith in the Lord. The Lord will have mercy," and he ____ upon his dying bed, bright smiles would play across his features and a spirit of loving trust and cheerfulness took possession if his being.
To others also he gave evidence in words, of his trust in the Lord and while he hoped for life was ready in the faith he felt, to depart if it was the Lord's will. His sister and brothers here, telegraphed their "good bye" message and it was communicated to him as his end was almost come. He spoke tenderly of them and was especially anxious that they should live upright lives—frequently spoke of his sister's conversion as though it was a pleasure to him and sent his return "good bye" message to them. The feeble, fluttering pulse growing fainter and fainter admonished both him and those around him, that the end was nigh, and turning on his side he said "I feel very weak; good bye, mother, good bye," and ceased to breathe.
And this closed the brief earthly career of W. B. Alexander. A young man of bright promise, in whom were centered many exalted hopes, is thus called away. May his memory be kept green in the hearts of all who loved him, while his soul basks in the smiles of a loving Redeemer.
To those young associates of his, what a warning this Providence brings. When brought face to face with death, he found that the theories of scoffers, the pet phrases of infidels, and the sneers of the proud count not avail. They were as a rope of sand and so he left them all and turned to the Rock of Ages for a sure foundation upon which to anchor his soul, and abundant evidence is given that upon that Rock his soul found rest."
- The Independent, Page 2, Column 1; May 10, 1883


"Death of Baker Alexander

Lincoln Journal, May 6th
The telegraph yesterday brought to the friends of W. B. Alexander in this place the sad news of his death, which occurred yesterday morning, at Oakland, Indiana, where he was visiting the home of his boyhood.
Mr. Alexander was formerly a student in the university, and has numerous friends among the students and others in Lincoln. Social and genial in his nature, his intercourse with others was always marked by an affability and generous deference which stamped him one of nature's noblemen, and all who ever knew him will learn with a genuine and heartfelt regret of his early death.
Between him and the member of The Journal staff whose sad pleasure it is to pay loving but inadequate tribute to his memory, there existed an ardent friendship that makes his loss like that of a brother mourned. We had no warmer, truer, more generous friend. The loyal, manly heart was the temple of truth and charity and kindness and generous love, and from its portals deceit and suspicion and malice and envy shrank back abashed. He left upon the moral record of his life no petty act, not because such an act would have compromised his selfrespect, but because his soul was too great to harbor a petty thought.
A dutiful, loving son, an affectionate brother and an ideal friend has been taken away at the very beginning of a life which would have made all who came in contact with it happier and better. We cannot understand, but the example of his own nature, too philosophical and brave to enter impotent protest against the inevitable, and too reverent to question the wisdom of the Author of life and death, forbids us to entertain vain repinings or rebellious doubts.
The fond mother who was wont to lean upon her son's support with a pardonable pride, and the sister and brothers who looked to him for aid and counsel, feel a grief which others cannot know. They have in their affliction a sympathy as wide spread as their acquaintance, and eeper than can be made to appear by the poor agency of insufficient words."
- The Independent, Page 3, Column 4; May 10, 1883

"Card of Thanks
To the editor of THE INDEPENDENT

I desire to publicly thank the many friends of Baker and the other members of the family, for their kindness and sympathy in the great loss we have met in Baker's death. This kindness will be a treasure of my heart forever. I wish to add, that the scriptural expression, "A wise son maketh glad the heart of his father," means a mother too, for he is my little boy yet.
MRS. S. E. ALEXANDER.
* * * * * * * * * *

To the Memory of W. B. Alexander
For The Independent,
If virture's shield could ere avert
Or turn aside death's pointed dart;
The friend whose dust we've laid away
Before the noon of life's bright day,
Would not be sleeping that long sleep
Where silence, endless, long and deep
Is broken only on that day
When heaven and earth shall pass away.

If mother's tears in anguish shed,
Or sister's sobs could wake the dead,
Or brother's love had power to call
His form from out the narrow hall;
Me thinks the bonds that hold his clay
In cold embrace would pass away,
And he bloom forth a brighter flower
Than decked his grave at funeral hour.

But honor, virtue, love and hope
In one bright volume folded up,
We lay beneath his manly head.
And wipe away the tears we've shed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


There were many things in connection with our young friend W. B. Alexander, that we could not allude to last week for want of time and space and which are now perhaps out of place. We cannot forbear speaking however of the beautiful floral tribute paid to the memory of our friend by those who had known him long and well. Mr. and Mrs. Sooy, of Lincoln, presented an elegant floral cross, but not being an adept in the business we are not able to name the flowers of which it was made except the one beautiful calla lily. His old schoolmate and friend of many years. Sam Cox, of the Lincoln Journal, presented a loving tribute in the shape of a floral representation of the "gates ajar". It was a beautiful offering and spoke in silent eloquence of the deep friendship which existed between them and which is now severed. There was also an elegant boquet of the best flowers that could be found in Wahoo, prepared with exquisit's taste by Mrs. Sanford. These beautiful flowers so touching I their mute appeals, prepared by loving hands moved by sympathetic hearts, were taken from the church after the funeral to the gallery of N. J. Anderson by Mrs. C. S. Johnson and Mrs. J. B. Davis and photographed and thus pictures of these loving tributes will be preserved long after they have faded into dust, to aid in recalling the tributes to the precious memory of our departed friend."
- The Independent, Page 3, Column 4; May 10, 1883