In memory of Roy Alexander
25 Jun 1878 — 23 May 1915

TO TEXAS

Roy Alexander, Formerly of This City, is Transferred from New York City.
The Daily Telegram., January 30, 1915, Pg 8

Roy Alexander, formerly a clerk in the local post office and later a clerk in the New York City post office several years, has been transferred to the post office at Brenham, Tex., a city about the size of Clarksburg. The Banner-Press of Brenham recently noticed his presence there as follows: “There’s a new face at the general delivery window in the Brenham post office, a face that beams with good nature, indicating that the owner has enough patience to look through the case six times a day for a letter for some person who never gets one.”

The party of the Banner-Press has reference to is Roy Alexander, who came from New York City to Brenham, swapping places with Frank Sheppard, who was the general delivery clerk here a year or more.

Mr. Alexander was for three years in the New York postoffice. He acquired as much experience as he wished there and comes to Brenham of his own free will.

The government permits postal employees to swap places. Frank Sheppard decided he wanted to go to New York, so he commenced casting about for some one who wanted to come to Brenham.

It was not a hard task. It seems every one wants to come to Brenham, but, of course, all these are not as fortunate in getting an opportunity as was Mr. Alexander.

Anyhow, Mr. Alexander is here and is one of us. He is living in the Anthony Hotel and is making friends of the citizens here as fast as he meets them.

Of course Brenham hated to part with Frank Sheppard, but since he managed to put on such a good substitute there will be no complaint.

Postmaster Henry Mueller is favorably impressed with Mr. Alexander and is sure he will soon enter into the spirit that keeps Brenham foremost among the towns of its size.

ROY ALEXANDER

Native of Clarksburg is Accidentally Drowned at His Home in Texas.
The Daily Telegram., May 24, 1915

Roy Alexander, a native of Clarksburg and formerly city clerk, was accidentally drowned at Brenham, Tex., Sunday afternoon. Messages to that effect were received here early Monday morning, but no details were given. Relatives and friends immediately telegraphed for particulars, replies to which are expected later in the day. The body will be brought here for burial, but there is nothing definite as to when it will arrive.

Mr. Alexander was a son of William R. Alexander, now deceased and Mrs. Rebecca Alexander. Besides his mother, John I. Alexander, former sheriff and half brother, survives. The last several years he resided in Washington and New York until about two months ago when he was transferred in the post office service to Brenham, Tex. He entered the postal service at the Clarksburg post office and remained in service until his untimely death. He was highly efficient and from time to time received special mention for service done.

Of a genial disposition, he made friends wherever he went and many residents of Clarksburg remember him fondly and are pained to learn of his death.

FUNERAL

Of Roy Alexander Will Be Held Sunday Afternoon at Home of John T. Griffin.
The Daily Telegram., May 27, 1915

The body of Roy Alexander, who was accidentally drowned Sunday at Brenham, Tex., is being brought to Clarksburg and the funeral will be held at the home of John T. Griffin, on West Pike Street Sunday afternoon and the interment will be at the Odd Fellows Cemetery.

As previously announced he was a son of William R. Alexander, now deceased, and Rebecca Rector Alexander and was 36 years of age.

Educated in the city schools, he was well known here. He was a student of the Ohio Wesleyan and later joined Captain Harry Smith’s company which was stationed at various places in Tennessee and Georgia during the Spanish American War. Many remember him as they knew him during his service in the army as a faithful soldier and a good friend. He was engaged in different business concerns, but was perhaps best known for his efficient services in the city post office. He was also city clerk after his return from the army.

In 1906 he went to Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in the insurance business for several years. In 1912 he went to New York City and accepted a position as postal clerk in the Grand Central Postoffice. He remained in New York City, until in January of this month, when he was transferred to Brenham, Tex.

Mr. Alexander is survived by his mother. Mrs. Rebecca Alexander and by his half brother, J. T. Alexander, both of this city. He was a nephew of Wilson Waldeck and Mrs. Gertrude Rector, who also reside here. His death is particularly sad, as he had just prepared a new home for his mother, who was to join him in Texas in a few weeks.

Of a genial disposition, with his ready laugh and kindly nature, he made many friends wherever he went. All who knew him found a staunch friend and a kind heart.

DETAILS OF DROWNING OF ROY ALEXANDER

In a Lake at Brenham, Tex., a Few Days Ago as Taken from Texas Newspaper
The Sunday Telegram., May 30, 1915

(The following was retyped word for word from an image of the Sunday Telegram., May 30, 1915–the source material had some printing errors and those were included, unfortunately it wasn’t possible at this time to find the original article as ran in the Texas Newspapers)

The funeral of Roy Alexander will, ler sent a telegram to Mr. Alexander’s invalid mother. Mrs. Rebecca Alexander of 539 West Pike Street, Clarksburg, W. Va. Another telegram was sent to the lodge of Elks in Clarksburg, of which Mr. Alexander was a former member.

The body was taken to Simank & Hermann, undertakers, where it was embalmed, awaiting word from his mother.

Mr. Alexander came to Brenham last January from New York, having exchanged his office with Frank Shepard, of this city, who was formerly in the local post office. He gave his reason for desiring the change, the delicate health of his mother, who needed a milder climate. He had just made arrangement last week to have his mother to come to Brenham to live with him. The two of them having planned to keep house in town. She had planned to come here Thursday.

Although only a resident of Brenham a few months, Mr. Alexander was personally very popular with all who knew him. His position at the post office brought him in contact with nearly everyone in town and there were general expressions of regret when the news of the accident reached Brenham.

Be held at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon at the home of John T. Griffin on West Pike Street and the burial will be at the Odd Fellows Cemetery.

The Brenham, Tex., Daily Banner Press gives the following account of his tragic death:

“Just five days before his invalid mother was to come to Brenham from Clarksburg, W. Va., to make her home here with her son Roy Alexander, 36 years old, general delivery clerk in the local post office since last January, was accidentally drowned late Sunday afternoon, while with a party of fellow employees at Wesley Lake on Mill Creek, about seven miles from town.

Mr. Alexander was alone on the steep bank of the lake when the accident occurred. B. I. Conner, assistant postmaster; M. L. Brooks, postal clerk; and Charles Healey, an employee of the Sante Fe Railroad; who were the other members of the party, had gone a considerable distance, almost out of ear-shot. Attracted by a splashing in the water, but hearing no out-cry, they investigated, finding some matches and tobacco papers floating on the waters. There was nothing to tell where Alexander had sunk.”

Finally Recover Body.

Attempts to recover the body were futile until they made a drag net from a barbed wire. After dragging the pond in the vicinity where they found the papers floating upon the water they recovered the body.

The accident occurred about 6 o’clock in the afternoon. Two other members of the party, John Embrey and H. J. Weishuhn, also employed in the post office, had left earlier in the day and were not around when the drowning happened.

The others had left Alexander on the edge of the pond where the bank makes a deep descent. The water at that spot is about sixteen feet deep. Alexander, from all accounts, could not swim, although his associates were not aware of this at the time.

It is thought that his foot slipped on the bank and he fell in. As no cries were heard from any of his associates, it is believed that he was prevented from making any loud call for help by the water choking him.

Mr. Conner, when questioned about the drowning, said that me and his friends had heard a splash in the water, but thought nothing of it at the time. Becoming suspicious a few minutes later that Alexander, may have met with some accident, they hastened to the scene. They found nothing but his hat, matches and papers floating on the water.

Find Life Extinct.

Recovering the body from the water they vainly tried attempts at resuscitation, but it was quite evident that life was extinct. In the meantime, Mr. Conner located a nearby farmhouse and telephoned to his father in Brenham, who informed Postmaster Mueller of the accident and also summoned Dr. J. W. Tottenham.

Dr. Tottenham hurried imemdiately to the scene in an automobile, carrying with him Judge John M. Chappell. Examination of the body showed death was by drowning. Dr. Tottenham characterized as erroneous a report that circulated around town that Mr. Alexander had been seized with a fit of apoplexy, declaring that there was nothing to give evidence of it. The lungs were filled with water.

Immediately upon the return of the party to Brenham, Postmaster Mueller…..(Article abruptly ends )