RUSSELL ALEXANDER ALGER
Russell Alexander Alger, of Michigan, Secretary of War, was born in the township of Lafayette, Medina County, Ohio, February 27, 1836. His parents, Russell Alger and Caroline Moulton, were from New England stock whose ancestry were Scotch and English; was educated at the Richfield Academy in Richfield, Summit County, Ohio, attending the autumn and winter terms, working on a farm by the month the remainder of the year to enable him to do so; taught school two winters; studied law with Wolcott & Upson at Akron, Ohio, during 1857 and 1858 and in 1859 until admitted to the bar; practiced law but a little time: removed to Michigan January 1, 1860; commenced lumbering in a small way on borrowed capital; at the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the volunteer service September 2, 1861, and mustered into service to date October 2, 1861, as captain, Second Michigan Cavalry; was promoted to be major of the same regiment to take effect from April 17, 1862; lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry October 30, 1862. and colonel of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry June 11, 1863; resigned September 16, and was discharged September 20, 1864; was severely wounded at the battle of Boonsboro. Md., July 8, 1863, and received the brevet commissions of brigadier-general and major-general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services during the war; returned to Michigan at the close of the war, and with borrowed capital reëngaged in the lumbering business, which has steadily increased year by year in volume; has extensive business interests of various kinds in other States than Michigan; was governor of his State for the years 1885 and 1886; was appointed Secretary of War March 5, 1897, and confirmed the same day.
