Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/234

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VIRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

Alexander, Archer, was born near Rich- mond, X'irginia, about 181D. He was a slave, and in 1831 he was temporarily taken to Missouri by his master. Years later he ran away and went back to St. Louis, in the same state, and where he remained. During the reign of terror in that state at the out- break of the war he learned that the Con- federates had cut the timbers of a certain bridge so that it should break down under a train carrying a detachment of national troops about to pass over it. At the risk of his life he conveyed the information to a well-known Union man, and the detachment was saved. Alexander was suspected as the informant and arrested by a Confederate committee. He made his escape to and secured employment in St. Louis under a provost marshal's certificate. Until the Emancipation Proclamation assured his per- manent freedom he was in constant danger from kidnappers. Although almost wholly illiterate, he had a shrewd intelligence and was a skilled and efficient workman. .'\ stone commemorating his capture as a fugi- tive slave has been raised on the spot where he was taken when making his escape from slavery. He served as the model for "the freedman'' in the bronze group by Thomas Ball, standing in the capitol grounds in Washington, and known as "Freedom's Memorial." -See "The Story of .\rcher Alex- ander" (Boston. 1886). He died in St. Louis, Missouri, December 8, 1879.

Taylor, Alfred, naval officer, was born in Fairfax county, \'irginia. May 23. 1810. He was warranted midshipman in January. 1825, made his first cruise, 1826-29, visiting the Mediterranean, and on June 4, 1831, was advanced to passed midshipman. He was

conmiissioncd lieutenant, February 3, 1837, and served on the Cuiiibcrhind during the Mexican war. He was attached to the Miss- issippi when that vessel sailed in Perry's ex- pedition to Japan, 1853-55, ^"d was pro- moted commander, September 14, 1855. In 1861, while in command of the Saratoga, engaged in suppressing the slave-trade on the east coast of .\frica. he was ordered lioine, promoted captain in the Federal ser- vice. July 16, 1862, stationed at the Charles- tcwn navy yard, 1862-65, and in 1866 given command of the flagship of the Brazilian scjuadron. He was promoted commodore, September 27, 1866, in 1869 was made light- house inspector, and was promoted rear- admiral, January 29, 1872. He was retired, May 23, 1872, and died in Washington, D. C, -April 19, i8gi.

Syme, John William, was born in Peters- burg, Virginia, January 9, 1811; son of the Rev. Andrew and Jean Mathewson (Camer- on) Syme. He was graduated at Norwich L^niversity, \ermont, in 1828, and at the Col- lege of William and Mary in 1832 ; studied law with his kinsman, Frederick Nash, of Hillsboro, North Carolina; was married, April ID, 1833, to Mary Cowan Madden, and practiced law in Petersburg, Virginia, for a few years. He purchased the "Petersburg Intelligencer," which under his direction be- came the most influential Whig newspaper in Virginia. He was a representative in the state legislature for several years. In 1856 he purchased the Raleigh, North Carolina. "Register," and conducted it with eminent success, making it the principal Whig organ of the state. He opjiosed the secession of North Carolina, but when it became evident that the tide could not be stopped, he gave