and distinguished success, won in fair fields and by sheer force of business genius.

He scarcely had a boyhood. At fourteen he was at work, and before he was twenty years of age, carried upon his shoulders responsibility fit to test the power of a mature man. This training has made a mere business automaton of many a youth, and has stranded him at fifty as a fossil. It did not so affect Mr. McMillan. His appearance belies his years; the vigor and ripeness of his prime are the best testimony to his timber. He has al ways lavished his energy upon the work of his life, but he has kept his heart in his body and the natural kindliness of his disposition remains unimpaired.

From his offices in Detroit he calmly and easily directs his vast affairs, showing none of the petty irascibility and impatience often exhibited by smaller men, whose time is of infinitely less value. Every comer is certain of a respectful hearing and, if need be, will receive a respectful refusal of his request.

For his friends and intimates, Mr. McMillan has a frank, warm and loyal attachment, as warmly and loyally reciprocated. Cautious, cool headed and decided, he is not an inviting mark for the wiles of the schemer or impostor, but from genuine and worthy poverty he never turns away. His charities are very extensive-more extensive than even his close associates know, for they are equally unostentatious. He is discriminating, too, in every possible case

aiding the needy to self help, the savior of self-respect. Many young men now in active and successful life, have cause to gratefully remember the timely assistance and the kindly interest which made possible their independence. To public charities and to every effort looking to the education and enlightenment of his fellows, Mr. McMillan contributes with an open hand.

In the prosperity of the city of Detroit he has been an invaluable factor. His talents were never hoarded in a napkin or put out at usury, but flowed in unceasing streams through the pockets of his fellows, leaving golden grains behind. When any new enterprise is proposed, which promises benefit to his city and state, he is always on hand ready to help with his means and influence.

The reward of such a life reaped at middle age is a princely fortune, but it is something far more and higher-the deserved respect and esteem of every man with whom his years of active life have placed him in contact.

To the land of his birth he is an honor and to that of his adoption a benefactor.

RUSSELL A. ALGER.

Russell A. Alger was born in the township of Lafayette, Medina county, Ohio, February 27, 1836. His father was Russell Alger, descendant of an Alger who came from England to Massachusetts about 1760, and more remotely, through distinguished English channels, from William the Conqueror. John Alger, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, served in the Revolu

tionary War and took part in many of its battles. Russell A. Alger's mother was Caroline Moulton, a descendant of Robert Moulton, who came to Massachussetts in 1627, having been selected to take charge of the transportation to America, of a vessel laden with most valuable ship-building material and bearing a number of skilled ship carpenters. It is probable that the first seagoing vessel built in Massachusetts was constructed by him. The family in England and America is large, and marked by common characteristics which the separation of generations in time, thousands of miles in distance and the utmost difference of environment and interest, have not served to destroy. The number of persons having the Moulton name, or showing the Moulton blood, who have attained distinction, is very great. It will thus be seen that Russell A. Alger had to the full the benefit of every good influence which may come by hereditary transmission.

Soon after 1800, his Alger grandmother came to Ohio, and the family were thus present in the earliest days of that now great commonwealth.

When young Alger was but eleven years of age his parents died, leaving him dependent upon himself for a livelihood and for the support of a younger brother and sister. The cases are so many-especially in the western United States-where men who have won distinguished success in various fields have had this very impulse of stern necessity at the outset, that one is tempted to believe that the silver spoon is not, after all, so great an advantage to the young

American who looks his first upon the world. In Alger's case the burthen of life was assumed with a cheerful promptness and a brave spirit which deserved the success he gained. He at once began a search for employment and, failing better, engaged to serve upon a farm in Richfield, Ohio, where he remained for seven years, working by the month during the greater part of every year, saving his money and applying it to the aid of his brother and sister and to his own tuition, during the winter terms, at the Richfield academy-working for his board. He thus obtained a very good English education, taking advantage of which, like so many country-bred American boys, he very early obtained a position as teacher, and by this resort added to his slender income during several winters, working at the plow and in the harvest field in the other months of the year.

In March, 1857, he entered the law office of Wolcott & Upsord, at Akron, and began the study of the law, remaining with them until March, 1859, when he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court. He soon after removed to Cleveland and entered the law office of Otis & Coffinberry, where he spent only a few months, leaving it in the fall of 1859 on account of ill health, caused by hard study and a close confinement to indoor work, to which he was unaccustomed. This retirement from the office of Otis & Coffinberry was also a final farewell to the law. His removal to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber business, followed almost at once.

The frequent appearance of "the Ohio man" in national politics-the subject] of so much facetious comment, not always quite free from bitterness-is in part accounted for by the large number of the citizens of that state who have fought their way to success in very much the way Mr. Alger was compelled The fact that so few of the boys of forty years ago were spared the necessity of hard and constant labor, the universality of education-the thoroughly democratic spirit of the timemade a race of men whose muscles were hardened by toil, whose moral natures were fixed by self-denial, and whose self respect and ambition were stimulated by every social influence. Giddings, Ben. Wade, Garfield, Hayes, and almost the whole list of Ohio's successively chosen sons, have risen to success through toil and hardship which

"Have proved their helps, not hindrances." In August, 1861, Mr. Alger enlisted in the Second Michigan cavalry, and when that regiment was mustered into the service during the autumn of the same year, he was commissioned as captain and assigned to the command of company C. The formal record of his army service is: Captain Second cavalry, September 2, 1861. Major, April 2, 1862. Wounded and taken prisoner at Boonsville, Mississippi, July 1, 1862. Escaped July 1, 1862. Lieutenant Colonel Sixth Michigan cavalry, October 16, 1862. Colonel Fifth cavalry February 28, 1863. Wounded in action at Boonesboro, Maryland, July 8, 1863. Resigned September 20, 1864, and honorably discharged. Brevet Brigadier

General United States volunteers, "for gallant and meritorious services, to rank from the battle of Trevillion Station, Virginia, June 11, 1864. Brevet MajorGeneral United States volunteers, June 11, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service during the war.

To pass with this dry statement of promotions and brevets, the military career of Mr. Alger would be a suppression of history. No troops in all the armies of the Republic won greater or more deserved distinction than did those of Michigan, and in no arm of the service were dash, bravery, endurance and discipline more marked than in the cavalry of the state, the gallant eleven regiments which went out raw volunteers and carried their colors like veterans from their warlike baptism to the return of their scarred and attenuated ranks after the peace. It was when associated with Michigan troops that Custer first attracted notice, that when commanding the Michigan cavalry brigade he made his first great reputation, and that at Booneville, at the head of the Michigan Second, Sheridan won his first star. It was Alger's fortune to serve in or command regiments better armed than most, and his service was constant, fatiguing and perilous-much of his fighting being done with troops dismounted and serving as infantry, only to remount, and, resuming their normal work, pursue an enemy they had de feated on foot.

His earlier service was in the west and south, but from the invasion of Maryland by Lee, in 1863, until the day of his retirement, he was with

the army of the Potomac, sharing their constant service except when disabled by wounds. On June 28, 1863, Colonel Alger, commanding the Fifth Michigan cavalry, entered the village of Gettysburg, his being the first Federal force to reach that place and to receive definite information as to the movements of the enemy. As his men passed through the streets, they were fairly showered with blossoms by the enthusiastic inhabitants. The scene, so suggestive of the gayety of a Roman carnival, stands out in striking contrast to the awful drama of the great battle, then so little expected, but soon to be fought at the very doors of Gettysburg.

At the battle of Booneville, Mississippi, July 1, 1862, Alger, then a captain of the Second Michigan cavalry, took a very honorable part. The engagement, one of the most important minor affairs of the war, fought at tremendous odds, with the result of an overwhelming victory for the Federal force, arose from an attack made by General Chalmers, of the Confederate service, with seven thousand mounted men, eleven regiments and portions of regiments, upon the position at Booneville, held by Colonel Sheridan, commanding the Second brigade of the cavalry division, army of the Mississippi. Sheridan had with him but two small regiments, the Second Iowa cavalry and the Second Michigan cavalry. The Second Michigan was armed with Colt's revolvers and revolving carbines, effective at long range, and so well did they fight on foot, that Chal

mers was pursuaded that he had been deceived in his information that the Federal force was unsupported by infantry. Sheridan retired to a strong position upon the edge of a swamp and repulsed repeated attacks, the Michigan men giving the Confederates six shots from each rifle as they advanced and six from each revolver at close quarters. This sent them to the right about every time. Finally, seeing that he was out-flanked and in danger of being surrounded and captured, Sheridan sent ninety picked men, commanded by Captain Alger, with orders to make a circuit, come upon the enemy's rear, and charge him with sabres and cheers. The sound of the cheers was to be the signal for Sheridan to simultaneously charge in his front. A supply train arriving, Sheridan ordered the locomotive whistle to be loudly blown to deceive Chalmers into the belief that reinforcements had arrived. The brave ninety charged the seven thousand in the rear, Sheridan dashed upon their front, and the Confederates broke and ran, casting impedimenta aside as they fled. One hundred and twenty-five of the enemy's killed were buried upon the field, and he carried away a large number of wounded, while the Second Michigan, which had the brunt of the fight, lost but forty-one, killed and wounded. Among the latter was Captain Alger.

In General Custers official report of the part taken by the cavalry at Gettsyburg, the name of Colonel Alger, then commanding the Michigan Fifth, repeatedly appears and a very handsome acknowledgment is made of his distin

war.

General Sheridan's report, now on file in the war department, concerning this engagement, reads as follows:

During the pursuit of the enemy which followed the battle of Gettysburg, Colonel Alger had the advance with the Fifth Michigan, when, near Williamsburg, Maryland, he dismounted his men, crossed a bridge guarded by more. than fifteen hundred infantry, remounted and attacked and captured the enemy's train, which was very large, together with about fifteen hundred prisoners. This occurred on the fourth day of July, 1863, and was perhaps the most distinguished and trying service of that brave regiment.

On the eighth of July, between Hagarstown and Boonesborough, during a hot fight, in which the Fifth took active part, Colonel Alger was severely wounded and was thereafter invalided until September. During the winter 1863, and 1864, Colonel Alger served with distinction through the wilderness to Petersburg, taking part in all the engagements of the army of the Potomac. He with his brigade accompanied General Sheridan to the Shenandoah valley in 1864 and served with him there.

Colonel Alger's famous charge with his regiment, the Fifth cavalry, at Trevillian Station, Virginia, June 11, 1864, when with only three hundred men he captured a large force of the enemy, will always be recorded as one of the

The cavalry engagement of the eleventh and twelfth was by far the most brilliant one of the present campaign. The enemy's loss was very heavy. My loss in captured will not exceed one hundred and sixty. They are principally from the Fifth Michigan cav

alry. This regiment, Colonel Russel A. Alger commanding, gallantly charged down the Gordonsville road capturing fifteen hundred horses and about eight hundred prisoners, but were finally surrounded and had to give them up.

During the winter of 1863 and 1864, Colonel Alger was assigned to special service, reporting directly to President Lincoln, and while so engaged he visited nearly every army in the field. He took part in sixty-six battles and skirmishes all told, and earned by faithfulness and bravery the rank which he attained.

In 1865 Mr. Alger went to Detroit and engaged in the long pine timber business and in dealing in pine lands. He was first a member of the well-known firm of Moore & Alger. Upon its dissolution he formed the firm of R. A. Alger & Co., and again dissolved this firm and organized the corporation of Alger, Smith & Co., of which he is president. In these various associations he has built up a business larger than that of any other pine timber operator in the world. He is president of the Manistique Lumbering company and of the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena Railroad company, besides being a director of the Detroit National bank, the Peninsular Car company, and several other large corporations.

In these various enterprises Mr. Alger has built up a large and growing fortune,