Alger, Russell Alexander, senator, capitalist, born in Lafayette, OH, 1836. Left an orphan at 12, he worked on a farm for seven years, earning money to defray expenses at Richfield, O. academy during winters. He was admitted to the bar, 1859. Began practice in Cleveland but removed, 1860, to Michigan. In 1861 he enlisted, rose from captain to colonel, and was brevetted major-general of volunteers. After the war he engaged very extensively in the lumber business. He was governor of Michigan 1885-86, secretary of war 1897-99, and United States senator from 1902 until his death, 1907.

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