"The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." Portland, OR: Oregonian
Publishing Co., 1894.  pg. 276.

R.  ALEXANDER     
     The present mayor of Pendleton is R. Alexander, whose portrait is published
on this page.  Mr. Alexander is a native of Hengstfeld, Wurttemberg, Germany.
He came to Oregon 22 years ago.  Although now but 43 years of age, Mr. Alexander
has attained a remarkable degree of success during his business career in
Pendleton, which began 15 years ago.  Pendleton was then but a mere village, but
Mr. Alexander appreciated the natural advantages in location which the small
town enjoyed and he foresaw the Pendleton of today.  Embarking in the general
merchandise business, Mr. Alexander easily kept pace with the rapid growth of
the town, and he is today the senior partner in the large general merchandise
concern of Alexander & Hexter who carry a line of goods valued at $50,000.
Besides being mayor, Mr. Alexander is a prominent member of several fraternal
organizations, among which are the Odd Fellows, Masons and Knights of Pythias.
Of the first mentioned order Mr. Alexander has been grand master of the state,
grand patriarch and grand representative, having held the last office for two
terms of two years each.  Mr. Alexander enjoys the distinction of being the only
32nd degree Mason in Pendleton.  He has been master of the local lodge for two
years.  Mr. Alexander has been vice-president of the Pendleton Savings Bank, and
he has been foremost in many of the public enterprises which have resulted in
making Pendleton one of the most prominent cities in Eastern Oregon.