My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Alexander Ziegler, a farmer of Joachim Township, is a native of St. Louis County, Mo., and was born January 23, 1824. His father was Matthew and his mother was Barbara (Halffner) Ziegler, natives of Germany, who were married in America, and were among the early pioneers of the State of Missouri. The father died in 1835, leaving a family of six small children and their mother in limited circumstances. Alexander, being the second eldest son, was called upon to assist in keeping the wolf from the door, and remained at home until he was about twenty years of age. April 10, 1844, he married Miss Amanda Dover, a daughter of John and Jemima (Stephens) Dover, who was born in Louisville, Ky., November 19, 1823; her parents were natives, respectively, of Virginia and London, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler have been born two sons, viz.: Charles B., born July 18, 1845, and Theodore C., born February 21, 1849. As his father was a tobacconist it was quite natural that Alexander should follow the same calling, and he engaged in the manufacturing business in St. Louis until 1845, when he came to Jefferson County and was engaged in farming for about three years. He was afterward employed as a captain of steam boats on the Mississippi River, having charge of the “Belle of St. Louis” from the time it was launched until it was abandoned. His command was then transferred to “The City of Chester,” which was burned in Memphis, Tenn. In all he spent about thirty years on the river. Since 1868 the family have resided in Joachim Township, on a farm of 450 acres of well cultivated land. Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler are consistent members of the Roman Catholic Church. In political matters he is a stanch Democrat. During the war he was in command of a vessel transporting troops up and down the river, and was intimately acquainted with Gen. Grant; he was present with that general at the surrender of the city of Vicksburg.