LDS film # 09962913, Excerpts from History of Kentucky, Illustrated, 1885, by
Battle, Perrin, and Kniffin.  Appeared in the Central City Messenger and
Times-Argus, Central City, Kentucky, in seven installments during May, June,
and July 1959.

Prof. Wayland Alexander Established South Carrollton Male, Female
Institute

PROF. WAYLAND ALEXANDER, Muhlenberg County, was born June 26,
1939 [sic], near Louisville, KY, and is the fifth son of six boys
and three girls (seven lived to man and womanhood) born to Joseph
W. and Caroline E. (Wells) Alexander, natives of King and Queen
County, VA, and of Jefferson County, KY, respectively.  Joseph W.
Alexander settled in Jefferson County in 1833, and spent the
greater part of his life in agricultural pursuits; in 1856
immigrated to Daviess County, where he engaged in farming until
his death in 1876; his wife (mother of our subject) was a
daughter of Gen. Y. P. Wells, of Irish descent, who attained
considerable distinction in the early Indian wars of Kentucky.
Prof. Alexander was reared on a farm until he was fourteen.  He
had attended the district schools, and being of a studious turn
of mind, at that age had made sufficient progress to enter Asbury
- now DuPaw University - at Greencastle, Ind., where he remained
two years.  In 1855, he left Greencastle, and came to
Shelbyville, KY, and entered college; there, having for his
preceptor Dr. William I. Waller, a man of fine talent as a
teacher, he continued his studies for two years.  While in Shelby
County, he commenced the study of law with Judge Joseph P. Foree;
from this office he went to Louisville, KY, and attended law
lectures at the University.  About that time he was obliged to
discontinue his studies on account of lack of necessary funds;
but having early determined to become a teacher, he opened a
school in 1885, at Sacramento, KY.  In this undertaking his
untiring energy and indomitable perserverance were at last
crowned with success; he soon commanded a liberal and extensive
patronage, which steadily increased; he has taught twenty-eight
years in the thickly settled country on the Green River, and is
widely known and unversally respected for his talents and
virtues.  Having by his industry accumulated the necessary means,
he established a college in 1873, in South Carrollton, called the
South Carrollton Male and Female Institute, in which enterprise
he met with the hearty cooperation of the public.  This
institution was conducted under his supervision, assisted by an
able corps of teachers till 1880, when he was elected President
of the Hartford College for a period of three years, where he met
with the greatest success; during his stay in Hartford, in 1882,
by a special act of the legislature, the South Carrollton Male
and Female Institute was changed to West Kentucky Classical and
Normal College.  To this Prof. Alexander returned in 1883, and
was elected president.  The College is in a flourishing
condition, and ranks as the largest in the state.  The
institution is conducted under his direct supervision, assisted
by an able corps of teachers, and embraces in its curriculum all
the studies on an advanced education, including the classics,
modern languages and the higher mathematics.  The college is one
of the largest Normals in the state.  Prof. Alexander was married
September 4, 1860, to Jennie Davis, of Muhlenberg County, KY, and
a daughter of Dr. Charles W. and Mary (McConnell) Davis, who were
natives of Nelson and Muhlenberg Counties, respectively.  Dr.
Charles Davis was the son of Elijah Davis, who is said to be one
of the first white children born in Nelson County, KY.  He was
born in 1787; was a farmer and represented the county in the
legislature; he died near Bloomfield, in 1873.  To Professor and
Mrs. Alexander were born seven children: Nannie Sue, now
nineteen, alone survives.  The Professor and wife are members of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  He is without doubt one of
the most popular educators in the country.

Alexander, Wells, Waller, Foree, Davis, McConnell
=
King-VA, Queen-VA, Jefferson, Daviess, Shelby, Nelson

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/muhlenberg/alexander.w.txt