Russell Alexander Alger (AL-jer; February 27, 1836 – January 24, 1907) was an American politician and businessman. He served as the 20th governor of Michigan, a U.S. Senator, and the U.S. Secretary of War. As a child, he was very poor, but he gained wealth throughout his life and died as a respected businessman. He worked in many roles, including army officer, money manager, leader in the lumber industry, and owner of a railroad. It is believed he was a distant relative of author Horatio Alger, who wrote stories about people who went from being very poor to very rich.

Early life and career

Russell Alexander Alger was born on February 27, 1836, in Lafayette Township, Medina County, Ohio. His parents were Russell and Caroline Alger (née Moulton). He came from a family originally from New England, whose ancestors traveled from England to Massachusetts in 1759.

Russell’s parents died in 1848, leaving him as the oldest of three children without parents, money, or support. Before their death, Russell had worked for neighbors in exchange for small amounts of food or a few pennies each day because his family was very poor.

After his parents passed away, Russell found homes for his brother and sister. He worked on a farm, where his payment included food, clothing, and the chance to attend school for three months each year. He studied at Richfield Academy in Summit County, Ohio, and taught school in rural areas for two winters.

Russell studied law in Akron, Ohio, and became a licensed lawyer in March 1859. He began his legal career in Cleveland. In 1860, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and worked in the lumber industry.

Civil War

Alger joined the Union Army as a private soldier on September 2, 1861. He was later given a higher rank and served as a captain and major in the 2nd Michigan Cavalry Regiment. Over three years, he took part in 66 battles and skirmishes.

On July 1, 1862, during the Battle of Booneville, Alger led an attack on the enemy’s rear with ninety men. He was wounded and captured but escaped later the same day. The Confederate forces were defeated completely.

On October 16, Alger was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 6th Michigan Cavalry.

On February 28, 1863, he became colonel of the 5th Michigan Cavalry. His unit was the first to arrive at Gettysburg on June 28. Alger was specifically noted in a report by General George Armstrong Custer about cavalry actions there.

Alger was recognized as a skilled military planner and worked with President Lincoln to inspect Union supplies.

He took part in General Sheridan’s Valley Campaigns in Virginia in 1864. On June 11, 1864, at Trevilian Station, Alger captured a large group of Confederate soldiers with a bold cavalry charge.

On July 8, 1864, Alger was seriously wounded while chasing enemy forces near Boonesborough, Maryland.

Alger left the army on September 20, 1864. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Alger for the rank of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, effective from June 11, 1865. The U.S. Senate approved this honor on March 12, 1866. On February 28, 1867, Johnson nominated Alger for the rank of brevet major general of volunteers, also effective from June 11, 1865. The Senate confirmed this nomination on March 2, 1867.

In 1868, Alger was chosen as the first commander of the Michigan department of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1889, he became the National Commander-in-Chief of the organization. He was also a member of the Michigan Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Lumber baron

After the Civil War, Alger moved to Detroit and became the leader of Alger, Smith & Company and the Manistique Lumbering Company. His companies owned a large pine forest on Lake Huron covering over 100 square miles (260 km) and produced more than 75,000,000 board feet (180,000 m) of lumber each year.

To transport the lumber, Alger helped create the Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad, where he served as president.

After cutting down all the trees in the lower peninsula, his lumber companies bought land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including Kingston Plains, which is just south of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. These barren stump plains have not recovered after 90 years of reforestation efforts. Alger earned a large amount of money from logging in this area, which he used to become governor of Michigan.

At the start of the 20th century, he and Florida landowner Martin Sullivan formed the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company. This company processed lumber in Foshee, Alabama, and Century, Florida.

Political activism

Alger worked in politics as a Republican. In 1866, he served as a representative at the party's Wayne County convention and its state convention. In the late 1860s, Alger led the Boys in Blue, a group of Union veterans created to support Republican Party policies and candidates. In October 1872, Alger helped organize a Republican campaign event that included a speech by James G. Blaine, who was then the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

In June 1876, Alger helped plan a Republican rally in Detroit that started that year's presidential campaign. In early October 1876, he helped organize a large Republican rally in Detroit that featured a speech by former governor Edward Follansbee Noyes of Ohio. In late October 1876, Alger was one of the leaders of a committee that arranged a Republican rally in Detroit, which included a main speech by U.S. Senator James G. Blaine of Maine.

In early June 1880, Alger served as a representative at a large meeting of Union veterans in Chicago. This meeting aimed to create a plan for supporting Republican candidates in that year's elections. In mid-June, he led a Republican meeting in Detroit that was organized to confirm the results of the 1880 Republican National Convention, which had taken place earlier that month.

Governor of Michigan

In 1884, Alger was chosen as Governor of Michigan and served from 1885 to 1887. Important events during his time as governor included creating the state board of pardons, opening a home for veterans in Grand Rapids, helping create two new counties named Alger and Iron, and starting the Michigan College of Mines. Alger chose not to run again in 1886.

Alger was nominated for president at the 1888 Republican National Convention. He received 142 votes, but needed 416 votes to win. Benjamin Harrison was chosen as the nominee and won the general election. After the election, Alger was an elector for Harrison.

Secretary of War

On March 5, 1897, Alger was chosen to be the Secretary of War in the government of U.S. President William McKinley.

As Secretary of War, Alger suggested raising the pay of soldiers who worked at foreign embassies and legations. He also proposed laws to create a new position called the Second Assistant Secretary of War and to form a military group for Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

People criticized Alger for not preparing the War Department well enough and for poor management during the Spanish–American War. This included his choice of William R. Shafter to lead the Cuban expedition and the Army’s beef scandal, where low-quality canned beef was sent to soldiers. The term "Algerism" was later used to describe the Army’s failures during this time, especially compared to the Navy’s strong performance.

Alger left his position at the request of President McKinley on August 1, 1899. In 1901, he wrote a book about the Spanish–American War titled The Spanish–American War.

John Singleton Mosby claimed that Alger was trying to harm him during Alger’s time as Secretary of War. Mosby had fought as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. Later, he became a Republican and supported the presidential campaigns of Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1878, Hayes appointed Mosby as U.S. Consul in Hong Kong, where he worked until 1885.

Mosby supported William McKinley for president in 1896 and was told by lawmakers close to McKinley that he might be chosen for a consulship in Asia or South America. When no job was offered, Mosby believed Alger was stopping him from returning to the consular service and accused Alger of seeking revenge. Mosby said this was because, during the Civil War, he had ordered the execution of soldiers under Alger’s command who were accused of stealing and damaging the property of Confederate supporters in 1864. Historians and writers believe it is more likely that Secretary of State John Sherman was responsible for blocking Mosby’s appointment. When Mosby began working in Hong Kong, he claimed his predecessor, David H. Bailey, had committed fraud and embezzlement. Bailey was forced to resign as U.S. Consul in Shanghai. Since Bailey was from Sherman’s home state of Ohio, and Sherman had control over diplomatic appointments, Sherman is more likely than Alger to have acted against Mosby.

U.S. Senator

On September 27, 1902, Alger was chosen by Michigan Governor Aaron T. Bliss to serve in the United States Senate. This decision filled a vacancy that occurred because James McMillan passed away. In January 1903, the Michigan State Legislature elected Alger to the Senate seat.

During the 59th Congress, Alger led the Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads.

Personal life

Alger was the founder of a well-known family, many members of which played important roles in 20th century Michigan politics and worked with the Republican Party.

The Algers lived in a home located in Black River, Alcona Township, Michigan, where Alger managed his logging business.

On April 2, 1861, he married Annette Huldana Squire Henry of Grand Rapids. Together, they had six children: Henrietta, Caroline, Frances, Russell Jr., Frederick, and Allan.

Frederick graduated from Harvard University in 1899. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the American Expeditionary Force in France during World War I and was honored with the French Legion of Honor.

Russell Jr. helped convince the Packard Motor Car Company to relocate from Ohio to Michigan. He built a large Italian Renaissance-style house called "The Moorings" in Grosse Pointe. In 1949, the property was donated and became the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.

Legacy

Senator John Spooner of Wisconsin, in a memorial speech, stated about Alger, "No person without noble goals, reasonable ambitions, strong character, and many excellent qualities could have created such a successful career."

An early film titled General Wheeler and Secretary of War Alger at Camp Wikoff shows an official visit to Camp Wikoff, New York, by Secretary of War Alger. The film and visit were made to gain support from New York newspapers.

In May 1898, the War Department created Camp Russell A. Alger on a farm near Falls Church and Dunn Loring, Virginia. Due to a typhoid fever outbreak, the camp was abandoned in August 1898, the month the war ended, and sold the next month. During its short time, 23,000 soldiers trained there. A historical marker in Virginia now honors the camp.

• Alger, Michigan (1882)
• Alger County, Michigan (1885)
• Russell A. Alger Street and Alger Street in Black River, Michigan
• Alger Street in Lincoln, Michigan
• Alger Heights, a neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• A U.S. Liberty ship named the SS Russell A. Alger was planned but canceled in 1942 before construction began.

In 1909, a monument to Alger was placed on the William G. Mather Building in Munising, Michigan. The monument includes a bronze statue of Alger on a stone base. It was created by sculptor Carlo Romanelli using money from Alger’s heirs and the Munising Township Schools’ education board.

In 1921, a memorial fountain honoring Alger was dedicated in Grand Circus Park, Detroit. The fountain was designed by architect Henry Bacon and sculpted by Daniel Chester French.