Alexander G. Baxter is a leading citizen of Schenectady as commissioner of charities and as president of the Schenectady County Republican Club, while in fraternal circles he is known throughout the state. His birth occurred in Bloomingburg, Sullivan county, New York, November 6, 1859, his parents being the Rev. James B. and Abigail Jane (Monell) Baxter. He was a man of forty years when he first came to Schenectady in 1900. During the past nineteen years he has been successfully engaged in the undertaking business here and has been accorded an extensive patronage in this connection because of the quiet efficiency of his services and his thorough understanding of the care of the dead.
At the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American war Mr. Baxter was temporarily located in Newburgh, and as first lieutenant of the Fifth Separate Company there he was one of the first to vote to be mustered into the federal service. With his company he went to Camp Black and later to San Francisco and Hawaii.
Mr. Baxter took a leading part in all the World war activities and has been an active and efficient worker in every civic and humanitarian movement instituted in the Electric City for a number of years. He has served as coroner of Schenectady county for three terms of three years each and has been repeatedly urged to accept the republican candidacy for mayor. On the 1st of January, 1924, he was appointed to his present position as commissioner of charities and in this connection is making a splendid record.
Mr. Baxter has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah Jane Teets of Wurtsboro, New York, before her marriage. They became parents of the following children: Mrs. Blanche M. Doss of Wurtsboro; Mrs. Abigail Jane Faber of Schenectady; Robert W. Baxter, who is the funeral director and associate in the undertaking business with his father; Mrs. Belle M. Burt of Schenectady; and Mrs. Edith M. Harrison of Ballston Spa. There are eight grandchildren. In 1909 Mr. Baxter was married to Sarah Jane Atkinson of Waterford, New York.
As already stated, Mr. Baxter is prominent in fraternal circles throughout New York. He is a member of Charles W. Mead Lodge, F. & A. M.; St. George's Chapter, R. A. M.; St. George Commandery, K. T.; and Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Troy. He likewise belongs to Truth Lodge of the Knights of Pythias in Schenectady, is past chancellor of the order and is a former captain of the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias at Newburgh. Mr. Baxter is also connected with Schenectady Lodge, No. 480, of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; with Clan McRae, and with General Eugene Griffin Camp of the Spanish-American War Veterans.
Besides his attractive home at No. 735 Brandywine avenue in Schenectady, Mr. Baxter owns a farm at Ballston Spa, for agriculture affords him one of his principal sources of recreation. He is also very fond of hunting and fishing.