Russell Alexander Alger

Biography

Russell Alexander Alger (1836-1907) won renown as a Civil War officer, later guiding Michigan as its governor and serving the nation as Secretary of War while also promoting business and conservation after his public service. His leadership blended military discipline with a sense of civic duty, and he encouraged veterans and citizens alike to look beyond themselves to the common good.

The city of Elmwood Cemetery holds his stone as a reminder of the vigor and steady purpose he carried through periods of war and peace.