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Alexander W. Cagle, senior member of the firm of
Cagle & White, was born in Alabama, January 31, 1845. His father, John
F. Cagle, was born in North Carolina, and while still a boy moved to
Alabama, where he was reared to maturity, and was married to Miss Ethel
Rowe, a native of Alabama. In 1860 he moved his family to Clark County,
Ark., where he engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1888, in
his seventy - eighth year; his wife is still living, a resident of this
county. During his life he was a very successful farmer, and at one
time owned considerable property, but lost heavily during the war. Both
he and wife were consistent members of the Baptist Church, he being a
licensed minister of that Church. In politics he as a stanch Democrat
there were born to his marriage nine children, the subject of this
sketch being the eldest, of whom seven are still living. Alexander W.
Cagle was fifteen years of age when he came with his parents to
Arkansas, and at the age of nineteen he enlisted in Pagan's Battalion,
in the Confederate service. At the close of the war he returned home,
and found his father a cripple and the rest of the family in almost
destitute circumstances. He then turned his attention to farming, which
he has since continued to a certain extent, owning about 500 acres of
valuable land. In 1867 he engaged in the mill business (saw and grist),
in which he has successfully continued ever since. In August, 1889, he
formed a partnership with F. M. White in the mercantile trade, and they
are now doing a mill and mercantile business at Beirne, and have done
more toward the upbuilding of the community of Beirne than all most all
of the rest of the citizens. Among other enterprises, they have built
several miles of plank road to town. In connection with their other
interests they own about 1,000 acres of valuable timber land. In 1868
Mr. Cagle was married to Miss Josephine, daughter of Milton O. Hills,
born at Rome, in this county, in 1852, and by this union has four
children living, vis: Ben J., Mollie, Charles and Daisy. Mr. Cagle is
a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church, of which both he and wife are
members. He is also a Royal Arch Mason. Politically he affiliates with
the Democratic party, and is one of the most prominent an enterprising
citizens of Beirne.
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