2.12.10 Alexander Muir (1889-1957)

Alexander Muir was born on 13 May 1889 in Coalville, which was part of Streator, Illinois, to James Muir and Margaret Semple. He was their first child born in the United States and his father was a coal miner. According to the Scottish naming convention, which his parents followed, he should have been named after his father, but was not. His younger sister's given name also did not follow the naming convention so perhaps James and Margaret abandoned it when they immigrated to the U.S.

Alexander's father left the family about 1895 and moved to Iowa. In 1900, Alexander lived with his mother and siblings in Reading, Illinois, where Alexander attended school. When the 1910 census was enumerated he was 21 years old and serving aboard the USS California (ACR-6), which was berthed at the Navy Yard in Mare Island, California. His occupation was listed as Navy musician.

According to his obituary, he moved to Seattle in 1913 and joined the city fire department. However, he returned to the midwest to marry. Alexander married Bertha Isabelle Cloren, daughter of John Patrick Cloren and Janet Ann Milnes, on 13 June 1914 in Adair County, Missouri. The couple had five known children during the course of their marriage though only three lived to adulthood.

When Alexander registered for the World War I on 5 June 1917, his appearance was described as tall and slender with blue-gray eyes and dark brown hair. Twenty-five years later, his appearance was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and 185 pounds with blue eyes, gray hair, and a ruddy complexion. Both of his little fingers were crooked at the first joint and he had a scar under his left nipple.

Alexander retired from the Seattle Fire Department in 1920 due to an injury and the family moved to Island County, Washington, where their younger children were born.

Alexander's wife Bertha died on 19 October 1929 after a prolonged and difficult childbirth.

He returned to the fire department in 1930 and worked as a fire inspector. He retired again in 1935 and joined Boeing Aircraft Co. at Plant No. 2. as their fire chief. He retired from Boeing in 1945.

Station No. 10, Seattle Fire Department headquarters, 1928; photograph courtesy
of Seattle Fire Department by Richard Schneider

Alexander never remarried and died 6 May 1957. He was dead on arrival when the ambulance arrived at King County Hospital in Seattle. He died of a coronary occlusion and arterio-sclerosis. He was retired from the city fire department at the time of his death and lived at 1415 Belmont Avenue, No. 1. His body was cremated after his death.

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'Station No. 10, Seattle Fire Department Headquarters, 1928,' Seattle Fire Department
1900 US Federal Census, Census Place: Reading, Livingston, Illinois; Roll: 318; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0114; FHL microfilm: 1240318
1910 US Federal Census, Census Place: USS California, California, Military and Naval Forces; Roll: T624_1784; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0192; FHL microfilm: 1375797
1920 US Federal Census, Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1926; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 99; Image: 234
1930 US Federal Census, Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: 2494; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0044; Image: 350.0; FHL microfilm: 2342228
1940 US Federal Census, Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T627_379; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 40-174
Alice (Muir) Jennings Genealogy Notebook, page 4
Global, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Memorial No. 114309112
Seattle Daily Times, 7 May 1957
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1915 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir and Bertha Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1916 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir and Bertha Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1917 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir and Bertha I Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1918 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir and Bertha Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1921 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1931 Seattle, WA (A. Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1931 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1932 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1933 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir)
US, City Directories, 1822-1995, 1940 Seattle, WA (Alex Muir)
US, Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002, 1914 Muir, Alexander - Cloren, Bertha
US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Number: 531-14-1818
US, Washington Deaths, 1883-1960, 1957 Muir, Alexander
US, Washington Death Certificates, 1957, Registrar's No. 2388
US, Washington Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960, 1957 Muir Alexander
US, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King; Roll: 1991887; Draft Board: 1
US, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle); Seattle, Washington; Fourth Registration Draft Cards (WWII); State Headquarters: Washington; Record Group Name: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Archive Number: 563992