The Hewitt, Alexander, Vieritz & Sarow Families in Australia

William John Alexander

The details about William John Alexander's early life are very sketchy.  He was born in Inverness, Scotland on February 9, 1854.  His parents were William Alexander and Agnes Stewart/Alexander.  It is believed that  he had siblings, but there is no information available to us at this time. His story was recorded by his daughter  ( my great aunt), Annie Stewart Alexander/Daines:

At about the age of 12 years he left sone clothes on the beach near his home and stowed away on a boat sailing down around South America.  He never wrote to, or saw his parents again and followed a seafaring life until he came to Queensland for the  "Gold Rush"."

William married Elisabeth Caroline Browne on July 3, 1883 at Roma, Queensland, Australia.  They lived for a time at a railroad camp at Boolbunda, Queensland.  His work with the railway later led to him becoming a railroad contractor and bridge builder.  William & Elisabeth had five children; Annie Stewart Alexander/Daines (July 28, 1884), William John Alexander (December 5, 1885), Elisabeth Florence Alexander/Innes (February 1, 1888), Gladys Caroline Alexander (April 28, 1890), Elsie Marion Alexander/Hewitt (July 20, 1892).  William worked on railroads in different areas of Queensland, settling about 1895 in North Queensland on a sugar cane plantation where he was building a railroad to the sugar factories.  After a time, he moved the family to Annandale.  Some time later, William obtained work in Fiji and was to be away for two years, before he returned home on a three month leave of absence.  He then returned to Fiji for another two years of employment, and six months after he returned home again, he signed a contract to work for two years in the Philippine Islands, where he died October 30, 1916.