Alexander Law Stirling Biography


	This biography appears on pages 575-576 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ALEXANDER LAW STIRLING. 

	Alexander Law Stirling, engaged in the cigar and tobacco business 
at Rapid City, was born in Tama county, Iowa, December 15, 1874. His 
father, Thomas Stirling, was born February 11, 1840, in Scotland, and 
emigrated from Edinburgh when about thirty-one years of age. Crossing 
the Atlantic, he made his way to the middle west, settling in Iowa, 
where he engaged in farming. Becoming convinced that he would have 
opportunity to make a comfortable living here for his family, after two 
years he sent for his wife and three children to join him in the new 
world. Mrs. Stirling bore the maiden name of Marguerite Law and was 
born May 25, 1838. She joined her husband in Iowa and they resided 
there until 1880, when the removed to Milltown, Dakota territory, where 
the father died April 30, 1889. They had traveled life's journey 
together for a quarter of a century, their marriage having been 
celebrated in Scotland, October 24, 1863. The mother survives and is 
now living in Yankton, South Dakota. The home farm of three hundred and 
twenty acres is still owned by her and is being operated by her 
youngest son. 

	A. L. Stirling is one of four living children. He acquired his 
education in the public schools and worked on the home farm until about 
twenty-two years of age. He took up his abode in Yankton in 1900, with 
his mother, and engaged in business successfully there until 1907, when 
he removed to Farmingdale, where he secured four hundred and forty 
acres of land which he still owns. Later he located in Rapid City, 
where for some time he engaged in the real-estate business. He is now 
devoting his energies to the cigar and tobacco trade and is proprietor 
of the stand in the Harney Hotel. His establishment is very popular and 
is liberally patronized. 

	On the 15th of December, 1905, Mr. Stirling was united in 
marriage to Miss Marie Adkins, a daughter of James and Annie Adkins. 
Mr. Stirling was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church and 
fraternally is connected with the Elks and Eagles. His political 
allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a public-spirited 
man but has never cared for office, being willing to manifest his 
interest in the welfare of the community as a private citizen through 
his endorsement of all measures for the general good and his support of 
those forces which work most for the upbuilding of town and county.