Alexander Keir, Jr., a farmer near San Bernardino, is a Scotchman, and was born in Glasgow. His father, Alexander Keir, Sr., was a coal miner, and was born in Scotland, in 1815. His mother, Marion (King) Keir, was born in Scotland in 1814. They came to this country in 1848 and stopped at St. Louis. They had eight children, the subject of this sketch being the third. The oldest, William, was scalded to death in Scotland; one sister, Elizabeth, died of cholera in St. Louis, in 1849; the youngest sister, Espy, was bitten by a snake. In 1850 Mr. Keir crossed the plains with an ox team and cows from Salt Lake, in a train consisting of ten wagons, which was called the “Scotch train.” They tarried two years at Cedar City, 250 miles south of Salt Lake, and left there September 15, 1853, for California, where they arrived November 15, of the same year. Mr. Keir took up a piece of what he thought was Government land in Los Angeles County, but was obliged to surrender it later to Mr. Workman. In 1854 he came to San Bernardino County and bought twelve acres on Base Line, one mile east of San Bernardino, at $15.50 per acre. He now owns a fine tract of 100 acres, devoted to fruit, vegetables and general farm products; he also owns a valuable property on Third and D streets, and his father owns valuable property on Second Street, Santa Monica.
Mr. Keir was married in 1869, to Miss Mary Parrish, a native of Iowa, the daughter of Ezra Parrish, of New York State. They have seven children: William, Mary, Sherman, John King, Frank, Robert and Ida Gertrude. Mr. Keir is an active worker in the interests of the Democratic party. He is enthusiastic and methodical, and generally brings his man through. Socially he is a Mason and an I O. O. F.
