On Saturday, February 23, 1935, Jules Alexander a prominent figure in the affairs of Susanville passed away in San Francisco where he been since August due to health issues.
In certain ways, one could say that Jules and Susanville grew up together. This plucky Frenchmen was only seventeen years old when he came to Susanville in May of 1877. He went to work as a clerk for Greehn & Asher one of the larger mercantile stores in town. He would follow this trade for decades to come. In 1881, Simon Blum and Jules opened their own store as Blum & Alexander. Later on, he went in partnership with his brother Abe, under the firm name of A&J Alexander. After the disasterous fire of 1893, Abe Alexander pulled up stakes and moved to Bakersfield. Jules with his brother-in-law, Ike Knoch formed Alexander & Knoch, which in essence they took over the David Knoch’s, the family patriarch’s mercantile store he established in 1865.
With the prosperous times approaching with the Fernley & Lassen Railroad Alexander & Knoch wanted to expand their horizons. At the end of 1911 the store was turned over to Alexander’s two sons-in-law, Jess Worley and Emil Fehr. In 1912, Jules and Ike formed the Lassen Industrial Bank and in 1922 constructed the former iconic building at the corner of Main and North Gay Streets.
Prior to the banking business, Jules had become involved other business enterprises. For fifteen years he owned a ranch at Horse Lake. He was a director/investor in the California & Oregon Telegraph Company, the Susanville Creamery and later the Lassen Townsite Company, the former remains the largest Susanville subdivision.
Jules was a firm believer in civic engagement and pride. Just one example, of his many contributions was the placement of a new Lassen Monument, as the original one had been neglected all these years. In the fall of 1916, Jules launched a campaign to correct it and with a new monument. It was his desire to seek small donations thereby allowing everyone an opportunity to be part of the cause. He enlisted the aid of Lassen County Superintendent of Schools, Fred Brunhouse, who sent out letters to all the schools urging children to donate a few cents as part of a civics lesson. The school children responded with each school districct sending in varied amounts from 35 cents (Fort Sage) to nearly five dollars (Lassen High School). In the end the school children of Lassen County raised over $500, about one-third of the cost. In September 1917 a new monument was dedicated all through hard work and dedication of Jules Alexander.
