ALEXANDER M. HEYWOOD, residing in his pleasant home at No.301 East Franklin Street, Troy, now retired from active participation in business, is one of the honored surviving veterans of the great Civil War. He was born October 17, 1840, in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Nathaniel Heywood, who was a pioneer settler and farmer in Miami County, and died when his son was two months old.

In 1853, when thirteen years of age, Mr. Heywood cane to Troy and here attended school, almost up to the time of entering the military service of his country, in 1861. He enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, being the first youth to enlist from Troy. He passed safely through his first enlistment and returned home, only to re-enlist in Company B, Ninety-forth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and lie participated in the following engagements Tate's Ford, Ky.; Perryville, Ky.; Stone River and Tullahoma, Tenn.; Dug Gap, Chickamauga, Ga.; Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, Tenn.; Ringold, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Marietta, Ga.; Chattahooche River; Peach Tree Creek; Atlanta; Siege of Atlanta; Jonesboro; Siege of Savannah; Bentonville; the Raleigh campaign; Johnson's surrender and then followed the Grand Review at Washington City.

Mr. Heywood went into the service with the rank of sergeant and was promoted to be second lieutenant, first lieutenant and acting adjutant for one year, and in January, 1865, was commissioned captain. After he had reached home he was still further honored by being brevetted major. During his long, arduous and dangerous service he was never seriously injured, although his place was many times where the battle raged thickest.

For about one year following his return from the army, Major Heywood engaged in a grocery business and then retired to his farm, on which he lived for the next twelve years. Upon his return to Troy he conducted an agricultural implement business for six years and was then elected sheriff of Miami County and was reelected to a second term. He retains business interests but does not devote much personal attention to them. He is a director of the Troy National Bank. On October 17, 1865 Heywood was married to Miss Adelaide Harker, who was born and reared at Troy. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. Heywood being one of the trustees. He is identified, with the Grand Army of the Republic.