Alexander Majors
(Oct 4, 1814-Jan 14, 1900)
Member, Old Golden Square Lodge No. 107, Westport, MO

1853 - Davenport Chapter No. 19, RAM, Westport, MO

Alexander Majors (1814-1900) was a partner of the famous "Russell, Majors and Waddell" freight firm that built the Western empire and was a forerunner of the Pony Express. He was born October 4, 1814 in Franklin, Kentucky. He was brought to Missouri Territory at the age of five and his family settled in Lafayette County. He operated the Majors' Pony Express and entered the Sante Fe trade in 1848. The partnership with Russell and Waddell was formed in 1855, and in two years they had cleared $300,000. When the Pony Express was put in operation their business was ruined, and Majors lost his fortune. The firm operated from Westport, Missouri, now part of Kansas City, which was the early-day "jumping off" point for the West. The firm was largely made up of Freemasons, and tried to operate on Masonic principles. Its ability to transport supplies to points of settlement in the West and to the military posts guarding them encouraged emigration from the East and led to the rapid building up of the new lands. He also established the first meat packing plant in Kansas City. A religious man, he required his wagon men to subscribe to the following oath: "While I am in the employ of A. Majors, I agree not to use profane language, not to get drunk, not to gamble, not to treat animals cruelly, and not to do anything else that is incompatible with the conduct of a gentleman. And I agree, if I violate any of these conditions, to accept my discharge without any pay for my service.

A statue honoring Alexander Majors, along with Kansas City "father" John Calvin McCoy and Mountainman James Bridger at Pioneer Square in Westport in Kansas City.

Brother Majors was a member of Golden Square Lodge No. 107 and Davenport Chapter No. 19, RAM., both of Westport. He was exalted in the chapter on February 10, 1853.

Interred: Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri