Mini Bios of People of Scots Descent
Alexander Law Stirling Biography

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.