Mr. Cass's father died when he was about eighteen months old, and some two years later his mother remarried and moved to Carthage, Jefferson County, in that State, where she died in 1852. Alexander was left, after his mother's marriage, with his maternal grandparents at Carlisle, where lie spent his early life on a farm, attending the district school. At the age of twelve he was sent to Albany as clerk in a grocery store, but a year later he returned to his grandparents, and for two years attended Schoharie Academy. Afterward lie attended the select school of Professor A. Smith Knight, who was also a civil engineer and lawyer, and there lie studied surveying and acted as amanuensis. On April 1, 1843, he became the teacher of the Carlisle school (District No. 4, or the Little York district), where lie continued for two and a half years, when he went to the adjoining (Rockville) district, remaining there five and one-half years. In the meanwhile, from 1848 to 1850, he spent a part of his time in the law office of John H. Salisbury, of Carlisle.

In November, 1850, Mr. Cass entered the law office of T. & H. Smith, of Cobleskill, N. Y., and there pursued his legal studies until September, 1852. In April, 1853, he was graduated from the Law Department of the University of Albany, and in the same month was admitted before the Supreme Court to the New York bar as attorney and counselor, being at that time associated with his old preceptor, Thomas Smith, who had moved to the capital city.

Mr. Cass moved to Bergen County, N. J., May 22, 1853, and on August 6 assumed charge of the Upper Teaneck public school. lie continued as teacher there and at Lower Teaneck in all thirteen Years, and was instrumental in building up the schools to the standard of excellence which those districts have long maintained. In 1845 he was elected Town Superintendent of Public Schools at Carlisle, N. Y., but on account of his youth could not qualify. In 1846, however, lie was re-elected and served two terms. He moved from Teaneck to Englewood in 1865, and in 1867 was appointed the first School Superintendent for Bergen County, serving two terms, or six years. Since retiring from that position he has acted as civil engineer and in public capacities. He was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1864 and is now serving his fifth term. From 1859 to 1865 he was Town Clerk of Englewood. He was A. lessor for Englewood Township in 1876 and 1877, Coroner from 1878 to 1881 and from 189`3 to 1895, Commissioner of Appeals for several terms, and one of the two examiners and visitors of the public schools of Bergen County in 1858-60. In all of these positions lie displayed sound judgment, marked ability, and great executive energy.