Gc
929.2
1137074
M*l**^
GENEALCG
Y C0L.LECT10M
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01144 8310
I
3 O'^te^.uiT^^u '7tu77
Jie^^. 2. IS Si
/V<
\j]/i/ iy/>6/r/Vi^^H
JiM^L i^d^ ^-^ "^
Vv fiui^ il^ '^^^ ^>^^ ^
^ :l. f M..c^.d^
u
A- *^<
f^^^^ /f^-
A RECORD
OF THE
DESCEND A.NTS
JOHN ALEXANDER,
OF LANARKSHIRE, SCOTLAND,
AND HIS WIFE,
MARGARET GLASSON,
WHO EMIGRATED FROM COUNTY ARMAGH, IRELAND,
TO
CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,
A. D. 1736.
By the Rev. JOHN E. ALEXANDER,
Principal of Washington College, Tennessee.
PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED BY ALFRED MARTIEN,
621 JAYNE STREET.
1878.
INDEX.
PART I. -^-^^> ^ ^ ' *
Page.
The Family and Descendants of Hugh Alexander, of Sherman's
Valley, Pa 15
Chapter I. — The family and descendants of Margaret Alexander
Hamilton, of Harrisburgh, Pa 27
" II. — The family and descendants of John Alexander, of Little
Valley, Pa 41
" III. — The family and descendants of Mary Alexander Clark,
of Sherman's Valley, Perry county, Pa 78
" IV. — The family and descendants of David Alexander, of St.
Clair county, 111 89
" V — The family and descendants of Hugh Alexander, of Tus-
carora Valley, Juniata county. Pa 102
VI. — The family and descendants of James Alexander, of
McKeesport, Allegheny county. Pa 107
" VII. — The family and descendants of William Alexander, of
Centre county. Pa 108
" VIII.— The family and descendants of Emily Alexander Evans,
of McKeesport, Allegheny county. Pa Ill
PART II.
The Family and Descendants of James Alexander, of Kishacoquil-
las, Pa 114
Chapter I. — The family and descendants of Jane Alexander Brown, of
Kishacoquillas Valley, Pa 123
" II. — The family and descendants of Robert Alexander, Esq.,
of Kishacoquillas Valley, Pa 127
" III.— The family and descendants of Elizabeth Alexander
Wakefield, of Spencer county, Ky 133
•' IV.— The family and descendants of John Alexander, of Logan's
Springs, Kishacoquillas, Pa 147
" v.— The family and descendants of James Alexander, of Spring
Run, Kishacoquillas, Pa l^o
" VI.— The family and descendants of Hugh Alexander, of Stone
Valley, Pa 169
" VII. — Joseph Alexander 1"1
4 Index.
Page.
Chapter VIII. — The family and descendants of Rachel Alexander Semple,
of Stone Valley, Pa 172
" IX. — The family and descendants of William Brown Alexan-
der, of Clearfield county, Pa 173
" X. — The family and descendants of Rosa Alexander Taylor,
of Montgomery county, Ohio 180
PART IIL
The Family and Descendants of Rachel Alexander Vance, of
Maetinslukgh, Va 18y
Chapter I. — The family and descendants of Samuel Vance, of Stone
Valley, Pa 190
" II, III, and IV. — The families and descendants of John, Alexan-
der, and Joseph Vance, of Ohio 191
" V. — The family and descendants of Rachel V. Porterfield, of
Martinsburg, Va Wl
PART IV.
The Family and Descendants of John Alesandeb, of Chambers-
BUEGH, Pa 193
The Family and Descendants of John Alexander, of Greene Town-
ship, Franklin Co., Pa 193
Margaret Alexander 195
APPENDIX.
Sketches of other Alexander Families 196
PREFACE.
During the past twenty years several attempts at pre-
paring a Genealogical Record of the Alexander Family
represented in this book were made and abandoned,
owing to difficulties which those only can appreciate
who have themselves performed such a task.
The great difficulty lay in collecting, digesting and
arranging the mass of materials needed to represent six
generations of a numerous people, who had spread
themselves from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
A complete record would contain not only the names
of all the individuals of these generations,, each one in
proper order and connection, but also correct dates
of all marriages, births, deaths and migrations that have
occurred, together with historical and biographical
notices of various families and persons.
The ideal of completeness was not attainable by such
time and attention as the writer could give to the work.
He is conscious that it is defective in some parts, and
that mistakes will probably be found in others. These
faults were unintentional, and for the most part un-
avoidable. Because the earlier generations of our
American ancestors, engaged in subduing primeval for-
ests, or, harrassed by the hardships and dangers of
Indian or Revolutionary warfare, either made no record .
6 (Preface.
"for the edification of posterity," or their scanty
records were generally burned with their habitations
or were otherwise destroyed. Great difficulty has also
arisen in collecting materials from distant and scattered
families, though the needed information has been ear-
nestly solicited by letters and otherwise.
The writer offers the same apology for seeming
partiality in treating of some families and persons
much more fully than of others equally or more worthy
of like attention.
His personal knowledge or the materials furnished
by others, enabled him to enlarge in some cases, while
the lack of these compelled him to be too brief in others.
There is consolation in the thought that such a book
is not intended for the public, but only for the fami-
lies of our own connection, which will find in it a
genealogy of the past, mainly correct, that can be
easily extended to include future generations.
It is hoped that what has been accomplished will be
interesting and acceptable both to the families and
to the individuals chiefly concerned. For none should
be willingly ignorant of their forefathers and kindred,
whose characters and doings generally affect us more
than those of any other people.
To know that we have descended from a good and
honorable ancestry, should powerfully incite us and our
posterity to act worthy of such a parentage ; and even
the knowledge of the errors that have blotted the
reputation and marred the happiness of some, is
useful as a friendly warning to avoid the rocks of their
shipwrecks
Preface. j
Though it has been truly said that no one can climb
very high on any genealogical tree without finding
some dead branches, yet the writer feels a just pride
in the good and honorable character of the following
record as a whole. He commends it to his contem-
porary relatives and to posterity with the hope and
prayer that all whose lives are to be added thereto may
contribute only what will be acceptable to God and
worthy of praise among men.
Sincere thanks are due and tendered to many kind
friends who have aided our labor, especially to James
Alexander, Esq., of Logan's Springs, for advancing funds
for publication, and for much valuable material relating
to the descendants of James iVlexander of Spring Run ;
to the Rev. H. S. Alexander of Culpeper, Va., for
materials collected some years ago ; to Dr. O. C.
Alexander of Albany, N. Y. ; to Mrs. Louisa K. Power
and Boyd Hamilton, Esq., of Harrisburgh, Pa. ; to
Messrs. James Taggart of Shelbyville, Ky., A. M. Mor-
row of Piqua, O., Robert A. Clark of Sherman's Valley,
Pa,, James H. Alexander of Fruitland Farm, Little
Valley, Pa.
J. E. Alexander.
Washington College, Tenn., May 10, 1877.
INTRODUCTION.
The name Alexander is of Grecian origin and signi-
fies a Helper of Men.
Very few names have been so long and so extensively
■used both as a Christian and as a surname. For more
than two thousand years it has been found among all
the nations that have received the literature and civiliza-
tion of Greece and Rome. It is not known when it
began to be used as a first or Christian name in Scotland,
but the genealogy of the British Peerage, printed in
1840 by the Edmund Lodge of London, informs us that
Alexander McDonald, second son of Donal, King of the
Isles, had two sons who adopted the Christian name of
their father as a surname for themselves and their
descendants. Thus a numerous clan of Alexanders
descended from the ancient clan of the McDonalds,
including both a nobility and a commonalty. Their
residence was first in the south of Scotland about Edin-
burgh and Glasgow. Their chiefs were the Earls of
Stirling and Dovan. In the civil and religious revolu-
tions and persecutions of that country many of this clan
were scattered from Scotland into England, and espe-
cially into the North of Ireland, where, besides the com-
monalty, some families have long enjoyed and do still
enjoy hereditary nobility and honorable positions both
in church and state. On this point the reader will find
9
lo Introduction.
some further information in the Appendix to this
Tolume.
The Appendix also shows that yeomanry of this name,
and probably of the same clan came gradually to
America in considerable numbers during the whole
period of her colonial history, sometimes in single fami-
lies, and sometimes in groups of families, and settled at
various points along the Eastern coast from Nova Scotia
in the North to the Carolinas in the South. From these
first settlements they became so widely dispersed that
families of the name are now found in almost every part
of the United States.
So far as the writer has been able to ascertain, these
families and colonies of Alexanders have been nearly
all strict Presbyterians in religion, Scotch-Irish and
Scotch in nationality, and strongly characterized by the
well known peculiarities of that "intelligent, hardy,
industrious, and liberty-loving people."
But though the evidence is strongly in favor of the
conclusion that they were originally of the same Scottish
clan, yet owing to their long separation, partly in the
old countries before emigration, and partly in the new,
where they arrived at different times and places, it is
very difficult to determine any thing concerning degrees
of consanguinity.
These remarks are made in answer to questions con-
cerning relationship which frequently arise amongst
their descendants in this country. Even where the con-
nectins: links were known before the exodus from the
old world, they have generally been lost sight of during
the changes that occurred in the settlement of this coun-
try. In our researches we have had occasion to trace
the migrations of several of these earlier Alexander
families of America, who, though coming from the same
parts of the British Isles as our own, have for the most
Introduction.
II
part remained separate in this country, and have no
certain knowledge of relationships that may have existed
between them.
A brief account of some of these will be found in the
Appendix of this Record.
John Alexander, the Ancestor of our family in this
country, was born in Scotland about the year 1700.
" He was the son of Thomas Alexander, a prominent
man in Lanark from 1710 and upwards." Having
married Margaret Glasson, daughter of Ronald Glasson,
of the city of Glasgow, he emigrated first to County
Armagh, Ireland, and after residing there a few years
he came to America in 1736. This two-fold emigration
was probably occasioned by the persecutions to which
the Presbyterians were subjected, first in Scotland and
afterwards in Ireland, for their love of civil and religious
liberty, and for their brave and firm resistance to tyranny
in both church and state.
Besides his three sons, Hugh, James, and John, and
his daughters, Rachel and Margaret, there came
also with him to America his two nephews, Hugh and
James, and his niece, who had married a Mr. Polk in
Ireland.
It is uncertain whether they landed at Philadelphia
or at New Castle, Del., but it is clear that they made
their first settlement in West Nottingham, in Chester
county, Pa., and on the east side of the Octorara Creek,
near to the Maryland line. This settlement was about
thirty miles nearly west of New Castle, and only about
fifteen miles west of another larger colony of Alex-
anders who, in 1712, had already settled in the adja-
cent county of Cecil, in Maryland, on a tract called New
Munster. In the preceding century a stream of immi-
gration had been attracted from Scotland and Ireland
into Pennsylvania and Maryland by the religious tolera-
I J Introduction.
tion which was guaranteed by those Provinces. This
stream, slow at first, had now become so rapid that it
brouirht six or seven thousand famiUes annually
into Pennsylvania alone, and twelve thousand fami-
lies annually a few years later. This great flow of
population was mainly from the North of Ireland, and
almost entirely Presbyterian, for the great Catholic
Irish immigration did not fairly commence until a
much later period. These people spread themselves
rapidly, from 1725 to 1765, through a large portion
of Eastern and Western Pennsylvania, through the
central portion of Virginia, and into North Carolina,
becoming the basis of the Presbyterian Church in
America, and " constituting an element of the body
politic second in value to no other either in peace or
war."
After residing a few years in Chester county our
small colony divided and dispersed. The nephews,
James and Hugh Alexander, with Mr. and Mrs.
Polk, went to Mecklenberg county, N. C, while John,
with his son of the same name, and his two daughters,
removed first to the neighborhood of Carlisle, and after-
wards to the vicinity of Chamber shiirg, in Franklin
county, Pa., in each of which places he bought and
sold farms. In the latter place he and his wife Mar-
garet are supposed to have died during the troublesome
times of the Revolution, leaving his plantation to his
son John, who was charged with the care of his unmar-
ried sister Margaret. The tradition that he moved
from Franklin county, and died near Martinsburg, Va.,
is no doubt a mistake, arising from the fact that his
daughter Rachel, who married Joseph Vance, moved
to that part of Virginia. The fact that his son John,
whose will is recorded in Chambersburg, died a citizen
of Green Township, Franklin county, Pa., in 1806,
Introduction. 1 3
makes it almost certain that the same had been the
residence of his father also. His removals from place
to place, taken in connection with the newness and the
distractions of the settlements, must account for our
knowing so little of an ancestor whose memory thou-
sands of living descendants would love to cherish.
Mr. Scott, a Postmaster in Mercersburg, who was
eighty-eight years of age in 1830, and had been a near
neighbor to John Alexander, both when he lived near
Carlisle and afterwards near Chambersburg, testified to
the incorruptible integrity and general excellence of
his character. " Few men," said he, " could be found
like that John Alexander."
Having made these introductory remarks respecting
the Founder of our Family, we will give some account
of his posterity on the plan of devoting a separate Part
of the Record to the descendants of each one of his
children, Hugh, James, Rachel, and John. His other
daughter, Margaret, died without issue.
PART I.
THE DESCENDANTS OF HUGH ALEXANDER.
It is uncertain whether Hugh Alexander, eldest son
of John of Lanark, was born in Scotland, or in County
Armagh, Ireland. He was probably a lad of twelve
years when his father's family emigrated to America,
1736, In consequence of the burning of his house and
papers by the Indians in 1754 little can be known of
his early youth. In accordance with a laudable custom
of early times that every boy must learn some useful
trade, Hugh Alexander had learned those of a Wheel-
wright and Carpenter — trades especially in demand
when the settlers in the wilderness must all be housed
by the builder, and clothed with the domestic produc-
tions of the spinning-wheel and loom. It is known
that he practised these trades while residing in West
Nottingham, Chester Co., on the Octorara, though at
the same time he w^as also engaged in agriculture. The
oldest document pertaining to his business, in the pos-
session of the writer, is a receipt for fifty bushels of
wheat which he had delivered to one Henry Willis,
dated March 31, 1753. The next in order of time is a
receipt dated 1755, given by George Armstrong, who
had surveyed a tract of land for Hugh Alexander in
Sherman's Valley, and had received his fee.
We copy an old Indenture for the historical interest
of its dates, names of persons and places, and to illus-
trate the strictness of early times. The penmanship is
15
1 6 The (Descendants of
marvellous, the letters being all printed with a goose-
quill pen, of about the size of Pica type, and almost as
neatly as could be done with types. The paper is all
brown with age, but the ink is still as black and the
letters as distinct, after one hundred and eighteen years,
as if they were just from the*\vriter's pen.
"This Indenture Witnesseth that William Brown, son
of James Brown of New Castle County in the Province
of Pennsylvania, hath put himself, & by these presents
doth voluntarily & of his own free will & accord put
himself Apprentice to Hugh Alexander of the Township
of West Nottingham in the County of Chester in the
Province aforesaid, to learn the Arts, Trades or Mys-
teries of a Carpenter & Wheel Wright: & after the
manner of an apprentice to Serve him from the day of
the date of this Indenture for and during the full term
of Eighteen Months next ensuing the date hereof, & so
till the said term be complete and ended. During all
which term the said Apprentice his said Master faith-
fully shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful command-
ments gladly everywhere obey. He shall do no damage
to his said Master, nor see it to be done by others with-
out giving Notice thereof to his said Master. He shall
not Waste his said Master's Goods nor lend them un-
lawfully to any : He shall not commit fornication. Nor
contract Matrimony within the said term. At cards,
dice, or any other unlawful Games he shall not play
whereby his said Master may be damaged: nor buy nor
sell without Leave from his said Master, Nor haunt
Taverns or Play-houses — but in all things behave him-
self as a faithful apprentice during the said term —
Absenting himself neither day nor night from his Mas-
ter's Service without leave from his said Master.
And he, the said Master Hugh Alexander, shall use
Hugh Alexander. 17
the utmost of his endeavor to Teach and Instruct the
said Apprentice in the Trades, Arts and Mysteries of a
Carpenter & Wheel Wright according to the best of
his knowledge during said term of Eighteen Months ;
and shall procure and provide for said Apprentice Suffi-
cient Meat, Drink, Washing, Lodging & apparel suita-
ble for an xlpprentice during the Said Term ; and at the
expiration shall give him one new suit of wearing
apparel : and for the true performance of the said Cove-
nants & Agreements either of the said Parties do bind
themselves to the other by these Presents ; In Witness
whereof they have interchangeably set their hands and
seals this Thirteenth Day of October, Anno Domino,
One Thousand Seven hundred & Fifty Seven — 1757.
William Brown, [seal.]
Witn esses Presen f ,
John Gartril,
William Allen.
About this time he made with his own hands for his
brother James, a secretary with drawers below, and slips
and pigeon-holes above for books and papers, with
hinged lid to close and lock upward, or to open down-
ward for a writing-desk. The drawers are bordered
with vine work of inlaid wood of lighter color, and the
whole exhibits a degree of curious art and skill of which
no workman needs be ashamed. This heirloom is still
in its integrity, preserved in the old homestead of James
by his grandson Napoleon B. Alexander, in Kishaco-
quillas Valley.
The papers referred to show that Hugh Alexander
was residing in Nottingham, Chester county, in 1757,
and that before that date he owned land in Tyrone town-
ship, Cumberland county (now Perry county), in Sher-
man's Valley. There is a reliable tradition that his
1 8 The (Descendants of
oldest child Margaret was born in Sherman's Valley, in
1754 — that in her childhood her parents fled several
times from Sherman's Valley back to their old home on
the "Eastern Shore of Maryland" from Indian raids,
and returned to find their habitation burned. The " old
home " was no doubt that of Margaret's mother, East of
the Susquehanna in Cecil county, Md. In 1752 he
married *Martha Edmiston, of Lower West Notting-
ham, Cecil county, Md., whose father David Edmiston
was born in the year 1700 and died Nov. 2, 1771. Her
* Note. — From the Records of Cecil county it appears that the
Edmiston Family, in 1740, owned a tract of land (980 acres) on the Octo-
rara Creek, at the mouth of Stony Run, of which Dr. Samuel Edmiston,
Martha's brother, sold 33 acres and a mill property in 1795 for £800.
Also David Edmiston, brother of Martha, owned " Stony Purchase,"
bounded West by the Ootorara and North by the Pennsylvania line. On
this property Margaret Donnel Edmiston lived with her son David after
the death of her husband David Edmiston, Senr. Here she was visited
by her granddaughter Margaret, in 1795, when she married Andrew
Mitchel.
The children of David Edmiston and Margaret Donnel were :
1. Martha, born 1733-4; married Hugh Alexander, as above.
2. Samuel, physician, born July 21, 1746 ; a graduate of Princeton Col-
lege under Dr. Finley, and long a ruling elder in Fagg's Manor Presbyterian
church; married Martha, daughter of Samuel Bh\ir, D.D., of said church
in Chester county ; died January 16, 1816.
3. David, long a ruling elder in Lower West Nottingham church, Cecil
county, Maryland ; a bachelor of considei-able estate, whose will dates
1809, and is recorded at Elkton, Maryland.
4. Margaret married Mr. Donnel and went to North Carolina.
5. Mary married John Stephenson, of Cecil county, Maryland.
6. Sarah married her cousin, John Edmiston, of Virginia.
7. Elizabeth married her cousin, Samuel Edmiston, of Virginia.
8. Hannah married a Mr. Scott, of Maryland.
The parents and David were probably buried in the old Presbyterian
churchyard at Rising Sun, Maryland.
The children of Dr. Samuel Edmiston and Martha Blair were: Fran-
cisca Bhiir, married John Hamilton, of '* Fermanagh," and Margaret
Donnel, married Joseph Turner, of Chester county. Their children are :
Samuel, Rebecca, Francisca Blair, James, Washington B., Joseph and
Martha Mary.
This genealogy is mainly derived from Mrs. Margaret Donnel Turner,
of Chester County, a widow now iu her eighty-ninth year (1875).
Hugh Alexander. 19
mother's maiden name was Margaret Donnel. Martha
was born in 1733-4. About 1758 Hugh Alexander es-
tablished himself permanently on his farm in Sherman's
Valley. His tract contained 1100 acres, now owned by
five or six persons. The site of the okl homestead is
owned by Mr. Jacob Bixler, who has near by a grist-mill
and a woollen mill.
His energy and success as a man of business are evi-
dent, from the fact that in 1777 he had acquired, besides
his farm in Sherman's Valley, tracts of land in Lost
Creek and Kishacoquillas Valleys, and on the North
Branch of the Susquehanna.
When British oppression had roused the spirit of the
American patriots to open resistance, Hugh Alexander
consecrated his time, energy and life to the cause of
Freedom. His eldest son John hastened with other vol-
unteers to reinforce Washington's army on the Dela-
ware in December of 1776, and participated in the cap-
ture of the Hessians at Trenton, on the 26th of that
month, which turned the tide of victory and revived the
desponding spirit of the nation. The father was in the
council while the son was in the field.
The Continental Congress on the 10th of May, 1776,
having recommended to the Assemblies of the several
Colonies, where no governments sufiicient to the exigen-
cies of their affairs existed, to adopt such systems as in
the opinion of the representatives of the people would
best conduce to the happiness and safety of their con-
stituents in particular and British America in general,
the Colony of Pennsylvania took action in order as fol-
lows :
1. The Committee of Safety, of the city of Philadel-
phia, invited the Committees of Safety in the counties,
severally to send deputies to a Conference which met in
20 The (Descendants of
that city June 18, 1876. Hugh Alexander was one of
the deputies from Cumberland county.
This Conference of deputies issued an address to the
Associators or Patriotic Volunteers of Pennsylvania, made
a declaration in favor of Independence, passed resolu-
tions for raising 6,000 troops for the "Flying Camp" of
10,000, and made arrangements for the election of dele-
gates from the counties to a Constitutional Convention.
To show the action and influence of this Conference
in securing the vote of Pennsylvania in favor of the
Declaration of Independence, we make the following ex-
tract from a Historical Sketch of Middle Spring Presby-
terian church in Cumberland county, by the Rev. J.
Jay Pomeroy :
"On June 18, 1776, there was assembled in Carpen-
ter's Hall a Provincial Conference, composed of dele-
gates from the different counties of Pennsylvania. The
circumstances under which they assemble are impres-
sive. The events that have transpired since the Pro-
vincial Committee met in the same hall nearly two
years before, are important. The subjects for delibera-
tion are of the weightiest character. The conclusion
reached showed courage, devotion, sacrifice, faith. It
brought Pennsylvania out of a state of indecision to
positive declaration on the subject of independence.
Middle Spring church, to-day, can rightly claim a large
share of the honor that crowns the labors of that memor-
able conference assembled in Carpenter's Hall one hun-
dred years ago meeting on June 18, 1776. Look at the
events that cluster around this conference. War has
actually commenced. It is over a year since the first
blood had been shed at Lexington and Concord. As
members of the Provincial Conference came together on
June 18th, it was remarked by some of the deputies, ' a
Hugh Alexander. 21
year ago yesterday the battle of Bunker Hill was
fought.' The Second Continental Congress had been in
session since May 10th. It was on the 7th of June that
Richard Henry Lee, member of Congress from Virginia,
offered the famous resolution that was the harbinser of
the Declaration of Independence, which was, ' That the
united Colonies are and ought to be free and independ-
ent States, and that their political connections with
Great Britain is and ought to be dissolved.' This reso-
lution was adopted by nine of the Colonies, by their
representatives in Congress voting for it. Of the four
remaining Colonies, New York did not vote at all,
Delaware was divided, South Carolina and Pennsylvania
voted against it.
"The subject of the Declaration of Independence was
placed in the hands of a committee, to be drawn in due
form, in which form it was to be presented to Congress
for final action. This is the critical moment. Many a
good cause has been crippled or killed in the committee-
room. The best of causes have been defeated on a
technicality. How shall the report of this committee
be made, and in what spirit will it be received ? What
will be the vote of Pennsylvania when the Declaration
is to be pronounced upon as a finality % This was the
posture of affairs when the Provincial Conference as-
sembled in Carpenter's Hall on June the 18th. These
delegates, coming directly from the people, at once
joined issue with the Provincial Assembly, who had
placed the members they had chosen to Congress under
instruction as follows: — 'We strictly enjoin you, in
behalf of this Colony, to desist and utterly reject any
proposition, should such be made, that may cause or
lead to a separation from our mother country or change
in the form of government.' This resolution had its
parentage in Joseph Galloway, a man of erudition and
22 The (Descendants of
strength, but a thorough loyalist, and Speaker of the
Provincial Assembly. While he could not resist the
mighty wave of public sentiment calling for a Conti-
nental Congress in 1774, he did what he could to
prevent the separation from the mother country, by
fastening these iron-clad instructions on the members
chosen to Congress ; hence Pennsylvania's negative
vote on the resolution for separation on June 7th, 1776.
This but incited the members of the Provincial Com-
mittee to bold and positive action. They set aside the
authority of the Provincial Assembly, and in the follow-
ing' languacfe declared their sense of right and convic-
tions of duty for themselves and their constituents:
' We, the deputies of the people of Pennsylvania,
assembled in full conference, * * * now in this public
manner, in behalf of ourselves, and with the approba-
tion, consent, and authority of our constituents, unani-
mously declare our willingness to concur in a vote of
Congress declaring the united colonies free and inde-
pendent States.'
"These words are part, but true samples of the Declara-
tion of Independence of the colony of Pennsylvania by
the Provincial Conference, signed by its deputies, and
delivered by their President to Congress. Now it is to
the imperishable honor of the Middle Spring church
that in this noted Conference approving of its action,
and signing the address to Congress calling for the
Declaration, were three of its members, John Maclay,
then an elder in this church, Hugh McCormick, and
Hugh Alexander, members of this church. The con-
spicuous place that Middle Spring church occupied in
the Valley, and her influence one hundred years ago,
can be judged from this fact, that from the nine depu-
ties who represented the great county of Cumberland
in the important Conference of 1776, at least three
HucrJi Alexander.
i3
were members of her communion. They helped to
smite the directing power of the colony from the hands
of the royalist, Galloway, to sweep away the barrier of
delay raised by the able, but hesitatins^ Dickinson.
They declared that the Scotch-Irish of Cumberland
Valley had one yoice, that it was for the union of the
colonies in separation ; they helped to place Pennsyl-
yania right upon the record, and hel[)ed, by their per-
sonal contact and patriotic address, to lead the thirteen
colonies, by their representatiyes, to unanimously adopt
the Declaration of Independence on July -ith, 177(5.
AVe haye, perhaps, unwittingly struck precisely on the
Centennial of this Conference of deputies in Pliiladel-
phia. All honor to the three wise and patriotic men
who, with others, represented the patriotism of Cum-
berland Valley a hundred years ago. Let the names
of John Maclay, Hugh Alexander., and Hugh McCor-
mick abide with us as a precious heritage."
2. The Conference of Deputies haying arranged for
the election of delegates from all the counties to a Con-
stitutional Conyention, the business proceeded with such
expedition that the election was held and the Conyen-
tion met July 15th, 1776. Hugh Alexander and Wil-
liam Clark were the delegates from Cumberland county.
This Conyention sat in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia,
and adjourned September 28th, 1776, having framed
and adopted the first free constitution of Pennsylvania.
With sundry additions and amendments, this instru-
ment remains as the fundamental law of the State.
3. In accordance with the provisions of this Consti-
tution, the members of the first free Legislature, called
the " Assembly " during the Revolution, were elected by
the people, and met in Carpenter's Hall, November
28th, 1776. Hugh Alexander, William Clarke and
24 T^^^^ descendants of
James Brown were the first Assemblymen from Cum-
berland.
From the 14th of December to the 13th of January
so many members were absent as military officers, or
engaged in raising quotas of troops at home to hurry to
the Delaware and prevent the threatened invasion of
Pennsylvania by the British army, that the Assembly
had not a quorum for business. Hugh Alexander first
took his seat in that body on the 13th of January, 1777.
On the 27th of that month he was on a committee
which reported a bill on Excise, Licenses and Taxes,
which passed into a law.
Disease had fastened upon him, and his labors in the
Assembly were destined to a speedy termination. The
House Journal of February 7th, 1777, recorded his last
vote on fixing the pay of delegates to represent the
State in the Continental Congress. March 22d, 1777,
the Journal records £11 mileage paid "for Hugh Alex-
ander, per William Clarke."
The following brief letter, addressed to his son, then
with the troops on the Delaware, is the last production
of his pen which we have seen :
"Philadelphia, Jan. 17th, 1777.
" Dear Johnney — I take this opportunity to write you
a line or two. Pray to God and trust in him. He is
able to save you where bullets fly. Obey all lawful
commands with cheerfulness, and take prudent care of
your person. Serve out your six weeks and return
home. For my sake let no man persuade you to enter
any longer into the service. Time will admit of no
more at present, from your affectionate father,
"Hugh Alexander."
Hugh Alexander. 25
John A. to his father :
"February 5th, 1777.
" Honored Father — These I send, having an opportu-
nity per Mr. Swansey. I have been ailing these four
days. I would be glad if yon would please to send by
the first opportunity your horse, that I may get to the
city, where I can get something nourishing. We are
very sickly here. Your compliance will much oblige,
your son, till death, John Alexander."
This letter of John is addressed to " Mr. Hugh Alex-
ander, Assemblyman in Philadelphia."
The injunction to return home when the term of his
enlistment should expire was laid upon the son in view
of the father's now broken and failing health. Soon
after the date of the last letter both seem to have visited
the homestead in Sherman's Valley — a short and final
visit. According to a reliable tradition, handed down
from his daughter Margaret, Hugh Alexander's death
occurred as follows:
On account of the precarious state of his health, his
wife and family remonstrated against his return to the
Assembly, but patriotic devotion prevailed, and he
returned to Philadelphia, taking John along to aid him
in case of need. He reached the hall just before the
hour to organize, was taken suddenly worse from fatigue,
and was carried to his lodgings, where he died soon
after.
His family bought a spot for sixty dollars in the old
Spruce street burying-ground, where they deposited his
remains, and placed over them a slab or stone with
appropriate inscriptions. In 1832 or 1834:, his remains
were removed and reinterred in some other place un-
known to his posterity. " He was a tall, strong, dark-
3
26 The (Descendants of
haired man, and had no fear about him." (Hamilton
Record »)
The exact day of his death is unknown, but an exist-
ing paper, a schoolmaster's bill, dated March 30th, 1777,
speaks of him as the " late Hugh Alexander." This,
with dates already given, shows that he died in February
or March, 1777, probably near the end of March.
The children of Hugh Alexander by his first wife,
Martha Edmiston, were: Margaret, John, Mary, David
and Hugh. By a second marriage to Mrs. Lettice
Thompson, about 1773, he had a son, James, and a pair
of twins, AVilliam and Emily. These were born Decem-
ber 25, 1777, nearly nine months after the death of
their father.
Mrs. Lettice Thompson Alexander had been the
widow of Mr. James Thompson, who, from certain old
receipts bearing date 1766-68, appears to have been a
paying member of the Presbyterian church in Carlisle,
under the Rev. George Duffield, D.D. A widow the
second time, about 1797 she removed with her children,
James and Emily Alexander, to McKeesport, Allegheny
county. Pa. When these children had married, she
removed and lived in Butler, Butler county. Pa., with
a son by her first marriage.
Hugh Alexander. 27
CHAPTER I.
THE DESCENDANTS OF MARGARET ALEXANDER AND JOHN
HAMILTON.
Margaret Alexander, born in Sherman's Valley,
1754, married John Hamilton, December, 1772.
The issue of this marriage is taken from "a copy of
the Record of John and Margaret Alexander Hamilton,
1772, in a Bible printed in London, 1732, belonging to
Martha Edmiston Alexander, presented by her mother
(Margaret Donnel Edmiston) in 1734, the year of her
birth."
"children's NAMES.
1. Jean Hamilton, daughter of John Hamilton, was
born on the first day of June, 1774.
2. Martha Hamilton was born on the fifth day of
August, 1776.
3. The first boy was born February 1, 1781. (Died
in March.)
4. John Hamilton was born September, the 10th day,
1782, at nine o'clock in the morning.
5. Hugh Hamilton was born the 30th day of June,
1785, at two o'clock in the morning.
6. Mary Hamilton was born the 30th day of Decem-
ber, 1787. (Died.)
7. Margaret Hamilton was born the 11th day of
August, at four o'clock in the morning, 1789.
8. Kitty Allen Hamilton, the 13th day of November,
at four o'clock in the afternoon, 1792." (From the
Hamilton Record.)
28 The ^Descendants of
John Hamilton, first husband of Margaret Alex-
ander, was the son of a senior John H., who first mar-
ried Isabella Potter in Ireland, and, after her death,
married Jane Allen, daughter of Robert Allen, of Scot-
land and Philadelphia, 1748, and settled on a plantation
at Londonderry, Chester county, Pa. He was a Pres-
byterian— a man of standing and considerable property.
When he died, in 1755, he left to his only son by Jane
Allen, John, then only six years old, a farm and falling
mill on Sherman's Creek. When John came of age he
went to possess his patrimony on Sherman's Creek, and
there met with Margaret Alexander, daughter of Hugh,
whom he married in 1772, aged twenty-three and six-
teen years.
Starting full-handed from both father and mother,
and possessing great energy and tact, he accumulated a
fortune — quite large for the times — in farms, mills and
valuable properties in Harrisburg. Having resided a
short time after marriage on Sherman's Creek, he re-
moved and established himself at " Fermanagh," on the
Juniata, where he erected the large stone mansion now
(1875) occupied by his grandson, Hugh Plamilton.
From " Fermanagh" he removed to Harrisburg, where
he died suddenly, of a prevailing epidemic, August 28,
1793, aged forty-four, and was buried there beside his
mother, Jane Allen Hamilton, who, after the death of
her first husband, had married an Irish gentleman, John
Mitchel, and he having died without issue, she lived
with her son at Fermanagh and at Harrisburg, where
she died February 4, 1794, aged seventy-six. A woman
tall, fair, hale, cheerful, intelligent, energetic and highly
educated.
On the death of her husband, Mrs. Margaret Alex-
ander Hamilton was a handsome and wealthy widow,
thirty-five years of age, with six minor children. After
Hugh Alexander. 29
a widowhood of two or three years, she too, by a singu-
lar coincidence, married a Mr. Mitchel, but not a kins-
man of his whom her mother-in-law had married thirty
years before.
Mr. Andrew Mitchel, born November 1, 1754, in
Dublin; emigrated in 177-i; a Lieutenant in the Revo-
lution. Settled in Harrisburg and married Margaret
A. Hamilton, 1795. Issue:
Mary Gordon Mitchel, born xlpril 29, 1796 ; died.
Jane Alexander Mitchel, born July 17, 1799.
These were born in Harrisburg, Pa.
Mrs. Margaret A. Hamilton-Mitchel, a second time a
widow, died at " Fermanagh," December 22d, 1835,
eighty-one years from her birth in Sherman's Valley, in
175-1, and was buried in the Presbyterian churchyard
at Mifflintown, Juniata county, Pa. Summer and win-
ter she took a cup of tea at daylight. Unusually early,
tidy and active in her habits, of good stature, sound
health, even temper and " beautiful complexion."
SECTION I.— THE FAMILY OF JEAN HAMILTON.
Jean Hamilton married John Kean, December 10,
1789.
CHILDREN.
1. John Hamilton Kean, born at Harrisburg, 1795 ;
died young.
2. Mary Kean, born at Harrisburg, 1797; died 1803.
3. Louisa Kean, born at New Market Forge, Lebanon
county. Pa.
4. Margaret Matilda Kean, born at Palmyra; died
1855.
5. Jane Duffield Kean, born at Palmyra; unmarried,
and living with her sister, Mrs. Louisa Power, at Har-
risburg.
30 The (Descendants of
Mrs. Jean Kean was bora in Sherman's Valley, 1774.
She was the first that joined the Presbyterian church of
Harrisburg, by profession of faith — 1793 — and lived a
consistent member of the same for fifty years. She died
at Harrisburg March 20, 1847, aged seventy-three years,
and was buried at Paxton, near Harrisburg, with her
husband and children.
John Kean, son of a senior John Kean, who came
from Ireland in 1742, was born at Philadelphia, on
October 3, 1762. One of the earliest settlers in Harris-
burg— active, intelligent, and public-spirited — he was
entrusted with many and important public offices, —
Judge of Dauphin county. County Commissioner, State
Senator for eight years. Register General of Pennsyl-
vania, an elector voting for Jeff'erson in 1800, for many
years a Justice of the Peace ; by occupation, a merchant.
He died December 9, 1818, aged fifty-six.
3. Louisa Kean married General Samuel Power, July
3, 1836. Issue, one daughter; died.
General Power, a native of Virginia, a Major in the
war of 1812, Adjutant-General of Pennsylvania for six
years, and member of the State Legislature for some
years, lived about forty years at Beaver, Pa., where he
died August 22, 1 840, aged sixty-five years.
Mrs. Power, his widow, resides ia Harrisburg, 1875.
SECTION II.
Martha Hamilton married James Alricks, 1798.
Mrs. Alricks, born at Harris' Ferry, now Harrisburg,
1776, lived after marriage at "Oakland Mill," Lost
Creek, where all her children were born ; a woman
greatly beloved for her many and rare virtues, and per-
sonal attractions. She died March 16, 1830, and was
Hugh Alexander. 31
"buried at Harrisburgli, with her husband, children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren." Her hus-
band, James Alricks, Esq., of respectable Holland de-
scent, was the son of Hermanns, the son of Petrus, the
son of Jacob, who came from Holland as director of the
West India Company of Amsterdam in 1657. Her-
manns was the first Prothonotary of Cumberland county;
married Ann West, and had four sons, of whom James
was the youngest. After marriage, he lived a farmer
and miller at "Oakland Mills." In 1815 he engaged
in merchandizing in Harrisburg ; was Clerk of Orphans
and Quarter Sessions, 1820, and afterwards served as
magistrate. " He was a large, handsome and attractive
man." He died October 28, 1833, aged sixty-four.
CHILDREN.
1, Ann West; 2, Margaret Hamilton — died; 3, Her-
man ; 4, Hamilton ; 5, Jane ; 6, Frances E. ; 7, Catha-
rine Allen — died.
1. Ann West Alricks married Samuel Thompson, of
Mexico, Pa. No issue.
3. Herman Alricks married Mary Elder Kerr.,
daughter of Rev. AVilliam Kerr, of Donegal, Lancaster
county, 1831. Mrs. Alricks died March 30, 1857.
Mr. Alricks was an eminent lawyer and a Christian
gentleman, highly esteemed and greatly respected; dis-
tinguished for kind and considerate attention to his
female relatives, for public spirit and patriotism, and for
procuring a law protecting the married women of Penn-
sylvania in the possession of their own money, thus
shielding many from poverty and suffering. He died
January 28, 1874, and was buried at Harrisburg.
CHILDREN.
a. Mary Wilson; h. James — died; c. Jane — died,
32 The (Descendants of
1839; d. William Kerr; e. Hamilton; f. Herman —
died; g. Clara Bull ; li. Martha Orth ; i. Rosanna Ham-
ilton— died.
a. Mary Wilson Alricks married James McCormicA\
Jr., banker, son of James McCormick, Esq., son of Wil-
liam McCormick, of Cumberland county, Pa.
CHILDREN.
Herman Alricks, Henry, William, James, Donald,
Eliza, Mary Kerr.
This family resides at Harrisburg, and belong to the
Pine street Presbyterian church.
4. Hamilton Alricks married Caroline Jacobs Bull,
daughter of Eev. Dr. Levi Bull, of Chester county,
December 28, 1837. Mr. Alricks, an eminent lawyer
of Harrisburg, has been a Representative of Pennsyl-
vania, and was a member of the Constitutional Conven-
tion of 1872-3.
CHILDREN.
a. Anne Bull; h. Martha; c. Caroline Jacobs — died;
d. Levi Bull; e. Eliza Jane — died.
a. Anne Bull Alricks married Benjamin Law Foster,
June 8, 1864. Mr. Foster, a lawyer of Harrisburg, is
the son of Gen. John Foster, of Lancaster county.
Children: Caroline Alricks, John Douglass.
d. Levi Bull Alricks married Anna Henderson, Octo-
ber 1, 1873, daughter of John G. Henderson, of Dela-
ware county, Pa. Mr. Alricks is a lawyer, of Harris-
burg. Issue: one child, John Hamilton Alricks, 1875.
All the families of Hamilton Alricks reside at Har-
risburg.
5. Jane Alricks married Ovid Frazer Johnson,
Hugh Alexander. 33
Attorney General of Pennsylvania under Governor
Porter, son of Rev. J. P. Johnson, of Wilkesbarre, Pa.
Children: 1, Fannie Alricks ; 2, Hannah lanthe ;
3, Martha Alricks ; 4, Ovid Frazer. Residence, Har-
risburg. Pa.
SECTION IV.— THE FAMILY OF JOHN HAMILTON.
John Hamilton, of " Fermanagh," married, February
14, 1805, his cousin, Francesca Blair Edmiston, daughter
of Dr. Samuel Edmiston, brother of Martha Edmiston,
who married Hugh Alexander. Dr. Edmiston married
Martha, daughter of Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair, of Chester
county. Mrs. Blair was Francesca Van Hook, daughter
of Lawrence Van Hook, Common Pleas Judge of New
York, 1664.
Mrs. Hamilton died March 4, 1818, at Fermanagh,
and was buried at Mifflintown.
" John Hamilton was of particularly fine personal
presence, fair, ruddy, auburn hair, a stature of six feet,
and an intelligent Christian gentleman." To these were
added the intellectual culture of academic and collegiate
education. Though often solicited, and highly qualified
to occupy official stations, he always declined, in favor
of agricultural pursuits on his fine paternal estate at
Fermanagh, where he lived from his marriage till his
death, June 2, 1851, aged sixty-nine; buried at Mif-
flintown.
CHILDREN.
1. Samuel Edmiston ; 2, John Andrew — died;
3, Hugh Alexander ; 4, Margaret Mitchel ; 5, Martha
Edmiston — died; 6, Thomas A. — died; 7, Francesca
Blair ; 8, Hugh ; 9, Van Hook.
1. Samuel Edmiston Hamilton married Sarah Hawk,
of Juniata county, August 6, 1839.
34 ^he (Descendants of
Issue : a. Francesca Blair ; h. John Hamilton ; c. Mary ;
d. Susan Hawk — died ; e. Margaret.
a. Francesca Blair Hamilton married Jacob Godshal.
No issue.
e. Margaret Hamilton married Wellington Smith.
3. Hugh Hamiltojst married Sarah Getty McDowell,
of Chester county.
Issue : a. Mary McDowell Hamilton.
h. John Hamilton, Professor in the Agricultural Col-
lege of Pennsylvania.
3. Hugh Hamilton married, secondly, Sarah Ann
Kloss, of Juniata county, March 5, 1850.
Children: a. Susan Alice; h. Martha Ann; c. Emma
Jane; d. Ossian Kloss; e. Rosanna C; f. Francesca
Blair ; g. Sarah Ellen ; h. Hugh.
a. Mary McDowell Hamilton married Ezra Parker,
lawyer, of Mifflintown, Juniata county, February, 1863.
Children : Andrew Parker, born November 19, 1863 ;
James Frow Parker, born 1864 — died an infant.
Mrs. Mary McD. H, Parker died November 25, 1864.
4. Margaret Mitchel Hamilton married Jesse
Alexander ; died without issue.
7. Francesca Blair Hamilton married, first, Hon.
Amos Gustine, a member of Congress, May, 1836, who
died.
7. She married, secondly, Dr. James Frow, of Mifflin-
town, who died. No issue.
section v.
Hugh Hamilton married Hosanna Boyd, daughter of
Adam Boyd, of Harrisburg, January 6, 1807. Born at
Fermanagh, 1785, Hugh removed with his father to
Harrisburg in 1786, when a year and a half old. His
father dying when he was eight years old, his training
Hugh Alexander. -jc
, , , ,. 1137074
devolved on his mother and her second husband, Andrew
Mitchel, a gentleman of superior culture. He graduated
at Dickinson College with his brother John, studied law
at Harrisburg, and was admitted to the bar in June,
1805, while yet a minor. Preferring the excitement of
political life, he became an editor, first of " The Times,"
published at Lancaster and Harrisburg, 1808, then of
the "Harrisburg Chronicle," 1812, which became and
continued long a paper of great influence and import-
ance. The writer recalls the familiar form of the
"Chronicle," for many years the only newspaper of
boyish and youthful years, coming from the editor as a
token of kind regard to a father who has passed away.
Though both editor and paper have also passed away,
the fruits and effects of their existence have been, and
still are widespread, abundant and precious.
Though a man of delicate health, his versatile talents,
indomitable energy and restless activity enabled him to
exert an extensive and powerful influence. His con-
versational powers and various knowledge of men and
things made him an agreeable companion ; and his posi-
tion as reporter for many years of legislative proceedings,
brought him into intimate and pleasant relations with
leading men in all parts of the country. Besides the
chief municipal offices of Harrisburg which he fre-
quently filled, he was appointed sole Notary Public of
Dauphin county for life. He died at his residence, in
Harrisburg, September 3, 1836, aged fifty-one years,
and was buried there with many of his kindred.
Rosanna Boyd was born at Harrisburg, December 1,
1786. Her great-grandfather, John Boyd, emigrated
from Ireland to America in 1714. Her father, born in
1746, a carpenter in youth, an officer in the Revolution,
a farmer on the Conedoguinet — he finally purchased
^6 The (Descendants of
some land of John Harris, erected a house, and settled
in Harrisburg about 1783.
" Rosanna Boyd Hamilton lived a widow thirty-six
years, and was a member of the Presbyterian church for
sixty-four years. While other books and periodicals
received her attention, her Bible was her daily compan-
ion and chief treasure through life. Its delightful influ-
ence was illustrated in her active, charitable, cheerful
and exemplary life and happy death. In the hour of
departure she expressed her simple faith in Christ, by
repeating aloud :
" Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling ;"
and gently passed from life April 17, 1872, aged eighty-
five years. She was short of stature, slightly formed,
brisk, healthy, uniform in temper, and retained in later
life so much of the freshness and vivacity of youth that
her society was much sought and greatly enjoyed by
youthful friends and visitors. Their children were :
1. Adam Boyd Hamilton, printer and prominent citi-
zen of Harrisburg; married Miss Madine.
2. Alexander Hamilton died unmarried.
3. John Hamilton married ; is a widower
(1874) with children, in Texas.
4. Thomas Allen Hamilton lives (1875) in the old
homestead, in Harrisburg, unmarried.
5. Margaret Hamilton married Nelson McAlister, and
died, leaving no issue.
6. William Hamilton is a lawyer, living in Bellefonte,
Pa.; unmarried (1875).
SECTION VI.
Mary Hamilton, born December 30, 1 787 ; died un-
married.
Hugh Alexander. 37
SECTION VII.
Margaret Hamilton married Moses Maclean, at
Harrisburg, April 18, 1809. She died at the early age
of twenty-five, November 18, 1814. She was buried at
Harrisburg.
Moses Maclean, born in Adams county. Pa., 1785.
He was well educated, of a fine literary taste, a wit and
a poet. He entered the legal profession, and removed to
Harrisburg, 1807. He died and was buried at Hunt-
ingdon, where his father had been an active official about
the time of the Revolution. Issue :
1. Sarah Maclean, born April 16, 1811.
2. Margaret Maclean, born April 3, 1813.
3. Catharine Maclean, born October 26, 1814.
1. Sarah Maclean married Dr. William Elder, of
Somerset county, who studied his profession under Dr.
Thomas Whiteside. Issue: one daughter.
Jessie Elder ^ born October 7, 1835, married John
Luther Ringwalt, of Lancaster county, June 15, 1863.
CHILDREN.
a. Roland Ringwalt, born April 6, 1864.
h. William Elder Ringwalt, born February 2, 1866.
c. Catharine Ringwalt, born May 5, 1867.
d. Jessie Ringwalt, born January 30, 1869; died July
14, 1869.
e. Louise Luthur Ringwalt, born July 25, 1870.
/. Edith Hamilton Ringwalt, born February 14, 1873;
died November 7, 1873.
Dr. and Mrs. Elder reside in Washington City ; the
family of Mr. Ringwalt in Philadelphia, and the Misses
Maclean at York, Pa.
38 The (Descendants of
SECTION VIII.
Katherine Allen Hamilton married Jacob Spang-
LER, at Harrisburg, 1820. Soon after her marriage, she
removed to York, Pa. " She was an earnestly religious
woman who, with her half-sister, Jane Mitchel White-
side, and Louisa Kean Power, were among the earliest
officers of the first Sabbath-school established in Har-
risburg, in 1816." (Hamilton Record.) She died at
Harrisburg, June 12, 1873, aged eighty-one years.
The children of this marriage are :
1. Martha Dorothea Spangler.
2. Jacob Rudolph Spangler.
3. Jane Martha Spangler.
4. Rosanna Hamilton Spangler ; died,
5. Susan Elizabeth Spangler.
6. Frances Spangler; died.
General Jacob Spangler, son of Rudolph Spangler
and Dorothea Dinkle, born in York county, 1768, was
a watchmaker in early life. He was soon called to fill
public positions. He was successively Postmaster,
County Surveyor, County Commissioner, Brigadier
General, Representative in Congress, 1816, and Sur-
veyor General. "A dark complexioned, tall, active
man, of domestic habits, methodical and prosperous.
He died at York, 1843, aged seventy-five years."
1. Margaret Dorothea Spangler married Stokes L.
Roberts, a lawyer. Representative and Judge of Bucks
county. Pa. No issue.
2. Jacob Rudolph Spangler married Frances Elliott,
daughter of Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliott, United
States Navy.
CHILDREN.
a. Elliott Hamilton Spangler.
b. Harry Allen Spangler.
Hugh Alexander. 39
c. Frances Elliott Spangler.
d. Jacob Rudolph Spangler.
e. Washington Elliott Spangler.
f. Ellen Duncan Spangler.
a. Elliott Hamilton Spangler married Sarah House-
holder.
c. Frances E. Spangler married George Schultz, of
York. Child: Blanche Schultz.
h. Harry Allen Spangler married , in
Indiana, and died, leaving a widow and a daughter.
e. Washington Elliott Spangler married Ann Shetly^
1874.
3. Jane Martha Spangler married John H. Small,
of York, Pa., son of Henry Small.
Child: Henry Small, who is now (1875) cultivating
his decided taste and talent for music in Leipsic, Ger-
many.
5. Susan Elizabeth Spangler married William Rad-
cliffe DeWitt, J/.D., of Harrisburg, son of Rev. Wil-
liam R. DeWitt, son of Capt. John DeWitt. Issue :
1. William Radcliffe DeWitt.
2. John Hamilton DeWitt ; died.
1875. — The family of Dr. DeWitt resides in Harris-
burg ; that of S. L. Roberts in Doylestown ; the remain-
der at York, Pa.
SECTION IX.
Ifary Gordon Mitchel, eldest daughter of Andrew
Mitchel and Margaret Hamilton A., born April 29,
1796 ; died young and unmarried.
SECTION X.
Jane Alexander Mitchel, born July 17, 1799; mar-
ried Dr. Thomas Whiteside, son of the Hon. John
40 The descendants of
Whiteside, of Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pa., No-
vember 29, 1819. Issue:
1. Margaret Mitchel Whiteside, born September 11,
1829; married Dr. Abraham Cypher Stees, March 6,
1839. Children:
a. Marion Stees ; died.
b. Jane Whiteside Stees.
c. Thomas Whiteside Stees.
d. Clarence Stees.
e. John Irvine Stees.
f. Herman Aldricks Stees.
^. Abraham Cypher Stees.
b. Jane Whiteside Stees married Joseph R. Orwig.,
April 18, 1865. Residence, Union county, Pa.
Children : Maud Orwig, Mary Meyer Orwig, Clara
Beaver Orwig, Ralph Orwig.
2. Philip Spig Whiteside, druggist, born November
1, 1824; married 3Iarg E. Simpson, of Philadelphia,
January 10, 1849. Residence, Philadelphia. Children:
a. Amelia Jane Whiteside.
b. William Elder Whiteside.
3. Mary Elton Whiteside, born July 21, 1827; mar-
ried William Brown Brandon, of Adams county,
November 24, 1857. Residence, Newville, Cumber-
land county. Pa. Children :
a. Jane Whiteside Brandon, born Oct. 6, 1858.
b. Katherine Hamilton Brandon, born Dec. 3, 1859.
c. Ellen Martha Brandon, born July 28, 1861; died
Nov. 20, 1870.
4. Rosanna Katherine Whiteside, born Dec. 3, 1830;
died January 13, 1835.
5. AndrewMitchelWhiteside,b. Dec. 13, 1833; died.
6. Jane Gordon Whiteside, born July 21, 1835,
Hugh Alexander. 41
married Le'vjh BicJnnond Baugher, of Adams county,
December 28, 1860. llesidence. New York City.
Children: «. Mary Whiteside Baugher. h. Thomas
Brooks Baugher — died. c. Henry Lewis Baugher — died.
CHAPTER II.
THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN ALEXDANER, THE SOX OF
HUGH.
It is uncertain whether John Alexander, the second
child and oldest son of Hugh Alexander, was born im
Nottingham, Chester Co., or in Sherman's Valley, then,
in Cumberland, but now in Perry Co., Pa. His birthi
was about the year 1756, when Indian incursions caused'
his parents to change their residence several times>
before being permanently established in the latter place
about 1758.
Little is known of his childhood and youth, which
were spent on his father's farm in Sherman's Valley,
near Landisburg, on the waters of Sherman's Creek.
From this retirement he came to the aid of his country
in the darkest hour of her distress, in December, 1776,.
and was in the army at the capture of the Hessians at
Trenton, on the 25th of that month. The letter to his
lather, already quoted, shows that he was yet in camp
on the 5th of February, 1777. March 22, '77, he
received pay for express riding for the Assembly. His
father having died suddenly in Philadelphia, in March
of the same year, on him and on his widowed step-
mother, as executors,, devolved the settlement of the-
4
4 2 The (Descendants of
estate and the care of the young^er children. Several
years furnish only business papers relating to such mat-
ters.
About the year 1780 he married Miss Margaret
Clark,* of Sherman's Valley.
In 1787 he removed, with his wife and three chil-
dren, Frances, Hugh, and Samuel, to a tract of about
one thousand acres in Little Valley, Pa., which he had
purchased from Christopher Martin. Among his papers
is an article of agreement allowing John Wood, a tenant
of Martin, to take from the land certain growing crops
of that year; also a certificate of the membership of
himself and his wife in the Presbyterian church in Sher-
man's Valley, dated in 1787, and signed by the pastor,
the Kev. James Linn.
This tract lies four miles north-east from Lewistown,
the county-seat of Mifflin county, and one mile east of
Freedom Iron Works. It extends from the top of a
ridge on the south to Jacks Mountain, including lands
now occupied and owned by Mrs. Jane B. Alexander,
Mr. Hoofnoggle, James Alexander, and Henry P. Alex-
ander.
John Alexander bore the reputation of an intelligent,
upright, and pious man. He was one of the founders
of the Little Valley church, and for many years, and
* The brothers and sisters of this Clark family were :
1. Robert Clark, who married Mary, the sister of John Alexander.
2. Thomas ; 3. John ; 4. Mary ; 5. Frances ; 6. Margaret.
Frances Clark married Mr. McClintock, and moved to Kentucky, 1798.
4. Mary Clark married James Dickson, and removed to Little Valley,
Mifflin county, Pa., and lived on a farm, afterwards owned by William
Wills. Lssue :
1. Thomas Dixon, who married Nancy Wright.
2. Margaret Dixon, married McGill Burns, of Mifflin county, Pa.
3. Mary Dixon, married James Burns, the father of James Burns, Esq.,
a wealthy citizen of Lewistown.
4. Frances Dixon, married George Kelley, and moved to Erie, Pa.
Hugh Alexander. 43
until his death, an active ruling elder. He was an
exemplary citizen in all the relations of life, trainin^r
his children in the strict, religious, good old Scotch-
Irish mode, which has always and everywhere proved
its excellence by its happy results. In this system the
Sabbath, the church, the Bible, the catechism, and
family worship had their due places and proper use in
forming the characters of the rising generation. Intel-
ligent, industrious, conscientious, and reliable men and
women were the ordinary results.
After living on this tract the quiet and independent
life of a prosperous farmer, John Alexander died No-
vember 2'3d, 1816, aged about sixty years, and was
buried in the graveyard* of the Stone (now Brick)
Presbyterian church in East Kishacoquillas. The old
mansion is the house now (1875) occupied by Mr.
Hoofnoggle. At his death the large tract, which he
had divided into three farms, was occupied by his sons,
Samuel, Thomas, and John.
His wife, Margaret, was a pious and excellent
woman, who faithfully looked to the ways of her house-
hold in discharging the duties of a prudent wife and a
good mother. After the death of her husband, she
lived a widow for eighteen years, in the homestead
with her youngest son, John. Mrs. Margaret Clark
Alexander died November, 1834, and was buried by her
husband.
The children of John and Margaret Alexander were :
1, Frances; 2, Hugh; 3, Samuel Edmiston; 4, Mar-
tha; 5, Thomas Clark; 6, Margaret; 7, Mart;
8, John.
The Juniata region, in which the descendants of
John, and also of James Alexander (I), have mostly
•* a cucumber tree, still standing, marks the spot where he, hie wife,
and daughters, Frances and Martha, were buried.
44 'I'he (Descendants of
lived, is a succession of fertile valleys three or four miles
wide, separated from each other by long mountain
ranges running parallel to each other and parallel with
the main Allegheny range. The Juniata river and its
tributaries break through these ranges, cutting deep
"• water gaps," on their way to the Susquehanna, forming
the only easy passage ways from one valley to another.
Before canals and railroads, inter-communication was
much more difficult than now, and the simpler modes
of life continued longer than in older settlements of the
Atlantic slope, outside of the mountains. The reader
will pardon us for interrupting and relieving the mo-
notony of genealogy by introducing two personages
serving to illustrate some customs and modes of life
belono-inor to that region from its settlement down to
DO o
fifty years ago. One of these is the schoolmaster^ the
other the shoemaker of early times. We will draw
portraits from memory, not fancy pictures.
THE SCHOOLMASTER.
The writer well remembers Mr. Montgomery, the
instructor of his childhood — a man above medium
height, squarely and strongly built, having bushy raven
hair and whiskers, black and piercing eyes ; self-pos-
sessed, determined, and master of his situation.
The large, square school-room of hewn logs could
seat compactly eighty or ninety scholars in double rows,
along three of its sides, boys and girls separately. The
outer row was seated against the three walls, with high
and long writing boards in front for using the pen and
pencil. Long, low benches without backs were placed
inside of these for the junior scholars. A huge ten-
plate wood stove stood near the centre, and the teacher's
table and chair near one end of the room, facing the
school. This school was considered superior to most
Hugh Alexander. 45
country schools of that time, which generally taught
only the three golden rules of Reading, Writing, and
Arithmetic; for Mr. Montgomery taught also Grammar,
Geography, and Surveying to a few scholars who aspired
to climb so high. Hence the school was generally full,
and in winter crowded.
Of course when only one teacher was employed, the
classes must be "put through," and order must reign in
Warsaw.
Within easy reach from the master's seat stood a
bundle of rods whose broken and splintered tops showed
that they were not there for oniament, but for iise.
Two rules were enforced with the utmost vigor.
First : " No one must speak." Second — No one must
" look off the book." To enforce these edicts, as soon
as school was opened, a sentinel was posted on the floor
with cat-and-nme-tails in hand, sharply watching all
other eyes and mouths. The moment any one was
detected in " talking" or in " looking off," at him he
flung the "cat." Then the culprit must pick up the
missile, bring it to the master, and receive " one,"
" two" or " three" on his upturned palm with a heavy
walnut ruler. If this was ever declined or flinched, an
equivalent posterior application, with interest added,
was always made with cat, rod, or ruler. This done, he,
in turn, must stand — sometimes on one foot — until he
too could fling the cat.
This " cat" was a kind of scourge, having a handle
eighteen inches long, with nine narrow straps of sole-
leather of equal length nailed around one end.
Besides these " terrors," there was the " dunce-block,"
on which an incorrigible one was made to stand with no
room to move a foot, book in hand, a pair of great
wooden goeforles on his nose, and on his head a high
conical pasteboard cap, having a cow's tail from the
46 TJie (Descendants of
tannery neatly appended behind. By such means, and
by an occasional flogging of some older and more re-
bellions youth, silence and order were maintained nntil
the hour for recess. Then the pent-up waters burst
through all barriers. The scholars poured forth and
made the woods and welkin ring with glad shouts of
liberty and independence which were not forever. Five
branches were well taught : Spelling, Reading, Writing,
Arithmetic, and Obedience.
The days of public and free schools had not yet come,
and the teacher was paid a certain sum per scholar each
quarter. If he was an unmarried man, as was mostly
the case, his salary was supplemented by boarding
among the scholars, one week with each family in turn,
where special arrangements were made to entertain
him.
THE ITINERANT SHOEMAKER.
Fifty years ago, shoe stores, so abundant now, were
almost unknown in those interior valleys. When the
sharp frost of autumn came, then the travelling shoe-
maker, of little account in summer, loomed up into
grand proportions. Parents and children, in almost
every family, must now be shod arouful by a man who
came to lodge and board, and work till all was done.
In his knapsack he carried all manner of tools needful
to his art. The farmer must furnish a warm room, and
a work bench having a seat on one end, and a wide and
shallow box for tools on the other. The mother of the
family must add balls of strong linen thread to sew the
shoes. Leather also, both upper and sole, must be on
hand.
Workman, tools, and materials being provided, and
the rather noisy contention of a dozen children, which
should first be shod, being settled, the processes of
measuring feet, cutting out, soaking, stretching and
Hugh Alexander. 47
beating the leather commenced. The children gathered
around curious to see how he made, twisted, and waxed
his strong thread — tapering the ends and tipping them
with bristles to guide them through holes to be made
by the sewing " awl." The upper and sole being fitted
and secured upon the " last," the process of sewing the
parts together began. A long, strong, waxed thread,
tapered and tipped with a bristle at each end, was
passed half its length through a hole. Making another
hole distant from the first by the proper length of a
" stitch," he passed the thread " ends" through that
hole from opposite sides until, wrapping them around
his hands, he drew them right and left, far and wide,
with all his might, causing the little spectators to clear
the space to avoid a blow. After sewing, came sundry
operations of pegging, oiling and polishing ; finally
removing the last and tlie anxious and interesting pro-
cess of trying the fit of the finished shoes. The man
of the " awl" was not always kind to children. If, on
returning from his meal, he found that the urchins had
meddled with tools or wax, he would sometimes rage
and storm, or in the style of Jerry Gough, he would
seize his largest knife, assume such threatening postures
and put on such savage airs as produced terror and
instant flight. Having worked a fortnight or more,
filled his contract and received his pay, he packed his
tools and hurried on to another house to fulfil his next
engagement.
SECTION I.
Frances Alexander, the oldest child of John and
Margaret Alexander, was born about the year 1781 in
Sherman's Valley. When a child of six years old she
was brought by her parents, along with two younger
brothers, Hugh and Samuel, to Little Valley, where she
48 TJie (Descendants of
was brought up with care. She married Samuel Mil-
ROY in 1803, and lived with her husband for a few years
on a fiirm near to Bellefonte, which included the " Big
Spring" which supplies that town with water. Becom-
ing ill there, she rode on horseback twenty miles in com-
pany with her husband, hoping that a trip home to see her
parents would improve her health. At first the effect
seemed to justify the hope ; but after her husband had
returned to his farm, expecting to come again in a few
days and find her better or quite well, she was taken
suddenly worse, and died, 1806, before he reached her
father's house. Issue:
1. Margaret Milroij, born April 6th, 1804, married
John Adams, 1826, and died in Carrol county, Indiana,
November 25, 1835. Issue: Mary x\nn Adams, who
married John McMinn, in 1843. Issue: One son and
two daughters. Mrs. Mary A. A. McMinn is a widow
residing with her two daughters (dressmakers) in
Logansport, Ind. Her son, D. McMinn, is a lawyer of
some prominence.
2. Henry Bruce Milroy, born September 29th, 1805,
married Hcbccca M. Stipps, January 2I:th, 1833. No
issue. Henry B. Milroy was one of "Nature's noble-
men" in personal appearance and address, in talents and
purity of life. He was Sherifi" of Carrol county, Ind.,
and a member of the State Legislature. He died sud-
denly of erysipelas. May 9, 1845. His father, Samuel
Milroy, caught the disease and died in ten days after
his son. Mrs. Rebecca S. Milroy died in Natchez,
Miss., November 27, 1836.
Samuel Milroy, the husband of Frances, was born
August 14, 1780. He was left an orphan, by the death
of his father, when he was eleven years of age. He was
apprenticed to the carpenter trade, and continued in
that business most of the time until his second mar-
Hugh Alexander. 49
riage, in Kentucky, in 1810. In 1814 he removed from
Kentucky to Indiana Territory, and settled in Wash-
ington county. He was a member of the first Conven-
tion to form a Constitution for Indiana, in 1816; was
a member of the State Legislature many years, and
Speaker of the House of Representatives a part of that
time. He was Brigadier General of the State and Reg-
ister of the United States Land Office, at Crawfordsville,
Indiana, from 1828 to 1830; was Examiner of the
U. S. Land Office of Illinois and U. S. Indian Agent
for the Miami and Potawotamie Indians at the date of
his death — May 26, 1815, aged sixty-four years.
He had removed from Washington county to Carrol
county, on the Wabash, in 1826. There he settled on a
farm, and continued in the occupation of a farmer and
of running a grist-mill, when not engaged in public
duties.
Mr. Milroy raised and distinguished himself in social
and civil life by his attractive manners and personal
appearance ; his commanding talents, public spirit, and
indomitable energy.
* His son. General R. H. Milroy, a graduate of West
Point Military Academy, distinguished himself for mili-
tary talent and bravery in the late civil war.
SECTION II.
Hugh Alexander was born in 1781, in Sherman's
* General Robert 11. Milroy has lately removed to Olympia, Wash-
incrton Territory. His brother, James Milroy, also resides in tlie sumo
Territory. Two other brothers and two sisters (Mrs Dr. Beck and
Mrs. Cable) still reside in Delphi, Carrol county, Indiana.
One of the brothers, S. L. Milroy, has a family of three sons and one
daughter. His son Charles, a^ed nineteen years, is a student in Craw-
fordsville College, Indiana. The oldest daughter is about to graduate at
the High School of Delphi, His other children are eight and five years
of age.
50 The (Descendants of
Valley, Perry county, Pennsylvania, but removed in
childhood, with his parents, to Little Valley, Mifflin
county. Pa., in 178T.
He married, in 1806, Elizabeth Brown, daughter of
Colonel Alexander Brown and Jane A. Brown. Col.
Brown was a brother of Judge William Brown, one of
the first settlers in Kishacoquillas Valley. Mrs. Jane
A., the wife of Col. Brown, was a daughter of James
Alexander, the pioneer settler of the same valley.
After his marriao:e, Huoh Alexander established his
family on a valuable farm in the central part of Kisha-
coquillas, inherited by his wife from her father, on
which the Kishacoquillas Seminary stands as a conspic-
uous landmark. Here he led the quiet and independent
life of a successful farmer, who lived happily, and with-
out caring to accumulate more than man can enjoy.
He was a man of good personal presence, of more than
medium stature and weight, a fair and fresh complexion,
and a frank and kind expression of countenance. His
steady and well-balanced character, his evenly temper,
his quiet and genial disposition and manner, and unaf-
fected piety, commanded and attracted the respect and
love of all who knew him.
He was an efficient elder in Presbyterian churches
for more than forty years ; a contemplative and devo-
tional Christian, always ready to speak with interest on
religious subjects ; and a father who ruled his own house
well, training and instructing his household after the
manner of his father, John Alexander, and with similar
happy results in the hearts and lives of his children.
As age advanced his Christian character mellowed and
ripened; his abundant hair became white as snow, con-
trasting pleasingly with a rare freshness of countenance
and of spirit ; and he lived in daily expectation and
hope of a blessed change to a happier and holier life.
Hugh Alexander. 51
He died October 16, 1868, aged eighty-seven years, and
was buried near his father and mother, in the graveyard
of the Presbyterian church in East Kishacoqiiillas.
His wife Elizabeth, his companion both in the church
and liis home, survived him three or four years, and
died February 22, 1871, aged eighty- three. She was
an industrious, energetic woman, noted especially for
excelling in all that pertains to household aifairs. Her
table was abundantly furnished with good and whole-
some food of every seasonable variety, prepared and
served in the most unexceptionable manner. The whole
house, furniture and premises were kept clean, orderly
and neat, almost to a fault. In this respect the daugh-
ters have not departed from the ways of their mother.
On this homestead farm grew an old apple orchard.,
whose trees attained the proportions of wide-spreading
oaks, each of which would sometimes fill a wagon bed
with fruit. The writer remembers the gathering of
some great crops. The red, striped and golden apples
were shaken from the great trees in heavy showers,
bounding like hail, until the ground was more than
covered. These were partly ground and pressed for
cider, partly stored for winter, and partly pared and
cored for apjJe-butter, of rare excellence, always in de-
mand, and good for one year or seven. Night after
night the neighboring youth assembled in the great
kitchen with machines, knives and pans, for paring and
coring the larger and smoother fruit; while in an outer
building several vast copper kettles, over crackling fires,
simmered with smoking cider, or blubbered and sput-
tered with boiling butter, that must be constantly stirred
for many hours by laughing and singing boys and girls.
The children of Hugh and Elizabeth Alexander were:
1, Fanny; 2, Jane Brown; 3, John; 4, Alexander
\^Yo^Yl\—dled ; 5, Polly Ann; 6, Margaret— (//a/ ;
52 The (Descendants of
7, Margaret; 8, Elizabeth; 9, Francesca — died;
10, Francesca Hamilton ; 11, Nancy Thompson,
1. Fanny Alexander married George Jackson^ of
Stone Valley, Issue:
Hugh Alexander ; William; Brown — died February
3, 1875; Margaret Jane — died July 10, 1875.
2. Jane B. Aleooander, born October 25, 1809, mar-
ried Jesse Cuumnffham^ November 8, 1831 ; a man of
a good understanding and excellent character; a me-
chanic of skill and energy. He was suddenly killed by
a fall while erecting a building, in the midst of life and
usefulness, March 29, 1850. His widow lives in her
home near the Kishacoquillas Seminary. Issue :
a. Elizabeth B. Cunningham, born August 19, 1833;
died December 13, 1866.
h. Theodore H. Canningham^ born June 11, 1836;
married Henrietta Jl Letton^ of Washington City, De-
cember 1, 1863.
c. Mary M. Cunningham, born Nov. 22, 1838.
d. John Cunningham, born May 29, 1812; died
June 10, 1842.
3. Polly Ann Alexander^ born February 4, 1819,
married John Taylor, February 2, 1842. Mr. Taylor is
a prosperous farmer, living near Milroy, East Kishaco-
quillas; born July 13, 1809. His parents were Robert
Taylor and Nancy Arnal, of Kishacoquillas. Issue:
a. Frances Brown Taylor, born Jan. 1, 1843.
b. Matthew Taylor, born June 12, 1845.
c. Hugh Alexander Taylor, born July 6, 1848.
d. Eobert Taylor, born October 18, 1850.
e. John Hamilton Taylor, born January 25, 1853.
/- Mary Agnes Taylor, born October 4, 1857.
h. Matthew Taylor married Bhoda Kearns, daughter
of Philip Kearns, November 12, 1868. Issue:
Hugh Alexander. 53
Walter Kearns, born July 27, 1871, and Herbert
Brown Taylor, born November 12, 1873.
4, 7, 10. John, Margaret and Francesca Alexander
are unmarried and live in the old homestead.
The other children of Hugh Alexander died in youth.
SECTION III.
Hon. Samuel Edmiston Alexander was born in
Sherman's Valley, January 17, 1785. He was called
after Dr. Samuel Edmiston, of Chester county. Pa., who
was a brother of his maternal grandmother, Martha
Edmiston. He was a few months over two years old
when his parents moved to Little Valley, near Lewis-
town. Besides farming, he also learned in his youth to
use the tools of the smith and carpenter, but employed
this skill only for private purposes.
On the 28th of December, 1809, he married Mary
Alexander, daughter of James Alexander, of West
Kishacoquillas. They were second cousins, and their
ages were, respectively, twenty-four and sixteen years
when married. He now established himself on a por-
tion of his father's tract, which was mostly a forest.
This he cleared and improved, and on this, by industry,
economy and good management, he raised and educated
a family of fifteen children — the largest family of our
kindred in America — in a manner that often excited
surprise and admiration.
He never contracted a debt that could be avoided, or
delayed the payment of a necessary one. Remembering
on his deathbed that he owed a debt of a few dollars
which had been forgotten in his sickness, he directed
an immediate payment, and was glad in the conscious-
ness of " owing no man anything." Thus he avoided
troublesome embarrassments, and enjoyed a noble inde-
pendence.
54 ^^^^ (Descendants of
He possessed all the habits and attributes of a respect-
able farmer, with such mental and moral endowments
as rendered him a valuable and reliable man in every
relation of life. He sought no public offices, yet his
fellow-citizens entrusted him with those of County
Commissioner and Associate Judge. He was an active
and efficient elder of the Presbyterian Church for forty
years, taking an interest in all that pertained to its tem-
poral and spiritual prosperity ; giving liberally, attend-
ing punctually on the means of grace and in the church
courts, and delighting to entertain the clergy, who often
enjoyed his generous hospitality. In his family he was
thoughtful, kind, provident, strict and faithful. Family
worship, Bible-reading, learning and reciting the Cate-
chism, and the proper observance of the Sabbath, were
constantly maintained by him, as they had been by his
father before him, and with the same inestimable ad-
vantages to his children.
After becoming the parents of fifteen children, and
having^ lived as true helpmeets in happy wedlock for
fifty years, he and his wife enjoyed the rare honor and
pleasure of a golden wedding. It was duly celebrated
on the 17th of January, 1859, by a large attendance of
children, grandchildren, other relatives, friends and
neighbors — all of whom, with the happy couple, en-
joyed the ceremonies and festivities in a high degree.
Exactly three years after this Samuel E. Alexander
departed this life in the full faith and hope of immor-
tality, on the 17th day of January, 1862, which was his
seventy-seventh birthday after his birth.
His wife, Mary, partaker of the same precious faith
and hope, and of the many joys, sorrows and various
labors incident to the rearing and training of so many
children, died happily on the 9th of December, 1869,
in the seventy-seventh year of her age, and was buried
Hugh Alexander. 5 =5
with her husband and children in the graveyard of the
Little Valley Presbyterian Church.
Their children were eight sons and seven daughters.
1. Belinda Alexander, born November 16, 1810.
2. Jane Adams Alexander, born January 12, 1813.
3. John Edmiston Alexander, born June 2, 1815.
4. Margaret Ann Alexander, born Sept. 22, 1817.
5. James Hamilton Alexander, born Nov. 19, 1819.
6. Emily Alexander, born Jan. 22, 1822.
7. Mary Elizabeth Alexander, born March 25, 1824.
8. Frances Martha Alexander, born Feb. 14, 1826 ;
died Sept. 22, 1846.
9. Samuel Hugh Alexander, born Jan. 27, 1828.
10. William Annan Alexander, born Aug. 19, 1830.
11. Milton Clark Alexander, born Sept. 28, 1832;
died Sept. 5, 1840.
12. Harriet Rosanna Alexander, born Dec. 15, 1834.
13. Henry Price Alexander, born Sept. 22, 1837.
14. David Bingham Alexander, born July 27, 1838.
15. Thomas Howard Alexander, born July 2, 1841.
1. Belinda Alexander married John Cooper, son of
Samuel Cooper, farmer, of Mifflin county. Pa., May 3,
1834, the Rev. AVilliam Annin officiating.
They have resided successively at Yeagerstown,
Mexico, Philadelphia, and for many years past at Fair-
view, Burlington county, N. J. Mr. Cooper has long
been engaged in the fruit and confectionery business in
Philadelphia.
Mrs. Cooper has always manifested a lively interest in
social, and especially in religious affairs. As a member
and earnest worker in the Presbyterian church, she has
contributed greatly to a successful enterprise of gathering
and organizing a Sabbath-school and church, and of
erecting a house of worship where her family resides.
Issue : one child.
56 The (Descendants of
Robert Milo Cooper, born Feb. 1835 ; married Lizzie
A. Hoover, Dec. 11, 1857.
Mr. Cooper is engaged in farming near Lewistown,
Penna.
CHILDREN.
1. Mary A. Cooper, born Nov. 8, 1858.
2. Elmer Cooper, born October, 1861.
3. Milo Milroy Cooper, born June, 1864.
4. Margaret Ellen Cooper, born 1866 — died.
5. John Bruce Cooper, born January, 1868.
6. Belinda Lucine Cooper, born 1870.
7. Christian Archie Cooper, born 1872.
8. Hugh Preston Cooper, born 1874.
2. Jane Adams Alexander married Mathew B. Casey,
of Lewistown, Pa., October 9, 1839. This family re-
moved from Lewistown, first to Cumberland and after-
wards to Cambridge, both in Guernsey county, Ohio.
Here Mr. Casey, who was a cabinet-maker by trade,
became Sheriff, and continued in that office until his
death, July 9, 1862.
Mrs. Casey became hopefully pious in her youth, and
was supported by the consolations of religion during
twenty-five years of bodily affliction, which often brought
her to the point of death. She died happily, in Cum-
berland, Ohio, xiugust 9, 1870, aged fifty-seven years.
CHILDREN.
1. Mary Casey, who married John T. Rainey, mer-
chant, of Cambridge, Ohio, September 10, 1861. She
died without issue, June 12, 1866.
2. Joseph B. Casey married Lula A. Eustice, of Phil-
adelphia, December 22, 1863. He died October, 1865.
Issue, one child: Mary Louisa Casey — died, 1865.
3. John R. Casey married Annie D. Scott, of Cum-
berland, Ohio, December 15, 1870. Their children are:
Hugh Alexander. 57
Charles and Frank Casey. Residence, Cambridge,
Ohio.
■i. James M. Caseij married Chithia Coolie?/, April 21,
1873. Eesidence near Indianapolis, Indiana.
5. Juniata R. Casey married Thomas M. Bracken,
September 15, 1869. He died May 16, 1871 ; no issue.
6. Samuel Casey (nurseryman), unmarried. Resi-
dence, Prairie City, Illinois.
7. Belinda Cooper Casey married Byre A. Co.re, mer-
chant, September 7, 1875. Residence, Culpepper Court
House, Virginia.
3. John Edmiston Alexander, having spent his early
youth on his father's farm, in Little Valley, Pa., mani-
fested so much fondness for study that he was prepared
at Lewistown Academy for Jefferson College, where he
graduated under the Presidency of the elder Dr. Brown.
1839. Having become a subject of Divine grace in
the second year at college, he changed his choice of a
profession from law to divinity, and entered Princeton
Theological Seminary, 1839, and graduated under Drs. ,
Archibald Alexander, J^dbi Miller, Charles Ilodge, and ''^"^"^
Joseph Addison Alexander, 18-i2. After being licensed
by the Huntingdon Presbytery in June of the same
year, he supplied the Presbyterian church of Indiana,
Indiana county. Pa., for four months.
In the autumn of the same year (1843), he received
a unanimous call to the pastorate over the churches of
"Washington and Senecaville, Guernsey county, Ohio,
containing an aggregate of three hundred and twenty
communicants. He served this large and laborious
charge for ten years, with gratifying success, until com-
pelled, by severe bronchial disease, to resign his pas-
torate and to seek the benefit of a milder climate, in
Florida, in 1852. Having returned from the South
improved in health, but still disabled for the pulpit, he
5
58 The (Descendants of
was appointed Principal of the Miller Academy by the
Presbytery of Zanesville, 1853, in which he had good
success until the school was closed, in 18S2, by the
effects of civil war. This institution was located in
Washington, Guernsey county, Ohio, where Mr. Alex-
ander had resided since the beginning of his pastorate
in 184:2, a period of twenty years. Here a large number
of young men were educated for the gospel ministry,
and for other useful callings.
In the spring of 1863 Mr. Alexander removed from
Ohio to New Jersey, and founded the Hightstown Classi-
cal Institute, over which he presided for nine years. Here
he made a specialty of aiding and educating young men
preparing for the ministry. For twenty-nine of these
he raised, by personal efforts, six thousand dollars of
pecuniary aid while prosecuting their studies.
On the 8th of July, 1872, Mr. Alexander removed
to Elkton, Maryland, and conducted the Academy there
for two years, April 1, 1875, he moved to Ridley Park,
Delaware county. Pa., and for six months taught in
Ridley Park Academy and preached to a small congre-
gation gathered at that place. Having received a call
from the Presbyterian church of Greeneville, East Ten-
nessee, he removed to that place October 15, 1875,
taking charge of the church. In July, 1876, he com-
posed and published a " Historical Sketch of Greene-
ville Church," one of the first organized west of the
Alleghanies.
On the 22d of November, 1842, he married Mary,
daughter of Robert Milliken, an elder of the East
Kishacoquillas church. This pious and amiable lady
adorned her profession of godliness, and discharged both
her domestic duties and those of a pastor's wife with
great fidelity. She was born October 22, 1820, in Kish-
acoquillas Valley, and died a happy death, December 5,
Hugh Alexander. 59
1854, and was buried in the cemetery at Washington,
Ohio. Children :
. 1. Samuel Milliken Alexander, born in Ohio, ]March
29, 1844. During preparation for college he enlisted
and spent four years with the Union army in the civil
war. After the war he married Emma, daughter of
James Norris, of Hightstown, New Jersey, 18G6. Resi»
dence, Jersey City, N. J. Issue :
a. Benjamin Franklin Alexander, born Jan. 27, 1867.
b. Mary Ann Alexander, born July 12, 1868.
c. James Norris Alexander, born May 8, 1871.
d. Sarah Blanche Alexander, born Dec. 18, 1872,
€. Raymond Alexander, born Jan. 8, 1875.
2. Anna Mary Alexander, born in Ohio, November
28, 1847. She developed taste and talent for success-
ful study early in youth. Graduated with the highest
honors of her class at Lawrenceville Female Seminary,
in New Jersey, in 1866. With early piety, cultivated
mind, personal attractions and bright prospect, she had
entered upon the most interesting period of her life
when she was attacked with typhoid fever, and died
August 17, 1868. She was buried in the cemetery at
Hightstown, N. J.
3. Robert Wilson Alexander, born April 14, 1846.
He was prosecuting studies preparatory to entering col-
lege, when the civil war led him to enlist in the Union
army. After two years of military service he resumed
his studies at Washington and Jefferson College, but
finally abandoned study to engage in teaching and fire
insurance business, in Illinois. He married Helen
Phelps, by whom he has two children : Albert Wilson
Alexander, aged five years, and Mary Milliken Alexan-
der, aged two months. Residence, Nokomis, Illinois.
4. Mattie Alexander, born November 26, 1849. She
6o The (Descendants of
united, at an early age, with the Presbyterian church in
Hightstovvn, New Jersey. After studying three years
in the Female Seminaries at Lawrenceville, N. J., and
at Norristown, Pa., she engaged for some time in teach-
ing. Her residence is with her brother, Samuel M.
Alexander, Hightstown, N. J.
5. John E. Alexander, born April 26, 1854. Having
acquired a good education, he spent two years in the
carriage making business, in Newark, N. J. Declining
health compelled him to abandon this business. He died
in the bloom of youth, at his father's residence, in Elk-
ton, Maryland. He was pleasant and amiable in life,
and hopeful in death.
The E,ev. J. E. Alexander married, secondly, Cath-
erine Milligan Potter, of Steubenville, Ohio, daughter
of Daniel Potter, son of the Rev. Lyman Potter, who
had emigrated from Vermont to Ohio in the year 1800.
Her father was long a Ruling Elder in the first Presby-
terian church in Steubenville. She was also a member
of the same church, and a graduate of the Female Sem-
inary, under Dr. and Mrs. Beatty. Her mother was
Mary Milligan, a daughter of John and Catherine Milli-
gan, and a native of Cecil county, Maryland. Dr. Henry
G. Comingo officiated at this marriage, assisted by Dr.
Charles C. Beatty, December 28, 1858. Issue:
1. Katie Alexander, born in Washington, Ohio, May
20, 1861.
2. Daniel Potter Alexander, born in Washington, O.,
March 5, 1863.
3. Susan Alexander, born in Hightstown, N. J,, June
5, 1865.
4. William Alexander, born in Hightstown, N. J.,
September 18, 1868.
4. Margaret Ann Alexander^ born September 22,
Hugh Alexander. 6i
1817, was early and through Ufe a consistent member
of the Presbyterian church. She married Oliijer Kerr^
an Elder of the Centre Hill church, Penn's Valley, Pa.,
October 5, 1817. There she lived many years, in happy
wedlock, and died November 28, 1871, aged fifty-four
years, leaving one child:
Oliver Kerr, born in Centre county, Pa., October 24,
184:8. Entered Princeton College, and graduated with
the highest honors of the class of 1871. After teach-
ing for three years in Lawrenceville High School, he is
now (1875) prosecuting theological studies in Princeton
Seminary.
5. James Hamilton Alexandei\ born November 19,
1819, being inclined to agricultural pursuits, was settled
and still lives upon " Fruitland Farm," a portion of his
grandfather John Alexander's original "Tract." He
sustains the character of a successful farmer, an upright
and intelligent citizen, and an active and efficient Elder
in the Little Valley Presbyterian church. It has been
his sad lot to have been twice bereaved of a companion;
and his also has been the rare privilege of marrying
three good wives.
First, he married Elizabeth Rothrock, of Little Valley,
October 9, 1844, who died January 30, 184(5, aged
twenty years. Issue, one son: Milton Rothrock Alex-
ander, born January 14, 1846; now (1875) a student
in Lafayette College, Pa.
Secondly, he married Amanda Ellen Bell, daughter of
John BelC of Little Valley, May 24, 1849, who died
August 13, 1852. Issue:
1. Samuel Clark Alexander, born May 6, 1850; died
June 2, 1851.
2. John Bell Alexander, born February 6, 1852,
who is also now prosecuting his studies in Lafayette
College.
62 The (Descendants of
Thirdly, James II. Alexander married Susannah
Beatti/, of East Kishacoquillas, a true helpmeet in
both temporal and spiritual things. No issue.
6. Emily Alexander, born January 22, 1822, married
James Maginness Martin, farmer, of Little Valley,
Mifflin county. Pa., June 16, 1846. Husband and wife
are both active and exemplary members of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, near which they reside. Issue :
1. Emily Lauretta Martin, born July 11, 1848, mar-
ried /. JV. Hawn, September 16, 1868, and moved to
the West.
2. Samuel Alexander Martin, born Dec. 18, 1849 ;
died Sept. 1850.
3. James Maginness Martin, born Oct. 10, 1851.
4. William Thompson Martin, born May 6, 1853.
5 and 6. Frances Martha and Nancy Margaret Martin,
twins, born May 22, 1855.
7. Joseph Snively Martin, born June 3, 1857.
8. Harriet Angeline Martin, born January 10, 1860.
The residence of this family is five miles east of
Lewistown, and one mile from the old homestead of
John Alexander.
7. 3fary Elizabeth Alexander, born May 25, 1824.
In the allotment of Divine Providence she had a mis-
sion of special importance — that of a ministering angel
sent to minister to the sick, afflicted, and bereaved
among her kindred, — first to her grandmother, then to
her own parents, and also to her brothers and sisters. So
numerous were these occasions that many years of
earlier life were thus spent in the kind offices of a true
sister of charity. Some of the living who enjoyed
them are ready to testify to her faithful discharge of
these duties, and others who have gone to a better life.
Hugh Alexander. 63
bear them in grateful remembrance. On the 5th of
Jnly, 1860, she married Joseph Kearns, an elder of the
Presbyterian church of Little Valley, but only to suffer
a sad bereavement in the sudden and afflicting death of
her husband, in October of the same year. She has
long been an active and exemplary member of the
church of her ancestors. Her residence has lately
been, and still is (1875), in vSelinsgrove, on the Susque-
hanna.
8. Frances Martha Alexander., familiarly "Mattie,"
born Feb. 1-4, 1826; died in the blooming beauty of
youth, September 22, 1846.
9. Samuel Ihigh Alexander., born Jan. 27, 1828,
having taste and talent for learning, after studying at
Miller Academy, O., and at Tuscarora Academy, Pa.,
graduated at Lafayette College, 1855. He was Princi-
pal of the Kishacoquillas Seminary from 1856 to 1858.
In 1857, April 22d, he married Nancy McCurdy,
daughter of John McCurdy, merchant, of Washington,
Guernsey county, Oliio, who was a nephew of the Pev.
Elisha McCurdy. Having received a careful and Chris-
tian training at home, she was graduated at Troy
Female Seminary, N. Y.
Her husband has ever safely trusted in her, and found
her a pious, loving, and prudent wife, and also an effi-
cient helper in all the varied scenes and labors of life.
He studied theology and graduated at Princeton Semi-
nary, 1861 ; had been licensed to preach by the Presby-
tery of Philadelphia, 1860; preached as stated supply
in the churches of Aurora and Bensalem, Bucks county,
Pa., in 1861, and to the church of Newark, Oliio, in
1862. He was sent by the Christian Commission to
care for the sick and wounded, and was on the field at
the great battle of Antietam, attending upon the duties
64 The (Descendants of
of his mission. Here fatigue and exposure induced
such an aggravation of a chronic throat-ail, that he had
to reUnquisli the active duties of the ministry.
Returning to the work of education, in 1864 he
founded the Classical Institute of Columbia, Pa., of
which he continued to be an efficient and successful
Principal until 1874, when he retired to a farm which
he had purchased near Culpepper, Virginia, about the
close of the war. Here he has recently founded a new
institutioQ, called AVheat Dale Classical Institute.
The issue of his marriage was one son, who died
in infancy.
10. William Annin Alexander, born August 19, 1830,
was named after Rev. William Annin, once pastor of
the Little Valley church, and now living in Allegheny
City. He inclined to mercantile business, and for some
years owned a fruit and confection store on Arch street,
Philadelphia. His constitution being delicate, yielded
gradually to the power of disease, and he died at his
father's house, September 5, 1864, unmarried. His
manner and spirit — so gentlemanly, courteous, and kind
— endeared him to all his friends. He rests by his
parents in Little Valley churchyard.
11. Milton Clark Alexander, born September 28,
1832; died September 5, 1840, in his eighth year.
12. Harriet Rosanna Alexander, born December 15,
1834, married Elijah Sproat, of Guernsey county, Ohio,
where she resided until her early death, June 26, 1866.
She had one child, which died in infancy. She was a
pious and amiable woman, who lived and died in Chris-
tian faith and hope. Her resting-place is at Washing-
ton, Guernsey county, Ohio.
13. Henry Price Alexander, born September 22,
1837, was trained to the occupation of a farmer, and on
the decease of his father came into possession of the
Hugh Alexander. . 65
old homestead farm, already described as that of Hon.
Samuel E. Alexander, situated one mile from Freedom
Iron Works, in Little Valley. On this he flonrishes as
a prosperous farmer, with a growing family. On the
17th of May, 1864, he married Elizabeth Jane Kearns^
born December 18, 1845, who is in the membership of
the chnrch of Little Valley, of which her husband is
a ruling elder. Issue :
a. Philip Elmer Alexander, born April 15, 1845.
h. Samuel Hugh Alexander, born Sept. 10, 1867.
c. Charles Oscar Alexander, born April 20, 1869.
d. Ilhoda White Alexander, born March 20, 1873.
14. David Bingham Alexander, born July 27, 1838.
LTniting with the church in early life, he has also been
a ruling elder in several places where he has lived. For
several years he was engaged in the oil business in
Western Pennsylvania ; afterwards in farming near
Culpepper, Virginia ; afterwards near Federalsburg,
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland; thence, in 1874, he
removed to Rockville, Illinois, where he resides.
December 6, 1870, while residing in Virginia, he
married Eunice Maria Ray, a pious and intelligent lady,
daughter of Chauncey and Anna M. Ray, of liockford,
Illinois. Issue :
1. Claudia Anna Alexander, born Aug. 15, 1871.
2. Paul Ray Alexander, born June 19, 1874.
15. Thomas Howard Alexander, born July 2, 1841,
showed in boyhood an aptness and taste for learning,
which led his parents to commence educating him for
professional life. During his preparatory course he be-
came subject to epileptic fits, so severe as not only to
interrupt his studies, but also to disqualify him for most
of the active pursuits of life. In 1865 he married
Mary Thompson, of York county, Pa., by whom he has
one child: Albert Alexander.
66 The descendants of
Thomas Howard Alexander has married a second
time, and resides in Georgia.
SECTION IV.
Martha AIea:ander, daughter of John and Margaret
Alexander, born ; died young.
SECTION V.
Thomas Clark Alexander, named after his maternal
grandfather, was born in Little Valley, 1799. A farmer
by occupation, he owned, and for many years occupied,
that portion of his father's lands called "Fruitland,"
now owned and occupied by James H. Alexander.
Having purchased a farm in East Kishacoquillas Valley,
from J. & J. Milliken, he removed to it in 1831, and
there continued in agricultural pursuits until age and
imfirmity compelled him to retire from active life. He
then owned two farms in good state of cultivation.
These he sold to provide settlements for his children,
and followed some of them in 1856, who had already
moved to Adams county, Ohio. The change from his
native mountain air to that open and windy region, pro-
duced congestion of the lungs, of which he died Jan.
3, 1858, aged sixty-nine years.
In agriculture, Thomas C. Alexander held a high
position. By plowing thrice instead of twice, and by
careful culture otherwise, he generally produced more
wheat per acre than his neighbors, and wheat weighing
four or five pounds per bushel more than theirs. This
was often kept on hand by purchasers for exhibition
and admiration.
He was a man of medium height and weight, black
hair, and steady, deliberate movement; benignant coun-
tenance, benevolent disposition, good sense, few words,
Hugh Alexander. 67
and undoubted piety. If an angry or unreasonable man
he^im to use profane or abusive language, he always
walked away from such a person without saying a word.
He first married Mary Glass, by whom he had two
children :
1. Matilda Jane Alexaiider, born March 24, 1814,
married CajDtain Cox., of East Kishacoquillas, where
she resided until her death, March 10, 1869. She was
a good and Christian woman, who died in peace. Her
children are :
a. Mary M. Cox, born March 19, 1845; died Sept.
3, 1846.
h. Emma E. Cox, born March 19, 1847; died Aug.
23, 1849.
c. Thomas C. Alexander Cox, born June 12, 1850.
d. Joseph B. Cox, born Jan. 10, 1853; died Nov. 4,
1854.
e. John Parker Cox, born Nov. 2, 1855; died Jan.
28, 1860.
/ Mary M. Cox, born March 28, 1861.
2. Margaret Clark Alexander, named after her ma-
ternal grandmother, born August 1, 1816, was dwarfed
and distorted by rickets from childhood, and for many
years changed her position by moving her chair. A
patient sufierer, pious, and of a gentle spirit, she died
Feb. 28, 1855.
Thomas Clark Alexander married, secondly, in
1820, or 1821, Nancy, daughter of Mr. John Beatty,
of East Kishacoquillas, long and favorably known as
an elder of the church, and as a man of rare intelli-
gence and integrity. She was a woman remarkable for
memory, quick perception, and for decision and energy
of character ; pious and charitable, yet fearless in re-
proof of evil-doers, and ever ready to speak a word in
season to unconverted persons. She died in Adams
6S The (Descendants of
county, Ohio, March 12, 1862. The issue of this mar-
riage were :
1. John Wdliam Alexander^ born in Little Valley,
Pa., January 1, 1822, married Rebecca M. Bell,, daughter
of Johnson Bell, of the same valley, 1849, when he
engaged in agriculture on his father's " Mountain Farm."
The issue by this marriage were:
Ira Clark Alexander, born June 20, 1850; died De-
cember 12, 1857.
William John Alexander, born Aug. 27, 1851; died
December 21, 1851.
In 1854 he removed to Adams county, Ohio, and
there married, secondly, Martha Ann Marmon, by whom
his children were :
a. Robert Clark Alexander, born June 25, 1865.
b. Anna Mary Alexander, born Oct. 14, 1867.
c. Sarah Jane Alexander, bora July 10, 1870.
d. William Wilson Alexander, born Oct. 10, 1873.
Mr. Alexander was bereaved by the death of his
second wife, December 9, 1874.
2. James Beatty Alexander^ born January 27, 1823.
Intended by his parents for the ministry, he prepared
for college at Tuscarora Academy, but turned aside to
merchandizing at Reedsville, Pa. In 1847 he enlisted,
and fought bravely under General Scott in the Mexican
war, from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, After the
war he located lands in Iowa, and married Caroline
Locke^ daughter of E. E. Locke, of East Kishacoquillas,
May 12, 1853. In 1857 he removed to Ohio, and thence,
in 1865, to Albany, N. Y., and finally to Spout Spring,
Appomatox county, Virginia, where he is now (1874)
engaged in farming. Children:
a. Emma Matilda Irwin Alexander, b. Feb. 22, 1854.
h. Dudley Locke Alexander, b. Nov. 22, 1858.
Hugh Alexander. 69
3. Nancy Glass Aleocander, born June 2, 1824, named
after her maternal grandmother, Nancy Glass Beatty,
married George Kepler, 1852, who has been larfrely en-
gaged in the oil business of Western Pennsylvania,
where the family now resides. Children:
a. Ira Kepler, born 1853; died 1855.
h. Clara Catherine Kepler, born 1855.
c. Thomas Clark Kepler, born .
4. Thomas Clark Alexander, born Nov. 26, 1826, in
Little Valley, first learned the trade of a tailor. Not
liking this, he studied languages at a boarding school,
and then the profession of medicine, with Dr. J. P.
Leuden, of Huntingdon, Pa. Exposure while engaged
in study produced disease, of which he died, in his
twenty-sixth year. The personal beauty of this modest
young man was so remarkable as to attract attention in
a degree that often annoyed him. His jet-black hair
was fine and soft as silk. His complexion was clear
and white as that of an infant, with a delicate glow of
red in his cheeks. Yet he was remarkably modest, free
from vanity, and seemed too pure and fair for this world.
He had been remarkably recluse on the subject of his
religious experience, so that, though evidently pious, no
one knew when he became a child of God. But in his
last sickness he displayed the highest degrees of foith
and hope, so that few deaths have been more full of
glory. Though greatly blessed with the grace of pa-
tience, he would often pray to be taken home, and then
would add, "O how easy to lie in the arms of Jesus, and
feel that he has done it all!" He passed joyfully to his
eternal home, in the month of March, 1852,
" So fades the summer cloud away,
So sinks the gale when storms are o'er;
So gently shuts the eye of day,
So dies a wave along the shore."
j/o The (Descendants of
5. Erastus Homer Alexander, born May 21, 1828,
married Susanna Barefoot, daughter of William Barefoot,
of East Kishacoquillas, Oct. 15, 1850. After farming
successfully in Centre county. Pa., from 1852 to 1855,
he removed and lived upon a farm which he had pur-
chased in Adams county, Ohio, until 1865, when he
sold to engage in mercantile business in Albany, N. Y.;
now (1875) in life insurance in that city. Mrs. S. B.
Alexander died Aug. 18, 1875. Children:
a. Mary Margaret Alexander, born Dec. 29, 1851, in
Kishacoquillas ; died April 23, 1862.
h. Thomas Clark Alexander, born April 26, 1853, at
Earlysburg, Pa. ; now a young man of good habits and
business capacity, in Albany.
c. Ella Geno Alexander, born at Earlysburg, Pa., Jan.
3, 1855; died July 30, 1856.
d. Elva Genette Alexander, born at Mt. Leigh, Ohio,
Feb. 11, 1857.
e. Adella Beatty Alexander, born at Mt. Leigh, Ohio,
Nov. 23, 1859.
Elva and Adella are successfully prosecuting their
education in the Albany High School.
6. Oliver Calvin Alexander, born in Little Valley,
March 2, 1831, remained on the paternal farm until
his twenty-second birthday ; taught and studied alter-
nately. Studied medicine with Ur. McClay, of Milroy,
Pa., and after attending medical lectures in Albany,
N. Y., graduated honorably in 1854. His tastes and
talents being remarkably versatile, he has employed
them with considerable success in various studies and
arts, as drawing, painting, sculpture, and mechanics.
On the 11th of October, 1854, he married Mary
Jane Archie, daughter of the late Edward Archie, of
Albany, an estimable lady, and member of Dr. Sprague's
church. Dr. Sprague officiated. In the same year he
Hugh Alexander. ^-i
commenced medical practice, which he has continued
for twenty years. Office, 66 Eagle street, Albany, N.
Y. As an earnest Christian worker, Dr. Alexander has
been the honored instrument of consolation and salva-
tion to many souls, especially among the poor, widows,
the neglected and afflicted ones who are deprived of the
ordinary privileges of the sanctuary. Among these he
holds meetings for lay-preaching, exhortation and prayer
with much interest and spiritual profit. Botli in his
medical practice and in Christian effort for their spirit-
ual welfare, he has distinguished himself as a friend
and benefactor of the poor. His children are :
a. James Beatty Alexander, born July 15, 1855 ;
died March 15, 1856.
h. Willie Augustine Alexander, born Feb. 8, 1857 ;
is prosecuting studies preparatory to professional life.
c. Lela Mary Alexander, born Oct. 16, 1861, is suc-
cessfully prosecuting her education in the Female Acad-
emy of Albany, N. Y.
The names of Willie and Lela are enrolled on the
church record as followers of the Lamb.
7. Madison Augustine Alexander, born Oct. 8, 1832,
in Kishacoquillas, after careful parental training, and a
good boarding-school education in Pennsylvania, fol-
lowed his brothers to Ohio, where, Sept. 30, 1857, he
married Mary 2Iargaret, daughter of Colonel Mc Vey,
of North Liberty, Ohio. Early in the civil war he en-
listed as an officer in an Ohio regiment, which went
under the command of General Sherman. In the hard-
fought battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862, he
received a severe wound, of which he never fully
recovered. He died Feb. 16, 1865. His widow died
July 12, 1873. Their children are :
a. Emily Cornelia Alexander, born Oct. 26, 1858.
72 The (Descendants of
b. Martha Jane Alexander, born Jan. 26, 1861 ; died
Aug. 31, 1861.
c. William McVey Alexander, born Oct. 23, 1863.
SECTION VI.
Margaret Alexander, called after her mother, was
born in Little Valley, May 7, 1793, and died July 19,
] 848, aged fifty-six years. She married Henry Haller,
a silversmith, of Lewistown, May 23, 1820. The enjoy-
ment of married life was of short duration, being ter-
minated by the deeith of Mr. Haller, February 21, 1822.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Haller removed
from Lewistown, and resided, during the remainder of
her life in a house erected for her near the residence of
her brother, Hon. Samuel E. Alexander, in Little Valley.
She gave careful attention to the rearing and educa-
tion of her two daughters, who were left to her sole care
from their infancy. Mrs. Haller also adorned her pro-
fession of piety by the many other good deeds which
she did. She abounded especially in kind personal
attentions and ministrations to the poor, the sick, the
dying, and to the bereaved and sorrowing. Besides
caring for their temporal relief and comfort, she ever
had a word in season for their spiritual good. Her
memory is blessed. Her children are:
1. Frances Martha Haller, born March 24, 1821,
married Davis Bates, a prosperous farmer, of East Kish-
acoquillas, June 14, 1842. These parents live near
Milroy, East Kishacoquillas, and are members in good
standing of the Presbyterian church in that place.
Their children are:
a. Sarah Margaret Bates, born April 14, 1848. She
graduated at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary, 1866,
and now teaches music in Kishacoquillas Seminary.
Hugh Alexander. 73
h. Henry Haller Bates, born September 19, 1856.
c. John Davis Bates, born March 2, 1858; killed by
a colt, April 29, 1863.
d. William Edwards Bates, born August 3, 1861.
2. Henrietta Haller, born August 31, 1822, married
John Bell, of Little Valley, April 6, 1849. After some
years spent in agriculture and teaching in that valley
and in Kishacoquillas, they took charge of the Kisha-
coquillas Seminary, an important and flourishing board-
ing-school for both sexes. To such a great and good
work this pious and intelligent couple are happily
adapted. Their children are :
a. Frances Margaret Bell, born February 16, 1850.
h. AVilliam Thomas Bell, born June 23, 1852.
c. Henry Haller Bell, born September 9, 1853.
d. John Vernon Bell, born September 26, 1855.
e. Davis Bates Bell, born March 22, 1857.
SECTION VII.
Mary Alexander, born in Little Valley, 1796; died
in Iowa, 1874, aged seventy-nine years. She married,
1822, James Beatty, brother of Nancy Beatty, who
married Thomas C. Alexander. Having sold a farm
on which they had lived many years in East Kishaco-
quillas, they removed and established themselves on a
farm near Mount Pleasant, in the State of Iowa, 1848.
Mr. Beatty was an active elder in the Presbyterian
Church, of which his wife also was, through the greater
part of a long life, a worthy member. They practically
recognized the duty of training their children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord. Their children
were two sons and four daughters.
1. John HamUton Beatty, born 1823, married Mary
Kelley, daughter of Dr. D. M. Kelley, of St. Clairsville,
6
74 '^^^^ (Descendants of
Ohio. Mrs. Beatty's father was a full cousin of the
father of President Grant. Having accepted a clerk-
ship in the War Department, he removed from Iowa to
Washington City in 1865. He resigned this clerkship
in the same year to accept one in the Register's office
of the Treasury Department, having charge of the
receipts and expenditures of the government. This
position he still holds. This family is connected with
the Metropolitan Presbyterian church. Their children
are:
a. Clark Alexander Beatty.
h. Louis Kelley Beatty.
c. Frank Hamilton Beatty.
d. Mary Jane Beatty.
e. George Wilson Beatty.
/. Walter Kirker Beatty.
g. Chester Hopkins Beatty.
2. Margaret AJeocander Beatty, born 1824, married,
1849, Evan Calvin Thompson, a merchant and a mem-
ber of the Baptist Church, of Iowa. Mr. Thompson
died in 1867. Issue:
a. Anna Thompson.
h. James Thompson.
c. Clara Thompson.
d. Iowa Thompson.
The residence of this family is Fairfield, Iowa.
3. Nancy Jane Beatty, born 1827, married Daniel E.
Fore, a farmer, 1852. Residence, Fulton Co., Penn-
sylvania. Issue:
a. Edwin Fore.
h. Kate Fore.
c. Rolla Fore.
d. Frank Fore.
4. Mary Martha Beatty, born 1829, married, 1853,
Hugh Alexander. 7 c
William C. Ctimmings, farmer, a member of the Pres-
byterian Church. Issue:
a. Laura Cumminsfs.
h. Mary Margaret Cummings.
c. Horace Cummings.
The residence of this family is in Jefferson Co., Iowa.
5. James Harvey Beatty, farmer, first married Nancy
Russel, who died 1866, leaving two children:
a. and h. Fred and Minnie Beatty.
James Harvey Beatty married, secondly, Margaret
Beatty 3IcRea, an estimable lady of good education,
1871, by whom he has two children:
a. Clifford Beatty. b. John Clair Beatty.
Mr. Beatty and his wife are members in the Presby-
terian Church, and reside on a farm near Mount Plea-
sant, Iowa.
6. Sarah Elizabeth Beatty married William B. Little-
ton^ merchant, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1851. Mrs.
Littleton died in Minnesota in 1872, and her children
are in Iowa.
a. Clarence Littleton.
b. Harry Littleton.
c. Fannie Littleton.
d. Gracie Littleton.
SECTION VIII.
John Alexander, the youngest child of John, the son
of Hugh, was born in Little Valley, Pa., March 7, 1795.
In early youth he received that careful religious train-
ing which belonged to his father's house, the excellence
of which has been abundantly shown by this Record in
its precious result to children and to children's children.
The death of his father, in 1816, left him in charge of
the homestead farm and of his widowed mother when
he had just attained the age of twenty-one years.
'^d The descendants of
In 1824 he married Jane Beattt of East Kishaco-
quillas, daughter of John Beatty, already referred to,
and estabHshed himself on the old property as an intel-
ligent, enterprising and successful farmer. Besides
greatly improving both lands and buildings, by indus-
try, economy and good management, he gradually accu-
mulated the means of a comfortable independence. The
piety of both husband and wife, their competent portion
of good things, and all their other relations in life, were
very favorable to the happiness that generally attended
their lot. But no family circle is exempt from the
inroads of sorrow and death. These parents suffered a
great and almost peculiar affliction in being bereaved
of all their large and interesting family of children in
their childhood, youth or early life. Yet under all these
repeated strokes they were wonderfully sustained and
comforted from the Infinite Source of all true consola-
tion. When years and infirmities began to impair his
health and vigor, he sold the larger portion of his farm,
and on the remaining portion he built a comfortable
residence, where he spent the remainder of his life —
still busy, but with less labor and care.
John Alexander was of medium stature and weight,
of a fair complexion and very open and pleasant expres-
sion of countenance. In his youth and prime of man-
hood his movements, both of body and mind, were lively
and often playful. He appeared to be a remarkably
cheerful and happy man — always welcome among his
relatives and neighbors. In his character there was a
happy combination of lively wit and humor with piety
and good sense. The writer knew him well, and cher-
ishes his memory with the peculiar pleasure with which
we remember " the excellent of the earth." He was
long a member and main supporter of the Little Valley
church, of vi^hich his widow is still an active and liberal
HiiorJi Alexander.
11
member. He died hopefully and happily, May 15,
1865, in the seventy-first year of his age, and was buried
with his children in the Little Valley churchyard.
The children of John and Jane B. Alexander were :
1. Hugh Clark Alexander, born Jan. 12, 1825, and
died June 3, 1847, when about entering on the prac-
tice of the medical profession.
2. Robert Harvey Alexander, born March 26, 1827,
and died Jan. 21, 1852. He married Matilda Milliken,
daughter of Robert Milliken of Kishacoquillas Valley,
Nov. 27, 1849, by whom he had one son, —
William Clark Alexander, born Sept. 6, 1850; gradu-
ated at Lafayette College, Pa., and at Princeton Theo-
logical Seminary, April 1876. He was ordained and
installed as pastor of the Piqua Presbyterian church in
Lancaster Co., Pa., May 9, 1876, and married Mary C,
daughter of Judge L. C. Reese, of Phillipsburg, N. J.,
June 1, 1876.
Mrs. Matilda M. Alexander died a happy death after
a Christian life Jan. 28, 1854, aged twenty-six years.
3. Samuel James Alexander, born Oct. 4, 1828 ; died
Jan. 11, 1843.
4. Ira Thomas Alexander, born Oct. 9, 1835 ; died
March 7, 1851.
5. Louisa Jane Alexander, born July 15, 1838 ; died
March 11, 1839.
6. Attilia Margaretta Alexander, born Dec. 12, 1839 ;
died Jan. 29, 1842.
78 The (Descendants of
CHAPTER III.
Mary Alexander, born 1762, married Robert Clark,
who having first settled near Carlisle, went to Sherman's
Valley as a volunteer to defend the settlers against the
Indians. Seeing the fine water, timber and soil of the
valley, he settled there on lands which still remain in
the possession of his descendants.
Robert Clark died Aug. 24, 1819, aged eighty years.
Mary A. Clark died Oct. 13, 1838, aged seventy-six
years. Issue :
1. Thomas Clark, born Jan. 15, 1781.
2. Hugh Clark, born June 8th, 1785, did not marry.
Residence, Piqua, Ohio.
3. Frances Clark, born Dec. 26, 1787.
4. John Clark, born April 12, 1790.
5. David Clark, born Oct. 17, 1792.
6 and 7. Martha and Margaret Clark. Births not
recorded.
8. James Clark, born October 19th, 1798.
9. Andrew Clark, born June 15, 1800.
SECTION I.
Thomas Clarh married Nellie Blacl\ Dec. 30, 1809,
and moved to Ohio in May 1810, and settled on a farm
near Greenfield, Ross Co., where they resided until
death. Thomas Clark died Aug. 28, 1846, and his
wife, who was born in Sherman's Valley, Pa., April 1,
1789, died June 25, 1871, aged eighty-two years. Issue :
1. Margaret Clark, born May 9, 1811.
2. Mary Clark, born July 24, 1812.
3. Jane Clark, born July 14, 1814.
Hucrh Alexander.
79
4. Martha Clark, born Feb. 12, 1819.
5. Susannah Clark, born Oct. 1, 1821.
6. Nancy Clark, born Oct. 5, 1823.
7. Robert Clark, b. May 24, 1825 ; d. Sept. 26, 1876.
8. George C. Clark, born Sept. 26, 1827.
1. Margaret Clark married Samuel Brown, farmer,
October 17, 1833, Residence, Springville, Lynn Co.,
Iowa. Issue :
a. Mary Frances Brown, born Oct. 10, 1834; died
July 2, 1858.
b. Thomas Clark Brown, born July 12, 1837.
c. John Benjamin Brown, born September 24, 1839.
d. WilKam Hugh Brown, born July 12, 1842.
e. Samuel Milton Brown, born August 5, 1848; died
June 8, 1862.
f. James Allen Brown, born September 28, 1845.
{/. Susannah Catherine Brown, born June 15, 1851.
Mrs. Margaret Clark Brown died April 14, 1856,
and her husband died September 10, 1875.
b. Thomas Clark Broicn married Ellen Jane Johnson.,
April 3, 1861. Issue:
Charles Thompson Brown, born August 1, 1866.
Mary Margaret Brown, born Jan. 29, 1871.
Sarah Brown, born June 13, 1875.
c. John Benjamin Brown married Rebecca Catherine
Richard., Nov. 22, 1865. Issue:
Charlotte Ann Brown, born October 10, 1866.
Sarah Margaret Brown, born August 8, 1868.
Leo Frank Brown, born July 16, 1870.
Samuel Manley Brown, born May 27, 1872.
Annie May Brown, born May 24, 1874.
d. William Hugh Brown married Anna Robison, July
16,1864. Issue:
Frances Ann Brown, born May 25, 1865.
So The descendants of
2. Jane Clark married George Allemary, April 25^
1844. Residence near Lynndon, Ross county, Ohio.
Issue — Five sons and two daughters.
4. Martha Clark married Robert Adams, April 10,
1845. Residence, Greenfield, Ross Co., Ohio. Issue
— Five daughters and two sons.
5. Susannah B. Clark married Samuel C. Murray,
farmer, Nov. 7, 1850. Residence, Greenville, Ohio.
Issue — One daughter. Mr. S. C. Murray died May,
1853.
6. Nancy E. Clark married James Fernon, former,
Nov. 15, 1848. Residence, Marion, Lynn Co., Ohio.
Issue:
George Crothers Fernon, born October 6, 1851.
Owen Solomon Fernon, born July 4, 1864.
Mr. James Fernon died July 12, 1811.
8. George C. Clark married Ann Murray, March 16,
1864. Residence near Council Bluffs, Fremont Co.,
Iowa. Issue — Two daughters and one son.
Thomas and Elenor Clark's descendants are two
sons, six daughters, and thirty-two grandchildren. It is
remarkable that of these grandchildren sixteen are sons
and sixteen are daughters. They are scattered over
several States, and hence the record is defective.
SECTION II.
Hugh Clark did not marry. Residence, near Piqua,
Ohio.
SECTION III.
Frances Clark married Richard Morrow, farmer,
July 5, 1814. In the fill of the same year they moved
first to Highland Co., O., and thence, in the spring of
1815, to Miami Co., and settled on a quarter section of
land three miles south of Piqua. The country was then
Hugh Alexander. 81
a forest almost unbroken. In the summer and fall of
1817, they erected a double log house with a two story
front, which they entered the same year on the 20th of
December. On this homestead ftirm they spent the
remainder of their lives excepting about five years'
residence in Piqua, from which they returned to the
farm in the summer of 1861. Mr. Morrow was a Mill-
wright in his youth, but after his settlement in Ohio
he devoted his life to agriculture. The married life of
this couple covered a period of fifty years. Mr. Morrow
died May 28, 1864, and his widow, Frances C. Morrow,
on the 12th of August, in the same year — he being
seventy-six years of age and she seventy-five. Children :
1. Joseph Marshall Morrow, born March 11, 1815.
He was killed by the fall of a roof-pole from the house
on the farm of Judge Adams, two and a-half miles south
of Piqua.
2. Robert Alexander Morrow, born April 11, 1818;
died Nov. 19, 1846.
3. Hugh Clark Morrow, born Oct. 9, 1820; died
Sept. 5, 1874.
4. James Morrow, born Dec. 20, 1822.
5. Milton Morrow, born Feb. 14, 1825.
6. William Morrow, born July 31, l!528. Is unmar-
ried.
7. Andrew Mitchell Morrow, born Xov. 17, 1833.
2. Robert Ale.vander Morrow married Mary H. Whit-
ah-er, Dec. 8, 1842. Issue:
a. Marthy Frances Morrow, born Dec. 1, 1843.
h. Cornelia Morrow, born Feb. 1847 ; died May 1847.
Their father died Nov. 1846, and their mother, March
1847.
a. Marthy Frances Morrow married Charles P. Hou-
sum, in Piqua, O., Nov. 22, 1860. They have resided
82 The (Descendants of
in New Castle, Logansport, and Fort Wayne, Ind; in
Piqua, O., and in Decatur, III , where Mrs. Housum
died, Oct. 4, 1872, aged twenty-eight years and ten
months. Issue :
Fanny Housum, born Aug. 13, 1861; died Sept. 5,
1861.
Clara Elizabeth Housum, born at Piqua, May 26,
1863.
Mary McDonald Housum, born at Piqua, May 12,
1866.
Fillie Housum, born at Decatur, 111., July 1, 1868;
died March 16, 1869.
Charles Post Housum, born at Decatur, 111., Feb. 10,
1870.
4. James Morrow married Nancy Vanemon, Mar. 16,
1847. Issue:
a. John William Morrow, born in Piqua, Feb. 10,
1848.
b. Charles Anderson Morrow, born two and a-half
miles south of Piqua, June 7, 1850.
c. Richard Edwin Morrow, born three miles south-
west of Piqua, Nov. 23, 1859.
d. Frances Jane Morrow, born three miles south-west
of Piqua, April 23, 1862.
e. Mary Belle Morrow, born three miles south-west
of Piqua, Jan. 30, 1868.
5. Hugh Clark Morrow married Susan F. Morrisson^
in Piqua, May 7, 1851. Issue:
1. James Hamilton Morrow, born in Piqua, Feb. 15,
1852.
2. Adda Constantia Morrow, born in Piqua, Dec. 5,
1853.
3. Elizabeth Frances Morrow, born in Piqua, March
2, 1856.
Hugh Alexander. 83
4. Richard Arthur Morrow, born three miles south
of Piqua, March 28, 1858.
5. Sarah Carlin Morrow, born two and a-half miles
south of Piqua, Nov. 3, 1861; died Aug. 19, 1863.
6. Minnie Belle Morrow, born two and a-half miles
south of Piqua, May 23, 1864; died Jan. 27, 1867.
7. Frances Clark Morrow, born three miles south-
west of Piqua, May 15, 1867.
6. Andrew Mitchell Morrow married ^/z'^a E. Drake ^
April 8, 1858. Residence, on the Homestead farm
three miles south of Piqua. The same is also the resi-
dence of William Morrow. Mrs. E, E. D. Morrow died
Oct. 30, 1873. Issue:
1. Ella Frances Morrow, born May 16, 1860.
2. Margaret Caroline Morrow, born May 14, 1862,
3. Harland D. Morrow, born Sept. 5, 1866,
SECTION IV.
John Clark married Susan Clark in Perry county,
Pa., and moved to Ohio about 1816 or 1817. Their
residence was on the bank of the Miami, three and a
half miles south of Piqua, on the road to Troy. Issue :
1. Armanda, born in Pa.; when forty years of age
she married Albert Adams. Residence, Lafayette, Ind,
2. Stephenson Clark, married when about forty-five
years of age, moved to Howard county, Ind. ; died sud-
denly on a trip to Missouri.
3, John Clark, bought a farm in Tipton county, Ind.,
and married there when upwards of forty years of age.
4, James Clark, died in Ohio aged thirty years,
unmarried.
5. Sarah Jane Clark, wlien thirty years of age married
a 3fr. Kissinger, 1863, and moved to Indiana.
6, Duenna Clark, lives unmarried with her mother
near Lafayette, Ind.
84 T'ii^ (Descendants of
SECTION Y.
David Clark married Margaret Blain, 1815, Ross
Co., Ohio. He died May 15, 1839, and his wife Aug.
23, 183(3. Issue:
1. Maria E. Clark, born 1816.
2. Thomas W. Clark, born November 11, 1819.
3. Robert A. Clark, born 1823, died 1854, near Sa-
cramento, California.
4. Sarah J. Clark, born 1826.
5. Marthy A. Clark, born January, 1829.
6. Mary H. Clark, born August 11, 1832.
7. Margaret B. Clark, born February 20, 1836.
These children were all born in Miami county, Ohio,
except the last, born in Kosciusko county, Indiana,
whither the family had moved in 1835.
1. Maria E. Clark married Joseph KirApaii'ick, Jan.
1838. Issue — Four children, all dead, also the parents.
2. Thomas TF. Clark married Mary Clark, September
19, 1843. Issue:
a. James A. Clark, born August 14, 1844.
b. Watson A. Clark, born November 10, 1846.
c. Milton E. Clark, born February 29, 1848.
d. William M. Clark, born February 26, 1850.
e. George W. Clark, born February 16, 1852.
/ Marthy A. Clark, born March 8, 1854.
(J. and h. Francis Y. and Sarah F. Clark, born Aug.
22, 1856; both died in 1857.
The first two of these were born in Miami Co., Ohio;
the next five in Kosciusko Co., Indiana; and the last
two in Clark Co., Iowa. Mrs. Mary Clark died Aug.
13, 1857, in Harrison Co., Mo., after which Mr. Thos.
W. Clark moved back again to Clark Co., Iowa. There
he married, secondly, Emily Hunt, August 27, 1862.
Issue:
/. and J. Clarence B. and Percy B. Clark, born June
29, 1865.
Hugh Alexander. 85
a. James A. Clark married EIi::a J. Wiant, January
3, 1870. Issue: Cora M. Clark, born December 12,
1872; and Margaret Clark, born February 15, 1875,
I). Watson A. Ckirk died May 30, 1865, at Newbern,
N. C, in the service of his country.
c. Milton E. Clark married Samantha A. Barns,
October 21, 1875, in Clark county, Iowa.
d. William M. Clark removed to a homestead in
Kansas, June 1871.
e. George W. Clark married Alice Barns, October
21, IS 75, Clark county, Iowa.
6. Mari/ F. Clark married Simon Stookey, February
9, 1851, Kosciusko county, Indiana. Issue:
George H. Stookey, born May 22, 1853.
Samuel O. Stookey, born January 16, 1855, married
Elizabeth Nine, July, 1875.
Jefferson C. Stookey, born May 2, 1857.
Charles W. Stookey, born August 12, 1859.
Elmer Stookey, born Dec. 18, 1860; d. June 2, 18G2.
William D. Stookey, born July 23, 1867.
Sarah M. Stookey, born November 2, 1872.
7. Margaret B. Clark married Ezra F. Baldwin,
December, 1858, in Harrison county. Mo. Issue:
W^ilson C. Baldwin, born October 4, 1859.
Charles E. Baldwin, born February 14, 1861.
Milton Baldwin, born February 1, 1867.
Clarence E. Baldwin, born March 24, 1868.
Mary L. Baldwin, born October 9, 1870.
Hattie M. Baldwin, born November 30, 1873.
SECTION VI.
Martha Clark married Egbert Adams, farmer. Issue:
1. Jeniza Adams.
2. Stephenson Adams.
86 The (Descendants of
3. Robert Alexander Adams.
4. John Adams.
Mrs. Martha C. Adams died in 1813.
1. Jeniza Adams married Fisher Neshit. Issue:
a John; h. William; c. James; </. Martha Nesbit.
a. John A. Neshit married Hester Hemp. Issue:
Addison Nesbit.
h. Willictm Neshit married Harriet Kennedy. Resi-
dence, Sherman's Valley, Perry county, Pa. Issue:
Jeniza Nesbit, Ann Nesbit, John Nesbit, James Nes-
bit, Charles Nesbit, Margaret A. and Ida Nesbit.
Jeniza, daughter of William, married B. P. Mclntyre,
attorney-at-law, in Harrisburg, Pa.
Ann Nesbit married James Elder, of Newport, Pa.
c. James Neshit married Hester Sprout. Issue: Eliz-
abeth Nesbit and Elenor Nesbit. Residence in Illinois.
d. Martha Neshit married John Shihley. Issue un-
known.
SECTION VII.
Margaret Clark married Robert McClure in Sher-
man's Valley, Pa., about the year 1819. Whether her
husband died in Pennsylvania or Ohio is uncertain;
but she died a widow at the house of her bachelor
brother, Hugh Clark, three miles south of Piqua, Ohio,
July 31, 1840. Issue:
1. Mary A. McClure, born December 21, 1820.
2. William M. McClure, born about 1822.
1. Ilary Alexander McClure married James Iriuin
Whitaker, February 16, 1837. Issue:
a. William M. Whitaker, born March 13, 1838.
b. Margaret Jane Whitaker, born Dec. 28, 1839.
c. Mary Elizabeth Whitaker, born May 21, 1841.
a. William M. Whitaker married Mary McGreio
September 25, 1860. Issue:
Hugh Alexander. 87
Emma Harrison Whitaker, born October 28, 1861.
Eddie Whitaker, born February 28, 1863.
Ida Mary Whitaker, born April 30, 1866.
Charles Ithamar Whitaker, born January 23, 1867.
William Harvey Whitaker, born February 1, 1870.
Estella Whitaker, born August 20, 1873.
Robert Whitaker, born December 27, 1874.
The residence of William M. Whitaker is Sidney,
Shelby county, Ohio ; occupation, carriage-builder.
h. Margaret Jane Whitaker married JoJni Sijp, in
Piqua, Ohio, January 27, 1872. Issue:
Edward McClure Syp, born January 11, 1873.
Mr. Syp is a merchant; residence, Afton, Iowa.
c. Mary Elizabeth Whitaker married Henry Mayer^
July 16, 1862, in Piqua, Ohio. Issue:
Charles M. Mayer, born August 1, 1863, in Piqua.
James E. Mayer, born July 16, 1866, in Wapakoneta,
Auglaize county, Ohio.
Cora B. Mayer, born June 4, 1869, in Wapakoneta.
Elmer E. Mayer, born Nov. 26, 1874, in Wapakoneta
2. William M. McClure married Susan Hamilton in
1841. He died in 1842, leaving one son, William
McClure, who married Helen Barnett, and lives in
Michigan.
SECTION VIII.
James Clark married Ann Coyle. Issue:
1. Robert Alexander Clark.
2. David Coyle Clark.
3. Martha Lynn Clark.
4. Andrew Mitchell Clark, died aged sixteen years.
5. Mary Alexander Clark.
6. Elizabeth Ann Clark, died aged eleven years.
7. William Scott Clark, hardware merchant, Cham-
bersburg, Pa.
88 The (Descendants of
Mr. James Clark died in 1858, aged sixty years. The
residence of his family was the old Clark homestead in
Sherman's Valley.
1. Robert Alexander Clarl; aged forty-two years,
married Matilda Quigley McNeal, aged thirty-eight
years, February 1, 1859. Issue:
a. Ann Elizabeth Clark, died two and a half years
old.
b. Mary Ida Clark, thirteen years old (1875).
c. David Coyle Clark, aged eleven years.
d. James Clark, died two and a half years old.
e. Grace Clark, aged seven years.
f. Bertha Clark, five years old (1875).
g. Robert Morris Clark, aged two and a half years.
2. David Coyle Glarl: married Maggie Sharp. Chil-
dren— Ann Clark and Berty Clark.
This family resides near Chambersburg, Pa.
3. Martha Lynn Clark married William Alexander
McCidloch, farmer. Issue:
a. James C. McCulloch.
b. Burdella McCulloch.
c. Bruce McCulloch.
Residence near Newville, Pennsylvania.
4. 3Iary Alexander Clark, aged thirty-six years, mar-
ried Samuel Sharp, farmer. Issue :
a. Ann Sharp. b. Jennie Sharp.
c. An infant.
Residence near Newville, Pa.
SECTION IX.
Andrew Mitchell Clark died unmarried at the resi-
dence of his brother James, in 1858, aged 58 years.
The children of Robert and Mary A. Clark are all
now dead (1875).
Hugh Alexander. 89
CHAPTER IV.
DESCENDANTS OF DAVID ALEXANDER.
David, the son of Hugh Alexander, was born about
1760, in Sherman's Valley, Perry county, Pa. The
writer has been able to collect but a very few facts
relating to his personal history. His first settlement
was at Tioga, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he
married Margaret Miller, a lady distinguished for
intelligence and dignity of manners. Having sold his
lands in the East, he removed in 1810 to Southern Il-
linois, and settled on the Great American Bottom, near
Shiloh, in St. Clair county. He was among the pioneer
settlers of that region, to which he took a family of ten
children, whose descendants are numerous and widely
dispersed. In the summer of 1822 David Alexander
was killed by lightning while walking behind a wagon
loaded with hay. The blade was melted off from a
knife which at the time he was holding in his hand.
His children were:
Hugh, Edith, William, Margaret, Martha, Samuel,
John, David, Cyrus, and Araspes.
SECTION I.
Hugh Alexander, born March 17, 1789, first mar-
ried Hannah Tozer, in 1812. Both he and his wife
were born at Tioga, Pa.; she was born October -1, 1788.
Their residence was Southern Illinois ; occupations,
farming and milling. His wife, Hannah T. Alexander,
died August 24, 1820. Issue:
1. Edwin M. Alexander, born June 30, 1813; died
young.
2. Julius T. Alexander, born September 2, 1814.
7
90 The (Descendants of
3. Edward R. Alexander, born January 4, 1816,
4. Margaret E. Alexander, born December 13, 1817.
5. Charles Alexander, born March 20, 1820.
2. Julius T. Alexander married, November 28, 1839,
Miss Wealthy Sikes, who was born in Ludlow, Mass.
Mr. Alexander is a farmer, and resides at Geneva, Kane
county, Illinois. Issue :
a. Edward JV. Aleccander, born September 6, 1842;
married Ella McCammis, December 25, 1870. He is
postal agent at La Porte, Ind. Issue: One child, Mabel
Alexander, born November 17, 1875.
h. Hugh B. Alexander, born January 29, 1847. Civil
engineer, San Francisco, Cal.
3. Edward R. AleTander married Mrs. Joan Meadow.,
1847. He is postal agent, and resides at Chicago, 111.
No children.
4. Margaret E. Alexander married George W. Peo-
ples., March 26, 1835. Mr. Peoples is a farmer in
Southern Illinois. Issue:
1. Edwin T. Peoples, born November 5, 1836, who
married Catherine Crispin., March 28, 1870, and has
three children, Viola Peoples, Frank E. Peoples, and
Edward H. Peoples.
2. Harris A. Peoples, born February 23, 1839, mar-
ried Sarah Ciireton, December 15, 1870.
3. Eugene Peoples, born August 10, 1845; civil en-
gineer.
4. Emma Peoples, born February 8, 1853, married
David Gill, carpenter, October 4, 1874.
George W. Peoples died in Bostrap, Texas, October
31, 1854.
5. Charles Alexander married Achsah H. Smith, who
was born January 28, 1818, in Wayne county, N. Y.;
date of marriage, October 20, 1842, in Kendall county,
Hugh Alexander. 91
Illinois. His occupation is that of a flirmer. Resi-
dence, since 1852, near Healdsburg, Sonomo Co., Cal.
Children :
1. Amelia Huldah Alexander, born September 18,
1848, St. Clair county, Illinois.
2. Josephine Alexander, born January 23, 1850, St.
Louis, Mo.
3. Lawrence Alexander, born January 17, 1853, in
Sonoma county, California.
4. Alice Maria Alexander, born August 8, 1854, in
Sonoma county, California.
5. Julius Myron Alexander, born October, 18, 1857,
in Sonoma county, California.
1. Amelia Huldah Alexander married Frank P. Mtiy
of rittsburgh, Pa., October 30, 1867. Mr. May was
born October 30, 1845. His occupation is farming, in
Kern county, California. Issue:
a. Mary Alice May, born August 8, 1868.
h. Chester A. May, born January 29, 1870.
c. William May, born February 10, 1873.
2. Josephine Alexander married Ahram J. Spoon, of
Wisconsin, December 14, 1869. Mr. Spoon resides in
Plumas Co., Cal. Occupation, farming. Children:
a. Charles A. Spoon, born October 1, 1871 ; drowned
May, 1873.
b. Earnest Spoon, born September 28, 1872.
c. A daughter, born Feb. 23, 1875, name not known.
4. Alice Maria Alexander married Rev. Andrew K.
Crawford, of the Methodist Church, July 22, 1875.
Hugh Alexander married, secondly, Cynthia Man-
DEViLLE, (born April 23d, 1799), 1822. Issue:
Ten children all of whom died in infancy except four:
1. Henry Alexander, born September 27, 1824.
2. Lucy Ann Alexander, born July 9, 1826.
92 The (Descendants of
0. Mary V. Alexander, born December 6, 1830.
4. Hugh Milton Alexander, born August 26, 1833.
1. Henry Alexander married Elmira T. Ayer, who
was born August 7, 1834, and married Aug. 12, 1851.
Henry Alexander is engaged in merchandizing in
Mona, Mitchell Co., Iowa. Children :
1. Edgar E. Alexander, born August 12, 1852.
2. Julius H. Alexander, born March 6, 1854.
3. OHver H. Alexander, born March 24, 1856.
4. Lewis M. iVlexander, born July 12, 1858.
5. Frank L. Alexander, born September 20, 1860.
6. Lemuel H. Alexander, born March 21, 1863.
7. Norris Grant Alexander, born September 6, 1865
---died, aged eight years and three months.
8. Edward C. Alexander, boin June 9, 1868.
9. Idelia Mabel Alexander, born July 17, 1871.
2. Lucy Ann Alexander married John Hunter.
Issue: Arabella Hunter.
3. Mary V. Alexander married Lewis Miller^ and
resides in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Miller is a machinist.
Issue : Jennie Miller.
4. Hugh Milton Alexander married Ellen 8. Coolley,
Dec. 25, 1854. Mrs. Ellen S. C. Alexander was born
December 16, 1837— died Jan. 31, 1873. Children:
1. Charles B. Alexander, born July 16, 1857.
2. Hugh Alexander, born August 31, 1859.
3. Emerson C. Alexander, born July 6, 1863.
4. Mary V. Alexander, born February 1, 1869.
5. Lewis M. Alexander, born January 31, 1873 —
died September 7, 1873.
Hugh Milton Alexander married, secondly, Hellen
Grover Updike, January 1, 1874. Mrs. Hellen G. U.
Alexander was born September 27, 1845.
Hugh Alexander, the father of the families of the
Hugh Alexander. 93
above section, and eldest son of David Alexander of Illi-
nois, died xlugust 24, 1871, aged eighty-two years.
SECTION' n.
Edith Alexander, born September 8, 1791; died
young and unmarried.
SECTION III.
WiLLiA>r Alexander, born December 11, 1793, mar-
ried first, Lucy Harris. Issue :
1. JohnH. ; 2. Benjamin M. ; 3. Edwin; 4. Araspes.
Of these Edwin alone survives. Residence, near Bell-
viUe, 111.
William Alexander married, secondly, Mrs, Sarah
Middlecoff. Issue :
5. Lucy Alexander, who married George Thomas,
farmer. Residence, Idaho.
6. Julia Alexander died unmarried.
SECTION IV.
Margaret Alexander, born Sept. 7, 1794, married
William Moore, farmer. Residence, St. Clair Co., 111.
Children: 1. Edith; 2. Risdon; 3. David; 4. Mar-
garet, died young ; 5. Mary ; 6. Augustus ; 7. Martha ;
8. James; 9. Amos; 10. Samuel, died young.
1. Edith Moore married W. B. Oglesby. Residence,
St. Clair Co., 111.
2. Risdon Moore married, first, Ann Middlecoff,
1843, who died 1843. He married, secondly, Sarah
Ann Duncan in 1848, who died 1856; he then mar-
ried, thirdly, Sarah A. Wildeman 1857. Residence,
BellviUe, 111.
3. David Moore, farmer, married Behjon Scott. Res.
Henry Co., Mo.
94 ^-^^t^ (Descendants of
4. Mary Moore married Edwin Willoughby, farmer,
of St. Clair Co., 111.
6. W. Augustas Moore married Angeline Powel;
farming in St. Clair Co., 111.
7. Martha V. Moore married David Murphy ; farm-
ing in St. Clair Co., 111.
8. James Moore married Catherine Clark; residence
in St. Clair Co., 111.
SECTION V.
Martha Alexander, born October 15, 1797, married
Egbert Hughes, of St. Clair Co., 111. Issue :
1. Richard — died ; 2. William M. ; 3. Eliza — died ;
4. Edwin; 5. James ; 6. Martha; 7. Cyrus.
2. Wm. Hughes, merchant, married Jane Glasgow.
Residence, St. Paul, Minn.
4. Edwin Hughes married Sarah Hamlet. Resi-
dence, Lincoln Co., Mo.
5. James Hughes married Wineford Hamlet. Resi-
dence, Lincoln Co., Mo.
7. Cyrus Hughes married . Residence,
Lincoln Co , Mo.
SECTION VI.
Samuel Alexander, born March 22, 1799.
SECTION VII.
John Alexander, son of David A., born February
21, 1801, married Elenor Thompson in 1828. John
Alexander removed and established himself as a planter
in the State of Mississippi, "where he still lives, near
Lamar, Marshall county. Mrs. E. T. Alexander died
July 12, 1855, in Illinois. Issue:
1. Caroline Alexander, born March 7, 1830.
Hugh Alexander. 95
'2. Julia Ann Alexander, born November 29, 1833;
died January 26, 1848.
3. Margaret Alexander, born August 15, 1837; died
November 4, 1856.
4. Hannah Jane Alexander, born July 24, 1840.
5. John Harris Alexander, born March 24, 1842.
In 1856 this family moved to California, in 1868 to
Missouri, and in 1869 to Marshall county, Mississippi.
1. CaroJlne Alexander married William Radfield, of
St. Clair Co., Illinois, June 16, 1853, and died March
22, 1854.
4. Hannah Jane Alexander married Cyrus Alexander^
her cousin, the son of Araspes A., December 12, 1872.
Residence, Lamar, Miss. No issue. They are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian Church.
5. John Harris Alexander married Martha Hearts-
jield., of Mississippi, June 16, 1870. He died Novem-
ber 13, 1875. His death was full of hope and trust in
Christ. No issue.
SECTION VIII.
David Alexander, born November 14, 1803, married,
firstly, Catherine Thompso/i. Residence, St. Clair Co ,
Illinois. Issue:
1. Mary Alexander, 'who married Jeremiah Bennet,
and resides in St. Clair county, Illinois.
2. Samuel Alexander, who married , and
lives in Macon county, Illinois.
3. Daniel P. Alexander, who married Mary Stits.
Residence in Kansas.
4. Eliza Alexander, who married Joseph Walker.
5. Cyrus Alexander, who married, firstly, Elizabeth
Midgley, and secondly, . Residence, Macon
county, Illinois.
6. Ann Alexander, — died young.
g6 The (Descendants of
SECTION IX— CYRUS ALEXANDER.
Cyrus, the ninth child of David Alexander, was born
May 15, 1805, in Pennsylvania, and when six years old
he was taken with his father's family to settle in St.
Clair county, Illinois, eighteen miles east of St. Louis,
in 1810. A manuscript history of his life, so diversi-
fied and full of wild and romantic enterprises, has been
prepared for publication by his nephew, Mr. Charles
Alexander, of Healdsburg, Sonoma county, California.
From this work, yet unpublished, we derive the follow-
ing brief account:
When Cyrus was passing his early youth, his parents
indulged him with exemption from the severer toils of
frontier life on account of his delicate health. Yet
from one of his older brothers he learned to tan leather
and to make shoes, and from another brother to gear
and run a mill. The reading and stories of border life
inflamed his natural love of adventure, and he deter-
mined to seek a fortune out of the ordinary path of
pursuit. In 1827, being twenty-three years old, he
invested his all in ox teams and mining implements,
and after a toilsome journey of four hundred miles, com-
menced in the lead mines of Galena, on Feather river,
then recently discovered. But the rigor of the climate
and other obstacles rendered his mining nnsuccessful.
Selling his mining stock, he invested all in an outfit
for trapping and fur trading, and spent four years tra-
versing the then wild and almost unknown regions of
the Rocky Mountains, from the Yellowstone river to
the Gulf of California. The fortunes and misfortunes,
the hardships, dangers, and adventures of those years
cannot be recounted here. During these years he had
neither seen or heard of a relative, nor did he until
many years afterwards, when two nephews from Illinois
Hugh Alexander. 97
met him in company with Fremont, defending the fort
of Sonoma in California, during the Mexican war.
At the end of four years trapping and trading, in
1837 he found himself at San Diego, on the Pacific, in
Lower California, destitute of everything but scanty
clothing and his indomitable purpose and perseverance.
After hiring himself at twelve dollars per month for
some time, he procured an outfit that enabled hitn to
engage successfully and profitably in killing sea-lions
and sea-otters on the Guadaloupe Islands. When this
business become less remunerative, he engaged with
Captain H. D. Fitch, who had a ship and traded be-
tween Lower California and Boston in hides, tallow, &c.
Captain Fitch had married a Mexican wife as a prere-
quisite to holding large grants of California lands which
he had stocked with great herds of various cattle, the
hides and tallow of which were the chief articles of the
Boston trade. Li this cattle business with Captain
Fitch, Cyrus Alexander remained until the Captain,
perceiving and appreciating his honesty, energy and
other good qualities, proposed a partnership on wild
lands to be explored and acquired. As Cyrus was not
qualified by marriage to obtain the grant of land from
the Mexican government, this was obtained by Fitch
after Cyrus had explored and selected. After travelling
hundreds of miles and crossing San Francisco Bay, he
located and surveyed eleven leagues of excellent land
on the Russian river, in the region where the fiourish-
ing town of Healdsburg now stands. Fitch stocked
this "Sotoyome Grant" with cattle of various kind from
the South, and Alexander took charge of the whole in
1840, making improvements, and receiving, at the end
of four years, three leagues of the land, one-half the
increase of the stock, and something for improvements.
Before the division of the land he had built an adobe
98 The (Descendants of
house with the aid of the wretched Digger Indians,
whom he concihated by kind treatment, and whose
confidence he gained by faithfully fulfilling all his pro-
mises. They aided him in building, in herding his
cattle, and would carry bags of sea-shells thirty-five
miles from the coast when Mr, Alexander wanted them
to burn into lime for the first tannery which was ever
started north of San Francisco. He rewarded their
labor by his superior skill as a hunter, in killing large
game for them with his rifle.
The nearest town was the old Catholic Mission of
Sonoma, distant thirty-five miles. After dividing land
in 1844 and dissolving partnership with Captain Fitch,
he built the first house in those regions of kiln-burned
brick made of adobe, splitting redwood timber into
boards and shingles, and using grooves and other con-
trivances as substitutes for nails.
Having now for the first time a habitation that he
could call his own, he was married, in 1844, to Miss
ErUphena Lucero by Captain Sutter, then acting as
AcaJda (Justice of the Peace) for the Mexican Govern-
ment. His wife had come to California from New
Mexico with her brother-in-law, Mr. Gordon. She
was a true woman, and admirably adapted to all the
requirements of frontier life. Large additions were
now made to his former improvements. To cattle he
added farming and fruit growing; and the first grist-
mill in Northern California was added to the tannery.
The earth brought forth her hundred-fold, and all his
business prospered. His wheat was abundant and of
remarkable size and weight ; and though his mill was
of the most primitive construction — stones and all being
of his own manufacture — yet his flour was " superfine,"
and his bread the best in the land.
Now a new trouble arose. In 1847 the lioman
Hugh Alexander. 99
Catholic priest of Santa Clara pronounced his marriage
null and void, and required Mrs. Alexander to go home
(one hundred miles) and remain there until lawfully
married. Some other neighbors received similar orders.
Mr. Alexander expressed his inditrnation in lancjuase
such as he never used on any other occasions. But,
under a tyrannical government in the hands of avari-
cious priests, and surrounded by superstitious people,
he felt that there Avas no alternative but to comply.
After much trouble about a wedding outfit and a lono-
journey to Santa Clara with his wife, they submitted
to the farce of re-marriage, at a total expense of three
hundred dollars.
The next year (1848) came the revolution that placed
Mr. Alexander proudly and joyfully under the protec-
tion of the " Stars and Stripes." Then followed the
great gold discovery at Captain Sutter's saw-mill, the
gold fever, and the flood of population from the " States."
Now Mr. Alexander was prepared to reap a full reward
of incredible hardships and labors. The productions of
his large estate sold to miners at fabulous prices: lambs
$16 per head, calves for more, large fine white hogs at
$50 each, two tons of onions for $1200! etc. His for-
tune becamie very considerable. His social family and
abundant fruits attracted many visitors to " Alexander
Valley," where parties, after regaling themselves, would
often indulge in the pleasures of the dance ; but no
liquor or disorderly conduct was allowed.
After leaving Illinois, he never saw a Bible until a
copy was brought to him by the wife of his nephew,
Charles Alexander, in 1850. The instruction he had
received from his pious Presbyterian parents had regu-
lated his conduct in all the temptations of the wild
modes of life which he lived, so that he maintained his
integrity in a remarkable degree of sobriety, and hon-
TOO TJie (Descendants of
esty, and outward morality, though destitute of saving
grace. Immediately on the arrival of the Bible, he
became a constant and interested reader, until its truths
became a lamp to his feet and a light to his path.
The first preacher was the Rev. A. S. Bateman, who
came in 1852. Mr. Alexander opened his house for
preaching, and furnished land and money for erecting a
church. He also erected a school-house and hired a
teacher. When the Methodists were unable to pay for
their church building, he bought it at a liberal price,
and donated it to the Presbyterian church, of which he
had become a member, giving the minister a farm to
induce him to settle in Healdsburg. When the town
failed to run their academy successfully, Mr. Alexander
purchased the property and deeded it also to the Pres-
byterian church of Healdsburg. The institution now
bears the name of the " Alexander Academy," as a
monument to his memory as a friend and patron of
sound learnin"' and true religion in a new and o-rowino:
country.
After a most active and eventful life as founder of
new settlements and institutions in California, Cyrus
Alexander died of paralysis, December 27, 1872, aged
sixty-eight years, and was buried beside six of his chil-
dren in the family graveyard in Alexander Valley, So-
noma county, California. His wic].ow still (1875) sur-
vives, and his third son, Joseph, is successfully managing
the business of the estate. The record of his family is
as follows:
Cyrus Alexander, born May 15, 1805; died Decem-
ber 27, 1872. Ruphena Lucero, his wife, born May,
1830. Children:
1. William Alexander, born September 1, 1845;
died at sea, August 16, 1867.
2. Margarita Alexander, born February 8, 1847.
Hugh Alexander. loi
3. Ellen Alexander, bom August 12, 1848; died
June 28, 1856.
4. Jane Alexander, bom July 2, 1850; died May 10,
1852.
5. Henry Alexander, born July 1, 1852; died July
15, 1869.
6. Joseph Alexander, born August 12, 1854.
7. Albert Alexander, born August 15, 1856; died
March 12, 1858.
8. Caroline Alexander, born March 17, 1860.
9. Thomas Alexander, born March 3, 1864.
10. George C. Alexander, born January 4, 1869.
1. William Alexander was sent to the Sandwich
Islands for recovery of health and died at sea ; unmarried.
2. Margarita Alexander married William Milligan^
July 30, 1868. Children:
1. Margaret Cecillia, bom 1872; 2. Leo Vincent,
Jan. 2, 1873; 3. Genevra Milligan, born Jan. 15, 1875.
6. Joseph Alexander married Katie Turner^ October
1874. No children.
8, 9, 10. Caroline, Thomas, and George C. are un-
married, 1875.
SECTION X.
Araspes Alexander, born March 3, 1807, married
Harriet Harris, a sister of his brother William's wife.
Issue :
1. Cyrus Alexander., who married Hannah Alexan-
der. Residence, Lamar, Miss.
2. Orpah Alexander, who married Jacob Griffin,
December 25, 1865. Issue: one child — Harriet J.
Griffin, born November 12, 1866.
3. Harris Alexander who married, first, Rebecca Cox ;
name of second wife not reported. Residence, Bruns-
wick, Mo.
I02 The descendants of
4. Emily Alexander, who married W. Woods, wagon-
maker, of St. Clair Co., 111. Issue:
1. Charles Woods, born June 2, 1857.
2. William H. Woods, born March 21, 1865.
3. Mary E. Woods, born December 21, lcS67.
4. Orpah Woods, born August 11, 1870.
5. Katie Woods, born August 11, 1873.
5. Charles Araspes Alexander, lives unmarried near
Brunswick, Miss.
CHAPTER V.
THE FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS OF HUGH ALEXANDER.
Hugh Alexander, probably the youngest child of
Hugh A. of Sherman's Valley, by his first wife, Martha
Edmiston, was born August 6, 1765, and died January
5, 1835, aged seventy years. Little is known of his
early life. His childhood, no doubt, received that care-
ful instruction and religious training which, like the
sowing of good seed, seldom fails to produce abundant
fruit of its own kind. His father's death occurred when
he was in his twelfth year, and he probably remained
at the old homestead until his marriage with Jemima
Patterson about 1787 or 1788, when he removed and
established himself as a prosperous farmer in Tuscarora
Valley, now in Juniata Co., Pa. There he became one
of the founders of those religious and educational insti-
tutions which have yielded incalculable blessings to that
fertile valley and to other regions. He labored faith-
fully for about forty years with the Rev. John Coulter
in the Tuscarora Presbyterian church, which became
one of the largest country congregations of that denomi-
nation in America, both attending to the home duties
Hugh Alexander . 103
of the church with fidelity and often representin"- her
in the higher ecclesiastical courts.
Hugh x\lexander, of Tuscarora, was one of the found-
ers of Tuscarora Academy, one of the most useful edu-
cational institutions in the earlier periods, and still in a
flourishing condition. It had its origin in a Latin class
taught by the Rev. James , in a room of Mr.
Alexander's house, until a very primitive building was
erected for its accommodation. The late Ur. Elliott,
Professor in the Western Theological Seminary, was a
member of that first class, and often referred to the
beginning of his classical studies in the infant academy
in the house of Hugh Alexander of Tuscarora.
His wife, Jemima Patterson, was born in Sherman's
Valley, February 2, 1765, and died in Tuscarora April
9, 18J;'3, aged seventy-eight years. Their children were:
David, Mart, Martha — died youug, Phcebe, and
Patterson.
SECTION I.
David Alexander, born May 6, 1789, died May 7,
1874, aged eighty-five years. He was a man of the
same general excellence with his father, Hugh, whom
he succeeded as a farmer and as an elder of the same
church, which he served for a period almost equally
long. On the 10th of November, 1810, he married
Sarah Patterson, born April 5, 1789, by whom he had
nine children:
1. Ann Eliza Alexander, born October 16, 1811.
Residence, Perry ville, Juniata Co., Pa.
2. Martha Alexander, born August 9, 1813.
3. Mary Jane Alexander, born October 1, 1815.
4. John Alexander, born April 16, 1817.
5. Jemima Alexander, born April 8, 1819. Resi-
dence, Perryville, Pa.
104 The descendants of
6. Hugh Alexander, bora April 20, 1821.
7. David Alexander, born April 20, 1823.
8. Sarah Alexander, born April 3, 1827; died March
29, 1840.
9. Samuel Alexander, born April 20, 1 830 ; died
November 16, 1865.
David Alexander married, secondly, Mrs. Cathe-
rine Wright. Issue — One daughter, Clarissa Harriet
Alexander. Residence, Perryville, Pa.
2. Martha Alexander married William Stewart. Issue:
a. Sarah Rebecca Stewart.
h. Jerome Stewart.
c. WilUam Stewart.
d. Patterson Stewart.
a. Sarah Rebecca Stewart married Bruce Alexander,
of Lewistown, Pa. (See Part II., Chap. vi. Sec. 7.)
h. Jerome Stewart married Nancy McWilliamson, of
Tuscarora Valley, Pa. Issue: — Samuel Stewart and
William Stewart.
c. William Stewart married Miss Madden, of Hunt-
ingdon Co., Pa.
3. Mary Jane Aleoca7ider married William Bratton.
No issue. Died September 24, 1853.
4. John Alexander married, first, Elizabeth Fry.
Issue :
a. Jefferson Alexander.
h. Melinda Alexander.
John Alexander married, secondly, Nancy Robinson.
Issue :
c. Nancy Jane Alexander.
d. John Robinson Alexander.
e. Samuel Hale Alexander.
b. Melinda Alexander married Wilbut McCahan.
Issue: — Mary McCahan.
Hugh Alexander. 105
c. Nancy Jane Alexander married Jerome Stewart.
Issue: Mc Williams Stewart and Samuel M. Stewart.
6. Hugh Alexander married Margaret Guilford.
Issue: — James Alexander, Allison Alexander, Mary
Alexander, and Ann Etta Alexander.
7. David Alexander married Jane Haitrjhawout
Issue : — David Cloyd Alexander, Lorenzo LefFert Alex-
ander, Matilda Alexander, Elizabeth Alexander, Clara
May Alexander, and Jane H. Alexander,
SECTION II.
Mary Alexander married James Anderson. Issue:
1. Thomas Anderson.
2. Jemima Jane Anderson; died young.
3. Hugh A. Anderson ; died young.
4. Ellen Anderson; died aged twenty years.
5. James Watson Anderson; died aged twenty.
6. Mary Anderson ; died in infancy.
1. Thomas Anderson m?iXY\ed. Miss Maiighliii. Resi-
dence, Page county, Iowa.
SECTION III.
Phcebe Alexander, born September 20, 1792, mar-
ried William Gilson, March 1, 1810. Mr. Gilson,
born November 19, 1789, was a miller, and resided in
Allegheny City. Issue :
1. Mary A. Gilson, born January 24, 1811.
2. Thomas B. Gilson, born March 5, 1813.
3. Hugh A. Gilson, born July 21, 1815.
4. John Patterson Gilson, born March 12, 1818.
5. Jemima K. Gilson, born February 7, 1821 ; died
August 5, 1823.
6. William C. Gilson, born July 18, 1823.
8
"1 66 The descendants of
7. Patterson Alexander Gilson, born May 16, 1826;
died September 2, 1827.
8. James Henderson Gilson, born October 5, 1829.
9. Matilda Jane Gilson, born December 13, 1832;
died September 7, 1835.
10. Hiram A. Gilson, born January 1, 1837.
1. Mary Alexander Gilson married Charles Widney^
August 13, 1831. Residence, Paoli, 111.
2. Thomas Boyd Gilson married Mary A. Behel,
Feb. 23, 1832. Residence, Hollidaysburg, Pa.
3. Hugh Alexander Gilson married Ann Jane Graffs
May 2, 1858. Residence, La Crescent, Minn. Issue
— Two sons.
4. John Patterson Gilson married Nancy Ard, Nov.
9, 1838. Residence, Bell Air, Belmont Co., Ohio.
6. William C. Gilson m^LYried Miss Je7inings, of M.is~
sissippi. Residence, Columbus, Miss., but removed to
Texas, where both died of yellow fever, in 1873 or 1874.
8. James Henderson Gilson married Naniiie A. Diir-
boraw, April 27, 1856. Residence, Galitzin, Cambria
county. Pa. Issue:
1. Mary Ellen Gilson.
2. Elizabeth S. Gilson.
3. Imogen LeufFer Gilson.
4. James Alexander Gilson.
5. William D. Gilson.
6. Laura G. Gilson.
10. Hiram A. Gilson married Maria G. Hughes,
Nov. 25, 1858. Residence, Greensburg, Pa.
SECTION V.
Patterson Alexander married Margaret Mont-
gomery. Children:
1. Hugh Alexander, who died aged twenty years.
Hugh Alexander. 107
2. Patterson Alexander, whp married Magdalene
Kessler. Issue: — Maggie Alexander, John Alexander,
George Alexander, Annie Alexander, James Alexander,
Joseph Alexander, Sample Alexander, Susan Alexan-
der, and Lula Alexander.
CHAPTER VI.
THE DESCENDANTS OF JAMES ALEXANDER.
James Alexander was born in Sherman's Valley
about 1774. Having come to McKeesport, Pa., with
his mother, Le'ttice Thompson Alexander, and his sis-
ter Emily, he commenced the business of saddler and
harness maker in McKeesport, in which he continued,
together with keeping a hotel, for some time, until his
death in March, 1826. In 1799 he married Jane
Sanders, of Sherman's Valley, and had eight children,
of whom all are dead (1875) excepting
1. John Alexander, of Kittanning, Armstrong Co.;
and one daughter,
2. Lydia Alexander, unmarried, and living in the old
mansion in McKeesport.
The writer has made repeated efforts to get some
further account of this branch of the family, but in
vain.
]o8 The (Descendants of
CHAPTER VII.
THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM ALEXANDER, OF CENTRE CO.,
PENNSYLVANIA.
William Alexander and his twin sister Emily,
children of Hugh Alexander and his second wife, Let-
tice Thompson, were born December 25, 1777, in Sher-
man's Valley. Early in life he removed to Centre Co.,
Pa., where he married Elizabeth Hutchison. After a
residence of thirty-five years in that county, he removed
to Phillipsburg, and thence finally to Clearfield, in
Clearfield county. Through his long life he sustained
a high reputation as an honest, upright, and public-
spirited man, well known and highly respected by his
fellow citizens, who at different times entrusted him
with public offices, especially with those of Sheriff and
County Treasurer.
In the year 1818, while Sheriff of Centre county, he
arrested James Monk for the murder of Reuben Giles,
and without any assistance brought his prisoner many
miles on a horse which he led during a dark and rainy
night. Monk was convicted and sentenced to capital
punishment, and William Alexander escaped the un-
pleasant duty of executing him in consequence of his
term of office expiring only two days before his exe-
cution.
In extreme old age he continued vigorous and active
to within a few days of his death. Pie died at the
house of his son-in-law, James B. Graham, of Clear-
field, Pa., September 25, 1867, aged eighty-nine years
and nine months. His children all married respectably^
and are respected in the communities where they live.
1. James Alexander. 2. William T. Alexander.
3. Ann Alexander. 4. Emily Alexander.
5. Elizabeth Alexander. 6. Jane Alexander.
Hugh Alexander. 109
SECTION I.
James Alexander married Phcebe Burchfield in
1835, and resides in Old Town, Pa. Issue:
1. Emily Jane; 2. Gertrude; 3. Olive; 4. William;
5, John ; 6. Dolly.
1. EmiJi/ Jane Alexander married Br. J. P. Burch-
field. Issue — William A., Chauncey, and Phoebe.
2. Gertrude Alexander married Dr. R. V. Spachnan.
Issue — James A. Spackman.
4. William Alexander, ALD., married Miss Arnold.
Issue — Frederick Alexander.
5. John Alexander married Sophia ICnarr.
6. Dolly Alexander married Mr. Schevem. Issue —
James A, Schevem.
SECTIOiV ir.
William T. Alexander married Harriet Drake in
1825. He has been a representative in the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, Treasurer of Clarion County, publish-
er of the "Clarion Democrat" for over twenty years,
and is now engaged in merchandizing. Residence,
Clarion, Pa. No children.
SECTION in.
Ann Alexander married Hon. John Fleming in
1829. Mr. Fleming was Associate Judge of Clinton
County, Pa., and died in 1872. Mrs. Fleming resides
in Lock Haven, Pa, Issue :
1. Thomas Burnsides Fleming; 2. Elizabeth Fleming;
3. Emily W. Fleming ; 4. William A. Fleming.
1. Thomas B. Fleming m^xnedi Margaret Hirst. Is-
sue— Thomas F. Fleming and Belle Fleming.
3. Dmilg W. Fleming married Robert McCormick,
of Clinton county. Pa. Issue — John F. McCormick,
William A. McCormick, and Mary McCormick.
1 1 o The (Descendants of
2 and 4. Elizabeth and William Fleming are unmar-
ried (1875.)
SECTION IV.
Emily Alexander married Hon. A. K. Wright in
1830. Mr. Wright was Sheriff and Associate Judge of
Clearfield County, and an Elector of President and Vice-
President in 1840. He died in 1871. Mrs. Emily A.
Wright survives him. Issue:
1. Amelia; 2. William V.; 3. John W.; 4. Bertha.
1. Amelia Wright married Hon. J. B. McEnally.
Issue — A. K. McEnally.
2. William Wright married Mary Foley. Issue —
Eoland C. Wright, Mary W^right, and Albert M. Wright.
3. John W. Wright married Emma Thompson, of Ju-
niata county, Pa. Issue — One son, A. K. Wright.
4. Bertha Wright married Edward A. Bigler, son of
ex-Governor Bigler. Issue — A. Wright Bigler and
Maria Jane Bigler.
SECTION V.
Elizabeth Alexander married James B. Graham, of
Clearfield, Pa., dealer in real estate, lumber, etc., in
1838. Their children are:
1. Emma A.; 2. Edward W.; 3. Alfred A.; 4. A.
Wright; 5. Florence M.
1. Emma A. Graham married Colonel Edward Irivin.
Issue — EUzabeth G. Irwin and Hugh McNeal Irwin.
2. Edward W. Graham married Frances G. Moore.
Issue — Ella, died 1870; Emma J. and Jas. B. Graham.
SECTION VL
Jane Alexander married Joseph Haggarty in 1857.
Mr. Haggarty died in 1867. His widow survives.
Issue — One son, AVilliam A. Haggarty.
Hugh Alexander. 1 1 1
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FAMILY OF EMILY ALEXANDER EVANS.
Emily Alexander, the youngest daughter of Hugh
Alexander, was born (with her twin brother William)
December 25, 1777, in Sherman's Valley, Pa. When
twenty years of age she removed, in 1797, with her
widowed mother, Lettice Alexander, and her brother
James, to McKeesport, Allegheny county, Pa. There
she married James Evans, February 27, 1798. Mr.
Evans was born near Wilmington, in the State of Dela-
ware, February 17, 1775, and had emigrated to McKees-
port in 1796, when twenty-one years of age, and two
years before his marriage with Miss Alexander. He
first started the business of a hatter in his new settle-
ment, and afterwards engaged in merchandizing until
his death. He died of pneumonia, after a few days'
illness, January 30, 1846, aged seventy-one years.
Mrs. Emily Alexander Evans and her husband were
exemplary members of the McKeesport Presbyterian
church from its organization until their death. She
often spoke of her eastern home in Sherman's Valley
and of her twin brother William, but had visited neither
of them for many years before her decease. Late in
life she was so afflicted with rheumatism as to be unable
to walk for several years. Having endured this with
Christian patience, and having survived her husband
more than eight years, she died May 18, 1854, aged
seventy-seven years, and was buried in McKeesport.
Their children were:
1. Maria Evans, born Jan. 14, 1800; died May, 1850.
2. John Evans, born March 25, 1802; died April 25,
1852.
112 The ^Descendants of
3. Hannah Evans, born April 20, 1804; died Sep-
tember, 1873.
4. Emily Evans, born Nov. 1806; died Dec. 4, 1835.
5. Juliann Evans, born April 25, 1809; died Dec.
17, 1816.
6. James Evans, born October 16, 1811.
7. Harriet Evans, born March 26, 1814; died Dec.
5, 1855.
8. Oliver Evans, born November 22, 1816.
9. George Huey Evans, born December 3, 1818; died
September 15, 1844.
SECTION I.
Maria Evans married Dr. George PIuet, April 16,
1816. Issue — Five sons and three daughters.
SECTION 11.
John Evans married , and left a family of
three sons and two daughters in Detroit, Mich.
SECTION III.
Hannah Evans married Hugh Rowland, merchant,
of McKeesport, December 26, 1820. Issue — Two
daughters and one son. John, the son, is in merchan-
dize at his father's old stand.
SECTION IV.
Emily Evans married Thomas Backhouse in 1823.
After his decease she married Dr. Hobert McClelland,
of Mount Jackson, Lawrence county. Pa., in 1829.
Issue — One child.
SECTION VL
James Evans married , and lives in Wayne
county, Michigan, near Detroit. He has daughters,
names unknown to the writer.
Hugh Alexander. 1 1 3
SECTION VII. I
Harriet Evans married William Davidson, a farmer,
then living in Beaver county, Pa.
Harriet Davidson Evans married, secondly, David
King, March 17, 1836. Issue — One child.
SECTION VIII.
Oliver Evans married Mary Ann Sampson, Novem-
ber 26, 1839. Mr. Evans is by occupation a farmer,
and owns the old homestead of his father's family, but
does not reside upon it. Children:
1. James Evans, Attorney-at-Lavv, No. 93 Diamond
Street, Pittsburgh.
2. Thomas Sampson Evans, farming at home — un-
married.
3. Cadwallader Evans, M.D., Twenty- third Ward,
Pittsburgh.
4. Anna M. Evans — unmarried (1875).
5. Oliver Evans, a farmer, residing in Versailles, two
miles from McKeesport, Pa.
SECTION IX.
George Huey Evans studied law, but died unmar-
ried.
114 ^^^ (Descendants of
PART II.
THE FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS OF JAMES
ALEXANDER, OF KISHACOOUILLAS.
James, second son of John" Alexander and Marga-
ret Glasson Alexander, was born about the year 1726.
He was a lad of about ten years when his father's fami-
ly moved from County Armagh, Ireland, to West Not-
tingham, Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1736.
Having removed with his father's family to Cumber-
land county. Fa., he there married Rosey Reed, daughter
of Robert Reed, whose home, according to family tradi^
tion, was in Letterkenny Township, near Chambersburg,
where the interlocking headwaters of the Canogocheage
and Canodoguinet separate and flow in opposite direc-
tions to the Potomac and to the Susquehanna. Her
mother's maiden name was Garner or Gardiner — -a peo-
ple of dark hair and complexion, tall, straight, and well-
proportioned. The men were so swift of foot as to out-
run the Indian, and some of them became famous in the
early and dangerous navigation of the Susquehanna.
Rosey Reed Alexander had a sister, Elizabeth Reed,
who married John McDowell, and resided near Bell-
ville, Kishacoquillas, Pa. Rosey R. Alexander died in
1792.
The following sketch, published by the writer some
months ago as a newspaper article, contains what is
known concerning James Alexander, the founder of a
numerous branch of our family.
Nottingham Tract, on the Octorara creek, lies partly
in Pennsylvania and partly in Cecil county, Maryland.
Ja^nes Alexander. 1 1 5
Kishacoqnillas is the grand old Indian name of a large
and beautiful valley in Central Pennsylvania. Both the
valley and the creek which drains it derived their name
from Kishacoqnillas, a Shawanese chief, whose wigwam
in 1755 stood where the creek mingles its waters with
the "Blue Juniata."
John Alexander, of Glasgow, Scotland, son of Thomas
Alexander, removed to Armagh, Ireland, and thence to
America in 1736, and settled in Nottingham, on the
banks of the Octorara. With him came also his sons
Hugh, James and John; his daughters Margaret and
Rachel; his nephews Hugh and James; and his niece,
Mrs. Polk. After a few years the nephews and the
niece migrated to Mecklenburg county, North Carolina;
and John, with his sons and daughters, removed to Car-
lisle, Pa. Here his son Hugh, having married Martha
Edmiston of Nottingham, Md., turned aside to settle in
Sherman's Valley, now in Perry county, Pa ; while his
brother James, a man remarkable for energy and enter-
prise, having married Rosa Reed, near Chambersburg,
determined to explore the interior valleys and become
the founder of a new settlement in the wilderness.
THE EXPLORATION AND LOCATION.
After a dangerous journey of eighty or one hundred
miles northward of the settlements, through forests and
through water-gaps in the mountain ranges, along the
Susquehanna, along the Juniata, and along the roaring
Kishacoquillas, his advance was arrested by the beauty
and fertility of a noble valley. "No man should desire
a better soil than this." Though hemmed in by moun-
tains, covered with heavy timber, and occupied only by
Indians and wild beasts, here he determined to found
new things — to plant his settlement.
Across the midst of the valley from Jack's Mountain
ii6 The (Descendants of
to Stone Mountain, he laid his warrant on a thousand
acres — forest-clad, well-watered, lying handsomely, and
of a rich limestone soil — a goodly heritage for his own
rising family. This was in 1755.
THE REMOVAL AND SETTLEMENT.
On his return to the region of Carhsle, though he
made a good report of the exceeding good land which
he had explored, yet one only, his friend William
Brown, dared to accompany him and brave the dangers
of settling so far from help in time of Indian warfare.
But how different was their mode from the present
mode of getting beyond the frontier! James Alexander
had his wife and children, goods and chattels, packed
on the backs of horses, and his money — nine hundred
silver dollars — in a long blue stocking, for he, too, was
a Presbyterian. William Brown had his family and
effects packed and transported in like manner.
William (afterwards Judge) Brown located near the
entrance of the valley and near the meeting of the
waters, where afterwards arose the village of Brown's
Mills, now Reedsville.
James Alexander proceeded five miles westward to
the valuable tract which he had already selected and
patented as his future home.
Near the middle of the tract Spring Run rises from
several large, gushing fountains of clear, cold, limestone
water, and flows south into the Kishacoquillas. Near
one of the fine springs, and near this run, he erected a
sheltering cabin until, in after time, a large log house
could be raised by the aid of hands brought from a dis-
tant Juniata settlement. Around the chosen location
grew an ancient forest of oaks and other noble trees —
some immensely high and others of vast bulk of trunk
and wide-spread branches — forming a temple long
James Alexander. 1 1 7
sacred to silence, save when disturbed by the savage
yell, the twang of the bow-string, or the cry of some
wild bird or beast. Wolves, foxes, black bears, and
deer traversed the valley from mountain to mountain.
Spring Run and the Kishacoquillas were rippled with
shoals of speckled trout.
At another of those springs, and only a short distance
from James Alexander's house, and just where the
dwelling of his grandson, James A., now stands, then
stood the house of the nearest neighbor — Logan — the
celebrated chief of the Mingo tribe. Here was his
habitation and his home. Here he lived long on friendly
terms with his neighbor, James A., and his wigwam
was preserved many years after he left the valley by
John, the son of James. Here only is Logan's Spring
properly so called. That in the eastern part of the
valley bearing his name is only the spot of one of Lo-
gan's hunting camps, and not of his abode. The tourist
who would visit the true Logan's Spring must find it at
the head of Spring Run.
IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS.
To clear such ponderous timber, and prepare the
virgin soil for tillage, was herculean labor, which only
such brave and hardy pioneers could perform — often
with loaded rifles close at hand, and sentinel boy and
dog on the lookout for the Indian foe. Sometimes they
fled, and returned to find their first homes reduced to
ashes. Undaunted they renewed their toil. Before
the first crops could be secured, raccoons, bears, wild
tiirkeys, and squirrels had taken a liberal share. In
reaping the first through of wheat harvest James Alex-
ander destroyed a den of seventeen rattlesnakes, and
some in every through till the field was reaped. An
Irish servant named John Barrett, whom he had brought
ii8 The (Descendants of
to the valley, was one clay sent with Robert, the eldest
son of James, to cut grass in the meadow. While
mowing abreast with llobert, this son of the Emerald
Isle snddenly uncovered a great, blowing viper. His
snakeship, enraged at the intrusion, was spreading his
neck and hissing loud as a goose. Terrified at the
sight and sound, Barrett leaped back, with scythe raised
aloft, and exclaimed, "Bab! Bab! here is the devil all
coiled up like a screw ! Be dad, if he stirs I'll snid the
head off him !" To other trials were added the deep
snow falls and intense cold of early winters. At the
end of the house was a great chimney-stack of stone,
with a fireplace to receive sticks of five and eight feet
in length. A hack log, often requiring two men to roll
or carry in, was placed against the back wall, and in
front of this, upon great andirons, was mounted a goodly
pile of logs and sticks of hickory, oak, or ash. All
these, kindled with rich knots of pine, raised a blazing,
crackling, and roaring fire, which conquered both the
gloom of night and the wintry cold, while busy house-
wife and attendant daughters, with long-handled imple-
ments, baked and cooked the family meal. Spinning-
wheels whirred in the house by day, and the flails in
the barn sounded their timely strokes upon the bound-
ing sheaves of grain. If there was little society abroad,
there was some cheer and comfort at home. If the
products of early tillage were small, a kind Providence
added thereto wild fruits and berries, and the royal
dainties of fat venison, wild fowl, and delicious trout.
Nor did the boys and girls lack for bushels of six or
eight kinds of nuts to crack and pick in winter nights
from fall till spring. Nor were intellectual and moral
culture lacking in the home at Spring Run, when as
yet there was neither school nor church. While sub-
duing the wilderness and caring for food and raiment,
James Alexander. 1 1 9
the pious father and mother did not neglect the souls
of their children. The house of James Alexander was
a Bethel, where, morning and night, were heard the
word of God and the voice of sacred song and prayer.
The Sabbath was improved in special instructions from
the Bible, the Catechism, and Confession of Faith ; and
every evening was a " cotter's Saturday night" in the
wilds of Kishacoquillas.
As the years rolled on, annual additions were made
to cultivated fields and biennial additions to the family
circle, until a larger house resounded with the merri-
ment of half a score of adult and junior sons and daugh-
ters. Other white settlers had located here and there,
and the glad time had come when the institutions of
the school and church could be added to those of the
family.
In this good w^ork James A. took a leading part with
characteristic zeal and energy — in collecting the scat-
tered people, organizing the first church eastward in the
valley, five miles from his home, attending in all states
of roads and weather, and acting faithfully as the first
elder with the pioneer pastor, the Rev. James Johnson.
Afterwards he participated in founding a second church
westward and nearer his own home, of which he was a
ruling elder during the closing years of life. Honor is
due to James Alexander, not only for exploring the
wilderness, introducing its first white inhabitants, sub-
duing forests and founding churches, but also for naming
and adding a new township to the great county of Cum-
berland. For, in memory and in honor of old Armagh
of Ireland, from which in boyhood he came with his
father, John, he gave the name of Armagh township to
the whole of Kishacoquillas valley. That great original
township was afterwards divided into Armah and Union,
and was again at a later date sub-divided into Armagh,
lao The (Descendants of
Meno, Union, and Brown. In this sub-division the
name Brown was justly given to a part in honor of
Judge William Brown, the friend of James Alexander
and his companion in the actual settlement, though not
in the original exploration and location of land for
settlement. Though in consequence of these divisions
the name Armagh no longer covers the whole valley, or
even the part including the Spring E-un settlement, yet
that original name which James Alexander gave to the
whole still remains upon Kishacoquillas, as an inscrip-
tion sacred to the memory and due to the honor of the
founder of both civil and religious institutions in one
of the noblest valleys of Pennsylvania. He died at the
age of sixty-six, in the prime of life and in the midst of
his labors, leaving to a very numerous posterity the
valuable legacy of his bright example and many prayers.
We now return briefly to his early friend and neigh-
bor, Logan, one of the noblest characters of Indian his-
tory, celebrated both in peace and war for eloquence
and valor; first as the friend, and after the abuse of
friendship, as the foe of the whites. Logan was the
son of Shickeleshinny, a Mingo chief, whose abode was
on the east branch of the Susquehanna, where his name
is perpetuated in that of the Shickeleshinny railway
station, a few miles west of Wilkesbarre. This was the
birth-place of Logan. His father named him in honor
of his friend. Governor Logan, of Philadelphia, His
father also being a convert and friend of the Moravian
missionaries, Logan probably enjoyed some early Chris-
tian instruction. It is doubtless owing to these circum-
stances of his birth and early life that, as chief and
warrior during the French and Indian war, he employed
his eloquence and influence to shield the white settle-
ments from their savage foes.
In 1755 James Alexander found him settled in Kish-
James Alexander. 121
acoquillas. In 1772 he resided in eastern Ohio. In
1774 his wife and all his relations were barbarously
murdered by a company of whites on the banks of the
Ohio. For this Logan wielded the tomahawk and sat-
isfied his revenge. To this he pathetically alludes in
his speech to Lord Dunmore : " There runs not a drop
of my blood in the veins of any living creature. Who
is there to mourn for Logan'? Not one."
Soon after James Alexander became his neighbor in
Kishacoquillas, Logan came one day to his house in his
absence, and having gained the confidence of his little
son, carried him ofi" through the woods to his cabin.
The lonely and terrified mother dared not to resist; but
after several hours of dreadful anxiety she determined
to follow at any risk and rescue her child. Her relief
can scarcely be imagined when she met the friendly
chief bringing her little boy in his arms, shod with
beautiful beaded moccasins, which during the hours of
absence he had made for his little friend.*
On the vast trunk of a royal oak four or five feet in
diameter, which stood near his cabin, Logan had carved
with his hatchet the full length image of an Indian in
a standing posture and brandishing a tomahawk in his
right hand. This great tree, with its threatening
image, stood there as a monument attracting the atten-
tion of curious men and fearful children long after
Lo2:an was dead and 2:one.
James Alexander served in the Commissary Depart-
ment of Washington's army at Valley Forge in the
memorable winter of 1777-(S. For these services he
received sixteen hundred acres of land, which he located
in Clearfield county, Pa.
* It has often appeared in print that this same thing happened to a
little daughter of William Brown, and Logan -was probably in the habit
of showing his friendship in this way.
9
122 The (Descendants of
He died in 1791, and was buried at the Brick Pres-
byterian church of West Kishacoqnillas, His will was
taken to Carlisle to be probated, and was left in the house
of Mr. Lyon, the Register. His house was burned, and
the will was thus lost before it was recorded. The
Court therefore directed that the testimony of John
Wilson and William Brown, two of the executors,
should be taken to procure a copy of the legacies.
From this copy it appears that he willed his lands in
Kishacoquillas to his sons Robert, John, and James;
and his four tracts in Clearfield county, Pa., to his sons
William Brown, Hugh, Joseph, and Reed. Of these
last William B. alone actually settled on the Clearfield
lands. The other three sold their tracts to Sir Henry
Phillips. Reed died in his twentieth year; Hugh mar-
ried and settled in Ohio; and the intention was that
Joseph should complete his education for professional
life, in which he was engaged at the death of his father.
The children of James Alexander and his wife Rosey
Reed Alexander were:
1. Jane Alexander, born in 1763.
2. Robert Alexander, born in October, 1766.
3. Elizabeth Alexander, born in 1768.
4. John Alexander, born in 1769.
5. James Alexander, born in 1772.
6. Hugh Alexander, born in November, 1773.
7. Joseph Alexander, born in .
8. Rachel Alexander, born in 1780.
9. William Brown Alexander, born in 1782.
10. Rosanna Alexander, born in 1784.
11. Reed Alexander, born in .
Two or more, probably of the older children, are said
to have died young, whose names are not recorded.
Jafnes Alexander. 123
CHAPTER I.
THE FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS OF JANE ALEXANDER.
Jane Alexander, daughter of James Alexander,
married, first, Colonel Alexander Brown, the brother
of Judge William Brown, who first came with her father
to Kishacoquillas. Colonel Brown located a warrant
on a valuable tract of six hundred acres, covering the
farms now occupied by Messrs. John Alexander, John
G. Kaufman, and the heirs of Benjamin Garver, He
settled and resided on the first of these farms, which his
daughter Elizabeth inherited, who married Hugh Alex-
ander, Col. Alexander Brown died in Philadelphia in
1791. Issue:
1. Mary Brown, born December, 1785, died Septem-
ber 16, 1865, aged seventy-nine.
2. Rosannah Brown. «
3. Elizabeth Brown, born in 1787.
SECTION L
Mary Brown married, about 1806, David Barr, who
was born May 6, 1782, and died October 14, 1855,
aged seventy-three years. Issue:
1. Robert R. Barr, born June 20, 1807.
2. Alexander B. Barr, born February 4, 1811.
3. David Barr, born February 27, 1815.
4. William B. Barr, born February 4, 1818.
5. James A. Barr, born December 13, 1819.
6. John Barr, born February 1st, 1822; unmarried,
Marshall county, Indiana.
7. Mary Jane Barr, born December 27, 1824; unmar-
ried, Marshall county, Indiana.
8. Christian R. Barr, born September 15, 1826; un-
married, in Stark county, Ohio.
124 ^'^^^ (Descendants of
1. Robert R. Barr married Eliza A. Young ^ of Arm-
strong county, Pa. Issue:
(I. Daniel Barr, photographer, Houston, Texas.
h. Mary Jane Barr, went to CaHfornia.
c. Elizabeth Barr, died aged five years.
2. Alexander JR.. Barr married Minerva Barr, Octo-
ber, 1864. Issue:
a. David K Barr, born October 14, 1867.
h. William H. Barr, born April 27, 1869.
c. Alexander Brown Barr, born March 23, 1871.
cl Winfield S. Barr, born October 1, 1872.
e. Mary E. Barr, bom February 18, 1875.
3. David Barr majYied Margaret Bell. Issue— Three
children, who all died young except
Maty Barr, who married Reuben Monet.
4. William B. Barr married Elizabeth Alexander,
daughter of Hugh Alexander. Issue :
a. Christian Barr, born about 1840, died unmarried.
t). Mary Barr, born 1842; married, and lives in Wis-
consin.
c. David Barr, born June, 1844; married and died
in Iowa. Issue, one child.
d. Hugh Barr, born 1845; unmarried.
e. Minerva Barr, born 1847; married Alexander B.
Barr, her cousin.
/. William Barr, born 1851; unmarried.
g. Elizabeth Barr, died aged six years.
Williatn Brown Barr married, secondly, Mari/ Ann
Hoopes, October 31, 1856. Issue:
a. Lafayette Barr, born March 26, 1857.
h. Mordecai M. Barr, born December 18, 1859.
c. Hannah Ann Barr, born January 9, 1861.
d. Betsy Jane Barr, born February 14, 1863.
e. James Barr, born November 2, 1864.
/. Sheridan Barr, born October 22, 1866.
James Alexander. 125
5. James A. Barr married Mar^/ Grant. Eesidence
in Kansas. Issue :
Thomas M. Barr, Rees Barr, and David Barr,
SECTION II.
RosANNAH Brown married Samuel Vance, of Stone
Valley, Pa. Issue, seven children. (See Descendants
of Rachel A. Vance, Part III., Chap, i.)
SECTION III.
Elizabeth Brown married Hugh Alexander. (For
Record of this family, see Part I., Chapter ii.)
After the death of Colonel Alexander Brown, his
widow, Mrs. Jane A. Brotvn, married David Semple,
August 16, 1791, and removed to Stone Valley, Pa.,
where she resided until her death, October 17, ISil,
aged seventy-eight years, David Semple died Decem-
ber 29, 1841, aged eighty-four years. Her children by
this marriage were:
1. Jane Semple, born July 5, 1792.
2. Asenath Semple, born April 11, 1794,
3. Agness Semple, born April 21, 1796.
4. James Semple, born January 4, 1798.
section IV.
Jane Semple married William Bare and removed to
Centre county. Pa. Children:
1. James Barr: 2. William Barr; 3. Samuel Barr.
section v.
Asenath Semple married William McAlevy, the
grandson of General McAlevy of Huntingdon county,
Pa., September 4, 1817. She died in Iowa, November
7, 1870, aged seventy-five years. Issue:
126 The (Descendants of
1. Jane Alexander McAlevy, born July 23, 1818.
2. AVilliam McAlevy, born December 13, 1819; died
aged 19 years.
3. David Semple McAlevy, born September 1, 182L
4. Alexander Thompson McAlevy, born February 7>
1823; died aged twenty-eight.
5. George Miles McAlevy, born December 27, 1826.
6. James Semple McAlevy, born December 26, 1829;
died September 12, 1849.
7. Asenath Ann McAlevy, born July 8, 1834,
8. Samuel Elliott McAlevy, born May 8, 1836.
1. Jane Alexander McAlevy married /. Nelson Tate.
No issue.
3. David Semjple McAlevy married Christiana WaU
horn. Issue :
a. Jerusha Edwards McAlevy. h. William Henry
McAlevy, c. Alexander Thompson McAlevy. d. Laura
Jane McAlevy. e. Emma McAlevy. f. George Miles
McAlevy.
5. George Miles McAlevy married Elizabeth Hughes
Mitchell^ February 7, 1861. Residence, Huntingdon,
Pa. Issue: Cornelia Jane, William Elmer, and Mor-
decai Mitchell McAlevy.
7. Asenath Ann McAlevy married Williain Keoivn,
February 18, 1861. Issue: Bessie Edgar, Asenath
Semple, Nancy Thompson, and Charlotte Keown. Ee-
sidence, Tama county, Iowa.
8. Samuel Elliott McAlevy married Nancy M. Flem-
ing. Issue: Asenath Ann, James Semple, Alexander
Barr, and Luther Dodd McAlevy.
SECTION vr.
Agness Semple, born April, 1796, married Alexan-
der Thompson, December, 1819, and resides in Stone
Valley, Pa. Mr. A. Thompson was born December,
1789, No issue.
James Alexander. 127
SECTION vir.
James Alexander Semple married Elizabeth Shan-
non, of Dauphin county, Pa., in 1822, and moved to
Iowa, where he died, August 19, 1842, aged forty-four
years and seven months. Issue:
1. Jane A. Semple; 2. Martha M. Semple; 3. Mar-
garet Semple; -l. Rosannah Semple; 5. David Semple;
6. Samuel Semple; 7. Elizabeth Semple; 8. James
Semple; 9. Tyler Semple.
This family is scattered over Iowa, Oregon, and Cali-
fornia, and the writer has not been able to obtain ma-
terials for a complete record.
CHAPTER II.
THE FAMILY OF ROBERT ALEXANDER, ESQ.
Robert Alexander was born in October, 1766, and
on the death of his father settled on that portion of his
Kishacoquillas lands which lies nearest the Stone Moun-
tain. Having married Elizabeth McClure, April 8,
1790, he established himself there in the independent
calling of a prosperous farmer, and remained on the
same farm until his death in August, 1843, being sixty-
eight years of age.
He was a man of incorruptible integrity, sound judg-
ment, ready and retentive memory, so that after hear-
ing a sermon he could repeat it almost verbatim ; of a
kind and sociable disposition, and so much a peace-
maker that, while a Justice of the Peace for forty-five
years, only two cases came before him, and these he
settled without costs. In 1823 he was sent to the
Legislature by the largest Democratic majority ever
128 The (Descendants of
given in his district, yet no persuasions could induce
him to be a candidate for re-election.
The father of his wife, Elizabeth McClure, was from
Ireland, and her mother, whose maiden name was Scott,
was from Scotland. They settled first in Cumberland
county, Pa., and removed to East Kishacoquillas, where
their daughter Elizabeth was born, March 8, 1768.
She died in 1 832, aged sixty-four years. Issue :
1. Elizabeth Alexander, born July 27, 1791.
2. James Alexander, born January 17, 1793.
3. Mary Alexander, born July 13, 1795.
4. Robert McClay Alexander, born Nov. 1, 1797.
5. Nancy Alexander, born June 29, 1800; died June
16, 1802.
6. Robert Reed Alexander, born November 2, 1802;
died October 8, 1804.
7. William Alexander, born March 3, 1805.
8 and 9. Cyrus and Silas Alexander (twins), born
September 30, 1807.
10. Celia Alexander, born March 8, 1810.
SECTION I.
Elizabeth Alexander married Alexander Gibboney.
Residence, Kishacoquillas Valley. Issue:
1. Albert G. Gibboney.
2. Robert A. Gibboney.
3. Adolphus F. Gibboney.
4. Harrison Hazzard Gibboney.
5. Samuel Gibboney.
1. Albert Gibboney married Penina Morrison. Issue:
Howard Gibboney, William M. Gibboney, Granville
Rush Gibboney, Thomas Gibboney, Elizabeth Gibboney.
Residence, Kishacoquillas, Pa.
2. Robert A. Gibboney married, first, Jane Davis. No
issue.
James Alexander. 129
He married, secondly, Manj Rohrer. Issue— Robert
Henry Gibboney of Chicago ; unmarried.
3. Adolphus F. Gibboney married Phoebe Jane Kent,
of Delaware. Issue: Elizabeth Gibboney, Elsie Gib-
boney, Adolphus Gibboney, William Gibboney. Resi-
dence, at the Woollen Factory, Kishacoquillas, Pa.
4. Harrison Ha;:zard Gibboney married Elizabeth
Webb. Issue: Elizabeth Gibboney, Clara Gibboney,
Anna F. Gibboney, Alexander R. Gibboney, Cora J.
Gibboney, Thomas F. Gibboney, Willis Gibboney, and
Granville Gibboney.
5. Dr. Samuel Gibboney married Margaret Kasey.
Issue: Elizabeth R. Gibboney, Clara K. Gibboney, and
Samuel R. Gibboney.
SECTION II.
James Alexander married Ank Lewis, Xovember
27, 1821. He died December 18, 1850, aged fifty-eight
years. Mrs. Ann Lewis Alexander was born April 22,
1799, and is yet living (1875). Their children are:
1. Robert Alexander, born October 9, 1822; died
January 20, 18-17.
2. Elizabeth Alexander, born June 9, 1824.
3. Celia Ann Alexander, born March 3, 1826.
4. James Read Alexander, born April 7, 1828.
5. Euphemia Alexander, born x\pril 21, 1830; died
May 8, 1835.
6. Louisa J. Alexander, born July 7, 1832,
7. Samuel Lewis Alexander, born August 15, 1834;
died November 29, 1861.
8. Cyrus T. Alexander, born September 10, 1836.
9. Mary Jane Alexander, born December 18, 1838;
died May 26, 1841.
10. xilice Annette Alexander, born July 29, 1844;
died December 6, 1847.
130 The (Descendants of
1. Elizabeth Alexander married Jrtwes Alexander, son
of James Alexander of Penn's Valley, in 1848. Issue:
Emily Alexander, Anna M. Alexander, Blanche M.
Alexander, and Elizabeth Alexander.
3. Celia Ann Alexander married Owen Gopelin. Re-
sidence, Milroy, Mifflin county, Pa, Issue:
I, James Copelin; 2. Catherine Copelin; 3. William
Copelin; 4. Ann Copelin; 5. McClelland Copelin.
4. James Read Alexander married Mary Wolf. Re-
sidence, Bellefonte, Pa. Issue: — Alice Alexander, born
in 1860.
6. Louisa J. Alexander married Daniel Leyden. Is-
sue:— James A. Leyden, Edward G. Leyden, Henry R.
Leyden, and Catherine Leyden.
7. Samuel Lewis Alexander^ Assistant Surgeon for
the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry in the late civil war,
was killed in battle at Dranesville in 1861.
8. Cyrus T. Alexander^ a lawyer in full practi-ce, re-
siding in Bellefonte, Pa., was a member of the State
Legislature in 1864-5, He married Margaret Potter
in October, 1858. Issue:
Roberta T. Alexander, born September, 1859.
James W. Alexander, born August 1864.
SECTION III.
Mart Alexander married David Davis. Issue :
1. Foster Davis. 2. Robert A. Davis.
3. James Davis. 4. Silas Davis.
5. Cyrus Davis. 6, Jane Davis.
7. Kate Davis. 8. Mary Davis.
1. Foster Davis vi\?iYxiedi Matilda Alexander, ^?i\\^-
ter of James Alexander. Both died in St, Clair coun-
ty, Illinois, No issue.
2, Robert A. Davis ra^YTiedi Ann Kulp. Issue: John
Jmnes Alexander. 131
Davis, Hawley Davis, and one daughter. Residence,
Kansas.
3. James Davis married Elizabeth McKaig. Resi-
dence, Ohio.
4. Silas Davis, married Dorothy Ainey. Residence,
Kansas.
5. Cyrus Davis married Estella Ainey. Residence,
Ohio.
6. Jane Davis married Robert Gibboney. No issue.
7. Kate Davis married Dr. Biglow. No issue.
SECTION IV.
Robert M. Alexander married Rhoda Taylor. Is-
sue:— 1. Read Alexander — died; 2. Taylor Alexander;
3. Robert M. Alexander; 4. Priscilla Alexander;
5. Margaret Alexander — did not marry.
2. Taylor Alexcmder married Martha fSharp and
moved to Ohio. Issue: — Rhoda Alexander, William
Alexander, Margaret Alexander, Bruce Alexander,
Emma Alexander, Henry Serack Alexander.
3. Hobert M. Alexander married Matilda Caronless.
Issue: — Taylor Alexander, Florence Alexander, Read
M. Alexander, Matilda Jane Alexander. Residence on
Honey Creek, East Kishacoquillas.
4. Priscilla Alexander married Najjoleon B. Alexan-
der. (See Chapter iv.. Family of James Alexander.)
SECTION VIIL
Cyrus Alexander married (Februarys, 1835) Mart
Brown, born February 4, 1814. Issue:
1. Robert McClay Alexander, born August 2, 1836;
died November 8, 1836.
2. James Brown Alexander, born November 7, 1837.
3. Robert Bruce Alexander, born March 9, 1840.
132 The (Descendants of .
4. Cyrus Reed Alexander, born August 20, 1842.
5. Adolphus F. Alexander, born November 7, 1844.
6. Samuel Rush Alexander, born February 10, 1847;
died April 7, 1847.
7. Ira Alexander, born July 30, 1849; died February
10, 1850.
8. Sidney Alexander, born February 17, 1851; died
March 27, 1851.
9. Lot Alexander, born August 28, 1853.
SECTION IX.
Silas Alexander married, first, Elizabeth Haugh-
AWOUT. Issue: — Silas, who married Elizabeth ■,
and moved to Illinois ; and Davis, who is blind and un-
married.
Silas Alexander married, secondly, Rachel Long-
well. Issue : — Thomas Alexander, who is a Presbyte-
rian clergyman in charge near Pittsburgh; and Lizzie
and Addie Alexander, who live with their father near
Belleville, Pa.
SECTION X.
Celia Alexander married James Alexander. (See
Chapter iv., Family of James Alexander.)
James Alexander. 133
CHAPTER III.
THE ALEXANDER-WAKEFIELD CONNECTION OF KENTUCKY.
Elizabeth Alexander, born in 1768, in Kishaco-
quillas Valley, Pa., married John AVakefield in 1786,
and moved to Nelson county, Kentucky, in 1787. In
emigrating on this long journey through the wilder-
ness, their persons, provisions, cooking utensils; and
other effects, were transported on horseback. " The
long pot" which was thus carried from Pennsylvania is
still preserved as a relic by their grandson, Marcus A.
Wakefield. Twenty miles north of Bardstown, on
Ashes Creek, they purchased one thousand acres of as
productive land as any in Kentucky, densely covered
with beautiful timber of poplar, walnut, oak, hickory,
ash, &c.
Here, in the midst of Indians, they built their first
house, in the form of a fort, of heavy logs. The doors
and floors of this primitive dwelling were of " pun-
cheons" hewn from timber with the axe ; the most
fashionable furniture also was split from some suitable
tree, and the shell of a hickory served as a cradle to
rock their first-born child ! The father carried his rifle
when he went to work, and in his absence the wife and
children kept the doors closed with strong bars for
protection against the savages. For many years they
experienced the dangers, privations, and inconveniences
peculiar to pioneer settlers in those early times. There
was neither shop, store, post-office, school, or church
within a long distance of their home, and travelling
through the wilderness was difficult and dangerous.
As Christians and Presbyterians worthy of their
Scottish ancestry, as soon as there was sufficient assist-
134 ^^"^ (Descendants of
ance, they aided in the erection of the first Presbyterian
church in that region, called the " Big Spring Presby-
terian church." For want of wagons, the hewn logs had
to be dragged together out of the woods. But the people,
hungry for the bread of life, were willing to work, and
without architects, and with an incredibly small amount
of money, they completed their sanctuary, and made it
resound with the voice of prayer, praise, and the
preaching of the Word. Some of their descendants
still live in Kentucky who remember hearing from the
lips of ^Ir. and Mrs. Wakefield an account of this first
church erection in the woods, how eagerly they labored,
and how glad and joyful they were when it was finished.
In this church they became worthy members, and
walked consistently with their Christian profession
until called by death to worship in the upper and
better sanctuary. John Wakefield was born in 1758,
and died in 1812, aged fifty-four years. His wife,
Elizabeth A. Wakefield, was born eleven years later, in
1768, and died in 184:2, aged seventy-four years. Hav-
ing survived her husband for thirty years, she remained
a widow on the old homestead, having charge of the
younger children left fatherless between the ages of
three and sixteen years. Her numerous posterity,
including the grandchildren of her great-grandchildren,
are so widely dispersed that it has been difiicult to
collect the materials of the following record, which does
not include near all of the present generation and the
one preceding it.
The children of John and Elizabeth Wakefield were
seven sons and four daughters.
1. Matthew AVakefield, born October 24, 1788.
2. James Alexander Wakefield, born July 16, 1790.
3. William Banks Wakefield, born March 22, 1792.
4. Roseann Alexander Wakefield, born July 27, 1794.
James Alexander. 135
5. Biddy Wakefield, born July 19, 1796.
6. John Wakefield, born June 10, 1798.
7. Joseph Wakefield, born June 20, 1800.
8. Robert Wakefield, born September 3, 1802.
9. Elizabeth Wakefield, born October 23, 1804.
10. Eeed Alexander Wakefield, born February 20,
1806; died June 4, 1854.
11. Mary Samuels Wakefield, born August 22,1809.
Such regular intervals between the births of so many
children rarely occur. They and their descendants
have adhered with remarkable fidelity to the faith of
their ancestors. With only a few exceptions they have
been members or adherents of the Presbyterian Church.
The exceptions only will be noted. The prevailing em-
ployment has been agriculture. For sake of brevity, we
will note only the exceptions, and when no other place
is named, the residence of a family will be understood
to be Spencer county, Kentucky.
SECTIOX r.
Matthew Wakefield, a soldier in the war of 1812,
and in the battle of Tippecanoe, married Rebecca
Heady, in 1809. She was born Feb. 4, 1786. Issue:
I. and 2. James Heady and Elnora Wakefield, born
August 30, 1810.
3. Elizabeth Wakefield, born in Dec. 1811; d. 1813.
4. Jane Wakefield, born April 8, 1813; died 1815.
5. Mahala Wakefield, born October 8, 1814.
6. Marcus A. Wakefield, born June 28, 1816.
7. and 8. W. B. and James Banks Wakefield, twins,
born June 8, 1819.
9. T. S. Wakefield, born May 7, 1S21; died 1S21.
10. M. W\ AVakefield, born December 28, 1822.
II. Robert A. Wakefield, born January 22, 1825;
died in 1835.
o
6 The (Descendants of
12. Stillwell Heady Wakefield, born Feb. 24, 1S29.
13. W. Banks Wakefield, born August 24, 1831;
died in 1835.
After the death of Mrs. Rebecca Wakefield, Septem-
ber 22, 1835, Matthew Wakefield married Mary Rus-
sell, who died in 1873, without issue.
Deaths. — Matthew Wakefield died in 1871; Eliza-
beth died August 28, 1813; Jane died Jan. 12, 1815;
T. S. Wakefield died October 12, 1821; Robert A. died
August 1, 1835; W. B. Wakefield died Aug. 27, 1835;
James Banks Wakefield died March 24, 1851.
1. James Heady Wakefield married Mary Taggart^
daughter of James and Mary Taggart. Issue :
a. Matthew Wakefield; h. Marcus Wakefield;
c. James Morrison Wakefield ; d. John Douds Wake-
field ; e. Joseph William Wakefield ; /. Mary Alice
Wakefield ; g. Annie Wakefield.
a. Matthew Wakefield married Kate McAfee, who
died, leaving him with three children, named Mary
Aimer, Joseph William, and James Saunders Wakefield.
h. Marcus Wakefield married Sallie Crutcher. No
issue.
d. John D. Wakefield married Rebecca Allen. Issue :
Mettie Kate Wakefield.
/ Mary Alice Wakefield married Miles McAfee
Issue : — Captain Leslie McAfee, of Anderson Co., Ky.
g. Annie Wakefield married William Hinkle. Issue:
Herbert Wood Hinkle.
2, JEiUeii Wakefield married William Sneider. Issue :
a. Rebecca Jane Sneider ; b. Amanda Sneider; c. Mary
E. Sneider, born April 28, 1836; d. Emily Sneider;
e. Eliza Sneider ; /. Jacob Matthew Sneider ; g. George
Mark Sneider.
Mrs. Ellen W. Sneider is dead several years, and Mr.
William Sneider is married again.
James Alexander. 13-
a. Rebecca J. Sneider married John McClusky.
Children: — Joseph William, born October 29, IS-tT;
Mary Jane, born February 10, 1851; Bell McClusky,
born August 17, 1858.
Mary Jane McClusky married Taylor Howerton.
Issue — Joseph Warren Howerton, of Shelby Co., Ky.
h. Amanda Sneider married Enos Harrinojton. Issue
— Nine children, names not reported.
c. Mary E. Sneider married William J. Truax, Jan.
3, 1856. Issue — 1. Fannie R., born Nov. 28, 1856;
2. Loutitia, born August 14, 1858; 3. Ennis, born
October 25, 1860; 4. Flora, born September 20, 1862;
5. Charles, born October 16, 1864; 6. Cordelia, born
July 16, 1866; 7. John S., born July 23, 1871 ; and
8. Mary C. Truax, born April 10, 1874.
d. Emily Sneider married Thomas Helm. Residence,
Shelby Co., Ky. Issue — Three children, names not
reported.
e. Eliza Sneider married John Stephens. Issue —
Eight children and one grandchild.
/'. George Mark Sneider, married Bettie Harrington.
Issue — Three children.
g. Jacob Matthew Sneider married Bettie Terrill.
Issue — Three children.
3. Marcus Alexander Wahefielcl married Bell Wahe-
field. Issue : — a. Robert Wakefield ; h. Alice W^ake-
field; c. Mary Elizabeth Wakefield; d. Annie Wake-
field ; e. Ida Wakefield.
4. Mahala Wakefield married WUliam Vilet. Issue
James, John, Lucie, Knox, and George Vilet. The
parents are dead, the children married and residing in
Indiana.
5. John Banks Wakefield married Bi,oseann Cain.
Issue — James AV. and Mary E. W^akefield.
Mary E. W^akefield married Robert GofF, October 10,
10
J
8 Tlie (Descendants of
1872. Issue — Elnora Goff, born January 20, 1873 ;
and Tyler GofF, born October 15, 1875.
6. Washington Wakejield married Christina Sneider.
Issue :
a. Rebecca Wakefield ; b. Stil well Heady Wakefield ;
c. Annie Wakefield; d. Bella Wakefield; e. Wash-
ington Wakefield; /. Katie Wakefield; g. Mary
Wakefield.
a. Rebecca Wakefield married George Hays, of Bul-
litt county, Ky. Issue— One child.
c. Annie Wakefield married John Hunter, of Nelson
county, Ky. Issue — One child.
7. Stiliuell Heady Wakefield, youngest son of Mat-
thew Wakefield, married (January 18, 1848) Ann M.
Taggart, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and
came to America when seven years old. They are
members of the Presbyterian Church. Residence,
Shelby Co., Ky.; occupation, farming and trading. Issue:
a. Mary Jane Wakefield, born March 13, 1849.
h. James Marcus Wakefield, born May 24, 1850.
c. Hannah Leslie Wakefield, born August 7, 1853.
d. Matthew Heady AVakefield, born March 10, 1855.
e. John William Wakefield, born November 9, 1858,
who died April 13, 1872. He was a pious youth, and
a member of the Presbyterian church.
a. Mary Jane Wakefield married Joseph Black, Feb.
2, 1864. Issue — Mary Julia Black, born April 26,
1865. Mrs. M. J. Black has died, and Mr. J. Black
has married again. He and his wife are members of
the Methodist Church.
h. James Marcus Wakefield married Lizzie Dunlap,
February 25, 1873, J. M. Wakefield is a farmer and
trader residing in Shelby county, Ky. His daughter,
Catherine Wakefield, was born November 10, 1874.
c. Hannah Leslie Wake^eld married Robert Young,
James Alexander. 130
a member of the Baptist Church, November 30, 1871.
Issue — Jolin William Young, born April 26, 1872.
d. Matthew Heady Wakefield married Laura Crutch-
er, April 1, 1874. Issue— Maud Wakefield, born
March 5, 1875.
SECTION II.
James Alexander Wakefield married Elizabeth
Heady, of Nelson county, Ky., in 1813. Issue:
1. John Wakefield, born April 25, 1814.
2. Louisa Wakefield, born September 6, 1816 ; died
young.
3. Ellen Wakefield, born July 20, 1817; died young.
4. Elizabeth A. Wakefield, born July 19, 1819.
5. James H. Wakefield, born August 14, 1821.
6. Indiana Wakefield, born July 2, 1824.
7. Louisa Ann Wakefield, born October 15, 1826;
died April 27, 1858.
Mrs. E. H. Wakefield died in Indiana in 1833, and
J. A. W^akefield married, secondly, Milvilla Brown.
Issue :
8. Benjamin Hardin Wakefield, born Oct. 28, 1835;
died aged twenty-two years.
9. Hilliard Brown Wakefield, born March 9, 1838.
10. Zerelda Wakefield, born July 8, 1840.
11. Mary Elizabeth Wakefield, born Sept. 18, 1842.
12. William H. Wakefield, born September 11, 1844;
died January 1, IS 75.
13. Joseph C. Wakefield, born January 31, 1847.
James A. Wakefield was a man of a strong mind and
of great physical power. He was for many years Clerk
of the County and Circuit Courts of Spencer county,
Indiana, and a member of the Legislature of Kentucky
from Spencer Co , in that State. He died June 6, 1855.
140 The (Descendants of
1. John Wakefield, a retired merchant, is unmarried.
Residence, Bowling- Green, Kentucky.
4. Elizabeth A. WakeUeld married John McJRocklin.
She was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in
1870. Issue:
1. Louisa McRocklin. 2. Victoria McBocklin.
3. Annie McRocklin. 4. Frank McRocklin.
5. Bettie McRocklin. 6. Mattie McRocklin.
7. James McRocklin — Killed and robbed by guer-
rillas during the war.
1. Louisa McRocklin married William Jest. Issue :
Three children.
2. Victoria McRocMin married Dudley Stone. No
Issue.
3. Annie McRocklin married Lee Onan. No Issue.
5. Dr. James H. Wakefield married first, Sarah Wills.
Issue: 1. James Wakefield. 2. William Wakefield.
Dr. J. H. Wakefield married, secondly, Llizaheth
Mann. Issue : Elizabeth Wakefield and John Wake-
field.
Dr. J. H. Wakefield married, thirdly, Mary Biires.
Issue : Charles Wakefield. Residence, Tod Co., Ky.
6. Indiana Wakefield married Hilliard Brown. Resi-
dence, Sullivan Co., Indiana. Issue: 1. Grundy Brown,
who married Bettie Wakefield; 2. Maria Brown.
Mrs. I. W. Brown married, secondly, John Giles., of
Ind, Residence, Sullivan Co., Ind. Issue; 1. John
Giles. 2. Bettie Giles.
7. Louisa Ann Wakefield married Dr. William Wake-
field, of Missouri.
9. Hilliard Brown Wakeiield m.&.Yxied Amanda Dance.
Residence, Tod Co., Ky. Issue: James, Edward, and
Lucian Wakefield.
10 and 11. Zerelda and Mary E. Wakefield reside
unmarried in Tod Co., Ky.
James Alexander. 141
1 2. William Wakefield married Georgie Millen. Resi-
dence, Bullitt Co., Ky. He died January 1875, leaving
three small children,
12. Joseph Wakefield married . He resides in
Bullitt Co., Ky, He has one child.
SECTION III.
William Banks Wakefield married Charlotte
Heady, Children:
1, Heady Wakefield. 2. Ellen Heady Wakefield.
3. Louisa Wakefield. 4. liobert Wakefield.
5. Elizabeth Wakefield. 6. Samuel Wakefield.
7. Charlotte Wakefield. 8. Lois Wakefield.
9. Rebecca Wakefield.
1. Heady Wal-efi'eld, Esq., married Emil^/ Young.
He is a Blacksmith, has three children, and resides in
AVashington county, Ky.
2. Ellen Headg Wakefield married Thomas Graham,
a Blacksmith, residing in Louisville, Ky. She has died
and left five children.
3. Louisa Wakefield married John Froman. Both
died in Texas, where their only child lives.
4. Robert Wakefield married Henrietta Smith. They
have one child and reside in Bullitt county, Ky.
5. Elizabeth Wakefield married Frank Smith. Issue :
eight children. Residence, Bullard Co., Ky.
6. Samuel Wakefield married twice, has two children
by his wife and resides in Bullitt county, Ky.
7. Charlotte Wakefield married Johi Triers. No
children. Residence, Louisville, Ky.
8. Lois Wakefield married Mr. Heady. No
issue : He is dead and she resides in Bullitt county, Ky.
9. Rebecca Wakefield married Benjamin Chickcring,
a Grocer. Issue: three children. Residence, Louis-
ville, Ky.
142 The (Descendants of
SECTION IV.
E.OSEANN Wakefield died at the age of sixteen years
SECTION V.
Bridget Wakefield married Culbertson Glass, in
1825. Issue:
1. Elizabeth Alexander Glass.
2. Margaret Glass — died young.
3. James Glass.
4. John Wakefield Glass.
5. Culbertson Glass.
6. Robert Gilbert Glass — died.
1. Elizabeth Alexander Glass married John McClain^
of Tod Co., Ky. Their only child is Ida Biddy McClain.
3. James Glass married Tahiiha Dobins, of Tod Co.,
Ky. Issue: Lula, James, Greene, John, Robert, and
Lizzie McClain.
4. John Wahefield Glass married Elizabeth TFal'eJield,
Oct. 9, 1855. Issue:
1. Hannie Bell Glass, born Oct. 10, 1856.
2. e^allie Biddie Glass, born Aug. 30, 1859.
3. Robert Ella — died an infant.
4. Lizzie Wakefield — died an infant.
John Wahefield Glass married, secondly, Bridget J.
TVakefield, sister of his deceased wife, November 14,
1864. No issue.
The residence of Mr. J. W. Glass is Bowling Green,
Ky. Occupation, Merchant.
5. Culbertson Glass married Winnie jSmall, a farmer
of Tod county, Ky. One child.
Culbertson and Bridget W. Glass, the parents of the
above family, lived in Spencer Co., Ky., until 1850,
when they removed to Tod county, Ky.
I
Ja'mes Alexander. 143
SECTION VI. AND YII.
John Wakefield, of Nelson Co., Ky., died, aged
thirty -three years.
Joseph Wakefield, of Nelson Co., Ivy., died, aged
ten years.
section vin.
EoBERT Wakefield married Hannah Glass. Issue :
1. Margaret Bell Wakefield, born October 30, 1831.
2. Elizabeth Wakefield, born June 10, 1833.
3. John Wakefield, born November 2, 1834.
4. Bridget Jane Wakefield, born Nov. 6, 1836.
5. James Glass Wakefield, born September 28, 1838.
1. Margaret Bell Wakefield married Marcus Alexan-
der Wakejield. This family has been recorded in place.
2. Elizabeth Wake field married John Wakejield Glass.
This family has also been recorded in place.
3. John Wakejield manied Bettie Small. Issue: one
child.
4. Bridget Jane Wakefield married John IV. Glass.
This family also has been recorded.
5. James Glass Wakefield married a daughter of
Robert Wakefield, on bottom of Py Twelve. No issue.
Residence, Bullitt Co., Ky.
SECTION IX.
Eliza Wakefield manied John Cain in September,
1822. Issue:
1. Rosanna W. Cain, born July 15, 1823.
2. Nancy Cain, born November 11, 1824.
3. John Wakefield Cain, born November 5, 1826.
4. EUzabeth W. Cain, born September 29, 1828.
5. MaryannCain, born April 20, 1830.
144 '^^^^ (Descendants of
6. Jane N. Cain, born May 20, 1832.
7. Samuel M. Cain, born September 26, 1833.
8. Sarah E. Cain, born November 2-4, 1835.
9. Susan Morath Cain, born March 24, 1838.
10. Charles Patherick Cain, born Jnly 24, 1840.
11. James W. Cain, born October 15, 1842.
12 and 13. Matthew W. and Michael S. Cain, born
Julyl, 1845.
14. Milvilla Cain, born March 15, 1850.
Eliza AV., wife of John Cain, died April 6, 1870.
Susan M. Cain died March 23, 1873.
1. Rosanna Wakefield Gain married John B. Wake-
/e/f/, March 3,1844. Issue:— James AV. Wakefield,
born August 7, 1846 ; Mary E. Wakefield, born Jan.
26, 1849.
Mrs. Hosanna W. C. Wakefield married, secondly,
John 3f. /S)u/de)\ of Spencer county, Ky., (farmer.) Issue;
John H. Snyder, born May 26, 1854.
Susan Elizabeth Snyder, born Nov. 2, 1856.
Charles N. Snyder, born January 4, 1858, and died
October 10, 1858.
Matthew W. Snyder, born October 29, 1860.
Eosanna Ellen Snyder, born January 17, 1862.
Harvey B. and Henderson B. Snyder (twins,) born
October 14, 1865.
Edward Calvin Snyder, born November 10, 1867.
(Residence — Grayson county, Ky.)
5. Maryann Cain Married James Hoglan. Issue:
Abram, John, Amos, Elizabeth, Susan, Joseph, James,
Milvilla, Nancy, Rebecca, and Isaac Hoglan.
7. Samuel M. Cain married Ellen McRocklin. (Resi-
dence, Davis county, Ivy.) Issue: — one son, Joseph
Cain.
Samuel M. Cain married, secondly. Miss Boil.
Issue : — one daughter, Harriet Cain.
I
James Alexander. 145
8. Sara Eliza Cain married, first, Robert H. Mason,
born May 24, 1834. Issue:
1. Samuel Thomas Mason, born December 9, 1856.
2. Eliza Ann Mason, born April 5th, 1858.
3. Charles William Mason, born November 10th,
1859.
Kobert H.Mason died in 1859; his widow then
married his brother, Hichard Thomas Mason. Issue :
4. Richard Tilford Mason, born September 10, 1863.
5. John llobert Lee Mason, born October 8, 1865.
Richard T. Mason died in 1(S65. Mrs. Sarah E. Mason
married, thirdly, Daniel PriestJij Bratcher. No issue.
2. Eliza Ann Mason married John A. King, of Gray-
son county, Ky., September 24, 1874. Issue:
Panoha King, born July 5, 1875.
9. Susan Morath Cain married , in Grayson
county, Ky. Issue : — Three children at one birth, after
which the mother and children died within seventy days.
10. Charles P. Cain married Adaline Wilson, Sept.
13,1866. Residence, Grayson county, Ky. Issue:
1. Susan M. Cain, born October 14, 1867.
2. Mason Lee Cain, born January 16, 1869.
3. Alphonso B. Cain, born November 1, 1871.
4. Ellis Cain, born October 10, 1873.
12 and 14. Matthew and Milvilla Cain, with their
father in Grayson county, Ky.
SECTION X.
Reed Alexander Wakefield married Eliza Snider.
Issue :
1. Matthew Wakefield, born June 24, 1835.
2. James AVilliam Wakefield, born Nov. 14, 1836.
3. Elvira Wakefield, born December 30, 1838.
4. Mary Bell Wakefield, born November 6, 1 842.
5. Emily Wakefield, born February 10, 1845.
146 The (Descendants of
1. Matthew Wakefield married in Missouri, and has
one child living in that State. He was murdered while
crossing the Plains.
2. James William Wakefield married Susan Canada
Issue :
1. William B. Wakefield, born December 22, 1859.
2. Matthew E. Wakefield, born September 17, 1861.
3. Sarah B. Wakefield, born June 1, 1863.
4. Martha B. Wakefield, born July 8, 1865.
5. Mary H. Wakefield, born July 19, 1867.
6. Liew E. Wakefield, born March 21, 1869.
7. Ida A. Wakefield, born April 5, 1871.
8. Celia C. Wakefield, born April 28, 1873.
9. John S. Wakefield, born February 22, 1875.
3. Elvira Wakefield married .
4. Mary Bell Wakefield married Thomas Canada.
Issue : — four children.
5. Emily Wakefield married Mr. Bracher, of
Grayson county, Ky. Issue: — one child.
SECTION XI.
Mary Samuels Wakefield married William Tag-
GART. Issue :
1. James Taggart, born January 7, 1840.
2. John Alexander Taggart, born December 8, 1842.
3. Kobert Douds Taggart, born February 14, 1845.
1. James Taggart married Susan E. Carithers, Octo-
ber 28, 1869. Residence, Shelbyville, Ky. Issue :
Lillie Pearl Taggart, born June 10, 1876.
2. John Alexander Taggart, unmarried. Residence,
Louisville, Ky. In the firm of Hughes, Gosler & Co.
3. Robert Douds Taggart, unmarried. Residence,
Smileytown, Spencer county, Ky.
Mrs. Mary S. W. Taggart, the only surviving child of
John and Elizabeth A. Wakefield, is now (1876) in her
John Alexander, 147
sixty-eighth year, and has Uved to see five generations,
including her own. Residence, Sniileytown, Spencer
comity, Ky.
CHAPTER IV.
THE FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS OF JOHN ALEXANDER, OF
LOGAN'S SPRINGS.
John Alexander, second son of James A., was born
in the year 1769, and died Sept. 16, 1820, aged fifty-
one years. He was a well read and intelligent man, but
very reserved and sparing in the use of words ; a man
of remarkably fine personal presence, in stature six
feet and one inch, symmetrically proportioned and
straight as a line, so that he was physically "one of
nature's choicest plants."
In 1791, he married Annie Taylor, daughter of
Henry Taylor, Esq., of Kishacoquillas. She was born
April 18, 1774, and died August 25, 1853, aged seventy-
nine years, four months and seven days.
After his marriage he established himself as a farmer
on the middle section of his father's lands in Kishaco-
quillas Valley, and built his house at one of the cele-
brated Logan's Springs, and quite near to the spot
where Logan's Wigwam stood, and where he resided
until he left the Valley. The great oak, on the trunk
of which Logan had cut the effigy of an Indian, toma-
hawk in hand, stood near to John Alexander's barn.
This tree and the wigwam were long preserved as
memorials until the great oak, becoming dead at the
top, was unfortunately cut down instead of being
trimmed, by Josiah, the son of John A., who feared
that it might sometime fall upon the barn. This home-
148 TJie (Descendants of
stead of John Alexander, now occupied by his nephew,
James Alexander, is justly regarded with threat interest
for its pleasant surroundings and its important histori-
cal associations. Here was the first meeting of Logan
with William Brown, recorded by Mr. Day in his His-
torical Collections of Pennsylvania.
Mr, Brown having gone westward about five miles
from his home, soon after his settlement in the Valley,
came thirsty to a large and beautiful spring. Having
grounded his rifle he was stooping down to drink, when
he saw the form of a tall Indian reflected from the surface
of the water. He immediately sprang to his rifle to be
ready for fight, when Logan turned the pan of his gun-
lock downward, and extended his hand in token of
peace and friendship. But the narrative, as given by
Mr. Day, adds that Logan at that time conducted Mr.
Brown a little way down the run that flows from the
spring to where they found the home of another settler,
Samuel McClay. This last statement is entirely erro-
neous. An article recently published by Mr. James
Alexander, of Logan's springs, clearly proves that Mr.
McClay never owned any lands or had any settlement
in tliat part of the Valley during Logan's residence
there, and that James Alexander, the father of John,
was the only settler there at the time of the meeting of
Logan and William Brown.
John Alexander was favored with a large family of
active sons, and made rapid progress in clearing land
and raising large crops. His children were six sons
and four daughters.
1. Josiah Alexander, born 1793; died September 23,
1847, aged fifty-four years.
2. John Alexander, born August 12, 179J:; died at
Milroy, Pa., May, 1875.
3. Lewis Alexander, died in infancy.
John Alexander.
149
4. Hugh Alexander, born March 17, 1797; died
January 11, 1865, aged sixty-eight years.
5. Samuel Alexander, born 1799; died October 8,
182 7 — unmarried.
6. Julia Ann Alexander, born June 23, 1801; died
October 4, 1874, at McAlistersville.
7. Jane Alexander, born March 11, 1803.
8. Henry Alexander, born 1805; died in Philadel-
phia, September, 1826.
9. James T. Alexander, born 1807; died 1839.
10. Hobert Alexander, died in infancy.
11. Mary Ann Alexander, born October 12, 1809.
12. Rhoda Alexander, born November 11, 1811;
died January 23, 1844.
SECTION L
JosiAH Alexander married Phoebe McCandlass,
June 26, 1832. Issue:
1. Ellen Alexander, born May 12, 1833.
2. Ann T. Alexander, born July 29, 1834.
3. John W. Alexander, born June 8, 1836.
4. Samuel H. Alexander, born April 6, 1838.
5. James J. Alexander, born November 27, 1839.
6. Margaret M. Alexander, born July 14, 1842.
7. Hugh H. Alexander, born April 5, 1844.
8. Rhoda M. Alexander, born June 23, 1846.
After the death of Josiah Alexander at Milroy,
Mifflin Co., Pa., his widow, Mrs. Phoebe M. Alexander,
removed with her family to Bremen, Fairfield Co., 0.,
where she lives with her daughter, Mrs. Ann T. Kagay.
1. Ellen Alexander married Franklin Kagai/, farmer,
of Fairfield Co., O., January 20, 1853. Issue:
1. Harrison B. Kagay, born December 17, 1S53.
2. Alice J. Kagay, born September 17, 1855.
3. Margaret A. Kagay, born September 1, 1857.
150 The descendants of
4. John W. Kagay, bom November 28, 1859.
5. Phoebe A. Kagay, born January 10, 1861.
6. Dora Kagay, born August 3, 1864.
7. Hattie F. Kagay, born January 24, 1867.
8. May Kagay, born August 1st, 1869.
9. Mehiottie Kagay, born November 10, 1871.
10. LilHe Kagay, born April 28, 1874.
2. Ann T. Alexander married. May 19, 1857, Rudolph
Kagay ^ farmer of Fairfield county, O., who was born
October 28, 1828. Issue:
1. Nettie F. Kagay, born February 21, 1861.
2. James J. Kagay, born July 9, 1863.
3. John IV. Alexander., Saddler, married Harriet
Holiday., March 28, 1860. Residence, Huntington,
Warren Co., Ind. Issue :
Ililas E. x\lexander, born July 8, 1860.
Frank E. Alexander, born April 6, 1862.
Lillie Alexander, born August 8, 1867.
4. Sarnuel H. Alexander married, November 14, 1861,
Nancy Stemen.^'who was born May 29, 1839. Issue:
1. Gertrude Alexander, born July 11, 1863.
2. Carrie E. Alexander, born August 6, 1873.
Samuel H. Alexander is farming near Bremen, Ohio,
5. James J. Alexander., farmer, married, October 26,
1865, Hannah A. Elder., who was born Dec. 19, 1844.
Issue :
1. Arthur S. Alexander, born April 12, 1867.
2. Jennie E. Alexander, born November 11, 1868.
3. Olive A. Alexander, born May 17, 1871.
4. Thomas J. Alexander, born July 4, 1873.
6. Margaret M. Alexander m'axxiQA, October 10, 1861,
Robert J. Black, Nurseryman and Fruit Grower, who
was born December 19, 1822. Issue:
1. Martha Black, born August 17, 1862; died Sep-
tember 13, 1866.
John Alexander. i^i
2. Josiah Black, born January 6, 1864.
3. Alice Black, born August 28, 1866.
4. Margaret Black, born August 17, 1868.
5. Jennie Black, born November 2, 1872.
6. Elizabeth Black, born October 19, 1874.
7. JImjh H. Alexander, unmarried, a Clerk, Lafay-
ette, Ind.
7. Rhoda M. Alexander married, November 15, 1871,
Isaiah Grove, farmer, of Fairfield County, Ohio, who
was born December 14, 1840.
SECTION II.
John Alexander married February 8, 1S24, Elenor
Davidson, who was born January 1, 1801. No issue.
John Alexander married, secondly, August 10, 1842,
Mary Dorman, of Union county, Pa., who was born
August 10, 1822. Issue:
1. Samuel J. T. Alexander, born July 30, 1843.
2. John Flenry Alexander, born January 8, 1805 ; died.
3. Julia Ann Alexander, born October 14, 1846.
4. Mary Jane E. Alexander, born August 3, 1848.
5. William Francis Alexander, born June 3d, 1850.
6. Emily E. Alexander, born March 14, 1853.
7. Rhoda A. Alexander, born May 26, 1855.
8. Jane Ann E. Alexander, born January 1, 1858.
9. Josiah Q. Alexander, born August 19, 18G0,
10. Hugh McClelland Alexander, born Aug. 10, 1863.
4. Mary Jane Aleccander married, September 21, 1871,
James E-unkle. Issue: — 1. John F. Runkle; 2. Jesse
A. Runkle. Residence, Centre county, Pa.
SECTION IV.
Hugh Alexander, fourth child of John Alexander,
was born in Kishacoquillas Valley, at Logan's Springs,
March 17, 1797. After preparatory studies with Drs.
152 Tlie (Descendants of
Aid and Henderson, of Lewistovvn, Pa., he attended
medical Lectures in the University of Pennsylvania,
where he enjoyed the instructions of Drs. Gibson,
Physiclv, James, and Chapman, all eminent in their
profession. Having graduated in 1824, he went the
same year to the State of Ohio and settled near Dayton,
where he commenced the practice of medicine. On the
25th of April, 1834, he there married Martha Harri-
son, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Harrison. In 1834
he removed to Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, where
he resided uutil 1847. His health being now infirm,
he purchased the farm of his wife's grandfather in
Montgomery county, Ohio. Having retired from medi-
cal practice, he lived there until his death by pn-eumo-
nia, January 11, 1865, aged sixty-eight years. His
widow, Mrs. Martha H. Alexander, now resides with
her daughter, Mrs. Lizzie A. Young, in the city of Day-
ton. Dr. Hugh Alexander had four children, who all
died in infancy except one daughter,
Elizabeth Alexander, who married, April 18, 1854,
E. E. Young, of Hanover, Pa. Her husband died three
years after marriage, leaving her with one son,
Hugh Alexander Young, born January 26, 1855.
SECTION YI.
Julia Ann Alexander, born June 23, 1801, in Kish-
acoquillas Valley, married Hugh Turkett McAlister,
of Juniata county, Pa., April 6, 1830. Mr. H. T.
McAlister is descended from another Hugh McAlister,
who with two brothers emigrated from the North of
Ireland to America in 1730. His ancestor settled first
in Lancaster county, Pa , and moved thence to Sher-
man's Valley, in Perry county. Pa. His sons were
among the first settlers in Tuscarora and Lost Creek
Valleys, and participated in the struggles of Indian and
y antes Alexander. 153
Revolutionary warfare. One of his descendants was the
Hon. H. N. McAlister, of Bellefonte, a full cousin of
II. T. McAlister. Issue:
1. Rhoda Ann McAlister, died, aged 4 years and 9
months.
2. Oliver Huston McAlister, graduated at the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, and is a practicing physician at
McAlistersville. Juniata county, Pa.
8. Charlotte McAlister, died in infancy.
•4. Mary Jane McAlister, died in infancy.
5. Josiah Alexander McAlister, died, aged 10 years.
6. Theodore Alexander McAlister, died, aged 25
years.
7. Julia Ann McAlister, died in infancy.
8. Stephen Lloyd McAlister, unmarried.
9. Caroline Alexander McAlister married Dr. David
Calvin Rothrock^ dentist, of McAlistersville, June 1st,
lS(i7. No issue.
SECTION VII.
Jane Alexander married August 25, 1824, John
Hayes, of Lancaster county. Pa., who was born in
March 6, 1797. Residence, Kishcoquillas Valley,
Issue :
1. William Hayes, born July 2, 1825; died Febru-
ary 26, 1838.
2. Henry Hayes, born November 3, 1826. Went to
California in 1852.
3. John Hayes, born July 9, 1828.
4. Francis Hayes, born March 1, 1830 ; died Febru-
ary 14, 1866.
5. Josiah Hayes, born April 1, 1833.
6. Jane Ann Hayes, born July 19, 1838 ; died March
25, 1843.
11
154 ^-^^^ (Descendants of
7. William J. Hayes, born October 20, 1843.
3. John Hayes married Rebecca Read, of Brown's
Mills, Pa. Issue: — 1 Jane Hayes, died. 2. Rhoda
M. Hayes. 3. John Hayes. 4. Abner Read Hayes.
5. Ann Hayes.
SECTION IX.
James T. AleTander married Mary Sterreti in Shelby
county, Ohio. Issue, one son.
John J. Alexander, of Lockington, Shelby county,
Ohio.
SECTION XI.
Mary Ann Alexander married Robert Hughes, of
Mifflin county. Pa., December 2, 1835.
Mr. Hughes died September 5, 1848, aged 48 years.
His widow and daughter live at Mill Creek^ Hunting-
don county. Pa. Issue:
1. Samuel A. Hughes, born September 17, 1836.
2. James M. Hughes, born March 1, 1840; died
June 2, 1870, aged 30 years.
3. Mary Ann Hughes, born April 9, 1847.
1. Samuel A. Hughes married Emma Bowman,
November 3, 1863. Issue :
1. Mary Elizabeth Hughes, born July 29, 1873.
2, 3, 4. Three children died in infancy.
SECTION XII.
Rhoda Alexander married David C. Miller. Resi-
dence, Readsville, Mifflin county. Pa. Mrs. Rhoda A.
Miller died January 22, 1844, aged 32 years. Issue:
1. Henry Alexander Miller, born September 12,
1836.
2. Rhoda Ann Miller, born October 23, 1838.
James Alexander. icr
3. John Miller, born August 1, 1842.
1. Rhoda Ann Miller married Elmer S. Fear, March
6,1868. Issue:
1. William M. Fear, born April 25, 1870 ; died
August 11, 1870.
2. Laura C. Fear, born July 26, 1871.
3. John Miller married Nanci/ Close, 1867. Issue:
1. Elliott Orr Close. 2. William John Miller. 3.
David Carroll Miller.
CHAPTER V.
THE FAMILY OF JAMES ALEXANDER, OF KISHACOQUILLAS.
James Alexander, the fifth child of James Alexander
and Kosa Reed was born Feb. 16, 1772. When only
nineteen years old, in 1792, the next year after his
father's death, he married Jane Adams, aged sixteen
years, and remained on the old homestead on Spring
Run, as farmer. He was a man of very large frame,
five feet eleven and one-half inches high, and of com-
manding presence. After middle age he became so
corpulent as to weigh 355 pounds, so that his neighbors
often distinguished him from his namesakes by the title
of " Sturdy Jamie."
In the prime of life he was fond of that most exciting
and dangerous of all English and American sports — the
Fox Hunt. It is difficult to say whether horse, rider,
or hounds enjoyed it the most. Mounted upon "Jolly,"
with two or three mounted neighbors, he sounded liis
hunter's horn, which instantly brought around him at
least one dozen descendants of" Chaunter and Charmer"
156 The (Descendants of
— imports from Ireland — howling as if Pandemonium
had broken loose ! All this was but a prelude to the
hue and cry that made the woods and welkin ring when
some lurking fox, starting from his lair, went flying
along his circling course. The keen-scented dogs in
the maddening rout spared neither tongues nor heels.
Neither did horse or rider care who should break leg,
back or neck in clearing fences or ditches, plunging
through streams and thickets, dashing up and down
rocky steeps, eager to "top the chase" with the fore-
most dog. The perseverance and endurance of those
Irish dogs enabled them to run the whole day under
"full cry."
When greater age and corpulence unfitted him for
farm labor, he betook himself to retirement and books,
diversified by almost daily trips to the streams or woods
for fish or game. Superior skill in these sports kept
his table well supplied with trout, wild fowl and veni-
son in their seasons. Nor did he fail to enliven the
repast by narrating interesting incidents of the hunting
and angling.
No one knew better the haunts of the speckled trout
among the rapids and eddies of the Kishacoquillas, or
how to practice the precepts of the poet who said :
" There throw, nice judo;ing, the delusive fly,
And as you lead it ruund in artful curve,
With eye attentive mark the springing game.
Straight as above the surface of the flood
They vrunton rise, or urged by hunger leap,
Then fix vyith gentle tioitch the barbed hook :
Some lightly tossing to the grassy bank
And to the shelving rocks slow dragging some.
But should you lure
From his dark haunts beneath the tangled roots
Of pendant trees, the monarch of the brook,
Behooves you then to ply your nicest art.
Long time he following cautious scans the fly,
James Alexander. 157
And oft attempts to seize it, V)ut as oft
The dimpled waters speaks his jealous fear.
At last while haply o'er the shaded sun
Passes a cloud, he desperate takes the death,
With sudden plunge at once he darts along
Deep struck, and runs out all the length of line :
Then seeks the farthest ooze, the sheltering weed,
The caverned bank, his old abode;
And flies aloft and flounces round the pool,
Indignant of the guile. With yielding hand
That feels him still, yet to his furious course
Gives way, you now retreating following now
Across the stream, exhaust his idle rage,
Till floating broad upon his breathless side,
And to his fate abandoned, to the shore
You gaily drag your unresisting prize."
James Alexander improved a mind naturally strong
and active by various reading, so that he was generally
regarded as a man of more than ordinary intelligence.
He was a kind and affectionate husband and father.
His large and productive farm furnished the necessaries
and comforts of a farmer's life in abundance, and being
hospitable, social, cheerful and gifted in conversational
powers, his home and society were enjoyed by numer-
ous friends and guests. Religiously he did not walk
closely in the steps of his pious father, being neither a
professor of religion nor a constant attendant at church.
Yet the influence of his early training was seen in
restraining his children on the Sabbath and in keeping
up daily Bible reading as a part of family worship and
adding the recitation of the Catechism on the Sabbath.
He died April 17th, 1847, at the ripe age of seventy-
five years and two months. He was buried in tlie
graveyard of the West End Presbyterian church, where
a marble tablet, erected and inscribed by his sons, James
and Napoleon B., marks his resting-place, near that of
his father.
Mrs. Jane Adams Alexander, his wife, born in
158 The descendants of
Philadelphia, September 15, 1776, was of English
descent. But her grandfather raised his family of two
sons and five daughters near Cookstown, Munnimore,
Ireland.
His elder son Robert Adams, educated as a physi-
cian, took the position of surgeon on a British
fleet to India, and died after some years at Bombay,
India.
The father bound his younger son William for one
year to a linen draper, as a preparatory training for
becoming a merchant. But taking offence at being less
highly educated than his brother, he ran away on ship-
board, and arrived almost penniless in Philadelphia,
1774 or 5. While teaching a school in the city for six
months, he contracted an acquaintance, and finally
a marriage with Mary White^ who, being brought up in
the city under the care of an uncle, was then engaged
in the business of a dressmaker. In a few months after
his marriage, William Adams was drafted into Wash-
ington's army, and was severely wounded in the Battle
of Brandywine, and died soon after of camp fever. His
widow, Mary Adams, and his only child, Jane Adams,
removed from Philadelphia, and fixed their residence
near Bellville, Kishacoquillas Valley, Pa. Here, as
already stated, the daughter became the wife of James
Alexander, and her mother continued to live until her
death at her home near Bellville.
In the meantime Dr. Robert Adams, having died
unmarried in India, left a considerable fortune, to be
chiefly divided among his brothers and sisters. Know-
ing that his brother, William Adams, had died in
America, leaving one daughter only ; but, not knowing
that she still lived, he left her, conditionally, i/*3,000.
Her husband, James Alexander, visited Ireland, to
obtain this money in 1805. His passport from Phila-
James Alexander. 159
delphia Custom House is dated January 15, 1805 ; and
a receipt of a shipment of Irish linen from Liverpool
to Xew York, is dated December, 1805. He returned
after an absence of nine months. While in Ireland he
visited the aunts of his wife — the other sharers of the
fortune of Dr. Robert Adams — who had married hus-
bands named Allen, Thistle, Campbell, Stitts, and
McGouch. He w^as persuaded to speculate in a ship-
ment of Irish linen, which, on arriving in this country,
was damaged so that the value of the fortune was con-
siderably diminished.
Mrs. Jane Adams Alexander died July 27, 1834,
aged fifty-eight years, and was buried where her husband
was afterwards laid, as already recorded.
The children of James Alexander and Jane Adams
Alexander :
1. Mary Alexander, born 1793.
2. Rosey Alexander, born November 27, 1795.
3. Elizabeth Alexander, born May 26, 1798.
4. James Alexander, born November 27, 1801.
5. William Adams Alexander, born 1803.
6. Jessie Alexander, born January 17, 1806.
7. Jane Alexander, born September 24, 1810.
8. Robert Alexander, born May 10, 1813.
9: Matilda Alexander, born January 7, 1816.
10. Napoleon Bonaparte Alexander, born, 1819.
SECTION I.
Mary Alexander, eldest child of James Alexander and
Jane Adams Alexander, was born in Kishacoquillas
Vnlley, Miifiin county, Pa., in 1793.
She married her second cousin, Samuel Edminston
Ale.vamlcr, of Little Valley, Mifflin county, when she
was but sixteen years of age. She died, November 9,
i6o The (Descendants of
1869, in the seventy-seventh year of her age. For her
family, &c., see Part I., chap, ii., sec. 3.
SECTION ir.
E,osey Alexander married John Scott, March 31,
1814. John Scott, the son of James Scott, was born
April 9, 1772. He followed the occupation of a farmer
in Kishacoquillas and Little Valleys, Mifflin county,
Pa., and died March 17, 1836, aged sixty-four years.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Rosey A. Scott
showed great energy and tact in training and providing
for her fatherless children.
She still lives near Bedford, Pa., a venerable mother
in Israel, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years.
Issue : three sons and seven daughters.
1. James A. Scott, born February 2, 1815.
2. Hamilton Scott, born December 8, 1816.
3. Jane Eliza Scott, born April 14, 1819.
4. Lilly Ann Scott, born June 19, 1821.
5. Willamina Scott, born September 19, 1823.
6. John W. Scott, born February 14, 1826.
7. Mary Matilda Scott, born September 20, 1828.
8. Anna II. Scott, born May 5, 1831 ; died May 30,
1855.
9. Martha A. Scott, born July 24, 1S33 ; died Decem-
5, 1855.
10. Jessie M. Scott, born October 15, 1835 ; died
December 10, 1855.
1. James A. Scott married Rachel Hurler/ in 1844.
Issue :
a. Jane Scott, h. Calvin Scott,
c. Benton Scott. d. Berthelda Scott.
e. Albert Scott.
a. Jane Scott married Emery George, of Somerset
James Alexander. i6i
county, Pa. Issue : — Irwin George. Etta and Bertha
George.
h. Caldn Scott married Susan Glesner. No children
living — two dead.
d. Berthelda Scott married Heiuy GJesner, hlack-
smith. Issue: — One child, Delia Glesner. Residence,
Bedford county. Pa. James A. Scott and his sons are
farmers residing at Buffalo Mills, Bedford county. Pa.,
he died April 22, 1876.
2. Hamilton Scott married Sarah Hagerty. No chil-
dren living. Mr. Scott was a trader in stock, and
resided first in Blair county, and afterwards in Bedford
county, where he died.
3. Jajie Eliza Scott lives unmarried in Altoona, Pa.,
engaged in millinery business, and has care of her two
nieces whose mother died in Iowa.
4. Lily Ann Scott married Hon. Jame.'f L Guiii.
whose talents, habits and course of conduct secured
esteem and confidence in all the relations of life. With
only a common school education, he became a teacher.
County Surveyor for twenty years. Representative of
Blair County for two terms in 1853-1, Associate Judge,
and for a long time a ruling elder in the First Presby-
terian Church in Altoona, Pa. He resided on his farm
in Logan Township, two miles from Altoona, where he
died universally respected and lamented, Dec. 17, 187-1,
aged 57 years, and was buried in Pairview Cemetery at
Altoona. Issue:
M. Scott Guin, Anna R. Gain, John L. Guin, and
James L, Guin.
Mrs. Guin and her children still reside on their farm
near Altoona.
5. Willamina Scott married Alexander Barnes^ of
Iowa, in 1850, and died there May 23, 1860. Mr.
1 62 The (Descendants of
Barnes with his son is farming in Wayne Co., Iowa.
Issue :
1. Clara Barnes, died Jan. 10, 1862.
2. Anna R. Barnes.
3. Rush A. Barnes.
4. Jessie A. Barnes.
5. Albert L, Barnes, died five days after his mother.
6. John IV Scott married Emma Stuckey. Occupa-
tion trading and farming. Residence, Tama Co., Iowa.
Issue:
1. Charles Scott. 2. John A. Scott. 3. Rosey Scott.
7. Mary Matilda Scott married Joseph Hutchison, Feb.
7, 1850. Occupation, in real estate and brick business,
Hollidaysburg, Pa. Issue:
1. AnnettaR. Hutchison. 2. Mary Hutchison.
8. James T. Hutchison. 4. Margaret W. Hutchison.
5. Martha Hutchison. 6. Martin B. Hutchison.
7. Hester R. Hutchison, 8. Matilda J. Hutchison.
1. Annetta R. Hutchison married Alexander Wilson
Dec. 9, 1869. Issue:
Thomas G. Wilson, Mary M. Wilson, and twin sons,
Joseph and George Wilson.
x\lexander Wilson is a farmer residing in Bedford
Co., Pa.
8, 9, 10. Anna R., Martha A., and Jessie M. Scott,
young ladies of remarkable beauty and loveliness, died
suddenly in the full bloom of early womanhood, the
last two of malignant scarlet fever, and the one only
five days after the other, in Dec, 1855.
SECTION III.
Elizibpth Alexander, third child of James and Rosey
Alexander, born May 26, 1798, married Lefferd Lease
Haughawout, a farmer of Holland descent.
James Alexander. 163
He was for many years afflicted with a deafness,
which required the use of an ear-trumpet.
Yet his good sense improved by much reading, his
social feeling and good conversational powers, rendered
his company pleasant and profitable.
He spent his married life at his residence in Lost
Creek Valley, Juniata Co., Pa., engaged in farming and
lumbering.
Both he and his wife were worthy members of the
Presbyterian Church, and trained their children in the
ways of righteousness.
Lefferd Lease Haughawout, born July 15, 1799, died
April 18, 1871, aged 71 years.
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Haughawout died Sept. 10, 1871,
aged 73 years. Issue :
1. John Haughawout.
2. Leffert Lease Haughawout, born Dec. 23d, 1837.
3. Joseph Haughawout.
4. Jane Haughawout.
5. Nancy Haughawout.
1. John Haughawout married Margaret Zennis, and
resides on part of the old farm. No issue.
2. Lefferd Lease Haughawout graduated at Jefferson
College in 1863, and at Princeton Theological Semin-
ary in 1867. He was licensed to preach by the Hunt-
ingdon Presbytery in 1S66. Having received a call to
pastoral charge, he was ordained and installed on the
same day by the Northumberland Presbytery, at Cen-
tralia, Pa. He next became pastor of the Washington
Presbyterian church, and after laboring some years in
that charge, he has recently accepted a call and become
pastor of the Bald Eagle and Nitany churches of North-
umberland Presbytery. P. O. address, ^lill Hall, Pa.
He married his cousin, Jane Elizabeth Alexander,
daughter of James Alexander of Logan's Springs,
164 The (Descendants of
Kishacoquillas Valley, Dec. 4, 1867. Mrs. Jane E. A.
Haughavvout is a graduate of Kishacoquillas Seminary,
a pious and intelligent lady, well adapted to the sphere
of a pastor's wife. Issue :
1. Alexander Rea Haughawout, born Oct. 20, 1868.
2. Lilly Haughawout, born Dec. 27, 1870, died Sept.
3, 1871.
3. Mary Rosalind Haughawout, born March 10,
1872.
4. Lefferd Merle Haughawout, born Sept. 30, 1873.
5. James Paul Haughawout, born Aug. 15, 1875.
3. Joseph Haughawout.
4. Jane Haughawout married, first, David Alexander^
of Tuscarora Valley. See Part I., chap, v., sec. i. 7.
After his death she married William Bourson. Issue :
Luther Bourson and Ira Bourson. Residence, on the
old homestead in Lost Creek Valley.
5. Nancy Haughawout married Joseph G. Fleming,
and resides on the old homestead in Lost Creek Valley,
Juniata county, Pa.
SECTION IV.
James Alexander, son of the second and grandson
of the first James Alexander, of Kishacoquillas, was
born on Spring Rui;, November 27, 1801. Though
trained by his father in the occupation of a farmer, a
restless energy and spirit of enterprise led him to spend
a large portion of a very busy life in the more exciting
pursuits of merchandizing and trading. In these he
has had many struggles and vicissitudes ; but his busi-
ness tact, good management, and indomitable energy
and perseverance have been rewarded with a gratifying
measure of success; being now the proprietor of large
[fames Alexander. 165
and valuable tracts of land in Kishacoquillas Valley, in
Illinois, and in Virginia.
He married his cousin, Celia Alexander, daughter
of Robert Alexander, Esq., of Kishacoquillas Valley,
February 17, 1834. As a retreat from the busy scenes
of earlier life, he established his family in the old home-
stead of his uncle John Alexander, on that portion of
his grandftither's tract of 1755, which has already been
described as including the site of Logan's Cabin and
Logan's Springs. Here, he and his pious and excellent
wife have given commendable attention to the training
and education of a family of more than ordinary intelli-
gence and interest. While leading a busy life in gen-
eral, Mr. Alexander has maintained a habit of occasional
relaxation for the enjoyment of hospitality, and of the
exciting and healthfid sports of the angler and hunter.
Their children are :
1. Jane Elizabeth Alexander, born January 23, 1836.
2. James Porterfield Alexander, born Nov. 22, 1838.
3. Celia Ann Alexander, born February 13, 181:1.
4. Missiouria Mary Alexander, born May 31, 1843.
5. Napoleon Bonaparte Alexander, born November
21, 1845 ; died December 21, 1846.
6. Matilda Virginia Alexander, born September 12,
1847 ; died March 20, 1S55.
7. Lucy Josephine Alexander, born February 14,
1850; died May 16, 1871.
8. Robert Ard Alexander, born February 15, 1852.
9. Emma Rosalind Alexander, born Oct. 29, 1854.
1. Jane E. Alexander married Rev. Lefferd Lease
Haughawout. See Section iii. 2, for their family
record.
2. James Porterfield Alexander married Annie
Augusta Halsey, daughter of Joseph J. and Mildred J,
Halsey, of Virginia, February 4, 1874. The residence
1 66 The (Descendants of
of this family is St. Cloud, near Rapid Ann Station,
Virginia. Issue: — One son, James Alexander, born
May 14, 1875.
SECTION V,
William Adams Alexander, named after his mater-
nal grandfather, born 1803 ; married, first, Jane Read,
daughter of William Read, of East Kishacoquillas.
Issue :
1. Reed Alexander, who married and resides at Red
Oak, Illinois.
2. Lucy Alexander, died.
3. Minerva Alexander.
4. Jane Alexander, who married Otis Shaw, and
resides in Medina, Ohio.
William A. Alexander married, secondly, Edith
Clifton. Issue :
1. Morris Alexander, died.
2. Houston Alexander, a pious youth, who died a
triumphant death at the house of his uncle, James Alex-
ander.
8. Brown Alexander, who entered the United States
Navy.
William A. Alexander, died January 30, 1864, after
some years of insanity, probably produced by Mil-
lerism.
SECTION VL
Jessie Alexander, born January 17, 1806, married
Hon. George Lyon, of Mifflin county. Pa. Until her
death, May 12, 1835, the family residence was on a
farm on the Juniata river, a few miles above Lewis-
town, Pa. Mr. Lyon died October 23, 1873, aged
seventy-one years. Their children were :
James Alexander 167
1. James Alexander Lyon who married Orlie Mit-
chelson, and resides in Vilisca, Montgomery Co., Iowa.
2. Rebecca A. Lyon, after teaching for some years,
married James McAlister, of Juniata Co., Pa. March
16, 1875. Residence, McAlisterville, Pa.
SECTION VII.
Jane Alexander, born Sept. 24, 1810, married
Joseph Alexander, Esq., of Lewiston, Pa., Oct. 14,
1835 ; he being twenty-seven and she twenty-five years
of age. Her husband, not a rehitive, was one of four-
teen children, and was born in Londonderry, Rocking-
ham Co., N. H., to which place his great grandfather,
John Alexander, of Londonderry, Ireland, had come in
1728-9. Having acquired a good education at Caz-
novia Seminary, Madison Co., N. Y., he came to
Mifflin Co., Pa., in 1833, where he engaged for some
years as a successful educator of youth. In 1843 he
commenced the practice of law at the Lewistown bar.
An honorable rank in his profession has been the
reward of zeal and devotion to the duties of his calling.
Residence, Lewistown, Pa.
Mrs. Jane Alexander, died Feb. 6, 1876. Issue:
1. Napoleon Bruce Alexander^ born Feb, 23, 1838,
who married Rebecca Stewart, daughter of William and
Martha Stewart, of Juniata Co., Pa., Oct. 15, 1862.
Occupation^ farming. Residence, on the Juniata above
Lewistown. Issue :
Ira Rush Alexander, born Oct. 27^ 1864; died July,
1865.
William Alanson Alexander, born Dec. 10, 1865.
Joseph Alexander, born March 8, 1870; died Nov.
1873.
Martha Jane Alexander, born Feb. 6, 1868.
1 68 The (Descendants of
James Burns Alexander, born Sept. 1, 1872.
2. Ira Rush Alexander^ born May 5, 1840, graduated
at Yale College, Conn,, in 1862. Soon after he en-
tered the Union army as Captain of the 16th Pennsyl-
vania Cavalry, under command of Gen. James Irwin
Grigg, of Centre Co., Pa. In the battle of Mire Run,
near Orange C. H., Va., Nov. 29, 1863, he was mor-
tally wounded, and died on the same day, in the bloom
of manhood, and in the midst of bright hopes and pros-
pects.
SECTION VIII.
Matilda Alexander, born Jan. 7, 1816, married her
cousin, Foster Davis, son of David and Mary A. Davis,
and removed with her husband to Illinois, where she
died without issue, May 6, 1S48, and was buried near
her brother Robert, in Robert Hughes' Graveyard, St.
Clair Co., 111.
SECTION IX.
Robert Alexander, born May 10, 1813, married
Catheiune McKee, of Mifflin Co., Pa , and died in St
Clair Co., 111., Sept. 22, 1844, leaving one daughter,
Kate Aleccander, who married Albert Strunk. Issue:
Charles Strunk, Susan Strunk, and Albert Strunk.
The residence of Mr. Strunk's family is at Merrys-
town, on the Juniata.
SECTION X.
Napoleon Bonaparte Alexander was born in 1819,
and married his cousin Priscilla Alexander, daughter
of Robert M. and Rhoda T. Alexander, of Kishacoquil-
las, born 1826. Married Feb. 25, 1845. These parents
Hugh Alexander. 169
reside with a large and interesting family at the old
homestead on Spring Run, where his grandfather, the
first James Alexander, settled in 1755, and which must
ever be a place of special interest to the very numerous
and widely-scattered descendants of this branch of the
Alexander family.
Napoleon B. Alexander and his sons are enterprising
and prosperous farmers, who are improving both the
appearance and the value of the homestead farm, and
are likely to transmit it to still later generations de-
scending from its honored original proprietor, James
Alexander.
The children of Napoleon B. and Priscilla Alexander
are:
1. Rhoda Ann Alexander, born Aug. 16, 1846.
2. Matilda Jane Alexander, born Aug. 24, 1848.
3. James Howard Alexander, born June 2, 1850.
4. William Reed Alexander, born April 18, 1852.
5. Robert McClay Alexander, born Feb. 5, 1854.
6. George Vance Alexander, born Dec. 2, 1856.
7. Ira Rush Alexander, born Feb. 27, 1858.
8. Mary Margaret Alexander, born Aug. 25, 1860.
9. John Foster Alexander, born Nov. 16, 1864.
10. Eugene Bruce Alexander^ born July 22, 1865.
CHAPTER VI.
THE FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS OF HUGH ALEXANDER.
Hugh Alexander was born in Kishacoquillas,
November, 1773, and married Christiana Baum in
1803, who was born April 7, 1787.
He died May 22, 1843, in his seventieth year.
She died July 10, 1874, aged eighty-seven years.
12
1 70 The (Descendants of
This family lived in Stone Valley, Pa. Mrs. Chris-
tina B. Alexander was a very estimable, intelligent
and pious lady, a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Issue :
1. James Alexander, born Oct. 15, 1S04 ; died May
22, 1843.
2. Frederick B. Alexander, born Sept. 13, 1806.
3. Roseyann Alexander, born Aug. 20, 1809.
4. John Alexander, born Sept. 11, ISW^died.
5. Hugh Alexander, born July 31, 1813.
6. Elizabeth Alexander, born Jan. 1, 1817; died
August 1, 1854.
7. Jane Alexander, born Feb. 10, 1819.
8. Priscilla Alexander, born June 16, 1821.
9. Catherine Alexander, born Aug., 1823.
10. Robert Heed Alexander, born July 31, 1828.
1. James Alexander married Sarah Dearmont, and
died leaving a family in Illinois.
■ 2. Frederick Alexander married Elizabeth Workes
Residence, Wisconsin.
3. Roseyann Alexander married John Randolph,
Sept. 18, 1838. Issue:
a. Amanda C. Randolph who married John Hunter,
Aug. 16, 1860.
h. Priscilla Randolph, born June 6, 1841, who mar-
ried Lebbriis Samuel Bigler, Feb. 28, 1845.
c. Adolphus Randolph, born Feb. 18, 1845.
d. Mahala Randolph, born Jan. 12, 1848.
e. Selenah Randolph, born April 27, 1850, married.
James Hunter, May 8, 1869.
/. Eliza Alexander Randolph, born July 11, 1854.
5. Hugh Alexander married Eliza Sterts.
6. Elizabeth Alexander married William Barr.
7. Jane Alexander married Robert Orr, and resides
in Perry Co., Pa.
Hugh Alexander. 171
8. Priscilla Alexander married James Hagens.
9. Catherine Alexander married William Randolph.
10. Robert Reed Alexander lives in Huntingdon Co.,
Pa., unmarried.
The record of this large family is very defective
owing to the difficulty of getting reports.
CHAPTER VII.
Joseph Alexander, born about the year 1775, lived
and died a bachelor. There is much of melancholy
interest connected with the character and life of this
man. He was gifted with rare endowments of both
body and mind. He was six feet and two or three
inches in stature, straight and well proportioned. His
bodily presence and address was prepossessing. His
countenance and voice were pleasing, and his conversa-
tional and memory were remarkable. His mental en-
dowments were naturally of a high order, and were
improved by good advantages in early youth. For, being
intended by his pious parents for the Gospel ministry,
his college education was considerably advanced at the
date of his father's death, (1791.) But after that event
he unhappily turned aside from literary pursuits to
teaching, merchandizing, politics, &c., until intemperate
habits ruined his business, and blasted all his bright
hopes and prospects. His hopefid but temporary refor-
mations and relapses need not be recounted. They are
common in such cases, and are watched with pleasing
and painful feelings by all true friends.
1/2 The (Descendants of
CHAPTER VIII.
Rachel Alexander, daughter of James Alexander
and Rosey Reed, was born May 8, 1780, and married
Dayid Sample, Aug. 4th, 1804. It is somewhat singu-
lar that she and her eldest sister Jane, each married a
husband of this name. Rachel's husband died July 4,
1827, and she died Nov. 12, 1833, aged 53 years. They
resided near Bellville, Kishacoquillas. Issue :
1. Elizabeth Sample, born Nov. 5, 1805; died May
21, 1867.
2. Rosannah Sample, born Jan. 29, 1807 ; died April
11, 1859.
3. Mary Ann Sample, born Dec. 18, 1808 ; died July
24, 1873.
4. David A. Sample, born Nov. 10, 1810 ; died Sept.
27, 1861.
5. Francis Sample, born Oct, 22, 1812 ; died Jan 31^
1862.
6. Reed Sample, born May 23, 1815.
7. Alexander Sample.
8. Caroline Sample, born Jan. 22, 1822.
1. Elizabeth Sample married James Wilkins, and
had four sons and one daughter.
6. Reed Sample married Henrietta A. Kocht, and
had one son and seven daughters.
One of the daughters, Rachel Jane Sample, married
William McClintock. Children:
1. Miles R. McClintock, born April 30, 1851.
2. Frances McClintock, born April 1875.
The son, James R. Sample, married Florence Turner.
Children :
1. Maggie I. Sample, born March 26, 1872.
James Alexander. 173
2. 011a May Sample, born Dec. 16, 1874.
7. Caroline Sample married Nathan Zimmerman, and
had two sons and four daughters.
CHAPTER IX.
THE FAMILY AND DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM BROWN
ALEXANDER, OF CLEARFIELD CO., PA.
William Brown Alexander, ninth child of James
and E-osey Reed Alexander, was born in Kishacoquillas
Valley, March 27, 1782.
He was named after the early and life-long friend of
his father. Judge William ^rown. In consideration of -^
his having been a very early and prominent settler of
Clearfield County, and of his having spent a long life
there as a well known and highly respected citizen, we
give a brief statement of circumstances connected with
his removal to and establishment in that region, from
materials furnished by his grandson, Mr. Joseph Alex-
ander of Madera, Clearfield Co., Pa.
James Alexander, in 1784, when his son William B.
was yet a child only two years old, having heard a
favorable report of lands lying on Clearfield Creek, from
an old hunter and trapper named John Reed, went and
laid warrants on four tracts on the Big Clearfield Creek.
The first tract, which he warranted in his own name,
cornered on the creek bank at what was then a small,
but now a large ash tree, on which are still legible the
letters "J. A." and "J. R." which were then cut as the
initials of his own name and that of his friend John
Reed.
This ash tree is the oldest land mark on the creek,
1 74 '^^^^ (Descendants of
and has had an important part in court trials concern-
ing lands in that region, because the James Alexander
warrant, being the oldest, is the starting point to deter-
mine other surveys of warrants.
This tract begins at the head of the " narrows," and
lies mostly on the north-east side of the creek.
On the opposite side he located the John McConnell
tract, and farther up the creek he located the John Mc-
Gill and the Cullen tracts.
His friend William Brown located six other tracts
still farther up the stream, extending to what is called
" The Crab Orchard."
About midsummer of the next year, .1785, James
Alexander returned again to his lands on Clearfield
Creek, accompanied by his eldest son Robert. They
went by the way of Lock Haven on the Susquehanna,
Here they procured a fiat-bottomed boat, which they
dragged by means of a horse, all the way to the mouth
of Muddy Run, a tributary of Clearfield Creek. With
them they took provisions for a somewhat protracted
stay. The exposure endured on this trip is said to have
had a serious effect upon the health of James Alexan-
der, though he did not die until six years later, in
1791.
John Reed the hunter was in company at least in a
part of the journey, having probEibly crossed the moun-
tains by some Indian path to meet James Alexander, at
a point on the Susquehanna River. For while ascend-
ing the Clearfield Creek, at a certain place, John Reed
and Robert Alexander crossed over a hill, while James
Alexander kept the stream with the horse and boat.
In crossing the hill they discovered a shining ore,
some pieces of which John Reed put into his shot
poach. He afterwards reported that liaving sent this
ore to Philadelphia, the Mint had returned a silver
y antes Alexander. 175
coin. Many persons saw this coin which he alleo-ed
had been made from the discovered ore, and hundreds
of treasure seekers, " with silver on the brain," sought
diligently but vainly for the spot where the ore was
found.
When dividing his lands, James Alexander gave to
his four younger sons, Hugh, Reed, Joseph and William
B., the four tracts on Clearfield Creek. Three of them
sold their claims to Sir Henry Phillips, a gentleman
from England. But William B. not only refused to
sell what his father had left to him, but he even secreted
himself for two days, that he might not be solicited to
sign the papers needed to legalize his brothers' sales.
They finally induced him to do so by promising him
his choice of the four tracts of land.
In the year 1800, when 18 years of age, he visited
the lands and made choice of the tract which his father
had entered in his own name.
It is worth recording that on this journey to Clear-
field, he took with him a pint of apple seed from Kisha-
coquillas, which he gave for planting to an old man
who lived nine miles from his lands. Nine years after,
when he came to settle on his tract, he planted an or-
chard of trees grown from that seed, well known as "the
old Alexander orchard."
After makinor his choice and before settlino^, he made
a long journey westward, on horseback, visiting West
Yirg-inia, Ohio and Kentucky. On his return he stated,
that two hundred acres of land, where Wheeling City
now stands, were ofi"ered him for the horse which lie
rode.
So valuable was a horse — so cheap were city lots !
Soon after he married Miss Nancy Davis, daughter
of John Davis of Kishacoquillas, April 23d, 1806.
He then rented a farm and remained in that valley
176 The (Descendants of
three years longer, when, in 1809, he emigrated by an
Indian path across the Allegheny mountains to Clear-
field, conveying his wife with two young children and
all his effects on pack-horses. He then settled upon
the premises which he continued to occupy until within
a few months of his death.
To illustrate the inconveniences and discomforts of
that early settlement, we need only state the fact, that
for many years he was obliged to go forty miles across
the mountains on horseback, along Indian paths to
reach a mill.
William B. Alexander died at the residence of his
son William B., on the 30th day of March, 1862, aged
80 years and 3 days.
His wife Nancy D. Alexander died April 1st, 1861,
at the old homestead, aged 73 years and 6 months.
They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom,
excepting two, lived until after the death of their
father.
1. Reed Alexander born 1807; died, unmarried, June
30, 1858.
2. Jane Alexander born 1809; died Nov. 21st, 1873.
3. Rosannah Alexander born 1811 ; lives unmarried.
4. William B. Alexander born June 1st, 1813; died
Aug. 14, 1874.
5. Catherine Alexander, born 1815 ; died 1869, aged
54 years.
6. Nancy Alexander, born 1817.
7. James Alexander, born 1820; died Jan. 1848.
8. John Davis Alexander, born 1822.
9. Naomi Alexander, born 1824.
10. Elimeleck Alexander, born, 1826.
11. Boaz Alexander, born 1828.
12. Robert Alexander, born 1830.
2. Jane Alexander married John Hagarty.
James Alexander. 177
a. Samuel Hagarty. h. Wm. B. Hagarty.
c. Matilda Hagarty. d. Jane Hagarty — died.
e. Agnes Hagarty.
a. Samuel Hagarty married Josaphine Bell. Issue:
Allen A. Hagarty, Wade W. Hagarty, John C.
Hagarty.
h. William B. Hagarty married Miss Tulton. No
issue.
c. Matilda Hagarty married Cortes Bell. Issue :
Singleton S. Bell, Orel Bell, Vern Bell.
e. Agnes Hagarty married James Fink. Issue:
Harry G. Fink, Idisa Fink, Elva Fink.
Mrs. Jane A. Hagarty married secondly, /oAn Mc-
Murry. Issue:
f. John Alexander McMurry.
g. Robert T. McMurry.
h. Charles D. McMurry.
i. Catherine Mc Murry.
f. John A. McMurry married Sophia Young. Issue :
Mary J. McMurry, John A. McMurry, William C.
and Emma McMurry.
g. Robert T. McMurry married Anna Hersh.
i. Catherine McMurry married John Wylie. Issue:
one daughter.
Mrs. Jane A. H. McMurry died Nov. 21, 1873, aged
64: years.
3. Rosannah Alexander and Alanson Bosworth.
Issue : Benoni Bosworth.
4. William Broivn Alexander married Rebecca White-
side. Issue :
Joseph, Delia, John W., Rose, Agnes, Rebecca, Jane
—died, Wm. Brown, Mary, Drucilla, and Catherine
Alexander.
Joseph Alexander married Anna Hagarty. Issue-
178 The (Descendants of
Minerva V., Haddassa J., and J. W. Clinton Alexan-
der.
Delia Alexander married David Hagarty. Issue :
Addilia and Gertrude Hagarty.
Rose Alexander married Henry H. Miles. Issue :
Ezra A., Wm, H., Alfaretta, Henrietta and Margaret
Miles.
Agnes Alexander married Edward R. Miles. Issue :
Esta A., Sarah D., Edward G., and William L. Miles.
Rebecca Alexander married Thomas Askey. Issue :
Mary Askey.
Mrs. Rebecca Whiteside Alexander died Dec. 14,
1871, aged 65 years.
AVilliam B. Alexander died Aug. 14, 1874, aged 61
years.
5. Catherine Alexander married John Whiteside.
Issue:
1. Agnes Whiteside — died. 2. Mary Whiteside.
3. ^Villiam B. Whiteside. 4. Rebecca Whiteside.
5. John Whiteside — died. 6. Jane W^hiteside.
7. Emily Whiteside.
2. Mary Whiteside married Daniel Mathers. Issue :
Catherine Mathers and L. Z. Mathers.
3. William B. Whiteside married Elmira Needier.
Issue :
Wade W. Whiteside ; Lauretta M. Whiteside ; John
F. Whiteside; Edith A. Whiteside and Eugene White-
side.
4. Rebecca AVhiteside married James Daugherty.
Issue: Harry Daugherty and Emma Daugherty.
6. Jane W^hiteside married, 1st, John Henderson.
Issue: Catherine Henderson, who married C. J. ShofF.
Issue: Elwilda C, Zadia M., Horatia S., and Ira A.
ShofF.
James Alexander. 179
Jane Whiteside Henderson married, 2ndly, Joseph
Sprout. Issue: One child.
7. Emily Whiteside married Pernal Clark. Kesi-
dence, Renovo, Clinton Co., Pa. Issue; L. Z. Clark
and Jane C. Clark.
6. Nancy Alexander married Robert Whiteside, who
died Jan. 4. 1875, aged 61 years. Issue: John D.,
William A., Isaac — died 1865; Samuel, Robert — died;
Robert, Agnes, Mary, Boaz, Maithen and Elmira White-
side.
John D. Whiteside mairied Rachel Ames.
AYilliam A. Whiteside married Margaret McCully.
Issue ; Franiv B. McCully.
Isaac Whiteside married Hannah Locket. Issue:
Vida A. Locket.
Elmira Whiteside married James Townsend. Issue:
Henry B. Townsend.
7. James Alexander married Margaret Davis. Issue:
None.
8. John Davis Alexander married Rachel Ames.
Issue : Elmira, Jonathan R., Laura, Ruth, Robert, Mar-
garet and Flora Alexander,
9. Naoma Alexander married James H. Cooo-an,
Issue : Three sons and two daughters. John Coogan
and James Coogan. The other names have not been
obtained.
Mrs. Naoma A. Coogan and her husband are both
living (1876).
10. Elimeleck Alexander married ?r[ary 3Iiles. Issue:
1. John Davis Alexander. 2. Eliza Alexander.
3. James N. Alexander. 4. Elimeleck Alexander
5. Emma Alexander. 6. Mary Alexander.
7. George Alexander. 8. Maria Ah^xander.
9. Dionicia Alexander. 10. Riich 1 Alexander.
I So The (Descendants of
Elimaleck Alexander and his wife are living (1876).
11. Boaz Alexander married Elizabeth Stanley. Both
are living and have four children :
1. Bedelia Alexander. 2. Stanley Alexander.
3. William B. Alexander. 4. Boaz Alexander.
12. Robert Alexander married Jane Hagarty. Both
are living (1876). No issue.
CHAPTER X.
RosANNAH Alexander, daughter of James Alexan-
der and Rosey Reed Alexander, married John Taylor,
February 19, 1801.
She was born in Kishacoquillas Valley, Mifflin Co.,
Pa., April 15, 1784. Her husband was also born in
the same valley, Feb 18, 1778.
After marriage they resided about five years in Kis-
hacoquillas, on a farm belonging to Mr. Taylor, where
three of their children, Alexander, William, and John,
were born. But Mr. Taylor, having visited Ohio in
the year 1800, sold his farm in Pennsylvania and
started to Ohio on the 10th of September, 1806. The
rough, tedious, and gainful journey over the Alleghe-
nies, was made in a large wagon with a team of four
horses, of which her brother, Joseph Alexander, was the
driver. They reached Wheeling, Va., after enduring
many hardships, and found the citizens greatly excited
by the arrival of government officers in quest of Aaron
Burr, Here Mr. Taylor purchased a flat boat and put
family, team^ and baggage aboard to go by water to
Cincinnati. After vexatious delays from low water and
a leaking boat, they landed at Marietta. Here the
James Mexander. i8i
father, mother, and three children commenced a jour-
ney westward through the wilderness on horse-back,
while Joseph Alexander proceeded in the boat toward
Cincinnati. The order of the march was this: Mr.
Taylor, shaking with ague or suffering with fever,
mounted on one of the horses, with his little son
William on before him, took the lead along the dark,
and narrow trace. His wife followed on another horse,
with one child before and another behind on the same
horse, having charge of the saddle-bags with their
money, and driving two other horses ahead. To her
this proved a most troublesome and exhausting journey.
The horses would often turn aside, and cause her to
follow through dense undergrowth and compel them to
return to the trace. At length they reached the house
of Mr. Taylor's brother, Robert, in the Big Bend of the
Miami River, and returned thanks to God, who had
brought them through a long and weary pilgrimage.
Here they found one of the most beautiful and fertile
valleys on the continent ; well watered, gently rolling,
and covered with a noble primeval forest of the choicest
varieties of timber. AVild fruits, fish, fowl, and other
game abounded, and the country seemed to be all that
the brave and hardy pioneer could desire.
Soon after their arrival they were surprised and
welcomed by a visit from Mr. John Ewing, who had
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Lexington, Ky., and
thence to Ohio about three years before this time. Mr.
Ewing's wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of William
Garner, who was brother to Mrs. Taylor's grandmother.
The first winter was spent in a rude and uncomforta-
ble cabin, with clapboard roof and puncheon floor. In
the following spring Mr. Taylor bought a fine tract of
rich, well watered, and splendidly timbered land be-
1 82 The (Descendants of
tween the Big and the Little Miami rivers, on which
he settled in the same year, 1807.
After residing that year in a pole hut which some
pioneer had built and deserted, he built the first frame
house in Washington Township, Montgomery county,
in 1808, near the present site of Centre ville. Having
the means of hiring assistance in clearing the forest,
his land soon began to yield abundant supplies.
As time moved on, new farms and settlements ap-
peared; discouragements, inconveniences, and wants
disappeared with the progress of improvements in mills,
stores, villages, churches and schools. The rich, virgin
soil bore abundant crops, and cattle, horses, sheep, and
hogs ranged at large, and fattened on the wild and
luxuriant pasture.
John Taylor- died Nov. 29, 1843, aged sixty-five
years, nine months, and eleven days. His widow, Mrs
llosannah A. Taylor, has survived him nearly thirty-
two years, and yet lives, with three of her sons, upon
the old homestead, at the advanced age of ninety-one
years, the last of the heads of families who settled in
Washington township in 1806, the oldest citizen of the
community, and the only surviving child of James and
Kosey Reed Alexander. She is the fourth daughter
and the eleventh of twelve children. Though she did
not remove to Ohio, until she had been married and had
become the mother of three children, she has witnessed
changes in her new home that seem almost incredible.
During those seventy years the wild wilderness of
almost unbpken forest, which seemed too vast for
any power of men to subdue, has become one of the
most productive, populous, and prosperous States of the
Union, abounding, in every direction, with villages,
towns, and cities, and enriched and adorned with the
James Alexander. 183
mature results of almost every kind of culture, indus-
try, and art.
For sixty-five years Mrs. Rosannah A. Taylor has been
a consistent member of the Church of Christ; as a
kind, loving, and faithful Christian mother she has
carefully instructed her children and trained them in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There is
reason to believe that this religious training, accom-
panied by her prayers and pious example, has been
amply rewarded in the piety of her children, who have
risen up to call her blessed. She was gifted with great
conversational powers, a sparkling intellect, a ready and
retentive memory, and quick perception, improved by
much reading, especially in Scripture and ancient his-
tory. A strong power of reason and a sound judgment
made her fond of discussion, in which she greatly
excelled in her palmy days.
Now, at the age of more than four score and ten
years, she is waiting and preparing for that great change
which is soon to remove her to a heavenly home, to
the presence of her Saviour and to many loved ones
who have gone before.
The children of John and Rosannah Taylor were :
1. Alexander Taylor, born January 26, 1802.
2. AVilliam Taylor, born Dec. 25, 1S03; died Nov,
6, 1871.
3. James Taylor, born March 3, 1S06.
4. John Tayior, born May 8, 1808.
5. Vance Taylor, born April 15, 1810; died Nov.
16, 1850.
6. Lewis Taylor, born June 15, 1813.
7. Robert Reed Taylor, born Nov. 26, 1815.
8. Hugh Alexander Taylor, born Aug. 31, 1819;
died Oct. 15, 1819.
184 The (Descendants of
9. Eliza Ann Rosannah Alexander Taylor, born Aug.
4, 1821 ; died July 28, 1862, aged 40 years.
SECTION I.
Alexander Taylor married Mary Ann Tucker^ of Ken-
tucky. After carrying on the occupations of Cabinet-
making and Lumbering for upwards of thirty years, on
the death of his father, he purchased and moved to the
old homestead, near Centreville, Montgomery Co., O.,
where he still lives a widower with his widowed mo-
ther. Issue :
1. Rosannah L. Taylor, born June 16, 1826.
2. Mary Ann Taylor, born Nov. 1, 1827.
3. John Tucker Taylor, born Sept. 24, 1829.
4. James Taylor, born Dec. 4, 1831.
5. Alexander Taylor, born July 9, 1835.
6. William Taylor, born Aug. 15, 1841.
7. Robert Marcellus Taylor, born June 22, 1846.
1. Rosannah Taylor married Jacob V. Deardorff,
March 19, 1854. Issue:
1. Jacob M. Deardorff, born June 13, 1855.
2. Alexander S. Deardorff, born Oct. 17, 1857.
3. Mary Ann Loretta Deardorff, born July 17, 1862.
4. William Augustus Deardorff, born March 13,
1869.
4. James Taylor married Sophiah Leighty^ Oct. 11,
1853. Issue:
Joseph F. Taylor, born July 7, 1854.
James Taylor married secondly, Amanda Hoobler,
Oct. 21, 1856. Issue:
Charles S. Taylor, born Nov. 26, 1857.
Anna M. Taylor, born, Sept. 12, 1860.
Elizabeth B. Taylor, born Dec. 12, 1863.
James Alexander. 185
Florence J. Taylor, born Aug. 12, 1867.
William A. Taylor, born May 21, 1869.
Savilla L. Taylor, born Oct. 11, 1871.
Samuel H. Taylor, born Nov. 21, 1873.
5. Alexander Taylor married Martha S. Yeislei/, Oct.
2:3,1859. Issue:
Mary Rosannah Taylor, born May 13, 1861.
Julia Elnora Taylor, born Nov. 2, 1862.
Kemry Emanuel Taylor, born March 28, 1864.
Lilly Bell Taylor, born March 20, 1866.
Martha Salona Taylor, born May 17, 1868.
John Augustus Taylor, born Sept. 27, 1871.
Sylvester Taylor, born Sept. 28, 1873.
Alexander Marion Taylor, born Sept. 12, 1874.
SECTION 11.
William Taylor married . Issue
1. John Taylor — died.
2. Sarah Taylor — died.
3. William Taylor.
4. Perry Taylor.
5. Eliza A. R. A. Taylor.
6. James Taylor.
7. Lewis Taylor.
8. Mary Taylor — died.
9. Lavinia Taylor — died.
10. Rachel Taylor — died.
11. Zachary Taylor.
SECTION IV.
John Taylor married Lydia Johnson of Montgomery
Co., Ohio, in the year 1828. He is a farmer, and a
Christian, of the ripe age of 77 years, walking after the
1 86 The (Descendants of
instruction and example of Christ, and of a pious ances-
try. Residence, Hamlet, Stark Co., Ind. Issue :
1. Rosannah Taylor, born Sept. 27, 1829.
2. Mary Taylor, born in 1830.
3. John Alexander Taylor, born March 7, 1832.
4. Heighlin Jane Taylor, born October 14, 1833.
5. James Lewis Taylor, born March 19, 1835.
6. Lydia Ann Taylor, born Sept. 11, 1836.
7. William Reed Taylor, born June 3, 1838.
8. Jasper Taylor, born Nov. 29, 1839.
9. Samuel Vance Taylor, Feb. 12, 1812.
10. Robert Taylor, born Feb. 16, 1844.
11. Mahala Taylor, born August 26, 1846.
12. Lizzy Ann Taylor, born Sept. 10, 1848.
13. Otillia Quean Taylor, born August 25, 1850.
1. Rosannah Taylor married Benjamm Thwaits, 1848.
Issue:
a. James Harvey Thwaits. h. Jeremiah Thwaits.
c. Jacob Allen Thwaits. d. John Taylor Thwaits.
a. James H. Thwaits is married and has two children.
c. Jacob A. Thwaits is married and has two children.
The above family of John Taylor is very imperfectly
reported. The whole number of his descendants is
upwards of 60 persons.
2. Mary Taylor married John Giffin in 1850. Issue:
Sarah Ann, Lydia Ann, Robert, John, Abner, Jere-
miah, Mary Jane, William Reed Giffin.
Sarah Ann Giffin married Mr. Snaffer, and has two
children.
3. John Alexander Taylor married Margaret Shaw,
1853. Issue : Matilda Ellen, Lydia Ann, Mary Melissa,
Martha Frances, Hugh Artillis, and David John Taylor.
Matilda Ellen married Mr Hipshear, and has four
children.
James Alexander. 1S7
4. Heighlin Jane Taylor married Hugh Gourdian
CoDger, 1853. Issue : John Taylor, Mary Jane, Robert
Eeed, Samuel Francis, Maggie Bell, Hugh Grant, and
Hugh Elmer Conger.
6. Lydia Taylor married Daniel Hays, in 1858.
Issue : William Robert, Jolm Wilson, Samuel Jasper,
John Alexander, and Delia Hayes.
7. William Reed Taylor married Mellissa Stoker, in
1859. Issue: Mary Jane, Laura Ann, John Wesley,
Lydia Margaret, William Franklin, and Rosannah Tay-
lor.
9. Samuel Vance Taylor married Elizabeth More.
No issue.
10. Robert Taylor married Julia Gardner, in 1864.
Issue: Lydia Ann, Frances Etta, Mary Emily, and
Heighlin Jane Taylor.
11. Mahala Taylot married John Bernard, in 1866.
No issue.
12. Lizzy Ann Taylor married Willis Worley, in
1865. Issue: Flora Worley, and Albert Fielding Wor-
ley
13. Otilla Quean Taylor married Isaac Rose, in 1865.
Issxe: Elmer Wilson Rose.
SECTIONS. Ill VI. yii.
James, Lewis, and Robert Taylor, are unmarried,
and are reported as having thus far enjoyed and rejoiced
in the estate of single blessedness. With abundant
means to support families " like a flock" they have pre-
ferred the easy freedom and complete independence of
the bachelor, to the blessed toils and cares of the father
of a family. Now that they have tested and confirmed
their choice by a satisfactory tria" of more than three-
1 88 The (Descendants of
score years, it is useless to argue the question where
experience has established their opinion. The genea-
logist has no cause to complain that they have added to
his labors. They have all acquired valuable farms and
other means of enjoying all the necessaries and comforts
of life. They do not however live to themselves. An
aged mother, the wants of others, and the cause and
kingdom of Christ share their love and liberality. These
brothers are brethren in Christ, members of his Church
— serving him on earth and seeking imperishable trea-
sures in heaven. James Taylor purchased a farm near
Oran, Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1836, where he has resided
since that time. Lewis Taylor also purchased a farm
and resided in Shelby Co., until fifteen years ago, when
he removed to dwell with his mother on the old home-
stead. The same place is also the residence of Robert
Reed Taylor and of xllexander Taylor.
SECTION V.
Vance Taylor married Rebecca McClelland of
Shelby Co., O., 1834. Residence, Shelby Co., O. Issue:
1. James Hamilton Taylor, died in childhood.
2. Margaret Ann Taylor.
2. Margaret Ann Taylor married William Nichols.
Residence, Shelby Co , O.
section IX.
Eliza Ann R. A. Taylor married William Stake
in 1841. Issue: one son, Franklin Taylor Stake, born
Feb. 10, 1844, who married Emaline Emery, of Shelby
Co., O., in 1870. Issue:
1. Robert F. A. Stake, born Sept. 1, 1873.
2. Marcellus James Stake, born July 22, 1875.
The Residence of Franklin T. Stake is Putnam Co. O.
James Alexander. 189
PART III.
THE ALEXANDER-VANCE CONNECTION,
OF VA.
Rachel Alexander was third child and eldest
daughter of John and Margaret G. Alexander.
About the year 1763 she married Joseph Vance, of
Martinsburg, Berkley Co., Va. After her marriage,
her brother, James Alexander, of Kishacoquillas Valley,
Pa., granted her and her husband a valuable tract of
land, on the east side of Spring Run, on condition that
they would come and live near to him. They accepted
the offer, and removed to Pennsylvania, but after
receiving a deed for the land, and residing on it one
year, they returned to Virginia, through fear of the
Indians, who were then troublesome in that part of
Pennsylvania.
They finally settled on a plantation near Honeywood
Mills, on the Potomac, about six miles north-east of
Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., Va. The county records
contain a deed of a plantation in that vicinnity, from
Hannah Vance to Joseph Vance, dated in 1783. The
family had, however, resided there many years before
the date of that deed.
The children of Joseph and Rachel Vance were :
1. Samuel Vance. 2. John Vance.
3. Alexander Vance. 4. Joseph Vance.
5. Rachel Vance. 6. Jane Vance.
190 The (Descendants of
C H A P T E R I .
Samuel Vance, born 1767, married Eosanna Brown,
probably in the year 1806, daughter of Col. Alexander
Brown, of Kishacoquillas, and sister of Elizabeth
Brown, who married Hugh Alexander, (Pt, II., Ch ii.,
Sec. 2.) She was born April, 1784, and died Oct. 12,
1844, aged 57. Mr. Vance died Aug. 2, 1831, aged
63 years.
Their residence was Stonevalley, Mifflin Co., Pa.
Issue: 1. Joseph Vance, born Feb. 5, 1807. 2. Alex-
ander Brown Vance, born June 18, 1809. 3. Jane
Brown Vance, born Aug. 12, 1811. 4. David Sample
Vance, born Jan. 21, 1813. 5. Samuel Vance, born
Jan. 11, 1815; died March 7, 1845. 6. Rachel Vance,
born Sept. 30, 1820. 7. Rosanna Vance, born Jan. 28,
1825.
SECTION IV.
David Sample Vance married, August 10, 1858,
Susan Trester, who was born July 13, 1835. Resi-
dence, McAlavey's Fort, Pa. Issue :
1. Emery Sheridan Vance, born May 29, 1859; died
April 10, 1862.
2. Samuel Brown Vance, born January 2, 1861.
3. Ann Page Vance born September 19, 1863; died
January 1st, 1868.
4. Jane Vance, born Aug 19, 1866.
5. Joseph Vance, born August 21, 1869; died June
18, 1871.
6. Alexander Vance, born May 13, 1812.
SECTION VII.
Rosannah Vance married George Rearer, May 4, 1 854.
Residence, Irving, Montgomery county. 111. Issue :
Rachel Alexander Vance. 191
1. Elizabeth Brown Rearer, born January 7, 1857.
2. Robert Fleming Rearer, born September 30, 1859.
3. Rachel Jane Rearer, born May 1, 1863.
4. Erastus Alexander Rearer, born Dec. 30, 1868.
1. Elizabeth B. Rearer married Charles Newberry,
June 24, 1873. Issue: Martha Ellen Newberry, born
November 9, 1874.
CHAPTERS II. Ill, IV.
John, Alexander, and Joseph Vance married and
removed to Ohio. Joseph lived near Columbus, and
John in or near Cincinnati. No information concern-
ing their descendents has been obtained.
CHAPTER V.
Rachel Vance married Gen. George Porterfield.
Both were of Berkeley county, Va., and the plantation
on which they resided was near that of Mr. Joseph
Vance, already described. Gen. Porterfield was a well-
known and highly respected citizen of considerable
wealth and influence. Issue :
1. William Alexander Porterfield.
2 Mary Porterfield.
3. Joseph Porterfield.
4. Jane Porterfield.
5. Julia Porterfield.
6. Martha Porterfield.
7. Hamilton Porterfield.
8. Jane Porterfield.
9. John Porterfield.
10. Alexander Porterfield.
192 The (Descendants of
SECTIONS I, III, VII, IX, AND X.
William A., Joseph, Hamilton, John, and Alexan-
der PoRTERFiELD did not marry.
section II.
Mary Porterfield married George Tabb, of Berkley
county, Va. Their children were :
1. Ann Tabb. 2. Martha Tabb. 3. Lucinda Tabb.
4. Mary Tabb. 5. Louisa Tabb. 6. George Hamilton
Tabb. 7. Jane Tabb.
1. Ann Tabb married Samuel Light. Issue: William
Light, Hanson Light, George Light, Thomas Light,
Mary Light, Charles Light, and Lucy Light.
2. Martha Tabb married Hanson Maslin. Issue:
Mary Maslin, Thomas Maslin, Lula Maslin, Virginia
Maslin, and George Hanson Maslin.
3. Lucinda Tabb married John Morrison. No issue.
4. Louisa Tabb married James Nelson. Issue : Lula
Nelson, Stella Nelson, Cora Nelson, Frank Nelson.
The residence of this family is in Woodstock Co., Va.
5. Mary Tabb married William Walker. No issue.
section iil*
Julia Porterfield married her cousin, John Porter-
field. No children. Mr, Porterfield is dead, and his
widow lives in Martinsburg, Va.
section IV.
Martha Porterfeld married William Cunningham.
No children. Mr. Cunningham is dead, and his widow
resides in Martinsburg with her sister, Mrs. Julia Por-
terfield.
section v.
Jane Porterfield married Daniel Morrison. Issue :
George Morrison, Mary Morrison, Lizzy Morrison, Wil-
(Rachel Alexander Vance. 193
Ham Morrison, Edmonia Morrison, Virginia Morrison,
Martha Page Morrison, Julia Morrison, Daniel Buckles
Morrison.
PART IV.
John Alexander of Franklin Co., Pa., youngest son
of John and Margaret G. Alexander, inherited and
lived upon his father's estate near Chambersburg.
Little is known of his personal history. Tradition
says that he was fond of military matters, probably
owing to having been an officer in the first company
raised in Franklin Co., in November, 1776, by Capt.
Abraham Smith.
The following extracts from deeds recorded in Car-
lisle show that, like his brothers Hugh and James, he
engaged in buying and selling land.
" 1776. — John Alexander and wife Mary, to Josiah
Crafford, 336 acres on the E. Branch of the Conico-
cheague for £1000, which land he had bought from
Archibald Henderson in 1771."
" 1777. — The same to the same, 193 acres, for £400,
land conveyed to John Alexander, Dec. 11, 1770."
In 1792, his nephews, James Alexander and Samuel
Vance of Kishacoquillas, visited him, and found him
owning a fine plantation and nine negroes.
In his will, made Dec. 12, 1805, and recorded in
Chambersburg, Feb. 24, 1806, he calls himself John
Alexander of Greene Township, Franklin Co. He
names as his heirs, his wife Mary, his sister Margaret,
and his married daughters Nancy Chambers, Jane
194 '^^^^ descendants of
Crawford, Mary McCamish, and unmarried daughters
Martha and Margaret. Providing for his sister Mar-
garet, he left the bulk of his real estate and personal
property to his widow for life, to be equally divided
among his daughters at her death.
Tradition says that his only son John was intemper-
ate, and died unmarried near Pittsburg.
1. His eldest daughter Nancy was born near Cham-
bersburg, April 4, 1772, and married Robert Chambers,
June 11, 1799, and removed with her husband to Ken
tucky in the year 1800.
She resided in Fayette Co., Ky., until the death of
her husband in 1830. She had no children, but Mr.
Chambers had been previously married and had two
sons, James and Arthur, to whom she proved the best
of mothers. After her husband's death, she lived with
Arthur until his death in 1847, when she removed to
live with Arthur's daughter, Mrs. Nancy A. Stockwell,
in Charlestown, Ind., opposite to Louisville, Ky., where
she died July 30, 1851, aged 79 years, and was buried
in the Charlestown Cemetery.
During all her life in Kentucky, she was an exem-
plary Christian and a member of the Presbyterian
Church.
The above facts concerning her are from Mrs. Nancy
Alexander Stockwell, who was called after her, and who
speaks affectionately of her as her grandmother. Mrs.
Nancy A. Chambers had for many years before her
death, no correspondence with her sisters in Pennsyl-
vania, and knew nothing of their descendants. Cor-
respondence with several intelligent citizens of Frank-
lin Co. has elicited no information concerning them.
John Alexander. 195
Margaret Alexander, the youngest child of John
and Margaret G. Alexander, did not marry. She lived,
after the death of her parents, with her brother John^
who provided for her comfort in his will in 1805.
Nothing farther has been ascertained concerning her.
APPENDIX.
This Appendix contains some information concerning
other Alexander families which came from the same
parts of Scotland and Ireland with our own ancestry,
and were no doubt of the same Scottish clan originally,
but owing to their having emigrated at different times
and to different places in America, their kindred can-
not be clearly traced.
The Alexanders of Ireland were evidently from
Scotland and, so far as the writer can learn, they came
from the South of Scotland about Glasgow, Edinburgh
and Stirling. "We therefore commence with some ac-
count of
The Alexanders of Scotland and Nova Scotia. —
Our information concerning them is derived from "The
Vindication of the Rights and Titles, Political and Ter-
ritorial, of Alexander, Earle of Stirling, &c." published
in 1853, by John L. Hayes, Attorney-at-Law, Wash-
ington, D. C. ; and from " The Genealogy of the British
Peerage," printed by the Edmund Lodge, London, 1840
and 1846.
Alexander McDonald, the son of Donald, " King of
the Isles," had two sons who assumed the Christian
name of their father (Alexander), as a surname for their
families and numerous descendants. The tenth in suc-
cession from one of these sons was William Alexander
of Menstrie, who was a special favorite of James VI,
king of Scotland, who knighted him and made him
Master of Requests in 1614. The king also styled him
the " Philosophical Poet," on account of poetical pro-
ductions of high merit.
196
Appendix. 197
When his royal master ascended the throne of Ens-
land as James I, Sir William Alexander accompanied
him to London, and leaving his literary pursuits, devo-
ted the rest of his life to the political affairs of the
Court. Here he rose so rapidly that " in a few years
he was made a Scotch peer, with the title Lord Alex-
ander of Tullibodie, then Viscount of Canada, Viscount
and Earle of vStirling and Earl of Dovan, and was in-
vested with large estates in Scotland and vast territories
in the New World. Charters were granted giving him
vast political and administrative powers as Hereditary
Lieutenant General of all Nova Scotia and Canada.
He was also made Justice General, Lord of Legality,
and Hereditary Steward. On him was conferred the
power of making officers of State and justice, of con-
ferring titles of honor, of coining money for his colony,
and of appointing one hundred and fifty baronets of
Nova Scotia, who should take precedence of all other
baronets. He actually created over one hundred baro-
nets, so that nearly fifty of the existing baronets of
England, Scotland, and Ireland, hold their titles from
patents granted by William Alexander, Earl of Stir-
ling."
The Charter of his great power in the New World
was renewed and enlarged by King James in 1621,
" on account of the great and acceptable services of our
beloved counsellor. Sir William Alexander, Knight,
who first of our subjects, at his own expense, endeav-
ored to plant this foreign colony," &c. The King here
refers to Nova Scotia, which, prior to 1621, the Earl
had planted and maintained at his own expense. Sub-
sequently he continued strengthening and fortifying
that colony, and sent his son to superintend the work.
This son lived twelve years at Port Royal, as Governor
198 • Appendix.
of Nova Scotia. William was born at Stirling in 1580,
and died in London in 1640, and was buried in Stirling.
When France wrested Canada from the hand of Eng-
land, the Port Royal Colony was broken up and the
colonists, among whom were families of Alexanders,
were driven south of Canada into other English colonies
of America. Thus Canada was lost both to the Crown
and to the Earls of Stirling. In Scotland, also, their
estates passed into other families during the civil and
religious revolutions, confiscations and persecutions
which rent that distracted country during the cen-
tury that followed the death of the first Earl. Both
this family and their clan were widely scattered.
John Alexander, the fourth son of William, went to
Ireland, and settled in Londonderry in 1646. His
son John, (called John of Antrim,) after spending many
years in the German universities and at foreign courts,
returned and settled in Antrim, where he died in 1712.
" He was a man of such endowments and attainments
as added lustre to his noble birth, and was universally
respected for his piety and benevolence. As a father,
most indulgent ; as a friend, warm sincere and faithful.
He died at Temple-Patrick, county of Antrim, 1712."
This quotation is from an inscription on his tomb at
Newtown-Ardes, county Down, where he was buried.
His son, called John of Dublin, sixth Earl of Stirling,
de jure., being pious and highly educated, was first a
Presbyterian minister in Straford-on-Avon, England,
and afterwards became head of a college for the educa-
tion of young ministers in Staford, county of Warwick,
England. He retired to Dublin and died there, Nov.
1st, 1743.
John of Dublin left two sons, Rev. John Alexander,
D.D., (Earl of Stirling de jure,) an honored minister of
Appendix. loo
the Presbyterian church in Birmingham, England, who
died December 29th, 1765, without heir; and Benja-
min Alexander, (Earl de jure,) a celebrated physician of
London, who died unmarried, April 18, 1768.
With these two brothers the descent from William,
in the male line, became extinct, but it is continued in
female lines. Hannah, daughter of Henry Alexander,
the fifth Earl, became Countess of Stirling {de jure,)
and married William Humphreys. Their eldest son,
assuming the title Alexander Alexander, commenced
prosecuting his claims as the ninth Earl of Stirhng in
1826. Having completely established his claims to the
hereditary titles and honors as the lawful heir of the
first Earl, he was admitted to a seat in the House of
Lords in 1831.
Had he been satisfied with the titles and honors of
his ancestor William, he and his descendants would
have enjoyed them peacefully. But when he preferred
the immense property claim in Scotland, and in Amer-
ica, including Nova Scotia, Canada, and a strip of terri-
tory 300 miles wide extending from the mouth of the
St. Lawrence along the great lakes, and through to the
Pacific, a great suit was commenced by the crown to
reduce his titles and claims, which continued until
1845, when the resources of the defendant being ex-
hausted, it was left undecided.
This was a second attempt at regaining the honors and
prerogatives, for in 1758, while Canada was still in the
hands of the French, a certain William Alexander
appeared in England prosecuting his claims as lawful
heir of the first Earl of Stirling, but failing to prove
his descent to the satisfaction of England, his claims
were rejected. He returned to America, and served
with Washington against Great Britain in the revolu-
200 Appendix.
tionary war, with the rank of General. He died at
Albany, N. Y., in 1784. " General William Alexander
was probably a descendant of some one of the Alex-
anders who were sent to Nova Scotia by the first Earl,
and who were driven South by the French." {Hughes.)
From Andrew Alexander, one of the same ancient
family as William, the first Earl of Stirling, descended
also the Earls of Caledon, Tyrone county, Ireland.
From Andrew, who was attainted by James II. in a
Parliament called in Dublin, descended Nathaniel Alex-
ander of Londonderry, who by his marriage with Eliza-
beth McClintock of Uunmore, Donegal county, had the
following children:
1st, William, whose son Robert left sons.
2d, Robert, who left several children.
3d, Eliza, the wife of Josias Dupre, Esq.
4th. James, who was born in 1736 and sat in Parlia-
ment for Londonderry from 1772 till 1789, when he
was created Baron Caledon, Viscount Caledon in 1797,
and Earl of Caledon in 1800.
Elizabeth Charlotte Alexander, eldest daughter of
James A. and cousin of the Earl of Caledon, married
the Right Hon. Sir Stafford Canning, Sept. 3, 1825.
James the first Earl was succeeded by his son, Dupre
Alexander, the second Earl and peer of Ireland, in
1802, who died April 8th, 1839. The only son of
Dupre is James Dupre Alexander, the third Earl, who
succeeded to his father's titles and estates in 1839.
The Alexanders of Manhattan. — In the year
1688, during the terrible cruelties inflicted by James
II. upon his Scottish subjects, seven brothers, Alex-
anders, fled from Scotland to Ireland preparatory to
embarking for the New World. While waiting for
Appendix. 201
their vessel to sail they sent back for their pastor
who came over to Ireland to preach to them once more,
to administer the Lord's Supper and to baptize their
children before they should start for the Western wilds.
While engaged in these sacred services at night, the
alarm was given that the king's soldiers were about to
surround and to arrest them. The whole company fled
precipitately toward the boat, that they might push off
to sea and get aboard the ship. In the midst of the
haste and confusion the anxious question was raised and
repeated, " What shall we do with the preacher 1
What shall we do with the preacher V One of the
women who was equal to the occasion exclaimed, "Carry
him aboard! carry him aboard]" This was done at
once, and he, being unmarried, was most unexpectedly
carried with them across the Atlantic.
This company landed at Manhattan Island where the
city of New York now stands. The descendants of
these families went into Pennsylvania and into North
Carolina. See Foote's Sketches of North Carolina.
The Alexanders of Somerset Co., Md. — As early as
the year 1665 some settlers of this name began to pur-
chase land in the most southern county of the Eastern
Shore of Maryland. They seem to have formed a con-
siderable portion of that Scotch-Irish element which
constituted the first three Presbyterian churches of
America which were organized by the Rev. Francis
McKemmie towards the close of that century. The rec-
ords of the Land Office at Princess Anne show that the
Alexanders increased in that county and became quite
numerous for about one hundred years, after which they
began to disperse and continued to migrate until at the
present time there are probably none of the name resid-
ing there.
202 Appendix.
About 1675 William Alexander senior and junior
were largely engaged in buying and selling land in
Somerset Co., Md.
The Alexanders of Nett Hampshire. — In the year
1727 John Alexander of London Derry, Ireland, emi-
grated with his flimily to America. He landed at Bos-
ton, but settled, lived and died, in London Derry, Rock-
ingham Co., N. H. Llis son was the father of fourteen
children, one of whom, Joseph Alexander Esq. of Lewis-
town, Pa., has been noticed in the preceding record.
The Alexanders of Munster and Mecklenburg. —
In the year 1714 James Stephenson, gent., of Bucks
Co., Pa., appointed John McKnitt of Back Creek, Cecil
Co., Md., his attorney to sell a tract of land in the
N, E. corner of Cecil Co., called " New Munster." This
tract of 8000 acres commenced where the Sure Creek
enters the Big Elk, and with a breadth of two miles ran
North six miles up the Elk river until it entered some
distance within the present Pennsylvania line, in Ches-
ter county.
Edward Odine had first patented these lands from
King Charles and Odine sold them to David Taos ; D.
Taos willed them to his son John, and he, having run
into debt to Robert Roberts, the colonial Legislature
granted 4500 acres to Roberts to satisfy his claim
against Taos, who had absconded.
Einally Roberts in 1714, sold these 4500 acres to Ste-
phenson, and he in the same year, through John McKnitt
sold about 2000 acres to a company consisting of James
Alexander, farmer ; Arthur Alexander, farmer ; David
and James Alexander, weavers ; Joseph Alexander, tan-
ner, and his son James ; Elias and Arthur Alexander
and William Wallace. The reason assigned by Ste-
Appendix. 203
phenson for selling to these persons was that they had
already settled and improved thereon* Their settle-
ment must therefore have been sometime prior to 1714.
Four years after the purchase Stephenson gave them
individually deeds, to each one for that part on which
he had settled and improved. These lands lay on the
East side of the Elk and between that river and Chris-
tiana Creek and were close to the borders of Pennsylva-
nia and Delaware. The relative positions of their set-
tlements were these: James the farmer was located south
toward the Elk ; Arthur was east of James toward the
Christiana; David was north of both James and Arthur;
James, the weaver, and his son Moses were north of
David ; Elias east of James and Moses. Near these John
Alexander bought land in 1718. Afterwards others of
the same name came and settled along the borders of
Pennsylvania and Maryland, from Munster to Notting-
ham.
Also Samuel Alexander, with his sons Andrew and
Francis, bought lands in 1723 in the southern part of
Cecil county, called " Sligo" and "Alexandria" tracts.
In the same year Samuel and others bought a lot of
land for a Presbyterian church in Bohemia, in the same
county. In the same year Pobert iVlexander, from the
city of Glasgow, Scotland, then a merchant of Anna})olis,
had lands in the same part of Cecil county, which in
1737 he left to his cousin, William Alexander, of
"North Britain," (Scotland.) This William became a
large land-holder in the vicinity of Elkton, Md. In
1741 he and Araminta his wife deeded a lot in Elkton
for the erection of the first Presbyterian Church in that
town. His lands descended to a second Eobert, who
* The information here given is collected from the Recoids of Cecil
Co..,Ma. ; Foot-'s Sketches of N. C. ; Wheeler's History of N. C. &c.
204 Appendix.
went off to England at the Revolutionary war and never
returned. His lands were confiscated, but after the war
one-third of them, together with one-half of his negroes,
were restored to his wife Isabella, and to his six chil-
dren, William, Lawson, Araminta, Henry, Andrew, and
Robert. Of these, William settled on the lands near
Elkton, and lived in considerable style, while the rest
of the family seem to have remained in Baltimore.
The son of this William, whose name also was Robert,
succeeded his father on the homestead, but finally sold
it and became a hardware merchant in New York city,
where he now lives.
Nearly all these Alexanders of Cecil county seem to
have been related, and came either direct from Ireland
and Scotland, or else from the older colony in Somerset
county, Md.
Of the original Alexanders of the New Munster pur-
chase, David sold to John Alexander of Chester county.
Pa. David himself removed to Chester county and
died there; after which his widow married a Mr.
Dobins, and removed with her husband to the Cape
Fear river, N. C, where her daughter Anne Alexander
married Gilbert Clark, the first Elder of the first Pres-
byterian church which was gathered in that region
under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Campbell in 1765.
Several other Alexander families removed from Chester
county to North Carolina with Dobins and his wife, and
settled in Mecklenburg county. This was in 1749.
David Alexander's son Aaron removed from the
Munster settlement and settled in Sherman's Valley,
Pa., in 1748.
From 1740 to 1760 many Alexander families left
Maryland, some for Chester, Lancaster, and Cumber-
land counties, Pa., and others for Mecklenburg county,
Appendix. 205
N. C. Thirty of these families went to North Carolina
and Virginia at the same time, some of them settling
about the city of Alexandria, which had been named
after the descendants of a John Alexander who owned
lands there and died in 1677.
Among those who went to North Carolina were
several who greatly distinguished themselves by their
public spirit and devoted patriotism during the devolu-
tion. Two of these were sons of James Alexander of
New Munster, Cecil county, Md. This James was
probably the son of Joseph, who has already been named
among the first purchasers of the Munster lands in 1714.
James acquired considerable land both in Maryland
and in North Carolina. As a ruling elder his name
appears first on the minutes of the New Castle Presby-
tery in 1725, and frequently afterwards in those of the
Synod of Philadelphia. The name of his first wife was
Margaret, probably Margaret McKnitt, the sister of
John McKnitt, already mentioned as Stephenson's attor-
ney ; for John McKnitt, in his will dated 1733, ap-
pointed James Alexander, his " brother-in-law," his
executor ; and James Alexander called a son, who was
born that same year, John McKnitt Alexander. By
this his first wife he had issue as follows : Theophilus,
Edith, Keziah, Hezekiah, Ezekiel, Jemima, Amos,
John McKnitt, and Margaret. By Abigail, his second
wife, he had, Elizabeth, Abigail, Margaret, Josiah, and
Ezekiel. The first set of children were born between
1716 and 1736, and the second set, between 1746 and
1754.
Of these Hezekiah, John McKnitt, and Jemima,
who had married Thomas Sharpe, removed from Mary-
land to Mecklenburg county, N. C, about the year
1754.
2o6 Appendix.
From this date until the Revolution other families
from Maryland and Pennsylvania, and some direct from
the Old Country, and by way of the Cape Fear river,
settled in Mecklenburg county, N. C, in such numbers
that the Alexanders were the most numerous people of
one name in that county, and they, with the Harrises,
formed one-third of the population. They were among
the earliest founders, members, and elders of the "seven
Presbyterian churches of Mecklenburg."
In the year 1755 the Eev. Mr. McAden went from
the New Castle Presbytery on a missionary tour through
that part of North Carolina. AVe find in his journal
that he preached at that time in the houses of William
and James Alexander on Sugar Creek, and in that of
Justice Alexander on Rocky River, N. C. From these
dates and facts it appears that families of this nam^
began to settle there about IT-iG, that they arrived
slowly until 1750, and then began to arrive in greater
numbers. To what extent they participated in church
affairs appears from the fact that in 1793 Hezekiah,
William, Thomas, Elijah, Isaac, and Thomas Alexander
were all elders in the Sugar Creek church, and John
McKnitt Alexander and Ezekiel Alexander were elders
in Hopewell church.
Nor was their participation in civil affairs less honor-
able to themselves and useful to their country, in the
time of her greatest need. On the 20th of May, 1775,
more than thirteen months before independence was
declared by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia,
a convention of North Carolina patriots, who were
assembled in Charlotte, the county seat of Mecklen-
burg county, framed, adopted, and published the famous
Mecklenburg Declaration, containing the substance
of all that is in the similar document adopted by Con-
gress the next year.
Appendix. 207
Though this declaration was pronounced spurious by
Thomas Jefferson, it was considered genuine by John
Adams, and is sustained by such a weight of evidence
as to show that the highest honor is due to those brave
and patriotic men of Mecklenburg who dared at such a
time to lead in framing, adopting, and publicly pro-
claiming such an instrument, and in pledging to its
support their " lives, fortunes, and most sacred honor,"
The year before the Convention met, the first Pro-
vincial Congress met at New Berne, N. C, and ap-
pointed committees on Public Safety, Bills of llights,
State Constitution, and Military Offices. Among the
members of these committees were Hezekiah, George
H., and Adam Alexander. This Congress authorized
the calling of a convention of delegates elected from the
several military districts. Colonel T. Polk, a grand-
uncle of President James K. Polk, was a prime mover
in the whole business of calling the convention.
Wheeler's History of North Carolina gives the fol-
lowing list of the officers and members of that celebrated
Convention, who were also signers of the Declaration of
Independence, viz:
Abraham Alexander, President; John McKnitt Al-
exander, Secretary; Dr. Ephraim Brevard, Chairman
on the Committee of the Declaration; Hezekiah J.
Balch, John Phifer, James Harris, William Kennon,
John Ford, Richard Barry, Plenry Downe, Ezra Alex-
ander, William Graham, John Queary, Hezekiah Alex-
ander, Charles Alexander, Adam Alexander, Zaccheus
Wilson, Waightstill Avery, Benjamin Patton, Matthew
McClure, Neill Morrison, Robert Irwin, John Flanigan,
David Russ, John Davidson, Robert Harrison, and
Thomas Polk.
John McKnitt x\lexander, the Secretarv, and Heze-
2o8 Appendix.
kiab, one of the signers, were sons of James Alexander
of Munster, Cecil county, Md., who died there in 1779,
and his will is recorded in the office of Wills, in Elkton,
Md. The names mentioned in this will are those of
his second wife, Abigail, and of the following children,
then living, viz: Hezekiah, Amos, John McKnitt,
Josiah, Ezekiel, Jemima, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Mar-
garet.
These names correspond exactly with those given on
a preceding page, and which were sent from North
Carolina by Gen. S. B. Alexander, a great grandson of
John McKnitt Alexander. The General also gives the
following descendants of James, through his son, John
McKnitt :
John McKnitt Alexander married Jean Bane, who
came from Pennsylvania. Their children were William
Bane, Joseph McKnitt, and five daughters,
Joseph McKnitt Alexander married Dovey Winslow,
and had one child, named Moses Winslow. Moses
Winslow Alexander married Violet Graham, and had
eleven children. The eleventh is General S. B. Alex-
ander, now living near Charlotte, Mecklenburg county,
N. C, who distinguished himself in the civil war by
his bravery, and rose from the position of a private sol-
dier to the rank of General.
We have seen that John McKnitt Alexander went
from Maryland to North Carolina about 1754, when
twenty-one years of age. From being a tailor by trade
he became a surveyor, a wealthy landholder, a promi-
nent and influential citizen, a leading patriot, and an
active member of the Church courts. For twenty-five
years he very constantly attended the Synod of the
Carolinas, and was its treasurer for many years. Besides
being Secretary of the Convention, and a signer of the
Appendix. 209
Declaration of 1775, he took an active part in the
Revokitionary struggle.
When Lord CornwalHs entered Charlotte in 1780
with the British army, Duncan Ochletree, a wealthy
citizen, who till this time had acted with the patriots,
turned tory to save his property. In the service of
Lord CornwalHs he first made some fruitless attempts
to bribe the leaders of his former friends, and then
harrassed them by foraging from their properties to
supply the British troops. " Cato," said John McKnitt
Alexander to his faithful slave and foreman, " the
moment you see the red-coats enter our lane, run and
apply the torch to the stacks and barn. Ochletree shall
not get a bundle of straw from our plantation." The
occasion soon occurred. The order was executed by
Cato, and the British completed the work of destruc-
tion by burning the house also. But the safety of
Ochletree was of short duration. The defeat of Fer-
guson at Kings Mountain compelled CornwalHs to
withdraw after holding Charlotte only two weeks.
Ochletree, foreseeing what would happen, was sorely
distressed with new fears and dangers. How should he
now save himself and his property from the injured and
exasperated Whigs'?
Mounting his horse at dark, he roJe to the house of
his old friend, John McKnitt Alexander, nine miles in
the country. Mr. Alexander and his son were absent
two miles off, in the camp of Major Sharpe. His wife
refused either to admit Ochletree, or to inform him
where her husband was. He begged and protested that
his intentions were patriotic, at the same time handing
his sword in at the window as a pledge. Finally a little
daughter Peggy, thirteen years of age, with her faithful
maid, Yenus, was despatched to the camp to summon
2 I o Appendix.
her father. When he arrived at the house, Ochletree
told him that the British would evacuate Charlotte that
night ; that he threw himself for protection of life and
property upon the generosity of Mr. Alexander, and
asked advice and assistance in his critical dilemma.
The reply was such as might have been expected.
" Ochletree, if I had met you anywhere else I would
have killed you. In these circumstances, so far as I
am concerned, you are safe ; but neither your life nor
your property is safe in Mecklenburg. The Whigs will
take both. I advise you to reach the Yadkin before
daylight." Ochletree was seen no more in Charlotte.
Though now beyond the age of military service, John
McKnitt Alexander accompanied General Greene in
his expedition into South Carolina and in his masterly
retreat before Cornwallis. By his intimate knowledge
of the topography and of the people of the country, he
afforded valuable counsel and assistance to that officer.
He died July 10, 1817, aged 81, and was buried in
Hopewell church graveyard, where also are buried his
wife, Jean Bane, and his brother Hezekiah, " the clear-
headed magistrate."
Dr. Joseph McKnitt, the son of John McKnitt
Alexander, graduated honorably at Princeton, studied
and practiced medicine, and distinguished himself for
talent and public spirit. He inherited and occupied
"Alexandria," the honored homestead of his father,
where he died, in 1841, aged sixty-seven.
In 1830 he vindicated the claims of the Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence, by taking the depositions
of living witnesses, and by collecting a large amount and
variety of documentary evidence. These have been
made matters of public record at Haleigh, N. C, and a
copy is in the Congressional Library in Washington
Appendix.
21 I
City. Preparations are being now made to celebrate
the centennial of the Declaration on the 20 of May in
this year, 1875.
Two brothers of John McKnitt Alexander, who re-
mained in Cecil county, Md., became leading elders in
the Rock Presbyterian church. These were Theo-
philus and Amos. Theophilus died before his father
James, in 1768.
His son, Joseph Alexander, D.D., was a man of fine
talents and scholarship. He married a daughter of
President Davies of Princeton College, N. J., and exer-
cised his ministry in North and South Carolina.
Amos married Sarah Sharpe of Cecil county, Md.,
and had eleven children :
1. Rachel — died.
2. Priscilla married Mr. Longwell, and moved to
Penns Valley, Pa.
3. Jemima married Alexander Read, and her daugh-
ter married Governor Bigler of Pennsylvania.
4. Ruth married Joseph Wallace of Baltimore, Md.
5. Mary married John Evans, grandfather of Alex-
ander Evans, Esq., of Elkton.
6. Dorcas married Henry McCoy of Philadelphia.
7. Amos.
8. Sarah married Robert Hodgson, father of James
Hodgson of Chester county. Pa.
9. Mark married Elizabeth Gilpin of Cecil, Md., 1798.
10. Margaret married her cousin, James Alexander,
who moved to Kishacoquillas Valley, Pa,, where he
died and left lands there, in North Carolina, and on
the Susquehanna, to his sons, John, James, and Jona-
than.
1 1, James married Mary Clendenin of Harford county,
Md. ; lived some time at New London, Chester county.
2 1 2 Appendix.
Pa., removed in 1832 to Piqua, Ohio, where he died in
1862, aged ninety years. His children were Amos,
Adam C, Alexander W., James, David, and William
Henry Alexander.
Adam C. Alexander married Susan Ives of New
London, Pa. Their children: James B., Mary Ellen,
Elizabeth C, John E., Adam C, Alexander W., and
Susan E. 1875 — Residence, New London, Chester
county. Pa.
Amos Alexander, son of Amos, married Amanda
Duffield, daughter of George Duffield of Chester county.
Pa., father of the Rev. George Duffield, once pastor at
Carlisle. His children were James, Charles, Amos,
George, Henry, and Amanda.
Robert Hodgson, who married Sarah, daughter of
Amos Alexander, had children :
Mark married Sophia Duffield, sister of Amanda.
Elizabeth married Joseph Strawbridge of Chester
county.
James married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. George
Gillespie, one of the early ministers of the Presbyterian
Church.
Robert married Matilda Brown of Philadelphia.
Harrison — died.
Sarah married Robert W. Brown of Honeywood,
Chester county. Pa.
Alexander married Nancy Irvin of Chester county.
The Alexanders of Princeton. — This justly cele-
brated family is too well known to need an extended
notice here. What follows is derived from the " Life
of Archibald Alexander, D.D.," by his son, James W.
Alexander, D.D.
Thomas Alexander removed from Scotland and set-
tled in Ireland, near Londonderry, whence three of his
Appendix. 2 1 '•
sons, Archibald, Robert, and another whose name is
not given, emigrated to America about the year 1736,
and settled* first near Norristown, on the Schuylkill,
Pa.. Two years afterwards Archibald, with his son
William, born on the Schuylkill, moved to Rockbrid<^e
county, Ya, and were among the earliest settlers in
that section, most of whom were Scotch-Irish Presby-
terians. William married Ann Read, the daughter of
a wealthy landholder of the same colony, and became
the father of Archibald in 1772, who became the father
of the Princeton family, and the first Professor of The-
ology in Princeton Seminary. Archibald Alexander
was licensed to preach in 1791 and was for a few years
pastor of two churches in his native region, then Presi-
dent of Hampden Sydney College, Virginia, until 1S06.
In 1802 he married Miss Jannette, daughter of the
Rev. James Waddel, of Louisa county, Va., the blind
preacher, whose eloquence is so eloquently described by
by WiUiam Wirt in "The British Spy." In 1806 the
Rev. Archibald Alexander became pastor of the Old
Pine Street Presbyterian church in Philadelphia. From
this he was called by the General Assembly in 1812 to
become the founder and first Professor in Princeton
Seminary. The next year Dr. Miller was associated
with him, next Dr. Hodge, and finally, Dr. Joseph
Addison Alexander, his son^ forming a faculty of the
most distinguished scholars and Theological Professors
that have appeared in the Presbyterian Church of
America.
Dr. Archibald Alexander died and was buried at
Princeton, leaving a family of six sons and one daugh-
* Biography of Dr. Alexander by his son. But Foote, in his sketches
of Virginia, says that the first settlement was near Nottingham, Pa ,
whence the first Archibald emigrated to Virginia in 1747.
2 1 4 Appendix.
ter. Three of his sons, J. Addison, James W., and
Samuel D., became clergymen, and the whole family-
has been noted for talents and attainments.
The writer esteems it a special favor of God that
during three years he was permitted to sit as a learner
at the feet of that truly great and good man whose
memory he will ever cherish with sincere love and pro-
found respect.
Like the ancestor of our own family, the ancestor of
Dr. Alexander came first from Scotland to Ireland, and
both ancestors came from nearly the same place in
Ireland, and in the same year, 1736, to America. In
this country the families have been entirely distinct.
The Alexanders of Woodburn^ Ky. — The follow-
ing is taken from the Scottish American Journal:
To the Alexanders, however, belong the merit of having
early taken the lead in the improvement of stock in
Kentucky. During the lifetime of Robert Aitcheson
Alexander, elder brother of Alexander John Alexander,
the present proprietor, the trotting and racing stud of
Woodburn was the best in the country, while almost,
if not quite, equal attention was given to the breeding
of cattle ; and while the prestige of the Woodburn stud
and herds is still maintained, other breeders in Central
Kentucky, emulating the success of the Alexanders, are
in many instances now their rivals. How well forward
Woodburn still stands may be seen from a few facts
connected with the estate.
The racing horses are four in number. Asteroid,
King Alfonso, Australian, and Glen Athol. There are
three trotting horses, Belmont, Mambrino, and Harold.
Besides these there are three young trotting horses,
Wedgewood, Hermes, and Indianapolis. The stalls for
these are of the most commodious description, arranged
Appendix, 2 1 5
for comfort in winter and summer, well ventilated, and
supplied with all conveniences. The trotting mares
number seventy or eighty. Of fine cattle there are
about 100 head, of sheep 300 (Southdowns), 150 of
which are breeders, and of hogs 100. All of the racers,
cattle, sheep and hogs, are thoroughbred. There is an
annual sale on the Woodburn estate, at which all the
young thoroughbred racers are sold as yearlings. These
sales for years past have averaged from $25,000 to
$40,000. Last June the public sales included sixty-six
thoroughbreds and thirty-three trotters ; and the aver-
age price realized was $674, an aggregate of $6(3, 72G.
In 1875 the public sales included about sixty colts, an
average of nearly $900. The private sales are about as
much as the public sales, sometimes excelling, some,
times falling below their aggregate proceeds. Last year
sixty head of shorthorns, twenty head of Jerseys, and
one hundred and fifty Southdowns were sold. Durino^
Robert Aitcheson Alexander's lifetime the stock of
Southdowns was much larger, sometimes as high as
1,100 head.
The Alexanders are an old Scotch family. One of
their ancestors held the dignity of Lord Provost of
Edinburgh early in the seventeenth century. William
Alexander, grandfather of the present proprietor of
Woodburn, was born near Edinburgh, in the year 1727.
He married Miss Aitcheson, of Airdrie House, Lanark-
shire, a fimily of considerable local distinction in the
West of Scotland, and connected by marriage with the
Crawfords and Spreuls of Renfrew and Lanarkshire.
By Miss Aitcheson he had eight children, two sons,
William and Robert, and six daughters, only two of
whom ever married, Mrs, Jonathan Williams of Phila-
delphia, and Mrs. J. P. Hankey of London, both now
2 1 6 Appendix.
dead. The eldest son, William, was called to the bar
in England, rose to great distinction as a lawyer, and
was elevated to the bench as one of the Barons of the
Court of Exchequer. For his distinguished services he
received the honor of knighthood, but whether upon or
subsequent to his elevation to the bench, I am not
informed. Mention is made of him by Lockhart in his
life of Sir Walter Scott. Sir William died in London
in 1842, in the 82d year of his age. The younger
brother, Robert, was born near Edinburgh, and educated
at Edinburgh University. While yet young he went
to France, where with his father he spent some years,
during which he made the acquaintance of Dr. Frank-
lin, then in Paris, and for some time acted as his pri-
vate secretary.
Robert came to this country some time between 1785
and 1790. On May 5th, 1791, he bought the Wood-
burn estate from the heirs of General Hugh Mercer,
who had obtained it as a military grant from the State
of Virginia. It was then estimated at 2,000 acres, but
on being surveyed exceeded that estimate by 700 acres.
Parts of it were sold till it was reduced to 1,000 acres,
but it was subsequently increased by repurchase till it
attained its present area of 3,000 acres.
Robert Alexander was a man of fine education,
elegant manners, large information, and much common
sense. He served with distinction in the Legislature
of Kentucky, both in the House of Representatives and
in the Senate; and upon the establishment of the Bank
of Kentucky, became its first President. He died in
1841, in his seventy-fourth year. His father, who had
preceded him to this country, came to Woodburn in
1811, and remained with his son till his death in 1817,
in his ninetieth year. Robert Alexander married late
Appendix. iif
in life the daughter of David Weisiger, Esq., of Frank-
fort, Kentucky, by whom he had five children, William,
who died an infant, Lucy, now Mrs. J. B. Waller, of
Chicago; Robert Aitcheson, late proprietor of Wood-
burn, Alexander John, present proprietor, and ^larv'
now Mrs. H. C. Deedes of London, England. Besides
his childi-en by Miss Aitcheson, William Alexander
had by a second wife, Miss Laport, a French lady, six
children, four sons, Regis, former owner of the splendid
estate adjoining Woodburn, now the property of Ben-
jamin Gratz, Esq. ; Andrew, Charles and James, of
whom Charles alone survives, and two daughters, one
of whom, Mrs. Thomson Hankey, wife of Thomson
Hankey, Esq., late Governor of the Bank of England,,
and member of Parliament for Peterborougli, is still,
living in London.
On the death of the Misses Aitcheson, of Airdrie-
House, their estate, embracing about 1,200 acres of land,
passed, by entail, to Sir William Alexander. ]NLuch of
it covered rich coal and iron deposits, which, upon the
rapid development of the mineral industries in the
W^est of Scotland, in the early part of this century,
became very valuable, On the death of Sir William,
in 1842, the Airdrie estate became, by entail, the
property of his nephew, Robert Aitcheson Alexander,
eldest surviving son of his brother, Robert of Wood-
burn. In order that he might inherit the Airdrie
estate, Mr. Alexander, though born in Kentucky,
elected to retain citizenship in Great Britain, liad an
act passed by the Legislature of Kentucky allowing
him, as a foreigner, to hold real estate within tlie Com-
monwealth. He was educated at Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, and entered upon the possession of his Scottish
and American estates with a determination to improve
the stock of this country.
2 1 8 Appendix.
His large income from his Airdrie estate, amounting
to £20,000 or £25,000 annually, enabled him to com-
mand greater resources than most of the companies
formed for the importation of blooded stock.
He went abroad in 1856 with his friend Nelson
Dudley, to seek out and buy a thorough-bred horse.
Ten Brock, owner of Lexington, was then in England,
whither he had taken his racing stud. Mr. Alexander,
after visiting the studs of the most famous breeders,
seeing none he liked so well as Lexington, he purchased
him for $15,000.
It is said that Elijah Craig, a money-lender of Lex-
ington, to whom Robert Alexander had often applied
for accommodation, in this instance refused, observing
that it would not do to lend money to any young man
who was reckless enough to pay $15,000 for a blind
horse. But no investment ever paid better.
The only horse imported by Mr. Robert Alexander
was Sythian, for which 12,000 guineas were paid.
During his lifetime he imported fifty head of short-
horns, of which number eleven were bulls. How well
the reputation of the Woodburn cattle is maintained
may be inferred from the fact that the present pro-
prietor, Mr. A. J. Alexander, sold, only eighteen months
ago, a young bull and a heifer to Mr. George Fox, of
Cheshire, England, for $15,000.
Robert Alexander's efforts were not confined to the
improvement of breeds of cattle and horses in America.
He bought, many years ago, 14,000 acres of mineral
lands on Green river, in Muhlenberg county, Ky.
Mining operations were begun, furnaces erected, and a
village built for the accommodation of the workmen.
After an expenditure of $250,000 the war broke out,
and the works were suspended. The property was
Append-ix. 2 1 9
subsequently leased for forty years to a company of
which General Bnell is President.
During the Irish famine of 1847-9, it will be
remembered that an Act of Parliament was passed
enabling, the proprietors of encumbered estates to break
the entail. The benefits of the act were also extended,
on certain conditions, to others whose estates were not
encumbered. Robert Aitcheson Alexander, who was
unmarried, by obtaining the consent of Alexander John
x\lexander, next heir, then unmarried, and of his two
sisters, next heirs at law, broke the entail of the Airdrie
estate in Scotland. Upon Robert's death in 1867, aged
forty-eight, the Airdrie estate and the Woodburn estate
passed by will to Alexander John Alexander, the pres-
ent proprietor. The Muhlenberg estate passed by
Robert's will to his nephews and sisters.
A. J. Alexander was, like his brother, educated
at Trinity College, Cambridge. He then entered
a counting-house, to prepare himself for business pre-
paratory to a return to this country. For several causes
the income of the Airdrie estate has been reduced to
about £7,000 or £8,000 yearly.
Mr. A. J. Alexander is a man slightly over fifty years
of age, of education and culture, well informed, digni-
fied in his bearing, but wholly unostentatious ; some-
what reserved but by no means exclusive. For consid-
erations of health, he spends his winters in Florida.
He is esteemed by all who know him as a pure man
and good citizen.
Mr. i\lexander is, I am informed, a member of the
Presbyterian Church, of which, if I mistake not, he is
an elder. Though a breeder of racers and trotters, he
is in no sense of the word a patron of the turf. No
entries are made by him on the race-course, either in
person or by proxy. Indeed, but for carrying out his
2 20 Appendix.
brother's idea of a stock-farm, I doubt not that he
would greatly prefer to have his capital otherwise
invested. Mr. Alexander has been twice married.
His first wife was Miss Lucy Humphreys, daughter of
David Humphreys, Esq., of Woodford county. She
died several years ago, leaving no surviving issue. By
his present wife, whose maiden name was Miss Fullar-
ton, of Chillicothe, Ohio, he has one surviving child.
The Alexanders of Alexandria County, Va, —
The patriarch of this family, John Alexander, died in
1677. He had purchased the Howsen Patent, extend-
ing along the Potomac from Pompey Gale's Marsh,
south of Alexandria, to a point opposite Analostan
Island and Georgetown.
To his son Philip he left the lower part, including
the site of Alexandria, and to his other son Robert the
part opposite to Washington city. Thomas Pearson,
son-pin-law of Philip Alexander, having leased a portion
of these lands, commenced the settlement of them on
Hunting Creek in 1696.
The will of Eobert Alexander, probated by Stafford
county court in 1704, gave his lands mostly to his sons
Robert and Charles ; and other property to Eliza, Jane,
and Sarah, daughters of his brother Philip; also to
John and William Fitzhugh, and to Philip Alexander.
The estate was large and the property various. His
son Robert was only fifteen and Charles only six years
old when their father died.
Charles died childless, and the entire upper part of
the patent passed into the hands of Robert. The lower
part remained to Philip and his representatives.
These few items of a family which gave its name to
a county, city and island within their patent, are ex-
tracted from the "Annals of Alexandria" by Mr. Wm.
F. Carne.
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11