ALEXANDER-George W.

George W. ALEXANDER

Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana.
Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893, p. 651

George W. Alexander is engaged in carrying on his well-improved farm of 157 acres on Sec 16, Sugar Creek Twp, Parke County. He has lived on this place since 1861, or shortly after his marriage. Our subject was born in Guilford Co NC on August 29, 1832, being the son of Joseph and Catherine Alexander Alexander who were 3rd cousins. The former was the son of James and Nancy Alexander, Grandfather Alexander was born in Ireland and his wife was a native of Scotland. They both came to the united States with their parents when young, settling in the eastern part of NC where they were married. James Alexander learned the miller's trade before leaving the Emerald Isle, and followed that occuption throughout life. For many years he owned a mill in NC, but at the time of his death was only superintendent of one. he was a Whig and opposed to slavery, though a resident of the southern state. His father was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Our subjects father was one in a family of 8 children, the others being Gideon, Jonathan, Calvin, Abbie, Sally and two who died in infancy. They are all now deceased. Joseph Alexander learned the shoemaker's trade in early life, serving an apprenticeship at the same. he married when about 22 and had 8 children, our subject being the eldest, and the other in order of birth being as follows: Mary, James C, Nancy J, Martha, Catherine L, Joseph F and one who died in infancy. After the death of our subject's mother, his father married a Miss Hamilton by whom he had four children. He was, like his father, a Whig, and religiously held membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died at age 60. George W. Alexander was only 12 years old when his mother died and soon after he was bound out to Jaben Erwin to learn the carpenter's trade. For him he worked, receiving only his board and clothes for 8 years and then continued in his employ about 3 years afterward. Until 1861 he was engaged in carpentering, since which time he has turned his attention almost entirely to agricultural pursuits, and has even succeeded better in this vocation than in the former one. His skill, however, with carpenter tools has proved very useful to him time and again in the construction and repair of his buildings. In 1860 Mr. Alexander and Martha A. Bacus were joined in marriage. Mrs. Alexander was born on the farm where she still lives in the year 1839. Her paernts James and Margaret Irwin Bacus, were natives of Ohio and VA, respectively, being early settlers of Parke County. This farm was entered of the Government as school land in 1835, and every bit of the place was cleared by Mr. Bacus. The house or cabin which he first erected was very small and of the rudest description, but in time was replaced with a much more pretentious residence. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are the parents of two children: James B, whose wife was formerly Miss Fanny Delphina Pithoud; and Flora A, wife of Chauncy Lusk. Our subject is extremely proud of his four little grandchildren. he is a member of Lodge No. 27, AF & AM Annapolis.