James Franklin Alexander

Notes:

JAMES FRANKLIN ALEXANDER, now enjoying in well earned case an honorable retirement from labor at his pleasant home in Abilene, was born in Maury county, Tennessee, October 31, 1833. His father, James Minor Alexander, removed from Camden, South Carolina, to Tennessee in the year 1810. His mother was Margaret Carter prior to her marriage into the Alexander family. Having arrived at years of maturity James M. Alexander married a Miss Aiken, also a native of South Carolina, whose father removed to Tennessee about the same time the Alexander family was established there. Mr. and Mrs. James M. Alexander became the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters, of whom James Franklin is the only one now living. He was reared on the farm up to the time of his father's death in 1857, after which he went to Spring Hill, Tennessee, and there engaged in the dry goods business with which he was connected for three years. At that time the country was involved in the throes of the Civil war and Mr. Alexander espoused the cause of the south, offering his services in its defense, enlisting on the 21st of May, 1861, as a member of Company F, Third Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, the company being known as Brown's rifles, for the regiment was commanded by Colonel John C. Brown. He was afterward promoted to the rank of general and commanded a division. Dr. Alexander was with his command and brigade up to the time they left Bowling Green, Kentucky, and there he was detached on special duty for service in the pay master's and quartermaster's department. He remained with the army throughout the war and was with General Joe Johnston's command at the time of the surrender at Greenville, North Carolina.After being paroled he returned to Nashville, where he arrived on the 21st of May, 1865, just exactly four years from the time of his enlistment. The next important event in his life was his marriage, which was celebrated on the 28th of September, 1865, at which time Miss Elizabeth McLemore became his wife. She is a native of Maury county, Tennessee, and a daughter of Jefferson McLemore, of a representative family of that section of the country. Unto them have been born three children: James M., who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Bethenia J.; and R. Sydney McLemore Alexander [Note: Unable to verify through census records], also a practicing physician at Abilene. The wife and mother departed this life in August, 1891. Following his marriage Mr. Alexander turned his attention to farming near Spring Hill, where he remained until 1890. At that time he sold his farm and removed to Abilene, Texas, where he engaged in the drug business, having purchased the stock of P. H. Carter. This store he conducted for eight years with good success and then sold out to L. H. Bradfield, since which time he has lived retired save for the supervision of his invested interests, for he owns considerable property in this part of the state. He is a member of Abilene lodge, No. 562, B. P. O. E., and is a man of genuine worth, enjoying in high measure the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been associated.

B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 417-418.

From "Confederate Military History" page 481: "J.P. Durden . . . Company A, Forty-fifth regiment Alabama infantry . . . In the fight at Spring Hill, just before the Battle of Franklin, while driving the enemy from their breastworks, his left leg was shattered by a shot, the wound resulting in amputation. He remained at Spring Hill five months, as a prisoner, after the Confederate retreat, and was most kindly cared for at the home of Miss Lizzie M. McLemore and her brother."

(Courtesy of Mark Freeman)

(Research):Census Information

1870 Census
Tennessee, Maury County, 22nd Civil District, Columbia Township
July 1870
Page 55, Stamped 645
356-369
Alexander, Joseph F 36 M W Farmer $4000 $2000 Tenn
Alexander, Eliza M 31 F W Housekeeper Tenn
Alexander, James M 2 M W At Home Tenn
Alexander, Benjamin T 7/12 M W At Home Tenn Born Nov
Peters, Eliza A 9 F W At Home Tenn
Aldridge, Kate 9 F W At Home Tenn
McLemore, Leamul P 25 M W At Home $--- $6000 Tenn

1900 US Census
Texas, Taylor County, Abilene Ward 3
Enumerated 4 June 1900
SD 4, ED 150, Sheet 3B
53-56
Alexander, Jim Jr Head W M Sept 1868 31 M3 Tn Tn Tn Physician
Alexander, Madge Wife W F Oct 1876 23 M 3 0/0 Ark Miss Tenn
Alexander, Jim Sr Father W M Oct 1833 66 Wd Tn NC NC Physician
Ward, Jim Uncle W M Sept 1851 69 S Miss Tn Tn Physician
Sharp, Ella Servant B F Mar 1873 27 Wd 2/1 Tx NC NC Servant
Sharp, John Son B M July 1889 10 S Tx Tx Tx At School

1910 Census
Texas, Taylor County, Abilene Ward 4, District 267
Enumerated 9 May 1910
SD 16, ED 267 Sheet 21B
J.F. Alexander, age 76, born in Tennessee, Widowed
was a roomer in the home of M.A. Langley. His occupation was shown as "Own Income" and his parents were both listed as born in South Carolina.

James married Elizabeth Minor McLemore on 28 Sep 1865 in Maury County, Tennessee. Elizabeth (daughter of Atkins Jefferson McLemore and Bethenia Smith Dabney) was born about 1838 in Williamson County, Tennessee; died on 22 Aug 1891 in Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Minor Alexander was born on 18 Sep 1867 in Maury County, Tennessee; died on 10 Nov 1954 in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas.
2. Benjamin T. Alexander was born in Nov 1869 in Maury County, Tennessee; and died.
3. Bethenia J. Alexander was born in Dec 1870 in Tennessee; and died.