Elizabeth Minor McLemore

Elizabeth married James Franklin Alexander on 28 Sep 1865 in Maury County, Tennessee. James was born on 31 Oct 1833 in Maury County, Tennessee; died after 1910 in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Found in: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, p. 417.

DR. JAMES MINOR ALEXANDER
DR. JAMES MINOR ALEXANDER, a leading physician of Abilene, was born in Maury county, Tennessee, September 18, 1867. His father, James Franklin Alexander, is represented elsewhere in this work. In his youth Dr. Alexander remained upon his father's farm and attended the common schools of the home locality, therein mastering the common branches of English learning. After putting aside his text-books he became connected with the drug trade and while thus engaged acquired a good knowledge of chemistry and prescription work. He was thus employed for two years in Hillsboro, Texas, and this led to his desire to become a member of the medical fraternity so that ultimately he matriculated in the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Kentucky, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1889. He then returned to this state for the practice of medicine, opening an office in Victoria, whence he came to Abilene in November, 1889. Here he has since resided, ever seeking for the latest discoveries and modern theories of medicine and surgery. He has at different time pursued post graduate work in the Post Graduate Hospital of New York, and has thus kept in touch with the onward march of his profession. Since locating in Abilene Dr. Alexander has built up a large and lucrative practice and is regarded as an excellent physician and skillful surgeon, having comprehensive knowledge of the principles of medical science which he applies accurately and correctly to the needs of his patients. Recognizing the need of a suitable place where the sick of the western country could receive proper attention he erected in 1904 a sanitarium at the west end of North Fifth street, in Abilene. This is a spacious two-story structure, containing about seventeen rooms and is fitted up with all modern appliances and apparatus, including the X-ray and other electrical equipments. The building is well furnished, lighted throughout with electricity and heated by steam and in fact has every comfort and convenience for its patrons in harmony with the lines of health and sanitation. Dr. Alexander is a member of both the State and Taylor County Medical Associations and his fraternal relations connect him with the Elks, the Woodmen of the World and other societies.

On the 19th of November, 1896, Dr. Alexander wedded Miss Madge Quarles, a daughter of William Quarles, and a native of Charleston, Mississippi. They have one son, James Word Alexander.

Found in the Handbook of Texas Online:

ALEXANDER, JAMES MINOR (1867-1954). James Minor Alexander, builder and physician, was born on September 18, 1867, in Spring Hill, Tennessee, to James Franklin and Elizabeth (Minor) (sic) Alexander. He attended the Kentucky School of Medicine and graduated with honors in 1889 from Louisville Medical College. Later he did postgraduate work in New York, at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and in 1913 in hospitals in London, Paris, Rome, Naples, and Berlin. In 1889 he moved to Victoria, Texas, then to Abilene, where he started a practice.

He opened Alexander Sanitarium, a hospital with eighteen beds, on June 1, 1904, in a two-story frame building. In 1918 he converted the structure into a school for nurses and moved his hospital into an adjacent three-story brick building with forty beds. He was joined in his Abilene practice by his brother, Dr. Sydney McLemore Alexander. Jim Alexander was credited with many medical firsts in West Texas, including the first Caesarean operation and the first two complete hysterectomies. He installed Abilene's first X-ray equipment. He closed his sanitarium in 1934 to join the staff of Hendrick Medical Center,where he later became chief of staff. He was a member of the Taylor-Jones County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association,the Southern Medical Association, and the American Medical Association.

In 1925 he constructed the Alexander Building, then the tallest building in Abilene. That same year he established the Alexander Trust Estate, which placed most of his holdings in the names of his children. After his medical career was established, he acquired ranchland in Jones, Stonewall, King, Knox, and Shackelford counties. His ranching operations continued through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was married twice, first to Madge Quarles, then to Anna Lee Burnes. He retired from medical practice in 1949 and died on November 10, 1954. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Abilene.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Abilene Reporter-News, November 27, 1950, November 11, 1954, April 8, 1956. Hugh E. Cosby, The History of Abilene (Abilene, Texas, 1955). Katharyn Duff and Betty Kay Seibt, Catclaw Country: An Informal History of Abilene in West Texas (Burnet, Texas: Eakin Press, 1980).
Katharyn Duff


Article about his estate, from The Abilene Reporter News, Wednesday Evening, November 17, 1954, page 11-B

Doctor Wills Big Estate to Grandchildren

Dr. James Minor (Jim) Alexander, pioneer Abilene area physician, willed all of his property---"in excess of $20,000"---to his grandchildren.

This was revealed Wednesday morning when the will was filed in the Taylor County clerk's office.

He died Nov. 10 in Abilene at the age of 87.

Dr. Alexander's son, Minor Alexander, was named as executor. The grandchildren are to share and share alike. The will was signed June 7, 1951, and was witnessed by L. S. Perry and E. T. Brooks.

Named as beneficiaries were the grandchildren, James Randall Alexander and Sydney McLemore Alexander, sons of Syndey McLemore Alexander; grandson Sydney Elmon Niblo, son of Lurline Elizabeth Niblo; grandchildren Martha Jane Alexander, James Minor Alexander, and Frances Marian Alexander, children of Minor Alexander.

An application to probate the will said Dr. Alexander possessed real and personal property of a probable value in excess of $20,000.

The Abilene law firm of Brooks, Fergus and Brooks is handling the matter.

Much of his estate has been divided before his death.



(Research):
Census Information:

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
55-59
Lawler, James Head W M Feb 1853 47 M 12 Tn NC Tn Real Estate Trade
Lawler, Bethenia Wife W F Dec 1870 29 M 12 2/2 Tn Tn Tn
Lawler, Minor Dtr W F Nov 1888 14 S Tn Tn Tn At School
Lawler, Frank Son W M Nov 1893 6 S Tx Tn Tn

1910 Census
Not located

1920 Census
Texas, Taylor County, Abilene, Justice Precinct 1
Enumerated 27 January 1920 Mrs. Bessie Lee Piguet
SD 17, ED 261 Sheet 15 A
Alexander Sanitarium
Alexander, James M Head M W 51 D Tn Tn Tn Doctor Surgical
Burns, Anna L Nurse F W 25 S Tx Tx Tx Head Nurse Sanitarium
Gilliam, Ora Belle F W 22 S Tx Tn Tn Nurse Sanitarium
Shomber, Ruby J F W 21 S Kansas Ohio Mo Nurse Sanitarium
Marr, Johnie F W 19 S Tx Mo Tx Nurse Sanitarium
Davis, Mamie F W 22 S Tx Ark Tx Nurse Sanitarium
Galiespane, Abbie F W 33 Wd Tx Al Tx Nurse Sanitarium
Cayle, Minnie M F S 17 S Tx Tx Tx Nurse Sanitarium
Ford, Dick M B 24 S Tx Tx Tx Servant Sanitarium
Bennett, Howard M B 25 S Colo Colo Colo Cook Sanitarium
Bennett, Rosey F B 28 M Tx Tx Tx Servant Sanitarium

1930 Census
Texas, Taylor Abilene City
Enumerated April 10, 1930 by Mrs. Gertrude L. Sands
ED 221-10 SD 8 Sheet 12A Stamped 108
602 Victoria
251-293
Alexander, James M Hd O $10,000 M W 61 M 53 Tn Tn Tn Surgeon Hospital
Alexander, Anna L Wife F W 39 M 31 Tx Tx Tx None
Alexander, Lurline Adopted Dtr F W 16 S ??? Tn Tx [Married a NIBLO]
Alexander, Sydney M Son M W 6 S Tx Tn Tx

James married Madge Quarles on 19 Nov 1896 in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas. Madge was born in Oct 1876 in Arkansas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Anna Lee Burns about 1922 in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas. Anna was born between 1891 and 1895 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Not listed in Paddock's 1906 "History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas" with his siblings. Did he die prior to the publication date? Or could he have instead been called Sydney Alexander in Paddock's book? It is also possible that he was not a son of James and Elizabeth (McLemore) Alexander, but was simply liiving with them at the time of the 1870 census.

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

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 Physici
an
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
55-59
Lawler, James Head W M Feb 1853 47 M 12 Tn NC Tn Real Estate Trade
Lawler, Bethenia Wife W F Dec 1870 29 M 12 2/2 Tn Tn Tn
Lawler, Minor Dtr W F Nov 1888 14 S Tn Tn Tn At School
Lawler, Frank Son W M Nov 1893 6 S Tx Tn Tn

1910 Census
Not Located

1920 Census
Texas, Taylor County, Abilene City, Justice Precint 1
Enumerated 7, 13 January 1920 by Mrs. Burkle Wheeler
SD 17, ED 259 Sheet 6B
406 106 130
Lawler, James A Head M W 66 M Tn Tn Tn None
Lawler, Bethenia J Wife F W 50 M Tn Tn Tn None
Lawler, Jefferson F Son M W 26 S Tx Tn Tn Commericial Traveler Arating Agency
Ness, Grace Boarder F W 22 S Tx Tn Tn Stenographer Wholesale Agency

1930 Census
Texas, Taylor, Abilene, ED 7
Enumerated April 16, 1930 by Mrs. Chlor E. Fenell
ED 221-7. SD 8, Sheet 14A Stamped 76
1220 North Third
290-351
Lawler, Bethenia J Head O $15,000 F W 60 Wd Tx Tn Tn None
1222 North Third
291-352
Lawler, J. Frank Head R $40 M W 36 M 33 Tx Tx Tx Operator Dry Cleaning Plant
Lawler, Yvonne Wife F W 31 M 28 Tx La Tx
Lawler, James E Son M W 4/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Bethenia married James Lawler about 1888 in Tennessee. James was born in Feb 1853 in Tennessee; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Assumed to be named in honor of his Uncle, R. Sydney McLemore Alexander (I).

Sydney Alexander II died on the Alexander Ranch near Truscott, Texas, in Knox County, some 100 miles north of Abilene. (Note from Sydney M. Alexander III, April 2019)

Sydney married Patty Frances Winters before 1944. Patty (daughter of Jesse Franklin Winters and Clara Pearl Jackson) was born on 20 May 1924 in Texas; died on 14 Aug 1999. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

1930 Census
Texas, Taylor, Abilene, ED 7
Enumerated April 16, 1930 by Mrs. Chlor E. Fenell
ED 221-7. SD 8, Sheet 14A Stamped 76
1220 North Third
290-351
Lawler, Bethenia J Head O $15,000 F W 60 Wd Tx Tn Tn None
1222 North Third
291-352
Lawler, J. Frank Head R $40 M W 36 M 33 Tx Tx Tx Operator D
ry Cleaning Plant
Lawler, Yvonne Wife F W 31 M 28 Tx La Tx
Lawler, James E Son M W 4/12 S Tx Tx Tx