Bio: Capt. M. H. Alexander, Desoto Parish Louisiana
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890

Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson





**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************




Capt. M. H. Alexander (deceased) was a man well known to the early settlers of
De Soto Parish, La, and was respected for his many, straight forward course
through life, and beloved by all for his noble Christian qualities of mind and
heart. He may be truly said to have been one of ''natures noblemen," and both
by instinct and education a thorough gentleman. He first saw the light of day
in Wilkes County, N. C., his birth occurring January 11, 1811, but removed
from his ire State to Alabama, in 1835, from which State he enlisted, the
following year, with a company of volunteers from Eutaw, Ala., and went to
Texas, but was discharged after a few months' service on account of ill
health, the exposure during that time bringing on mercurial rheumatism, from
which he an almost helpless sufferer for many years, and which eventually
necessitated the amputation of one of his legs. 

He was married to Miss Clara Slatterwhite, of Wilcox County, Ala., June 14,
1838, after which they settled in Dallas County, of that State, where they
made their home until 1848, at which time they came to Do Soto parish, and
purchased land nine miles west of Mansfield, where he lived until 1860. He
then purchased a small place two miles west of town, which he improved
for a place of residence. He was never a member of any church, but was a firm
believer in Christianity, and was a liberal contributor to the support of the
ministry. 

In his political views he is a Whig, and during the rebellion was a strong
Unionist, although his sympathies were with the South, but knowing that
they were not prepared for war, he advocated the South remaining quietly in
the Union and fighting with commercial weapons instead of cannon balls and
bullets. Although utterly opposed to the war he was very liberal in assisting
the volunteers in arming and equipping themselves for service, and gave his
means freely to the support of soldiers' families, while his house was seldom
free of sick or wornout soldiers during the entire war. The more needy and
destitute the more welcome they were made, for he was a wholesouled,
large-hearted man, his manners were gracious, deferential and easy, and he had
the happy faculty of making the poorest and humblest feel the dignity of being
men, and they consequently revered and respected him. He was extremely
hospitable in disposition, and the doors of his residence were ever opened to
friend and stranger like, and all were made to feel equally welcome, whether
of low or high degree. He was a kind and affectionate husband, and an
indulgent master to his slaves. 

His death was very sudden and cast a gloom over the surrounding country, for
his many worthy qualities had endeared him to all and his place was found hard
to fill. While driving out of Mansfield his horses took fright, ran away with
him, throwing him from his buggy, so severely injuring him that he died a few
days later, June 14, 1865, lamented by all who knew him. So closed the career
of a truly noble and good man.