Biographical Sketch of Patrick H. Alexander, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Patrick H. Alexander, an honored and noble pioneer of Johnson county and Civil War veteran, now living retired in the city of Warrensburg, was born in March, 1834 in Henry county, Tennessee. He is the son of William and Martha (Job) Alexander, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter, of Nashville, Tennessee. Both parents died, leaving their son an orphan when a very small child. When he was a little lad, Patrick H. Alexander came from Tennessee to Missouri with his uncle, who settled in Crawford county. Three years later, the child came to Johnson county with his sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Wood. The Wood family settled on a farm in the eastern part of the county and with them the boy made his home, while he "worked out," for other people, to earn his way. As long as Colonel J. H. Robinson lived, Patrick H. Alexander was always sure of a place to work. Colonel Rob- inson was one of the very first settlers of Johnson county and he was very fond of the Alexander youth, always employing him whenever he had work to be done. Mr. Wood entered 40 acres of land, and Patrick assisted his brother-in-law by working for Colonel Robinson for a wage of six dollars per month, turning over his wages to pay for the land. In 1849, Patrick H. Alexander made his first trip to Warrensburg. He came on horseback, bringing two sacks of corn to the mill. The mill was of the old fashioned tread type and he waited all day for his grist. Each person must wait his turn at the mill in those days, even if it took a week. Until 1854, Mr. Alexander lived with his brother in-law and at that time he came to Warrensburg to make his home with Major Morrow for whom he worked many years. In 1853, Mr. Alexander was employed as "bull whacker" in charge of a train, composed of 36 wagons, in command of Mr. Smith, bound for Fort Laramie, Wyoming, the trip to be made across the plains for Majors & Russell. Troops guarded the train from the savage red men and three months were gone before the end of the journey was reached. It was a wild, dangerous experience, one that is never forgotten. Mr. Alexander went to Kansas in 1859 and took up a claim of land in what is now Cherokee county. The Civil War broke out before he had proven his claim and as most of his neighbors were killed by either the Indians or "bushwhackers," Patrick Alexander deem- ed it best to return to Missouri, where he was better known. The following year he went to Tennessee, traveling in a wagon. In July, 1861, Mr. Alexander enlisted in the 27th Missouri Mounted Infantry, serving under Colonel Grover, who was mortally wounded at the battle of Lexington. He served with Colonel Grover's regiment 9 months and when his time of enlistment had expired, he returned to Warrensburg and enlisted with Catherwood's regiment for 3 months and then with Colonel Phillip's 7th Missouri Cavalry, for the remaining 2 1/2 years. Mr. Alexander saw active service in Arkansas and he was with the regiment sent after General Price, when on his raid through Missouri and Kansas. For 90 days after the war ended, Patrick H. Alexander served as first lieutenant in the Missouri state militia, his division being known as "Fletcher's Militia," which was called out to subdue the bushwhackers. Fletcher was well known in Warrensburg. After the war, Mr. Alexander purchased a farm of 120 acres of land located 7 miles south of Warrens- burg and on this place resided until about 10 years ago, when he re- tired from active farm labor and moved to his city property in Warrens- burg, where he now resides. The Alexander home is a nice, comfortable residence at 813 Holden street. Patrick H. Alexander was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary E. (Marr) Jewell, September 15, 1867. Mrs. Alexander's former husband was a lieutenant in the Civil War, in which he was killed. By her first marriage, she is the mother of one child, a son, John M. Jewell, who is now a prominent manufacturer at Atlanta, Georgia. To Patrick H. and Mary E. Alexander have been born the following children: David William, Warrensburg, Missouri; Robert T., who is engaged in the transfer business in Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Martha Gardner, of Post Oak township, Johnson county; Sidney H., who died in 1916; and Julius Calvin, who is engaged in farming on the Alex- ander homestead in Post Oak Township. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are worthy, fine people, citizens of whom Johnson county may well be proud. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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