BIO: ALEXANDER Family, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ALEXANDER FAMILY. This family, which has been prominent in central Pennsylvania from an early day, is of Scotch origin. The earliest member, of which there is record, was Thomas Alexander, who was prominent in Lanark, Scotland, about 1710. His son John, who was born in Scotland in 1700, married Margaret Glasson, daughter of Donald Glasson, of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, and migrated to County Armagh, Ireland, a few years later. In 1736 he came to America, and besides his three sons - Hugh, James and John - and his daughters- Rachel and Margaret-there came with him his two nephews-Hugh and James- and his niece, who had married a Mr. Polk in Ireland. Their first settlement was made in Nottingham, Chester Co., Penn., on the east side of Octorara creek, near the Maryland line. After residing there a few years the little colony divided and dispersed. The nephews, Hugh and James, with Mr. and Mrs. Polk, went to Mecklenburg, N.C., while John, with his son of the same name, remained in Pennsylvania and settled, first, near Carlisle, and, later, near Chambersburg. James Alexander, second son of John and Margaret (Glasson) Alexander, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1826, and came with his parents to America in 1836. He removed with his father to Cumberland county, Penn., and there married Rosa Reed, who died in 1792. James Alexander was a man of remarkable energy and enterprise, and having married Rosa Reed, near Chambersburg, Penn., the associations of the locality led him to determine to explore the new territory adjacent, and if possible found a new colony. In carrying out this project in 1755, he traveled about a hundred miles north through the wilderness, and his attention being arrested by the beauty of the Valley, he located there and took out a warrant for one thousand acres of land across the middle of the Valley and reaching from Jack's Mountain to Stone Mountain. He returned home for his family, and took back with him to help found the new settlement a friend who also had his family. They carried all their effects on horseback. James Alexander settled at the spring which forms the source of Spring run, and a short distance away at another spring stood the house of the Indian Chief "Logan"-the renowned head of the Mingo tribe, who lived long on friendly terms with his white neighbor. One day soon after James Alexander settled at his new home, "Logan" went to the house, and, having gained the confidence of his neighbor's little son, carried him to his cabin; the father was absent, and the terrified mother dared not resist; but after several hours of terrible anxiety she determined to rescue her child at any hazard. Her relief can be imagined when she met the friendly chief carrying her boy, who was wearing a beautiful pair of beaded moccasins, which he had made for his little friend. This story has often appeared in print concerning a little daughter of William Brown, but "Logan" was doubtless in the habit of showing his friendship in this way. James Alexander was active in Church work, and assisted in establishing the first Presbyterian Church in the Valley. He took part in the Revolutionary war, and was in the commissary department of Washington's army at Valley Forge, during the memorable winter of 1777- 78. For these services he received sixteen hundred acres of land, which he located in Clearfield county. He died in 1791, and was buried at the brick Presbyterian church at West Kishacoquillas. Eleven children were born to James Alexander and Rosa Reed, the names with dates of birth being as follows: Jane, born in 1763; Robert, born in October, 1766; Elizabeth, born in 1768; John, in 1769; James, in 1771; Hugh, in November, 1772; Joseph, in 17--; Rachel, in 1780; William, in 1782; Rosanna, in 1784; and Reed, in 17--. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 445 Of the above, Robert Alexander was the next in the line of ancestry which we are now tracing. Upon the death of his father he settled upon that part of the Kishacoquillas land which he named "Stone Mountain." He became a prosperous farmer and respected citizen, and was a man of incorruptible integrity, sound judgment, and most remarkable powers of memory. So unusual was the development of the faculty that after hearing a sermon he could repeat it almost verbatim. This trait has been inherited by many of his descendants. He was justice of the peace for forty-five years, but so kind, just and peaceable was he that in all that time only two cases came to the point of a trial before him, and both of these were finally settled without costs. In 1823 he was sent to the Legislature by the largest Democratic majority ever given in his district, yet no persuasion could induce him to become a candidate for re-election. He married Elizabeth McClure (born March 8, 1768, died in 1832), and had the following children: Elizabeth, James, Mary, Robert, McClay, Nancy, Robert, William, and Cyrus and Silas (twins). Of the above, James Alexander was born January 17, 1793, and died December 18, 1850. On November 27, 1821, he married Ann Lewis, who was born April 22, 1799, and died in 18--. Their children were: Robert, born October 9, 1822, died January 20, 1847; Elizabeth, born June 9, 1824, married James Alexander in 1848, and lives in Kansas; Celia Ann, born March 3, 1826, married Owen Copelin, of Milroy, Penn.; James Read, born April 7, 1828, married May Wolfe; Euphemia, born April 21, 1830, died May 8, 1835; Louisa J., born July 7, 1832, married Daniel Leyden; Samuel, born August 15, 1834, died November 29, 1861, as assistant surgeon of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, being killed in battle; Cyrus T. is mentioned more fully below; Mary Jane, born December 18, 1838, died May 26, 1841; Alice Annette, born July 29, 1844, died December 6, 1847. Hon. Cyrus T. Alexander was born September 10, 1836, in Mifflin county, Penn., and was educated at Dickinson Seminary, graduating in 1853. In August, 1859, he was admitted to the Bar of Centre county, and locating at Bellefonte, began a successful professional career. For eleven years he was in partnership with Hon. J. H. Orvis (since a judge of the 25th District), and afterward Mr. Alexander became the senior member of the well-known firm of Alexander & Bower. Mr. Alexander was pre-eminent among his professional brethren for his ability in dealing with the vexatious problems arising in connection with overlapping surveys under the land grants in this State. Always a close student, a remarkable memory made his researches in any chosen branch a permanent possession. He was an ardent Democrat, and in 1861 and 1862 he became part owner of the Democratic Watchman, which he edited during that time in addition to his other duties. His abilities gave him prominence in political circles also, and in 1864-65 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Centre county in the State Legislature. In November, 1878, he was elected to the State Senate, and served four years with distinction. As a business man he displayed the same remarkable energy and sagacity which brought him success in other lines, and in 1868 he and his brother, J. R. Alexander, purchased about 200 acres of land lying north from Buffalo Run creek to the gap between Milesburg and Bellefonte. Here they developed the finest limekilns in the State, which they continued, in connection with a coal business, under the firm name of J. R. & C. T. Alexander. In 1880 they opened the first implement and seed store ever established at Bellefonte, and conducted it until January 1, 1885, when they leased the plant to McCalmont & Co., and withdrew. About the same time C. T. Alexander contracted a severe cold which settled in his throat, and this, in spite of the best medical treatment, resulted in his death. He left a widow and two children - Roberta T., now Mrs. H. S. Yarrington, and J. W., a leading attorney of Bellefonte, of whom further mention is made below. Mrs. Yarrington was born September 15, 1859, and was carefully educated, being a graduate of Wilson College, at Chambersburg, Penn. Her husband, the late H. S. Yarrington, was for thirty years previous to his death the treasurer of the Richmond & Fredericksburg and the Potomac, Richmond & Danville railroads. She has three children: Cyrus A., Louise, and Greyson. Mrs. Cyrus T. Alexander, who still resides in Bellefonte, was formerly Miss Margaret Potter. She was born near Boalsburg, Penn., May 8, 1837, and was married to Mr. Alexander in October, 1858. Her grandfather, Fergus Potter, an early settler in Penn's Valley, came from Ireland about 17--, and spent his remaining years there. He left a large family, among whom was a son Samuel, Mrs. Alexander's father, who became a prominent citizen of Bellefonte, where for many years he was engaged in business as a tanner. He died in Centre county at the age of eighty-six; his wife is also deceased. They had five sons - William, John, James, Samuel and George - and four daughters - Jane (who married Abram V. Miller), Susan (deceased), Mar- 446 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. garet (now Mrs. Alexander), and Sarah (who married Donald McBride, and resides in Lawrence, Kansas). J. [James] W. Alexander, of Bellefonte, whose ancestry we have thus traced, is a worthy representative of this honored family. He was born August 24, 1864, and had his early home upon a farm in Spring township, Centre county, on the outskirts of Bellefonte. After attending the public schools of that borough for some time, he entered Bellefonte Academy and was in attendance there three years. In 1880, on the sixteenth anniversary of his birth, he was enrolled in the freshman class of Pennsylvania State College, and in 1884 he completed the scientific course, graduating with the degree of B. S. Owing to ill health he did not begin his professional studies immediately, but after his father's death he prepared for the Bar under the direction of Judge John G. Love, and March 4, 1890, was admitted to the Bar. He inherited his father's law library, a large and valuable collection, and has already won a name as an accurate student. As he is somewhat retiring in disposition, he inclines to those branches of professional work where good memory, deep research and sound logic are of more account than rhetorical ability, but he has nevertheless made a success of courtroom business, making pleas which have been highly complimented for their strength and effectiveness. He has always practiced alone, and does a general law business. In the social world Mr. Alexander holds a high position. Genial and companionable, he has a host of friends, and he is identified with several fraternal orders. He has been an active member of the K.G.E. since its organization in Bellefonte, and was instrumental in organizing the Bellefonte Conclave of the Independent Order of Heptasophs. On July 19, 1894, he joined Company B, 5th Penn. N. G.., entering as a private, and has been promoted until he now holds the rank of second sergeant. He is thoroughly versed in military tactics, having graduated as a captain of a military company at State College.