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SAMUEL Z. ALEXANDER, for many years a Justice of the Peace in Knox Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, has been a farmer all his mature life and owns a valuable property consisting of 115 acres of well improved land. He was born here, April 15, 1833, and is a son of James and Rachel (Spikker) Alexander. James Alexander was born in Hancock County, W. Va., and was a son of John Alexander, who was born in what is now West Virginia, and was of Scotch-Irish parentage. James Alexander came early to Jefferson County and entered 160 acres of land from the Government during the administration of President James Madison, who signed his deed, and Samuel Z. Alexander owns eighty-eight and one-half acres of the original tract. James Alexander died in 1865. He was a man of high standing in Knox Township and for twenty-one years had served as Justice of the Peace. He was captain of a rifle company in the War of 1812. He was an old line Whig and up to the time of death, when in his ninetieth year, took an interest in public affairs and cast his ballot for the candidates of his party. He was twice married and became the father of nineteen children. Samuel Z. Alexander, although one of an unusually large family, is the only survivor and he has always made his home on the farm on which he lives. In his boyhood the children of even men of many acres of land often had few educational opportunities, and the greater part of his early schooling was obtained in the subscription schools which had no stated term of months, their continuance being usually dependent upon the support given by subscribers. Mr. Alexander's father, however, was a very intelligent man and the youth grew up accustomed to hearing public questions discussed by the leading men of the township who came for his father's advice and thus he gained much information. Reading and association with people, officially and otherwise, has long since corrected any deficiency. For many years Mr. Alexander, like his father, has been a Justice of the Peace and for a quarter of a century has been a notary public. In early manhood he learned the cabinet making trade but his life has been mainly devoted to farming and stock raising. On October 27, 1859, Mr. Alexander was married to Miss Margaret Edmiston, who was born in Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, August 26, 1840, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cannon) Edmiston. Her parents were both born in Pennsylvania, came early to Knox Township and lived to advanced age. Mrs. Alexander had an aunt, Mrs. Letitia Walker, who died June 20, 1901, in her 102nd year. One brother of Mrs. Alexander survives, Joseph W., who lives in Knox Township. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have had eight children, three of whom are deceased: One that died in infancy; Mary E. and John C. The survivors are: Rachel A., who is the wife of James M. McClave, of Urichsville, Ohio; Lizzie, who is the wife of John N. Crawford, of Knox Township; James, who lives in Knox Township; Ina M., who is the wife of Levi Mackey, of Island Creek Township; and Edna, who is the wife of J.C. Hilsinger, who is cashier of a bank in Toronto, Ohio. Mr. Alexander and family are members of the Island Creek Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. In politics he is a Republican and for eighteen years served as township clerk. The anniversary of the fiftieth wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander was celebrated in 1909, at which time many relatives and friends gathered in the old home and the occasion was one that will long be remembered for its exhibition of kind feeling.  Return to Family Tales
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