John William Alexander was the son of Hugh and Charlotte (Lambertson) Alexander and was born April 25, 1846 in Bellevue, (Jackson County), Iowa. His family would then move to southern Iowa around 1856. At the age of 15, he ran away from home and joined the Union Army, serving as a private for 3 years in the Civil War in COMPANY I 23rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry, under Captain John Parker, from Jan 1, 1862, resigned July 8, 1862 and then under Captain Marion Cave, from Sep 5, 1862, mustered out Dec 30, 1864.
A letter written to his mother February 3, 1862 from Macon County, Missouri, states:
“Dear Mother:
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope these few lines may find you in good health. We are encamped about forty miles east of Chillicothe(?) on the west Chanton(?). I expect to start out on a scout if nothing happens tomorrow. I am well and have been ever since I came in camp. I have felt better since I came in camp than ever I did in my life without bragging. I expect to come home before the first of April if nothing happens. Direct your letters to Capt. Parker Co. (I) 23rd Regiment Mo. Vols
Yours with Respect
John Alexander”
After receiving his discharge at Savannah in 1864, he went to New York and from there, back to St. Louis, and then home. He was not quite 20 years of age. About 1869, he came to Texas and settled somewhere near Fredericksburg, Texas. It’s been reported that he joined the Texas Rangers from 1871-1873 and was known as “Kansas Bill”, though I haven’t found documentation to back this up. On June 15, 1873, John William Alexander married Ruth Lillie Lacy at Boerne, Texas.
| Name: | John Alexander | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | Abt 1847 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | Iowa | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Home in 1880: | White Oaks, Lincoln, New Mexico, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dwelling Number: | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Race: | White | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Relation to Head of House: | Self (Head) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status: | Married | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse’s Name: | Ruthi Alexander | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Father’s Birthplace: | Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother’s Birthplace: | Indiana | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Carpenter | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
John William Alexander
| BIRTH | |
|---|---|
| DEATH | 27 Oct 1946 (aged 100) |
| BURIAL | Hext, Menard County, Texas, USA |
Inscription
Headstone is marked “C.S.A” which is incorrect. John William Alexander was a Union soldier. I have uniform picture, military records and newspaper articles to document his service.
Newspaper Clippings
- 0.
Lincoln County Marriage
Lincoln County Ownership
For official copies of documents, please visit the County office.
See Interactive Map Ownership
Ancestry.com
- LISTED
Find A Grave
White Oaks Pioneer From 1880-1900?
- No
Family Members
Hugh Alexander
1814–1899
Charlotte Lambertson Alexander
1821–1908
Ruth Jane Lillian Lacey Alexander
1854–1917
Sarah Isabel Alexander Bullock
1844–1901
Charles Augustus Alexander
1848–1931
Thomas Jefferson Alexander
1850–1918
Louisa Catherine Alexander
1853–1854
Benjamin Johnson Alexander
1855–1918
Margaret Annie Alexander Johnson
1857–1913
Francis Marion Alexander
1860–1944
James Grant Alexander
1863–1953
George Banks Alexander
1863–1937
Aciel Thomas Alexander
1874–1928
Charles Augustus Alexander
1875–1961
Ernest Melvin Alexander
1877–1954
Mary Eunice Alexander Soules
1878–1978
Hugh Phelps Alexander
1880–1956
William Henry Alexander
1882–1950
Louis Benjamin Alexander
1884–1966
Cinthy Louanna Alexander Young
1887–1977
Samuel Albert Alexander
1890–1960
Ira Alexander
1897–1897
