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:

Birth Date:

Abt 1847

Birthplace:

Iowa

Home in 1880:

White Oaks, Lincoln, New Mexico, USA

Dwelling Number:

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

Household Members	Age	Relationship
John Alexander	33	Self (Head)
Ruthi Alexander	25	Wife
Acsil Alexander	7	Son
Charls Alexander	6	Son
Ernest Alexander	4	Son
Unes Alexander	2	Daughter

John William Alexander

BIRTH	25 Apr 1846
DEATH	27 Oct 1946 (aged 100)
BURIAL	Hext Cemetery 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

Lincoln County Marriage

Lincoln County Ownership

For official copies of documents, please visit the County office.

Reception Information

Reception # 188610676 Kind of Instrument WD Recording Type 1 Book G Page 676 # of Pages 2 Date Filed 18860717 Intrument Date 18861109

Grantee Information

ALEXANDER J W

Grantor Information

BARNES ALBERT A
BARNES ELLIE M

Legal Description

Block 62 Lot 4 Subdivision WHITE OAKS O P