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JAMES FRANKLIN ALEXANDER
JAMES FRANKLIN ALEXANDER, now enjoying in well earned case an honorable
retirement from labor at his pleasant home in Abilene, was born in Maury
county, Tennessee, October 31, 1833. His father, James Minor Alexander,
removed from Camden, South Carolina, to Tennessee in the year 1810. His mother
was Margaret Carter prior to her marriage into the Alexander family. Having
arrived at years of maturity James M. Alexander married a Miss Aiken,
also a native of South Carolina, whose father removed to Tennessee about the
same time the Alexander family was established there. Mr. and Mrs. James M.
Alexander became the parents of six children, two sons and four daughters, of
whom James Franklin is the only one now living.
He was reared on the farm up to the time of his father's death in 1857, after
which he went to Spring Hill, Tennessee, and there engaged in the dry goods
business with which he was connected for three years. At that time the country
was involved in the throes of the Civil war and Mr. Alexander espoused the
cause of the south, offering his services in its defense, enlisting on the
21st of May, 1861, as a member of Company F, Third Regiment of Volunteer
Infantry, the company being known as Brown's rifles, for the regiment was
commanded by Colonel John C. Brown. He was afterward promoted to the
rank of general and commanded a division. Dr. Alexander was with his command
and brigade up to the time they left Bowling Green, Kentucky, and there he was
detached on special duty for service in the pay master's and quartermaster's
department. He remained with the army throughout the war and was with General
Joe Johnston's command at the time of the surrender at Greenville, North
Carolina.
After being paroled he returned to Nashville, where he arrived on the 21st of
May, 1865, just exactly four years from the time of his enlistment. The next
important event in his life was his marriage, which was celebrated on the 28th
of September, 1865, at which time Miss Elizabeth McLemore became his
wife. She is a native of Maury county, Tennessee, and a daughter of
Jefferson McLemore, of a representative family of that section of the
country. Unto them have been born three children: James M., who is
mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Bethenia J.; and R. Sydney
McLemore Alexander, also a practicing physician at Abilene. The wife and
mother departed this life in August, 1891.
Following his marriage Mr. Alexander turned his attention to farming near
Spring Hill, where he remained until 1890. At that time he sold his farm and
removed to Abilene, Texas, where he engaged in the drug business, having
purchased the stock of P. H. Carter. This store he conducted for eight
years with good success and then sold out to L. H. Bradfield, since
which time he has lived retired save for the supervision of his invested
interests, for he owns considerable property in this part of the state. He is
a member of Abilene lodge, No. 562, B. P. O. E., and is a man of genuine
worth, enjoying in high measure the esteem and confidence of those with whom
he has been associated.
B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago:
Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 417-418.
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