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John Alexander

–1876

✦ direct ancestor — Owen's 4×-great-grandfather · West line

Life

Died
23 Mar 1876

Marriage & children

Spouse✦ Mary Jane Sheller (–1847)
✦ Rev. Hugh Paden Alexander (1836–1911)
Martha Alexander (1837–1895)

Records behind this page

Find a Grave, gravestone photographs of the Alexander family of Blair and Union Counties, Pennsylvania - images read 24 Sep 2026
Memorial 119775510, Lewisburg Cemetery, Union Co., Pa.; stone photo added by Nancy Neuman, 2013
READ ON THE IMAGE 24 Sep 2026 (register K823): "JOHN ALEXANDER / DIED / MARCH 23, 1876. / AGED / 64 YRS. 2 MOS. 23 DS." - the foot line is cut off by the photograph. Names no kin.
Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1972 - Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, via Ancestry
Certificate no. 7754 (1923), Mary J. Alexander Hughes, d. 7 Jan 1923, Honey Brook, Chester Co.; registration district 351; Ancestry coll. 5164 record 2247700, image 41381_2421401757_0435-00272
read the transcript
READ ON THE IMAGE 24 Sep 2026 (register K831). Full name: Mary J. Alexander Hughes. Female, white, married. Date of birth: Jan. 16th 1847. Age 75 yrs 11 mos 22 ds. Occupation: housewife. Birthplace: Pa. (10) Name of father: John Alexander. (11) Birthplace of father: Pa. (12) Maiden name of mother: Mary Sheller. (13) Birthplace of mother: Pa. Informant: Thomas J. Hughes, Honey Brook, Pa. (her husband). Died January 7, 1923; burial Honey Brook M.E. Cem., Jan. 11, 1923.
The Evening Review (Garnett, Kansas), 1911 - Newspapers.com (Kansas Historical Society collection)
Thu 25 May 1911, p.1, 'H. P. ALEXANDER: A Sketch of the Life and Work of This Well Known Citizen' - Newspapers.com image 417550673
read the transcript
READ ON THE IMAGE, IN FULL, 24 Sep 2026 (register K827). "Hugh Paden Alexander was born in Huntington county, Pa., August 3, 1836, where he spent his early childhood. His parents, after a few years, removed to Blair county, Pa., where his mother died, when he was twelve years old. He then went to live with an uncle, but after two years, returned home. The family then removed to Union county, Pa., where his father died in 1876. He had three brothers and four sisters, two of whom are yet living: Mary J. Hughes, of Honeybrock, Pa., and Florence C. Davis, of Arcola, Wyo. In Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1863, he was married to Hannah E. Kunkle. To them twelve children were born." Six living daughters named: Mary J. Velthoen, Maggie P. Cook, Bessie West, Minnie A. Patch, Winnie A. Cuningham, Mattie C. Dowling. Schoolmaster (Savannah Academy, Andrew Co., Mo., 1865; Marysville, Kas. schools 1872-82); supplied pulpits and organized churches as a layman. Died May 19th at his farm near Berea; funeral by his pastor, Rev. Morris of Richmond. NAMES NEITHER PARENT.

Research notes

Working notes from the research, kept verbatim — what was read, what it proved, what stays open. Many open with a line grading the parentage; what the grades mean.

Research note · 29 Sep 2026
AUDITED 24 Sep 2026 - FIRST NOTE. Father of [992], graded ARGUMENT by Owen 24 Sep 2026; the proof summary is in [992]'s note. His gravestone in Lewisburg Cemetery, Union Co., Pa. (Find a Grave 119775510, photograph read 24 Sep 2026) reads "JOHN ALEXANDER / DIED / MARCH 23, 1876. / AGED / 64 YRS. 2 MOS. 23 DS.", which puts his birth about 31 Dec 1811. The 1923 Pennsylvania death certificate of his daughter Mary J. Alexander Hughes, no. 7754, names "John Alexander", born Pa., as her father. His first wife Mary Jane died in Blair County 26 Dec 1847; a second wife, Jane S. Sankey, is not entered here. Birth place and parents unknown. 29 Sep 2026 - TWO CHILDREN ENTERED, A SECOND WIFE HELD (round-7 triage A1, A2; Owen). Martha Alexander (b. 30 Oct 1837, Union County, Pa.; d. 11 Nov 1895, Holden, Missouri; later Myers) and Samuel Sheller Alexander (b. 7 Apr 1841; d. 25 May 1909, Philadelphia) are entered as children of John and Mary Jane at flag 0, on their Find a Grave memorials (106430905, 86775543). Those memorials name their mother as Jane S. Sankey, but both children were born before Mary Jane's death on 26 Dec 1847, and Samuel's middle name is Sheller, so they are placed with her. Jane S. Sankey Alexander (1812-1879 on Find a Grave) is held as a probable second wife and is not entered; nor is Dr Hamill M. Alexander (b. 1851), until a marriage record is read. Dossier: agent-report-3446-john-alexander-2026-09-28.md.

Elsewhere

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