Thanks to Gary Pitcock for contributing this

THE HISTORY OF THE ALEXANDER FAMILY From Which Is Traced The History Of  THE  MURPHY FAMILY And The Reprinting Of Some Interesting Documents.

Printed for Mrs. Adelaide Francis Murphy Sullivan, San Francisco, California.

HISTORY OF THE  ALEXANDER FAMILY BY E.H. ALEXANDER, ANTIOCH

    Our good friend Paul Revere requested me a short time before the
suspension of "The News," under its former editor, to write the history of
the Alexander family for publication.
    As the history of this family is so closely interwoven with the histories
of a great many other families of different names, who can trace their
descent from John Alexander, who settled in Cumberland County in 1805, I have
concluded to give the main facts as gathered by my father, C. F. Alexander,
and Judge Tyler Alexander and others, and leave it to those who may be
interested to trace their individual descent from the old family tree.
    First, we will briefly refer to the eldest members of the family who came
from Scotland. It appears that the Alexanders of Scotland affiliated with
Clans Wallace and Douglas, and were supporters of Robert Bruce. Their motto
in heraldry was "Faithful and Grateful." To go no farther back that can be
proven by family records, we find that John Alexander married a Miss Margaret
Gleason of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1735, and shortly afterwards went to
Ireland; and in the year 1740, he with two of his brother's sons and a niece
who had married a Mr. Polk, emigrated to America and settled in Chesterlea,
Pennsylvania. Soon afterwards the two brothers, with their brother-in-law,
Mr. Polk, moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. From this source
sprang the Alexanders of North Carolina and a great portion of those of
Tennessee.
    It will be remembered by the historians that the first Declaration of
Independence originated and was known as the Mecklenberg Declaration of
Independence. An Alexander was chairman of the meeting and another its
secretary. Five of their names were signed to this historic document. James
came to America in the year 1716 and settled in New York. His son, Wiliam,
married a daughter of Philip Livingston, and was known as "Lord Sterling."
From that source sprang the Alexanders of America.
    The John Alexander referred to, a short time after his nephew went to
North Carolina moved to Cumberland County, Tennessee, and afterwards to
Berkly County, Virginia, where he spent the rest of his days on a farm which
he had purchased there. His son, Robert, married Bertha Martin and settled in
Cumberland County, Virginia. They had four children - John, Biddie, Bettie,
and Susan. Biddie married a Smith, Bettie married a Sampson and Susan married
a Spears. John was born December, 1741. He married Lucy Nunn and settled in
Henry County, Virginia. He was a soldier of the Revolution and rose to the
rank of captain in the Brigade of Light Horse Harry Lee. He moved to
Cumberland County, Ky., in 1805, and settled on a large tract of land lying
on Marrowbone Creek and built the home in which Guy Davis now lives. Here he
spent the remaining days of his life. He died October 17, 1836, and his wife,
Lucy, died July 15th, 1815.
    The children of John and Lucy were Thomas, Martin, Ingram, Robert,
Reubin, Joseph, Phillip, Sollie, Biddy, Betsey and Susan. Thomas first
married Mollie Rancy and afterward Nancy Wisdom. Martin married Winnie Jones;
Ingram married Botsey Nunn; Robert married Polly Miller; Reuben married Eliza
Miller; Joseph first married Nancy Bouldin of Hart County and afterwards
Sally Bouldin of Virginia; Philip married Susan Bouldin, a sister of Sallie;
Biddy married Peter Gearhart; Betsey married Thomas Smith; Susan married
Michael Hall and afterwards a Mr. Porter.
    As foresaid, those who are interested may trace their particular line
back to the Alexanders of Scotland. Among the families of other names who are
descendants of John Alexander are the Munroes, Whites, Gee, Paces, Davis,
Richey, Allen, Baker, Jones, Smith, Beck, Norris, Nunn, Harvey, Taylor,
Strange, Stockwell, Murphy and a host of others that I do not recall and have
not space to mention.
    Among those of the name who are living on the place previously occupied
by John Alexander, Sr., are E. G., John O. and Herschel Alexander, of
Waterview, John R. Alexander of Marrowbone. Will E. Davis and Guy Davis, who
are living on the old home place, are direct descendants, being great-great
grandsons on their mother's side.
As farmers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and merchants they have been
prominent, not only in the society in which they live, but in the wider field
they have been a part and parcel of the warp and woof of national existence.   

    It was the thunder of Alexander's Battery that signaled the charge of
Gettsburg, when the flower of the Army of Virginia was hurled like a restless
wave on Cemetery Hill. These were some of the same stock who stood in the
solid wall that rolled back the wave in shattered fragments and sounded the
knell of the Confederacy.
    In more peaceful times we find the names of Tyler Alexander, Herschel
Baker and Wallace Jones, who have served their people with ability and honor
as judges of our circuit courts. Senator Frank White and Hon. James Harvey
and others have served in the councils of State. Edwin Norris, who was born
and reared in the old home place, was the popular Governor of Montana. In
athletics Grover Alexander has shone as a star of the first magnitude in the
firmanent of our national game. As an educator James R. Alexander is known
throughout the State. But why be personal? There are hundreds who might be
named.
    The ladies of the family should not be forgotten. I have often heard the
old-time darkies speak of the grace and beauties of our maternal ancestors -
especially of "Miss Lucy" and "Miss Liza." According to reports, Miss Lucy
was small and fairy-like but exceedingly pretty and vivacious. It is said all
of her sons were over six feet tall and stalwart and that their mother could
easily walk under their extended arms. Often in their sport they would seize
their mother and carry her about the room as though she were a little child.
One old colored man who was brought from Virginia and who was known as
"Richmond Jim," often boasted to me of the "quality of his family." An event
he was very fond of relating was that young Miss Eliza Miller was selected,
on account of her beauty, to deposit a gold coin in the cornerstone of the
capitol. If "Uncle Jim" was anything like a fair judge, she was also a very
skillful performer on the "forte piano." Reubin Alexander married Eliza
Miller.
    Among the many young lady descendants of those old-time beauties who were
belles in their youth, perhaps none were more popular than the Misses Nannie
Alexander of Burkesville and Lina Duerson of Marrowbone.
    Grace and beauty are still characteristics of the descendants. From
Willow Shade to Burkesville, including the whole of Marrowbone Valley, they
are to be found in abundance. Go to the old homestead, which for generations
has given of its substance to brawn of its sons and bloom to its daughters,
and there on the ground made sacred by the footsteps of those who have gone
before, you will find that the blood that painted the roses in the cheeks of
our great grandmothers still courses through the veins of their daughters,
and the bewitching beauty of Miss Nellie is no less charming than were
theirs.
    A short time ago I had the pleasure of stopping over night at the home
place and enjoying the hospitality of Will, Ed and Guy Davis and their
charming families.
    It was with the keenest feeling of delight that I was again permitted to
ramble about the old place in the early morning and watch the fogs of the
valley roll away among the purple hills, and as the rosy fingers of the dawn
drew aside the curtains of the night and fashioned the shining garments of
the new-born day, I was again a little child, dreaming the dreams of
innocence and enjoying the beauties of life without a thought of its shadows.

    As I have perhaps already trespassed too far on your space, I will say in
conclusion that I hope the hundreds of your readers who are in some way
connected with the old families referred to may have some pleasure in tracing
their line back to the heather hilds of old Scotland. (The End.)
    In last week's issue of "The News," our compositor made the following
mistakes, which we wish to correct: John Alexander came from Ireland to
Chesterlea, Pennsylvania, instead of Tennessee. Also he married Maryart
Gleason, instead of Margaret, as was stated last week.-----------


LETTER OF J. W. MURPHY TO HIS AUNT, MRS. NARCISSA MERRIFIELD, OF OROVILLE,
CALIFORNIA

    Burlington, Iowa
    January 26, 1924.

Mrs. Narcissa Merrifield,
908 Meyer Street
Oroville, California,

Dear Aunt Narcissa:

    I received your nice letter some weeks ago and am now sending you a
message of interest and love. I learn from your letter that you are married
again, and infer that you are living out in the surburbs where you can keep
chickens and make a garden. After Aunt Susan was 90 years of age she raised a
good garden over at Luray and looked after a flock of chickens. She had read
the Bible through forty-eight times, once after 90 years of age without
spectacles.
    My sister, Mrs. Emma Cushman, is now living at 144 Sunset Boulevard,
Modesto, California.
    My son was over at Burkesville, Kentucky, some months ago and procured a
lot of information about our ancestry. Your mother was Elizabeth Gearheart.
Her mother was Obedience Alexander, who married Peter Gearheart, your
grandfather, at Marrowbone, Kentucky. I am enclosing you a history of the
Alexander family, reaching back six generations to Scotland. Hundreds of our
relatives are living in and around Burkesville and Marrowbone, and this
history of the Alexander family was written and published by one of them 25
years ago. Am also enclosing you with this letter a bill of sale for a negro
woman which your father purchased from your uncle in 1835 down in Kentucky. I
am wondering if this negro woman is "Old Auntie"? Do you know anything about
this?
    I am endeavoring to compile a history of our family. The farthest back I
can go with the Murphy family lineage is to Francis Murphy, your grandfather,
who died on his farm at Burkesville, Kentucky, in 1835. I am enclosing you a
copy of his will, the original of which is on record at Burkesville.
    Where did your grandfather, Francis Murphy, come from when he moved to
Kentucky? Did he come from Virginia; if so, what part of Virginia? Did he
come from Ireland; if so, what part of Ireland? How far back do we have to go
to find our ancestor, the Murphy who came from Ireland, adn what was his full
name? Please answer all of these questions as nearly as you can.
    My four children grew to manhood and womanhood long ago and are married
and settled, and besides having four grandchildren I have one great grandson.
I was 67 years of age on January 10, 1924. My health is good and I am a
steady worker. Myself and family send love to Aunt Narcissa. With
affectionate regards I remain
    Your loving nephew,
    J. W. Murphy

A DEED FROM THOS. AND SUSAN WASH TO FRANCIS MURPHY
-------------
Original Record In Deed Book D, Page 152, Records Of Cumberland County,
Kentucky

    This indenture made this 17th day of August in the year of our Lord,
eighteen hundred and nineteen between Thos. Wash and Susy his wife of the one
part, of Cumberland County and State of Kentucky, and Francis Murphy of the
other part, of the same State and County, WITNESSETH:
    THAT, The said Thomas Wash and Susy his wife for and in consideration of
the sum of Two Thousand One Hundred and Forty Dollars current money of the
State of Kentucky, to them in hand paid the receipt whereof they do hereby
acknowledge hath by bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant,
bargain and sold and convey unto the said Francis Murphy, his heirs and
assigns a certain tract or parcel of land containing two hundred and fourteen
acres situated, lying and  being in the county of Cumberland on the north
side of Cumberland River and bounded as follows:
    Beginning on Walter Nunn's corner, elm, horn beam and hack berry, on the
Bank of Cumberland River; thence up the river binding thereon South 34
degrees East, 102 poles, to two maples and a box elder; at the mouth of a
branch; thence up said branch as it meanders North 74 degrees East 40 poles
to a beech; thence a new line North 55 degrees East 22 poles to a walnut
trere, dogwood and mulberry near a spring; thence South 53 1/2 degrees east 8
poles to a beech; thence North 49 1/2 degrees East 106 poles to two sugar
trees and a black ash on the Bank of the branch; thence north 11 degrees East
248 poles to three beeches in the old line of said Military Survey; thence
with that line North 60 degrees West 38 1/2 poles to Walter Nunn's corner a
beech in said line; thence with his line South 13 degrees West 100 poles to a
sugar tree and White Oak; thence South 43 degrees West 220 poles to the
beginning.
    With its appurtenances, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said 214 acres of land
with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise
appurtaining to them. The said Murphy his heirs and assigns forever, and to
his and their only proper use, benefit and behoof, and Thomas Wash and Lucy
his wife for themselves and their heirs and all persons claiming under them
further covenant and agree to and with said Murphy and his heirs that the
aforesaid tract of land and appurtenances they will warrant and forever
defend from the claims of themselves and their heirs and from all and every
person or persons claim or claims of any kind whatsoever.
    In testimony whereof the said Thomas Wash and his wife Susy have hereunto
set their hands and affixed their seals this day and year above written.
    THOMAS WASH, (Seal)
    SUSY WASH.  (Seal)
---------------
Kentucky, Cumberland County, Sct.
    I, Milton King, Deputy Clerk of the County Court, for the County
aforesaid do certify that Thomas Wash and Susy his wife parties to the within
deed of bargain and sale from themselves to Francis Murphy came personally
before me in my office on the 21st day of August, 1819, and acknowledged the
same to be their act and deed privily examined her the said Susy, separate
and a part from her said Husband, and she acknowledged that she freely and
voluntarily relinquished all her right of dower in and to the within
mentioned tract of land and premises without the persuasion or coersion of
her said husband and that she did not wish to retract the same, and agree
that the same should be received in my said office and that I have recorded
the same together with this certificate in my office in Deed Book D., Page
152.
    Witnessed my hand this 19th day of November, 1819.
    MILTON KING.
----------------
THE LAST WILL OF FRANCIS MURPHY
        -------
ORIGINAL RECORD IN WILL BOOK C, PAGE 86, RECORDS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
KENTUCKY

    I, Francis Murphy, of the County of Cumberland, and State of Kentucky,
(being) of sound mind and memory, and wishing to arrange my temporal matters
and to dispose of my property in an equitable and just manner amongst my
family, do make, constitute and ordain this my LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT,
hereby revoking all others, WITNESSED:
    FIRST:  I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Ann Murphy, for her
natural life the one-third of all of my estate, both real and personal, and
it is my wish that in laying off her dower in my lands that it shall be so
done as to give her the mansion house, garden, and so forth and in such
manner as to operate equal on the respective parts of the lands laid off for
my sons, Reull and Foster Murphy;---and in allowing her the third of my
slaves, stock and household goods, I wish her to select such as she may
prefer, and I do hereby give her the privilege. The personal estate allotted
to my beloved wife to revert back to my estate at her death and to be divided
as hereafter named between my children or their heirs.
    SECOND:  I give and bequeath to my sons, Ruell Murphy and Foster Murphy,
the lands and tenements at present owned by me or I may possess at my demise
or diseeged to them and their heirs forever, subject to the dower of my wife,
to be divided as follows, viz:  To Ruell Murphy all that portion of the tract
of land on which we at present reside lying north of a dividing line this day
run and marked by W. C. Barton (in the presence of both Reull and Foster
Murphy), being that part of said tract adjoining the land of W. Nunn's Est.
and of which Reull Murphy have rerected a dwelling house and improvements,
containing by survey, -------acres. ----To Foster Murphy all that portion of
said tract lying south of said dividing line and adjoining the lands of Thos.
Wash's Est. and being that part on which the mansion house is situated
containing -------acres. The hill lands being south of the Cumberland River
to be divided equal between them in such manner as they may agree on. Their
respective parts of the land willed by these presents to be valued to them by
Commissioners at a fair cash valuation and they are to account for the same
in the distribution and division of my estate or property.
    THIRDLY:  I give and bequeath my whole estate to be equallyl divided and
allotted between and amongst my five children, viz: John Murphy, Reull
Murphy, Nicholas Murphy, Foster Murphy and Missouri Murphy, or should either
of them die previous to my demise to his or her heirs; my son John Murphy
accounting for in said division the sum of one hundred and eighty-five
dollars previously to this date given him; my son Reull Murphy for the sum of
one hundred ($100) dollars given him previous to this; my son Nicholas the
sum of One hundred and seventy dollars heretofore received by him, my son,
Reull Murphy furthermore to account in said division for the amount of the
valuation of the lands (not including the buildings and improvements put on
the same by himself) hereby devised, and my son Foster the amount of the
valuation of the lands hereby willed him and my daughter, Missouri, to
account for the appraisement of the little negro girl Indith which I have
given her. It is furthermore my wish that my slaves be held by my children
and taken by them at valuation and that my estate be divided as early as
convient after my death with as little cost as possible. I appoint my sons
John Murphy and Foster Murphy my executors.
    In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day
of April, 1833.
    FRANCIS MURPHY, (Seal)
    Signed and acknowledged in the presence of:
        Reubin Alexander,
        Nathan S. Strange,
        Wm. C. Barton.
CODICIL.

    In allotting or laying the dower or thirds to my beloved wife Ann Murphy
I wish her to have the one-third of the lands independent of the value of the
mansion house. And on the value of Foster Murphy land do I hereby direct that
house or houses thereon is not to be taken in the estimation of the valuation
by the Commissioners, but he is to be placed on the same footing of his Bro.
Reull, as I allow him the improvements for his extra services. In addition to
the within will I have hereunto annexed the above codicil.
    Given under my hand the 11th April 1833.
    FRANCIS MURPHY
    Signed and acknowledged in the presence of :
    Reubin Alexander,
    Nathan S. Strange,
    Wm. C. Barton.
-----------------
    Kentucky, Cumberland County, Sct.
    I, Milton King, Clerk of the County Clerk for said County do hereby
certify that the within last will and testament of Francis Murphy dec'd,
together with his codicil annexed was produced in open court at the September
term 1833, and proven by the oaths of Reubin Alexander and Nathan S. Strange
two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to record and the same
is truly entered of record in office in Will Book C, page 86.
    Given under my hand this 6th day of Dec., 1833.
    M. KING, Clk.,
    By James Haggard, D. C. C.
-----------------------


BILL OF SALE OF NEGRO WOMAN AND CHILD
   
    Burkesville, Kentucky, May 10, 1835.
    Know all men by these presents that I, Nicholas Murphy, of the county of
Cumberland and State of Kentucky, have this day bargained and sold, and by
these presents do bargain and sell, unto Reuel Murphy, one negro girl named
Eda and her child named Mary, for and in consideration of the sum of Five
Hundred Dollars ($500.00), the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged; and
the said Nicholas P. Murphy doth hereby covenant that he will forever the
said Negroes and their future increase, unto him the said Reuel Murphy, his
heirs and assigns, against all persons whomsoever.
    In testimony whereof the said Nicholas P. Murphy has set his hand and
seal this 10th day of May 1835.
    (Signed)    N. P. MURPHY. (Seal)
    Witness:
    Foster Murphy
-----------------------
A DEED FROM RUELL MURPHY AND WIFE TO FOSTER MURPHY.
            -------------
ORIGINAL RECORD IN DEED BOOK J, PAGE 162, RECORDS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
KENTUCKY

    This indenture made and entered into this 18th day of October, 1836, by
and between Ruell Murphy and Elizabeth his wife of the one part and Foster
Murphy of the other part, WITNESSETH:
    That, the said Murphy for and in consideration of the sum of $738.34 in
hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said Ruell Murphy
hathe bargained and sold and confirmed and by these presents bargain, grant,
sell, convey and confirm unto the said Foster, his heirs or assigns, two
certain parcels of land lying and being in the County of Cumberland, and
State of Kentucky, one parcel being the land and premises whereon the said
Ruell resides at present being the west end of the tract of land that the
late Francis Murphy deid seized devised and will by said Francis Murphy to
said Ruell Murphy not including any portion of said land included in the
dower of their mother, Ann Murphy to be laid off as directed by the will of
Francis Murphy of record in Cumberland's County Clerk's Office, being
one-third of the homestead tract of land that their father died seized in the
one-third of Two Hundred and Fourteen acres see deed Wash to Murphy, also the
undivided moiety of a survey of 100 acres of land lying on the south or
opposite side of the Cumberland River in the hills held heretofore jointly by
Ruell and Foster Murphy. To him the said Foster Murphy and his heirs and
assigns forever with all the privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging
and the said Ruell Murphy and Elizabeth his wife do by these presents warrant
and defend the right and title in fee simple in and to the above conveyed
premises that is the seventy-one and one-third acres on the north side of the
Cumberland River and the fifty acres of land on the south side to the said
Foster Murphy his heirs and assigns against the claim of all and every person
or persons whatsoever.
    In testimony whereof the said Ruell Murphy and Elizabeth his wife hath
hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and date above
written.
    ELIZABETH MURPHY (Seal)
    RUELL MURPHY (Seal)
Ak.
John Carter,
Joseph M. Gearhart.
               -----------
    Kentucky, Cumberland County, Sct.
    I, M. King, Clerk of the Cumberland County Court, do certify that the
within deed was proven before me on the 7th day of November, 1836, by the two
subscribing witnesses hereto and ordered to record and the same is entered of
record i my office in deed book J, Page 162.
    Given under my hand this 10th day of Nov., 1836.
    M. King
--------------------------
    A DEED FROM RUELL MURPHY AND WIFE TO FOSTER MURPHY
                --------------
ORIGINAL RECORD IN DEED BOOK N, PAGE 120, RECORDS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
KENTUCKY

     This indenture made and entered into this the first day of March
eighteen hundred and fifty-four, between Ruell Murphy of the County of Clark,
State of Missouri, of the one part and John W. Hunter and Louisa Ann Murphy
of the County of Cumberland, State of Kentucky, of the other part,
WITNESSETH:
    That, the said Murphy for and in consideration of the sum of Four Hundred
Dollars to be paid upon delivery of this deed, one-half of which sum Curtis
Blacwkood (Blackwood), Guardian to the Louisa Ann Murphy is to pay, the said
Ruell Murphy, hath this day  bargained, sold, aliened and conveyed unto the
said John W. Hunter and Louisa Ann Murphy all his interest in and to the
tract of land of which his father, Francis Murphy, died, seized and
possessed, situate, lying and being in the County of Cumberland, State of
Kentucky, upon the north side of Cumberland River in what is called Washes
Bottom, the part of said tract intended her to be conveyed is an undivided
sixth of the whole of said tract or one-half of the portion devised by the
said Francis Murphy, his wife to Ann Murphy his wife of dower or as shair in
lien or dower and the said Ruell Murphy covenants and agrees to and with the
said John W. Hunter and Louisa Ann Murphy that he will warrant and forever
defend the title of the land hereby conveyed unto the said Hunter and Murphy
of the second part their heirs and assigns free from and against the claim or
claims of all and every person whatsoever, hereby linding himself, his heirs
and assigns and executors on this warranty.
    In testimony whereof the said Ruell Murphy and Elizabeth his wife who
hereby relinquishes her claim to dower  in the land conveyed have subscribed
their names and affixed their seals this day first above written.
    RUELL MURPHY (Seal)
    ELIZABETH MURPHY (Seal)
               --------------------------------
State of Missouri,
County of Clark
    Be it remembered that on this 1st day of March, 1854, before me John P.
Hampton, Clerk of the County Court within and for said County of Clark,
personally appeared Ruel Murphy personally known as to me to be the person
whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing as a party
thereto and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed for the purposes
therein attained.
    Given under my hand and seal and office at Alexandria, this 1st day of
March, 1854.
    (Seal)      JOHN P. HAMPTON, Clk.

State of Missouri,
County of Clark.
    I, John P. Hampton, Clerk of the County Court of Clark County, State of
Missouri, do certify that the foregoing instrument of writing from Ruel
Murphy and his wife Elizabeth was this day produced to me by the parties and
the contents and effects of the said instruments being explained by me
separate and apart from her husband she thereupon declared that she did
freely and voluntarily execute and deliver the same to be her act and deed
and consented that the same might be recorded.
    Given under my hand and seal of office at Alexandria, this first day of
March, 1854.
    (Seal)      JOHN P. HAMPTON, Clk.
                -------------
State of Missouri
County of Clark. Sct.
    I, Reyonlds Bane, Judge of the County Court of Clark County and State of
Missouri do certify that the foregoing attestation of John P. Hampton, Clerk
of The County of Clark and State of Missouri, is in due form and by the
proper offices and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
    Given under my hand and seal this the 20th of April, 1854.
    REYNOLD BANE (Seal)
    Justice of the County of Clark, State of Missouri.
            ----------------
State of Kentucky,
County of Cumberland.  Sct.
    I, James Haggard, Clerk of the County Court for said County do certify
that the foregoing deed of convegance together with the official certificates
endorsed thereon is truly entered of record in my office in deed book N, page
120.
    Given under my hand, June 22,
    JAMES MAGGARD, Clerk.
    By M. Martin, D. Clk.

THE END