JOHN C. ALEXANDER, a prominent and time-honored farmer was born in this county January 8, 1824, and is a son of Abdon J. and Eliza E. (Campbell) Alexander, both natives of North Carolina. The father Abdon was born July 4, 1798, and followed the vocation of a farmer and stock raiser. He died October 1, 1868. The mother died in 1855. Eleazer Alexander, our subject’s paternal grandfather, was born November 23, 1763, and was one of the early settlers of this county coming here as early as 1808 and settling on a tract of land given his wife’s brother, Benjamin Carter, for services rendered in the Revolutionary War. He was also a neighbor and fast friend of Ezekiel Polk, grandfather of of James K. Polk. The subject of the sketch was reared on the farm and remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, securing a common school education. He then began farming, and during the war was engaged in making boots and shoes. December 15, 1845, he married Mary W. Sparkman, a native of Williamson County, Tenn. They have six children by this union, all of whom are living; Sarah R., Ross, Laura L., Enola E., Caroline H. and Mary C. In 1868 he engaged in the steam saw-mill business and remained in this business for nine years. He then returned to his present farm where he has been actively engaged ever since. Mr. Alexander and family are leading members of the Christian Church and have the respect and esteem of all their acquaintances.

Source: History of Tennessee: From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall Counties. Nashville, Tenn: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.