| Biographies -
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| James
K. P. ALEXANDER is one of six children born to
Joseph and Flora
(Shaw) Alexander, and first saw the light of day in Henry
County,
Tennessee, in 1843. South Carolina was the birthplace of
Joseph
Alexander. He was born about 1814 and was of Dutch
descent, and
an immigrant to Tennessee in 1828. He was
married when
about twenty years old, and one child was born to the
union. Soon after Mrs. Alexander died, and in
1837 he
married Miss Flora Shaw, who was born in Weakley County,
and died in
1852. Mr. Alexander died on his farm in Henry
County, in
1858. Our subject's parents having died when
he was quite
small, he found parental care and protection with his
uncle, Simpson
Alexander, with whom he remained until he was about
eighteen years of
age. At the out-breaking of the Rebellion he
enlisted in Company
I, Fifth Tennessee, and was in the battles of Shiloh,
Perryville,
Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, being
wounded severely
at the latter place, and unfitted for further service. He
served
however at intervals until the final surrender, and
returned home May
20, 1865, just four years from he day of his
enlistment. He began farming, and in 1866
entered the
mercantile business at Gleason and continued the same,
being also
express and freight agent at that place.
January 19,1861,
he wedded Sue F., daughter of Dr. G. H. and N. M. Burnett,
by whom he
had five children, three of whom are living: Ione B.,
Homer and Carlos
B. Mr. Alexander lives on his farm of 280
acres, at
Gleason, and is a man of thrift and sterling business,
qualities. He has made his life a
success
financially, and being a Democrat he cast Whig first
presidential vote
for Horace Greeley. He is a Mason. Mrs.
Alexander was born
in Tennessee in 1852. Her parents were born in l828
and 1829,
respectively. The father died in 1876, and the
mother is residing
at Marion, IL. Columbus P. ALLEN, M. D., is a son of Robert and Sarah (Cobb) Allen, who were the parents of twelve children and were born in South Carolina in 1793 and 1800, and died in 1837 and 1838, respectively. The father served as captain in the war of 1812, and his uniform and sword are still in the possession of his descendants. He was a gunsmith by trade and after living in Georgia for some time moved to Alabama, where his death occurred. Having been left an orphan at an early day, our subject, who was born in Georgia, in July, 1834, made his home with an elder brother, with whom he remained until he was about fifteen years of age. He worked for about three years on a farm, and in the meantime secured a good common school education, which he finished at La Fayette, Ala. Having a predilection for the medical profession he, in 1853, began studying with his brother, R. C., with whom he remained until 1856, and then began studying medicine in the Nashville University, remaining one year. He then returned to Alabama, locating in Randolph County, where he remained one year and moved to Mississippi. In 1874 he located in Hardin County, Tenn., but in 1885 came to Sharon, where he successfully practices his profession and deals in drugs. In 1862 he offered his services to the Confederacy and served in a Mississippi cavalry regiment in the capacity of surgeon. At the close of the war he returned home. He has been a life-long Democrat and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. In 1859 he married Sarah A. Wroten, daughter of Elisha Wroten, of Mississippi. Of their eleven children, eight are living: Dr. William R., Amanda J. (Mrs. W. T. Moore), Dr. John P., Anna, Jane P., Charles A., Lou A. and George A. Dr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. |