52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Week 47

John Henry Alexander

John was born in Kentucky in 1803, the son of Thomas A. Alexander and Sally King. He was one of 5 children, I believe.

On December 23, 1828, in Clark County, Indiana, he married Judah Northern. I don't know much about her. But, to the union was born 3 children; George, Elijah and Lucinda. I have no census records that show the family. Judah died in 1840.

Then, on January 19, 1841, John married "Frankie" Lucas. She was Mary Frances Carter, but she used the name "Frankie" in her younger days. She had been married before, but I am unable to find the names of the children in that marriage, even though I know her first husband's name, Joel Moore Lucas.

In the 1850 census, John and Frances are in Brownstown Township, Jackson County, Indiana. The house consists of John 40, Frances, 42, John H., 6, and Isaac, one month old.  John is a farmer.

The 1860 census shows the family has moved to Hamilton Township, Jackson County, Indiana. John is still farming.In the household is John, 41, Frances, 55, John H., 17, Mahala, 16, Louisa is 13 years old. The child, Isaac, died before this census. There is no notation of real estate worth, so he is renting the farm.

I have not found John in the 1870 or the 1880 census. Many have John living in Missouri when he died. According to most trees online, he died on August 18, 1886 in St. Louis, Missouri. I have not been able to verify this, or any mention of him after the 1860 census. It makes me nervous to put this date into his history when I cannot find any source of him or Frances after 1860.

John is my third great-grandfather. I have so much to do on him. I seem to be at a standstill, though. Finding more about him would be very helpful.

Sources:
Marriage Record, (23 December 1828), Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992: Page 6. Indiana. FamilySearch.
Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007: John H Alexander and Franky Lucas, (19 January 1841),  60; Page 252. Indiana. FamilySearch. 
1850 Census, Jackson County, Indiana, (Brownstown Township); 221-222 FamilySearch.
1860 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Indiana, (Hamilton TWP); , Series: M653, Heritage Quest., Series: M653 Roll: 268 Page: 761.

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John H Alexander

John H. Alexander (son of Thomas) was born 1803 in Ky, and died August 18, 1886 in St. Louis, Missouri. He married 1.Judah Northern December 25, 1828 in Washington County, Indiana. He married 2.Mary Frances Carter[Lucas] January 16, 1841 in Jackson County, Indiana.

Isaac Alexander, b 1850 I believe he died as a child.
John Alexander, b. November 15, 1842, Indiana; d. August 4, 1904, Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana.
Mahala Alexander, b. 1844, Indiana.
Louisa Alexander, b. 1847, Indiana; m. Ephram Wilson, October 27, 1867, Jackson County, Indiana.

My biggest interest right now is finding more information about Judah Northern. About Judah I know little, except that she died before January 16, 1841. I believe she was born in Kentucky though I cannot prove it. I also believe they had at least one child, a son.

Mary Frances was married first to Joel Lucas on July 20, 1826 in Clark County, IN. She liked to call herself Frankie, and it is listed that way on the marriage record. I had always assumed that Joel had died but communication with other researchers has indicated that maybe they were divorced. I know they had at least one child. In the 1840 census of Jackson County she is listed as 30-40 with a male of 5-10 in the household. She and John remained very close to Lucas family members, often listed as a Lucas in the household at the time of a census, so I really don't believe the divorce was a reality. I grew up knowing that Lucas was family.