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Rev. William McFaddin Alexander, D.D., LL.D.[1]

Male 1861 -


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  • Name William McFaddin Alexander 
    Prefix Rev. 
    Suffix D.D., LL.D. 
    Born Nov 07, 1861  Union, Monroe county, West Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Gender Male 
    Census Jun 08, 1880  Beaumont, Jefferson county, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Census Jun 14, 1900  New Orleans, Orleans parish, Louisiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Died
    Notes 
    • He was a Presbyterian minister.  He and Prof. George H. Stovall taught at the Beaumont Academy in the early eighties. (see "The Story of Beaumont" http://mykindred.com/wiess/st-o-b/13-Boy-Feud.html#457006 )
      History of Monroe County, West Virginia:
      Rev. William M. Alexander, D.D. was born in Union in 1861. He was graduated from the Washington and Lee University in 1884 and from Union Theological Seminary in 1887. He was chosen moderator of the 55th General Association of Southern Presbyterian Church and is well qualified for such a position.
      He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA) in 1898.
      http://ir.wlu.edu/factbook/academicaffairs/honors/honorarydegrees/dateofaward.htm
      On June 15, 1910, at a board meeting of the trustees of University of Georgia, "Messrs. Gober, Thorton, & Brown presented the name of Rev William McFaddin Alexander, of New Orleans for the honorary degree of LL.D. at the Commencement of 1911. This was referred to the committee on Honorary Degree."
      http://www.libs.uga.edu/hargrett/archives/trustees/1900-1910.html
      William McFaddin Alexander
      http://www.electricscotland.com/history/world/bios/alexander_william.htm
      Alexander, William McFaddin, D.D.; LL.D. -- New Orleans.--Was born at the old family homestead, near Union, Monroe county, Va., (now West Virginia), Nov. 7, 1861; son of Michael Caperton Alexander, whose birthplace was the same as that of the son. The father was the son of a Virginia planter, but on account of threatened failing health, removed to Beaumont, Tex., previous to the Civil war, and there, with his brother and brother-in-law, organized the firm of "Ross & Alexander," a lumber and mercantile firm which built the first saw-mill at Beaumont. Mr. Alexander was thus one of the pioneer lumbermen and merchants of the Southwest.
      Mr. Alexander's health was restored, his business prospered, and on Dec. 13, 1860, he was married in Beaumont to Miss Sarah L. McFaddin, a daughter of William McFaddin, a large ranch owner of Texas, and who served under Gen. Sam Houston in the army that achieved independence for Texas. He took part in the battle of San Jacinto, and was present at the capture of Santa Anna. William McFaddin's sons are numbered among the wealthy citizens of Texas, and are prominently identified with the affairs of the Lone Star state.
      Mr. Alexander in the summer of 1861, with his bride of a few months, returned to his old Virginia home on a visit. While there the war-cloud burst and, leaving his wife under his father's roof, he enlisted in the Confederate army under Col. Barbee. After a time, he was paroled on account of illness. However, he remained in Virginia during the war and for four years after the war, when he returned to Texas and became a planter; later he became associated with a lumber company and continued this connection until his retirement from business activities. He died at Beaumont, Feb. 10, 1912, aged 75 years. He accumulated a comfortable fortune. He is survived by his widow, one son, Rev. William McFaddin Alexander of New Orleans, and one daughter, Miss Sibbie V. The widow and daughter reside at Beaumont. A son and daughter are deceased.
      Mr. Alexander was a Presbyterian elder, and came from a long line of Presbyterians originally from Scotland. His family is the Virginia branch of Alexanders, who have for generations been prominent in church, state and nation. ... the Virginia Alexanders trace their descent in direct line back to the Earls of Stirling in Scotland. ....
      William McFaddin Alexander was educated in the private and public schools of Beaumont, in a private academy at Woodville, Tex., following which he returned to Virginia for his college course in Washington and Lee university. Then he entered Union Theological seminary, at Hampden Sidney, Va., completing the course in 1887. He then became pastor of the Presbyterian church at Bainbridge, Ga., remaining there three years; after which he became pastor of the Alabama Street Presbyterian church in Memphis, Tenn., where he remained 8 years.
      In the summer of 1899, he came to New Orleans as pastor of the Prytania Street Presbyterian church, which he continues to occupy at this time. The degree of D.D. was conferred on him by two universities the same week, the Southwestern Presbyterian university and Washington and Lee university, the latter his Alma Mater. In 1911, the degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by the University of Georgia, a university that throughout its history has been rather chary in conferring honorary degrees. Dr. Alexander has been prominently identified with the progress of the Presbyterian church in the South.
      On June 24, 1891, Dr. Alexander was married to Miss Ceneilla Bower of Georgia, a daughter of Judge Isaac E. Bower, who for years was judge of the Superior court of the southwestern district of Georgia, and who was finally succeeded by his son Judge Byron B. Bower. The Bower family has been prominent in Georgia since a time prior to the Revolutionary war, in which several representatives of the family participated, as did the great-grandfather of Mrs. Alexander. Dr. and Mrs. Alexander have one child, a daughter, Miriam Caperton.
      Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 26-27. Edited by Alc?e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.
    Person ID I43539  mykindred
    Last Modified Jan 10, 2008 

    Father Michael Caperton Alexander,   b. circa 1837, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Feb 10, 1912, Beaumont, Jefferson county, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years) 
    Mother Sarah L. McFadden,   b. 1846, Jefferson county, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1922  (Age 76 years) 
    Married Dec 03, 1860  [4
    Notes 
    • 1880 census, TX, Jefferson, Beaumont, p 16, sd 1, ed 40, (T9-1313, p.176)
      June 8, 1880, HH 109/114
      Alexander, Michael C, W, M, 43, farmer, VA, VA, VA
      "    , Sallie A, W, F, 34, wife, TX, ??, ??
      "    , William M, 18, son, Teaching School, VA
      "    , Bettie M, 16, dau, Attending School, VA
      "    , Sibbie V, 8, dau, " , TX
      "    , Kyle, 5, son, TX
      1910 census, TX, Jefferson, Beaumont, ed 69, 3-A, (T624-1568, p.54)
      April 10, 1910, ???? McFaddin Avenue, HH 49/50
      Alexander, Michael C, head, M, W, 73, m1 49 yrs, WV, VA, VA
      "    , Sallie L, wife, F, W, 65, m1 49 yrs, 4/2 children, TX, ??, ??
      "    , ??bie V, dau, 38, TX
      can't read>, nephew, can't read age>, b. TX
    Family ID F15577  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Ceneilla Bower,   b. Jul 1866, Georgia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1966, New Orleans, Orleans parish, Louisiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 99 years) 
    Married Jun 24, 1891 
    Notes 
    • 1900 census, LA, New Orleans, New Orleans, ed 101, 20-A, (T623-574, p.283)
      June 14, 1910, HH 307(?)
      Alexander, William M, head, W, M, Nov 18??, 38, m 8 yrs, VA, WV, TX, D of Divinity
      "    , Cemeilla, wife, W, F July 1866, 33, m 8 yrs, 1/1 child, GA, GA, GA
      "    , Mirriam C, dau, Dec 1892, 7, TN, VA, GA
    Children 
     1. Miriam Caperton Alexander,   b. Dec 1892, Tennessee, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Y
    Family ID F44578  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S808] Gedcom - Hamon, Gene.

    2. [S135] 1880 US federal census, 1880 census, TX, Jefferson, Beaumont, p 16, sd 1, ed 40, (T9-1313, p.176).

    3. [S3961] 1900 US federal census, 1900 census, LA, New Orleans, Orleans, ed 101, 20-A, (T623-574, p.283).

    4. [S967] 1910 US federal census, 1910 census, TX, Jefferson, Beaumont, ed 69, 3-A, (T624-1568, p.54).