David Alexander

David Alexander was born about 1760 in Sherman's Valley, Pennsylvania. David first settled in Tioga County, PA. where he married Margaret Miller. Selling these lands in 1810, David and his family moved to Southern Illinois and settled near Shiloh in St. Clair County. David was one of the first to settle there when he arrived with his family of ten children. While following a hay wagon in the summer of 1882, a bolt of lightning struck and killed David where he stood. The blade of knife he held was melted off. David and Margaret had ten children, seven boys and three girls. Of special note were Hugh, John, and Cyrus.

Burial: Pioneer family memorial Shiloh Valley Cemetery Shiloh St. Clair County Illinois, USA

OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS there is no mention of David Alexander in certified records until 1790, when Hepburn sold to him most of his property at the Point. Hepburn came from Milton, Pa., and returned there eventually. It is a matter of family record, however, that Alexander found a wife at Tioga Point, and that the date of their marriage was 1788. Also that the oldest child, Hugh Alexander, was born at Tioga Point in 1789. But no record or hint is found of him before 1790. Nor was he the clerk of the Athens Academical Association, that was Guy Maxwell.

Unquestionably David Alexander, "Yeoman. a h is named in deeds, was one of the most enterprising and successful business men of "Old Tioga Point," as eventually he became the most extensive land owner, except John Shepard. We assume that he had some resources of his own, and that at first he was associated with Hepburn, as indicated in a quit claim deed given February 2, 1795, for a consideration of ioO, by Hepburn to Alexander. This deed is very interesting because it enumerates, locates and describes the various properties: "1 The Island opposite the present dwelling of Hepburn. 2 Ten acre lot near point of Tioga conveyed to Hepburn by Mrs Platner.

3 House lot in Athens where Henry McKinney lives. 4 Lot no 34 whereon my distillery stands with stills. 5 Lot S.'S my store lot, 6 Lot 36 my homestead lot, 7 Lot no 37 widi Hepburn residence, houses buildings and improvements" Hepburn agrees to obtain Pennsylvania title for Island or forfeit lOOi."

There are two of these lists, which indicate that Alexander contracted for the property in 1790, and closed transaction 1795. Hepburn did not possess all the island, which was in five separate lots under Connecticut survey; and Alexander purchased them one by one. He also purchased all the land from lot No. 27, south, to the old Ferry Road, east of Main Street. The store he erected himself, and the horse grist mill. 4 to 7 extended from the old G. A. Perkins' property to the E. H. Perkins' property. No earlier Pennsylvania title to Scotland to Margaret Glosson, and his son Hugh was born in Glasgow in 1724. About 1758 Hugh, who had become an extensive land owner, settled in Sherman Valley, Pa., on a farm Deputy to the Provincial Conference, held in Carpenter's Hall in June, 1776; also a member of the Constitutional Convention and of the Assembly the same year, showing that he was a man of ability and prominence. He married Martha, daughter of Dr. David Edmiston, and of 1100 acres, also owning land on the North Branch of the Susquehanna.

He was chosen David, tiieir second son, was born in 1760. After his father's death he inherited evidently some of the Susquehanna lands, as he had 163 acres in Cumberland County, where he was made a freeman in 1785. About 1788 he married Margaret, daughter of William Miller of Ten children ^^ere born to rhem at Tioga Point: Hugh, Edith, William, Margaret, Athens.

Matthew, Samuel, John, David, Cyrus, Arospo. " About 1810 to '12, after a residence of at least twenty yearsat Tioga Point, the family removed to Shiloh, Illinois, forming what was long called "the Alexander Settlement." Cyrus emigrated to California in 1837, married a Spanish lady, obtained a large tract of land from the Spanish government, and lived the of a Mexican grandee until the annexation of California made him once more an American Hugh returned to Athens for his bride in 1812, Hannah, daughter of Julius Tozer; and their long wedding journey was nearly all made by water; down the Susquehanna in a keel lioat, across the mountains, then down the Ohio in a flat boat, and up the Mississippi to Caholia Landing, where Hugh had built a home on his "section" of land. David Alexander belonged to the Frontier Rangers during the last years of the Revolutionary war; quite pos-

^ life citizen. sibly, therefore, he was in the Hartley Expedition.

He was killed by lightning in 1822, leaving a numerous posterity, one of whom is the wife of the well known Thomas Edison. (For data for above we are indebted to Hugh, son of Julius Tozer Alexander, son of Hugh, son of David, of Geneva, 111.) Eliza, Mary Ann, Lydia, Caroline, Tenny and Jane T. Alexander, children, possibly descendants of David, were baptized in the Athens Presbyterian Church, January 25th, 1820.

HEPBURN AND ALEXANDER

the island has ever been discovered. Between the lots Nos. 34 and 35 was the first street, already mentioned. Presumably this was opened by Samuel Hepburn, who is supposed to have built the grist mill and distillery afterwards owned by Alexander, the first of the six distilleries on the Point. The well, of which Mrs. Perkins speaks, is still in use ; the mill was on the river bank. Walker says Hepburn built a house and store on the lot now known as bridge lot, on the Chemung. This may have been after he sold to Alexander, but Alexander locates the Hepburn homestead lot where the Maurice residence now stands. Hepburn had a tavern license here in 1790, and in 1792 he and Guy Maxwell had one together; possibly the tavern was HoUenback's store, which was now rented to Maxwell. In 1796 Hepburn removed to El mira, he and Maxwell having two years earlier purchased and laid out a tract of land on the site of present Elmira, then called Dewittsburgh. It should have been noted that in 1791 William Harris of Herkimer County (evidently of the early Harris family), sold to Hepburn for "80 a certain lot "zvhereon Samuel Harris nozv lives xvith buildings and improvements, also his right and title in the Island." This deed is unusual because no other has been found thus worded, mentioning both Connecticut and Pennsylvania claims, viz. : "I engage to warrant and defend the house and lot on the point unto Hepburn forever under the Connecticut Title, likewise engage to give him peaceable possession. Likewise engage as soon as can to obtain a deed or title from Josiah Lockard a Claimant under The Pennsylvania Title," etc.

This is the only recorded notice of Lockhart's claim between 1785 and 1798.

This house and lot was evidently the present Maurice property. Little is known of Samuel Harris or his residence here, though said to be a brother of Alpheus.

Later Hepburn returned to Milton, where he died. His widow married again, Samuel Erwin, a son of Col. Arthur Erwin, already mentioned.

While it has often been carelessly said that the first settlers were obliged to go to Wilkes-Barre to have their grain ground, it is a certified fact that Prince Bryant had a grist mill on Cayuta Creek (near present stone mill) as early as 1787. John Shepard became the owner in 1788, and soon after, as attested by Indian treaty accounts, Baldwin's mill was in operation, in the vicinity of Newtown.

Every year, if not month, now saw accessions to the population of Tioga Point, and yet it must be remembered the little village for long years nearly all lay below the Academy Green.

In 1792 there were helpful accessions to the settlement. It seems certain that David Paine"-" -" The Paine brothers were so essentially makers of Athens, that it is difficult to decide what not to say of them. Residents of the town for about sixty years, their lives were an d moe for the prointegral part of the history. And research fails to reveal any men whoidrgress and improvement of the settlement than David and Clement Paine.

They were sons of Thomas Paine and Phebe Freeman of Eastham, Cape Cod: where the Paine family was among the earliest settlers, and always active in the history. The family was the same as that of John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home. " David, born 10th ^larch, 1768, married twice but had no children, although he so loved them that he was "Uncle David" to many besides his own nephews. His first wife, Phebe Lindley, was a remarkably lovely woman, as revealed in letters of the period. His second was Anne W. Harding of Portland, Me., a most accomplished woman, well remembered by the older inhabitants as Mrs. Edward Averill, having remarried after Mr. Paine's death. David Paine's home was the center of culture and charming social life; he founded the first village library; his wife instructed young women in APA: Murray, Louise Welles. (2013). pp. 330-1. A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens, Pennsylvania. London: Forgotten Books. (Original work published 1908) MLA: Murray, Louise Welles. A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens, Pennsylvania. 1908. Reprint. London: Forgotten Books, 2013. 330-1. Print.

Shiloh Church, St. Clair Co., IL

The Shiloh Church of 1871 is third one to stand on "Shiloh Campground." The first was a log house, is said to be first Protestant Church in Illinois Territory. The second church of brick was build ca 1819. The original subscription paper preserved. Among the names published were: Risdon Moore, son of Elizabeth Alexander Moore, Solomon Teeter, Hugh Alexander, David Alexander, Wm. Alexander. All these old pioneers have passed away, many buried at Shiloh Cem. (St. Clair Co., IL).

Note: taken from "Christian Advocate", published 29 Apr 1871 describing "Shiloh Church."

SOURCE: Alexander Newsletter, Vol. 1, #1, pg 2