Pvt. Alexander L. Wheeler, CSA

Inscription: Aged 49 years. Confederate States of America Veteran.
Alexander L. Wheeler was born 14 July 1816, in Spartanburg District, South Carolina, the third son and fourth child of David and Elizabeth Courson (McMakin) Wheeler. His great grandfather was Alexander McMakin, and he also had an Uncle Alexander McMakin, and it is likely that he was named in their honor.
He grew to manhood in the Spartanburg District, and attended Holly Springs Baptist Church with his family.
He married Mary Caroline Randolph, 11 November 1841. She was born in May 1824 in Spartanburg District the daughter of James Hunter and Caroline Elizabeth (Brazier) Randolph.
When Alexander's father passed away 7 February 1848, he was appointed as administrator to that estate (9 Sep 1848).
The Civil War began in April 1861, and despite advancing age-he was nearly 45-he enlisted 20 November 1862, as a Private in Company G, 7th Regiment, South Carolina Reserves, at Columbia, South Carolina. His term was fixed at ninety days, but he served throughout the remainder of the War.
He had been home from the war only a short time when he was plowing the fields 14 July 1865 (his birthday), and died from "cramp colic." That date is recorded in his probate, which is on file in Columbia, South Carolina, and also on his tombstone. Mary was selected as the executrix of the estate which is erroneously filed under the date 3 October 1864. The confusion may have resulted from the death of his first cousin, Alexander>Wheeler, son of Jesse and Jane (McMakin) Wheeler during the war. A probate court action of 28 July 1870 listed the following heirs and ordered them to appear:

"...wife, Mary C., D. B. Wheeler, John A., Octavia, Henry P., Mary, I. E., and Theodore Tandy."
Alexander was laid to rest, "on the hillside of south Tyger River going east from Greer, South Carolina to Holly Springs. It is located on the left side of the road in a bunch of Cedar trees. It is 300 to 400 yards from the road at the back of the old Vaughn home, and about 1/4 mile from the Granny Mack bridge, an old iron bridge that spans the South Tyger River just below the dam at Lyman Lake." The Granny Mack bridge was named after Alexander Wheeler's grandmother Mary (Carr) McMakin.
Mary Wheeler remained in South Carolina until 1884, though several of her children made the exodus to Fayette County, Alabama starting with William in 1867.

Children of Alexander and Mary are:
1. James A. Wheeler, born 1844.
2. David Benjamin Wheeler, born April 5, 1846.
3. Hassiah Octavia Wheeler Mason, born July 26, 1848.
4. William Thomas Wheeler, born Aug. 5, 1849.
5. John Andrew Jackson Wheeler, born July 1, 1854.
6. Henry Pincknay Wheeler, born Feb. 7, 1857.
7. Mary Isabelle "Belle" Wheeler Vaughn, born Jan 13, 1861.
8, Theordore Tandy Wheeler.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 2 2023, 2:38:27 UTC

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 2 2023, 2:52:24 UTC