William Long Alexander

William Long Alexander

The youngest child of Jane Stevenson and John Alexander

was William Long Alexander. He was born in Lovely's Purchase

on November 11, 1823. His father and mother moved their

family to the Cane Hill section of Washington County in 1826

and then on east of that to Twin Springs, where William grew up.

At that time, buffalo roamed in great herds. In his later years,

William told of the buffalo trails he had seen, about 18 inches

deep and very narrow, in the vicinity of Fayetteville. At that

time, also, the mountains in that area were bare of trees. He

helped clear the way for the first telegraph wire on the Old Wire

Road, which extended from Fayetteville to Van Buren.

In the days of his youth, William was a noted singer and

taught a singing school for several seasons, a popular activity in

that community.

Before he married, William built his home with slave labor

on a part of the Alexander resettled land, not far from his parents

house. William's house had large rooms with high ceilings and

two fireplaces. The lumber was made locally, and the large hewn

beams that could be seen on the front porch in the 1960s were in

perfect condition.

At that time, also, the house contained its original furnishings:

spinning wheel, loom and reel and gourds, bedsteads.

Several trunks and a quilt box held treasures of the past: quilts,

coverlets, dresses, knit (and darned) socks, beautiful handwork,

many letters and pictures. On the floors were home made carpets

and rugs. In a tool shed near the back gate were two side saddles,

one with its red lining still in perfect condition.

In 1881, William married his first wife, Luvicy Jane Cate.

Their children were: James Robert, born December 1, 1852; died

November 9, 1853, John Charles, born September 18, 1854; died

November 19, 1943 (married Bettie Graham) and Samuel Henry,

born February 25, 1857; died June 2, 1935.

William's second wife was Mary Elizabeth Johnson, born

March 2, 1843 and died August 4, 1908. Their children were:

Mitilda Jane, born October 3, 1860; died April 16, 1862, Tempe

Alice, born February 4, 1863; died July 18, 1903 (married Joshua

B. Webb), William Sherman, born August 28, 1865; died December

26, 1882, Mary Elizabeth, born August 26, 1868; died October

7, 1884, Alta Lucinda, born August 13, 1873; died December

I, 1966 (married Charles Karnes), Laura Ella, born November

2, 1876; died March 17, 1973, Ida Leona, born January 24,

1879; died August 18, 1932 (married George Moneyhun), Everett

Leonidas, born February 13, 1881; died October 9, 1957, Benjamin

Franklin, born August 4, 1883; died December 18, 1979

(married Jeffie Jewell Reed) and Baby Boy born July 11, 1886;

died September 1, 1886.

At his old home, William Long Alexander died on Good

Friday, April 5, 1912. His children Ella and Everett never

married, took care of their parents, and continued to live in the

family home. They are buried in the locality. Among many descendants

in the Fayetteville, Arkansas area were the late Carrie

and Mary Alexander. Georgetta Alexander Smith and her

daughters continue to reside nearby.

·By: Georgetta Alexander Smith