History of Coosa County: Alexander Smith of Nixburg and his wife Jane Robbins

Transcription

From the archive.org text layer.

Page 207 (Brewer's own notice):

Among the well known men of Coosa was Alexander Smith. He was of Scotch descent, a native of North Carolina, born about the latter part of the eighteenth century. He came with quite a number of others of Scotch descent from the old North State and settled in the Wewoka neighborhood early in 1834. The county and church was called Carolina for a long time. They formed a thrifty settlement, and soon organized a Presbyterian church of which he was an Elder. Smith lived here until after the death of his McMillan wife in 1842. After this he married a daughter of Solomon Robbins, and bought the Larkin Cleveland farm at Nixburg. Here he farmed and traded in stock, during the most of his after life. He was twice appointed to fill vacancies in the office of sheriff. He did not seek office until 1857, when he was one of the candidates elected to the House in that exciting canvass. He was in the still more exciting race of 1859 re-elected to the House.

Pages 208–212 (the family's account, 1904):

[…] for one or two terms. (His father, Col. Daniel Smith, had filled the same place in North Carolina.) […] Alexander Smith's first wife was Catherine McNeill, married and died in Carolina, leaving an infant daughter, Margaret, who after she was grown, married John H. Townsend […]

Alexander Smith's second wife, Catherine McMillan, died in 1842, leaving four children. […]

Alex Smith's last wife was a Miss Jane Robbins. She survived him about 30 years. He died at Tallagea [sic] Springs, whither he had gone for health, August 29th, 1871, in his 78th year. She died 17th of November 1901 at the house at Nixburg, Coosa County, Ala. Left one son, Lauchlin, whose wife was a Mrs. Moore, formerly a Miss Kendrick […] They, with his single sister, Miss Janet, lived at the homestead at Nixburg, Ala. Mary, the eldest daughter by this last marriage (of Alex Smith and Jane Robbins) married William H. Crawford, oldest son of Daniel Crawford and his wife, Annie McNeill. Alice, a third daughter, was the first wife of John H. Parker, a lawyer, who died a few years ago at Wetumpka. […]

Another daughter of Alex Smith, by his last marriage, is Anna Bell, the widow of Prof. A. H. Hunter, who died a few years ago, in Elmore County, having three sons and two daughters.

Libbie Storrs Smith, youngest daughter of Alex Smith, married Prof. W. M. Bross, at the time, Professor of Mathematics at Marion College, Ala. […]

Lauchlin R., the only son by last marriage of Alex Smith, lived a bachelor—did not marry until after his mother's death—lives at the homestead—his single sister, Janette, living with him.

Page 213: "(1904—Prepared by a daughter of Alexander Smith—Mrs. J. B. L.)"

Page 117, sheriffs of Coosa County: "Feb. 22nd, James E. M. Logan, died 1839 Alexander Smith appointed to vacancy"; "April 10th, Alexander Smith appointed to vacancy".

Citation: "Alexander Smith" (signed "1904—Prepared by a daughter of Alexander Smith—Mrs. J. B. L."), in George E. Brewer, "History of Coosa County, Alabama," The Alabama Historical Quarterly 4, no. 2 (Summer 1942): 207–213, with a list of sheriffs at 117; Internet Archive item histcoosacobrew, scans n420–n432 and n238, https://archive.org/details/histcoosacobrew/page/n420/mode/1up?q=Smith.