Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Cheniah Alexander
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
CHENIAH H. ALEXANDER. The farming
community of Exeter Township recognizes
Mr. Alexander as one of its most prosperous
men who came from Ohio to the Sunflower
State in 1879. He located in Clay Center where
he resided several years, then, in 1884, removed to
his present farm of 160 acres on section 4. Here
he has a well-regulated farm with fair improvements
and takes life in a comparatively easy manner,
being in the enjoyment of a comfortable income.
He keeps himself posted upon the current
events of the day, votes the straight Republican
ticket and is a member in good standing of the
I. O. O. F.
A native of Brown County, Ohio, the subject of
this sketch was born March 20, 1827, and is the son
of Hugh and Clarinda (Cavault) Alexander, the
former born in the Shenandoah Valley. Va., and
the latter in Hamilton County, Ohio. The paternal
ancestors are believed to have originated in
Scotland and the mother was probably of German
descent. Her father, Cheniah Cavault, served as a
soldier in the Revolutionary War and also in the
War of 1812. Grandfather Alexander, it is believed,
likewise fought on the side of the Colonists
during their struggle for independence.
To the parents of Mr. Alexander there was born
a large family of children of whom he was the
eldest; his brother William is a resident of Lynchburg,
Ohio; Martha J. is the wife of George Ireland
of Ross County, that State; Caroline and Jonathan
are living in Brown County; Hugh lives in
Fayette County, and Isaac in Clinton County,
Ohio. Cheniah H. remained a resident of his native
county until a youth of eighteen years and up
to this time had been engaged in farming pursuits.
He now began learning the carpenter's trade, which
he followed thereafter for a period of twenty-five
years and at the same time engaged considerably in
farming. When nearly twenty-nine years old he
was married Feb. 26, 1856, to Miss Julia Chesman.
He remained a resident of Ohio until after the outbreak
of the Civil War, and then in August, 1802.
enlisted as a Union soldier in Company A, 7th
Ohio Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army of
the Cumberland and for a time was under the command
of Gens. Stone, Burnsides and Gilmore. In
July, 1864, Mr. Alexander was transferred to the
navy and was made a ship carpenter on the gunboat
"Ft. Hinman." He served in that capacity
until the close of the war and received his honorable
discharge in November, 1865.
Mr. Alexander fought in many of the important
battles of the war being at Bean Station, East
Tennessee, Knoxville, Rodgersville, Butler's Gap,
Blue Springs and others, much of the time operating
against Stonewall Jackson's men, then under
the command of Longstreet, Jackson having been
killed. Upon retiring; after the service Mr. Alexander
returned to the Buckeye State, where he sojourned
until coming to Kansas. There have been
horn to him and his estimable wife five children,
viz: Clara, William, Frank, Edward and George.
Mrs. Julia Alexander departed this life at the
homestead in Exeter Township, Aug. 9, 1889. She
was a lady possessing all the Christian virtues and
her name will be held in tender remembrance by
her family and friends until they all meet upon the
other shore.