The Big Tree

945A. James Alexander,9 (Abner8 Jesse7 Abraham6 Benjamin5 Benjamin4 Abraham3 John2 Nicholas1) b. near Lakeville, St. Joseph Co., Ind. 26 Oct. 1858; d. 1 May 1933, bur. Washilli Cem., Seattle, Wash.; m. Elizabeth Ann Holler, 24 July 1881, (Vol. 3, p. 55, St. Croix Co., Hudson, Wisc.), b. Owen Co., Ind. 3 Aug 1859; d. 9 mar. 1932, bur. Washilli Cem., Seattle, Wash., dau. George A. and Elizabeth Holler.

The 1870 U.S. Census shows James Alexander with his parents in the Town of Eau Galle, St. Croix Co., but he is not recorded with them for the 1880 U.S. Census. The 1885 Wisconsin Census shows James' family as 2 males and 3 females. The family was living at that time in the Town of Spring Lake, Pierce Co., Wisc. About May, 1892, they moved to a farm in Minnesota, 10 miles north of Taylor Falls, Minn.; P.O. address was Wolf Creek, Wisc. on 15 Jan 1895, James filed on a 40-acre homestead, located about 10 miles northeast of Pine City, Pine Co., Minn. The family moved to the new homestead during the summer of 1895. Patent was obtained for the homestead on 23 Oct. 1901, (Certificate 10873, St. Cloud, Minn., Land Office). In submitting homestead proof on 11 Jan. 1901, James stated that he built a house during the month of April, 1895, established actual residence 1 Jun 1895 in the log house 16' x 22', shake roof, 2 doors, 4 windows, also log barn 18' x 20', board roof, Value $200.
His family then consisted of him, his wife, and 8 children. He increased the cultivated area from ½ acre in 1895 to 14 acres in 1900, by clearing land of heavy timber and leveling so that crops could be planted.
The demands of a large and growing family and possible the desire to follow other members of the family westward resulted in a move during the spring of 1904 to Brampton, Sargent Co., N. Dak.; thence to Straubville nearby in 1912. His older sister, Alice Ellen (Hathaway) Rose was then living near Stirium, Sargent Co., N. Dak., some 12 miles to the north. In 1916 the family moved to Brantford, Eddy Co., N. Dak. and purchased a 320 acre farm but lived on it only 3 years when they moved to McHenry, Foster Co., N. Dak. James and Ellen moved to the state of Washington in the fall of 1922 and settled in Markham, Grays Harbor Co., Wash., with sons Leanard and Raymond where they lived until 1928. They moved to Seattle, King Co., Wash., in 1928 with Leonard who stayed with them until they died. Children:

i. Florence Belle
ii. Ida May
iii. Daisy Ellen
iv. Mary Louise
v. Minnie Gervaise
vi. Theoda Pearl
vii. Leonard Earl
viii. Hazel Bernice
ix. Raymond Emory