Record of the descendants of John Alexander

j6 The (Descendants of
In 1824 he married Jane Beatty of East Kishaco-
quillas, daughter of John Beatty, already referred to,
and established himself on the old property as an intel-
ligent, enterprising and successful farmer. Besides
greatly improving both lands and buildings, by indus-
try, economy and good management, he gradually accu-
mulated the means of a comfortable independence. The
piety of both husband and wife, their competent portion
of good things, and all their other relations in life, were
very favorable to the happiness that generally attended
their lot. But no family circle is exempt from the
inroads of sorrow and death. These parents suffered a
great and almost peculiar affliction in being bereaved
of all their large and interesting family of children in
their childhood, youth or early life. Yet under all these
repeated strokes they were wonderfully sustained and
comforted from the Infinite Source of all true consola-
tion. When years and infirmities began to impair his
health and vigor, he sold the larger portion of his farm,
and on the remaining portion he built a comfortable
residence, where he spent the remainder of his life —
still busy, but with less labor and care.
John Alexander was of medium stature and weight,
of a fair complexion and very open and pleasant expres-
sion of countenance. In his youth and prime of man-
hood his movements, both of body and mind, were lively
and often playful. He appeared to be a remarkably
cheerful and happy man — always welcome among his
relatives and neighbors. In his character there was a
happy combination of lively wit and humor with piety
and good sense. The writer knew him well, and cher-
ishes his memory with the peculiar pleasure with which
we remember " the excellent of the earth." He was
long a member and main supporter of the Little Valley
church, of which his widow is still an active and liberal