JDH's notes are in italics.

From History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago: O.L. Baskin, 1883), p. 83.

Center Township

T.C. Alexander, physician and surgeon, Oakland, was born in Union County, Ind., September 25, 1839. He is the son of James and Catharine (Hartsell) Alexander; he (James Alexander) was born in Green County, Tenn., and she (Catherine [Hartsell] Alexander) is a native of Virginia. (Catherine was born about 1812. This tells us that Catherine's parents George & Sussanah Hartsell are the ones who were married in 1809 in Franklin County, Virginia. Sussanah's maiden name was Toney.) They (James & Catherine) came to Indiana after their marriage (?? James & Catherine were married in Union County Indiana in 1827), and in the fall of 1852, moved to Platte County, Mo., where they spent one winter, coming to Big Grove in the following spring, settling in Section 13, Township 75, range 40. He sold this place to Ephraim Bird and moved to Adams County, this State, in 1856. The following year they went to Kansas, but returned during the drought in the fall of 1860. In 1864 they moved to Jackson county, Kan. The father (James Alexander) died in 1867, and the mother (Catherine) in 1879. Our subject (T.C. Alexander) lived with his parents until 1860. In the following year he enlisted, in Adams County, in the Fourth Indiana [sic] Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. E.Y. Burgan. His initiation in war procedure took place in Page County, where they camped for two days. Gen. G.M. Dodge, at that time Colonel, ordered a false alarm to try the boys. At 3 o'clock in the moring they were ordered out without giving them time to dress, and in this condition were __wn up in line of battle. Our subject was engaged in many of the principal battles of the War, including Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, at which latter places he carried the colors above the clouds. He was also engaged in the battles of Ringgold and Resaca, Ga. at which latter place he received a gunshot would in both legs. He afterward lay in several hospitals, until recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, N.C. He was present at the surrender of Gen. J.E. Johnston, ad was mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky., August 20, 1865 and returned to Big Grove, then his home, having returned on veteran furlough, and married at Big Grove, March 24, 1864, Miss Phoebe Huff, born in Mercer County, Ill., May 25, 1849. She was the daughter of Louis and Susan (Palmer) Huff. (Note the name Palmer, and J.A. Hartsell's marriage to Mary E. Palmer.) Her father was born in Stokes County, N.C., February 22, 1811. He came to Illinois, where he was married to Miss Palmer, who is a sister of Dr. Palmer, of Belknap Township. In 1865, our subjct moved to Jackson County, Kan., and farmed during the following year. He then sold his place, and commenced the study of medicine under D.W. Taylor, M.D., of Holton, Kan., an old army Surgeon. Here he studied for three years, afterward taking two course of lectures at the E.M. Institute, of Cincinatti. He practiced at his professin in Holton until 1874, when he returned to Big Grove, where he has resided ever since. His residence is on the southwest quarter of Section 5, Township 75, Range 39. He has two children, Elmer Ellsworth, born June 9, 1865 , and Laura Belle, born September 23, 1867. Mr. Alexander is a member of the I.O.O.F., and in politics is a Republican.

NOTE from Donna Meszaros email:
The citation for the marriage of James Alexander and Catherine Hartzel is from a book called Genealogical Sources Reprinted from the Genealogy Section, Indiana Magazine of History, compiled by Dorothy L. Riker. (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1979).

p.26
James Alexander to Catherine Hartzel, July 26, 1827

Obituary of Thomas Carr Alexander;
Oakland Acorn, 7 June 1923, p. 1 [Oakland, Iowa]

Another Pioneer is Called Beyond
Dr. Alexander Dies Suddenly Saturday Afternoon
Won High Honors in War
Uncomplainingly Endured Hardships of Pioneer Physician, Ministering to Rich and Poor Alike

The whole community was deeply grieved and shocked Saturday afternoon by the news of the sudden death of one of our most highly honored poneer citizens, Dr. T.C. Alexander. Throughout his long and eventful life Dr. Alexander had enjoyed exceptionally good health and was, to all appearances, as well as usual upon the day of his death. He had been working in the garden and it is assumed, became overheated. He was seen to fall to the ground and friends rushed at once to his aid, tenderly carried him into the house and gave him all possible aid, but the spirit soon took its departure.

The following obituary, prepared by his old friend, P.H. Green, faithfully and fully relates the events of the long life and services of this pioneer citizen of the community.

The subject of this sketch, Dr. Thomas C. Alexander, son of James and Catherine Alexander, was born in Union county, Ind., Sept. 25, 1839; departed this life at Oakland, Saturday evening, June 2, 1923 at 5 o'clock, aged 83 years, 8 months and 7 days. He came with his parents from Indiana, to La Platte county, Mo., in the fall of 1852 and to Big Grove, now Oakland, the following spring and settled on a farm in section 13, township 75, range 40.

In 1856 his father sold the farm to Ephraim Bird and removed to Adams county, Ia., [Illinois?] and the following year they removed to Kansas. During the drouth of 1860, they moved back to Big Grove. In 1864 the parents returned to Kansas and settled in Jackson county. Here the father died in 1867 and the mother died in 1879. Dr. Alexander lived with his parents till 1860. The following year 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry in Adams county, under Capt. E.J. Burgan.

Our brother was engaged in many battles of the war, including Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge, at which latter places he carried the colors above the troops. For valor and courage he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was also engaged in the battles of Ringold and Resaca, Ga., at which latter place he received a gun shot would to both legs, and was removed to the hospital. On his recovery he joined his regiment at Raleigh, N.C. He was present at the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.

He was mustered out of service at the close of the war at Louisville, Ky., August 20, 1865, and returned to Big Grove, his home, as he had returned on veteran furlough at which time, March 24, 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Huff.
This union was blessed with two children, a son and daughter, as follows: E.E. Alexander, of Oakland, and Mrs. Laura B. Bilger, who preceded the father to the spirit world, having departed this life in 1895. Soon after his return from the army he and his wife removed to Jackson county, Kansas, where he engaged in farming for a year, after which he sold his farm and commenced the study of medicine under the direction of his brother-in-law, D.W. Taylor, M.D., of Holton, Kansas, an old army surgeon. Here he studied for three years, afterward taking three courses of lectures at the E.M. Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.

He practiced medicine at Holton, Kansas, till 1874 when he again came to Big Grove where he had resided and continued in the active practice of his profession till about five years ago. Since that time, on account of extreme[?] age and home duties, it became necessary for those who desired his advice and service to ___ to the ____.

Rest of obituary unreadable.