Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-04-28
Death Of a Notable Woman.

v ! ~>%<~~
of the 18th notes the death of Mrs. Mary
c. Alexander. mentioned in recent IS
sue. as follows:
On Friday afternoon last. in the beau-
tiful Rock Creek Cemetery at Washing
ton. the rector of St. Stephens church,
Mr.. Dudley. conducting the service at the
grave and at the residence of Mr.. James
H. Saville. and many sorrowing friends
from near participating, was laid to rest
what was mortal OF Mrs Mary c. Alex
ander. lady well known and highly es-
teemed in this community where from
time to time she made her home at Oak
enwold, as she was among the older resi-
dents of Washington. and in the county
of Jefferson. her former home.
A northerner by nativity and early en-
vironment, born April Ist, 1850, at
Irvington, N ] the daughter of Alvah
Sherman and Tryphena Harrison. she
spent niue of her young womanhood in
the family of an uncle, Charles Sherman.
distinguished lawyer of Washington
City. And bearing the impress of the
brilliant and cultivated minds in familiar
intercourse with which she moved in that
heydey of social life at the capital, she
further showed. in the eventful years Of
|turmoil and strife and bitterness which
followed, calm dignity of character, a
self poise and soundness of judgement
on all questions of conduct and of duty,
a quickness of intelligence. delicacy of
tact, and withal native sweetness of
disposition and generosity of mind and
|IImXt that marked her as a superior
ing the struggle and the troublous
l1UlDwhch came after. she bore herself
in most trying circumstances, with such
fidelity to duty and conspicuous loyalty
to the new ties and friendships formed
among the people of Jefferson. and was
so untiring in her benevolence and kind
ly offices asto win esteem and confidence
wherever she was known.
She was welded as the clouds of war
were gathering IN 1861, to DR.. William
Fantaine Alexander, an eminent and
|xnch beloved physician. her senior by
many years. whose home was between
Charles Town aud Harpers Ferry. on
the Potomac border. an outpost of one
~ tba otbar arr,,,, ~, roroi,o,,t tla coptact
and frequently the immediate scene of
host;lities. Their next neighbor was
John Yates Beall who was executed at
Governors Island for Selling vessel, in
attempt to rescue Confederate prisoners
on the lakes, and she did her utmost to
save him
Her husband died in 1862, leaving
daughters and son by his first marriage
to Maria Washington. The elder. Char
lotte. became the wife of DR.. John A
Straith, surgeon of distinction. Mary
Fontaine married Mr. T. D. Ransom of
Stanton. The son Charles Armistead,
enlisted at the outbreak of hostilities in
the Bolts Grays, Stonewall Brigade. and
served latter with conspicuous gallantry
IL Baylor's Light Horse, and was made
prisoner with his colonel. Asher Hartman.
and others, in hand to hand skirmish in
the lower Valley, in the summer OF 1863
Mrs Alexander was warmly attached to
this boy, a delicate and most interesting
youth. and making her way into the fed
eral lines devoted herself to securing his
release, Drawing in the attempt hardships
aud dangers of every sort At one time
when she had almost succeeded through
friends in Washington, he was unexpec-
teddy removed from Fort Delaware to
Point Lookout. rapidly failing in health
and subjected to treatment unknown in
civil warfare Secretary Stanton. just
then inaugurating his memorable policy
toward prls oners of var, refused all APP
peals in his behalf. Under flag of truce
General Lee proposed through the con-
federate commissioner of exchange to
surrender SIX union prisoners for the ex-
change of this dying confederate soldier.
Access to the president was denied her.
Day after day she spent in his ante-room
until finally she excited the sympathy of
a young private secretary John Hay, who
related the circumstances in driving with
the president. His big heart was touch
ed, as she always believed in direct answer
20 prayer. and he countermanded the
order OF his war secretary and over his
own signature commanded that young
Alexander ''be allowed to go home to
his friends" Taken to Blakeley, the
residence of his uncle, she continued her
until it was destroyed BY
fire. There was no thought of saving
but the DYING boy. whose couch
was tenderly carried over to Claymont.
Such incidents. part of the local his
tory of the time, illustrate her character
istics
After the war Mrs. Alexander found
and labored faithfully for
years as a clerk in the treasury depart
ment. By her industry and prudent man.
agement she not only wrought out a
livelihood but made herself comfortably
independent and able to crafty her IN
clination for devotng much of her time
and means to charitable work. OF this.
and of her devout and earnest christianity,
she made no parade. Her long and use
full and beautiful life was ended with sui
fering, and as the last resort to relieve a
painful malady she underwent critical
surgical operation, from the shock of
which she never rallied. Those who
loved and mourn her are many. and the
memory of life time of kindly deeds
does not soon pass from earth.
The children of Mr.. and Mrs. George
koonce were invited to their home,
Ellersile" near Halltown. April II. to
celebrate their fathers goth birthday