James Alexander
JAMES ALEXANDER
SON OF FORMER COUNTY NATIVE MAKES A SURPRISE VISIT HERE
McKinney newspaper, June 10, 1965
For twenty-six years the three sisters and other relatives of the late Alma Highsaw Alexander had lost trace of her only son, James Ashley . Imagine their delight and surprise when he called on them recently!
Mrs. Alexander passed away when her son, James, was an infant. His father remarried and later died, and James went to Ohio to live with his uncles, Barney and Clyde Alexander.
James’ mother will be remembered here as the former Miss Alma Highsaw, daughter of the late pioneer Collin county settlers, Theodocia and James C. Highsaw. They lived in the Culleoka-Princeton community.
Before her marriage Mrs. Alexander taught in the public schools of Lucas, Branch, Pledger and Clear Lake. She was educated at East Texas State College in Commerce and at West Texas State College at Canyon.
James grew up on a dairy farm, owned by his uncles, near Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio, and attended the Central Bible Institute for two years.
Then he served for eight years in the U. S. Army and Air Force, including duty in the Korean war, where he was awarded six service ribbons, including the Purple Heart.
All the while he knew little of his mother’s family except that her maiden name was Highsaw and that she was from Collin County. He became increasingly eager to contact some of her relatives and to find where the mother was buried. This was difficult because no relatives remained here bearing the Highsaw name, and of course he knew none of the married names.
Finally through court records, he found two of his mother’s sisters lived in Pasadena, Texas. These are Mrs. James D. Houston (Alice) and Mrs. Oscar D. Walker (Carrie). He called on them one week-end recently in Pasadena and found his other aunt, Mrs. Earnest Markwell (Myrtle) of Oakland, California, visiting in Pasadena.
There he had a happy reunion with his mother’s three sisters. Later they visited a cousin, Mrs. Bon Davis, in Princeton, and he was able to see his mother’s grave.
James and his wife and five children live at 11448 Reeder Road in Dallas. He is assistant sales manager of Mobil Gas service department in Dallas.
Descendants of pioneer Collin County families want to "keep in touch". (This is evidenced by the many family reunions held annually throughout the county.) The Highsaw descendants are no exception, and it was a happy day for all concerned when James was able to contact his mother’s family. The aunts are very proud of James, his wife and the great-nieces and nephews. This is a happy ending, after a long separation, for an esteemed family.
SON OF FORMER COUNTY NATIVE MAKES A SURPRISE VISIT HERE
McKinney newspaper, June 10, 1965
For twenty-six years the three sisters and other relatives of the late Alma Highsaw Alexander had lost trace of her only son, James Ashley . Imagine their delight and surprise when he called on them recently!
Mrs. Alexander passed away when her son, James, was an infant. His father remarried and later died, and James went to Ohio to live with his uncles, Barney and Clyde Alexander.
James’ mother will be remembered here as the former Miss Alma Highsaw, daughter of the late pioneer Collin county settlers, Theodocia and James C. Highsaw. They lived in the Culleoka-Princeton community.
Before her marriage Mrs. Alexander taught in the public schools of Lucas, Branch, Pledger and Clear Lake. She was educated at East Texas State College in Commerce and at West Texas State College at Canyon.
James grew up on a dairy farm, owned by his uncles, near Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio, and attended the Central Bible Institute for two years.
Then he served for eight years in the U. S. Army and Air Force, including duty in the Korean war, where he was awarded six service ribbons, including the Purple Heart.
All the while he knew little of his mother’s family except that her maiden name was Highsaw and that she was from Collin County. He became increasingly eager to contact some of her relatives and to find where the mother was buried. This was difficult because no relatives remained here bearing the Highsaw name, and of course he knew none of the married names.
Finally through court records, he found two of his mother’s sisters lived in Pasadena, Texas. These are Mrs. James D. Houston (Alice) and Mrs. Oscar D. Walker (Carrie). He called on them one week-end recently in Pasadena and found his other aunt, Mrs. Earnest Markwell (Myrtle) of Oakland, California, visiting in Pasadena.
There he had a happy reunion with his mother’s three sisters. Later they visited a cousin, Mrs. Bon Davis, in Princeton, and he was able to see his mother’s grave.
James and his wife and five children live at 11448 Reeder Road in Dallas. He is assistant sales manager of Mobil Gas service department in Dallas.
Descendants of pioneer Collin County families want to "keep in touch". (This is evidenced by the many family reunions held annually throughout the county.) The Highsaw descendants are no exception, and it was a happy day for all concerned when James was able to contact his mother’s family. The aunts are very proud of James, his wife and the great-nieces and nephews. This is a happy ending, after a long separation, for an esteemed family.