The Union Democrat - Feb 4, 1922 - Page 1
Find Mother Dead in Bed
Mrs. Minnie A. Alexander, living alone in the Pine Log section with four of her boys of tender years, was found dead in her bed last Sunday morning, and subsequent investigation by the Coroner O'Beirne indicated that the woman came to her death by an overdose of strychnine crystals, taken either with suicidal intent or to serve as a heart stimulant in a moment of depressed mental and physical condition, to which she was at times subject.
At the isolated home where the mother presided were four of her seven sons, Gordon, aged 12, Paul 11, Murphy 8 and Samuel 6. Saturday evening she provided supper for the children, and later tucked them in their beds and retired herself. She was in good spirits. The next morning the children got up at six o'clock and were surprised not to find their mother about the house, as she invariably was at that hour. They played about a bit, and then the youngest lad went into his mother's bedroom and called her, but receiving no answer he told the older brothers and they went to the bed and found her still in death. Two of the boys hastened to the home of their sister, Mrs. Louis Kress, Jr., at Yankee Hill, two miles away, over a rough trail and through a heavy snow storm, and told of the sorrow that had come to the family. The Coroner was called and an investigation at the premises conducted. There was no reason to doubt that the death of deceased was due to strychnine poisoning in crystal form. A partly filled bottle with some of the contents spilled on her clothing was found resting upon her breast. An empty bottle which had contained the same poison was nearby, as was a bottle of Lysol, and there were other poisons in the house. In fact, poisons of various kinds had always been kept by the Alexanders and used in killing wild animals and subsequently in the tanning of their hides. While the general belief prevails that it was a case of suicide, the fact remains that it is just possible that Mrs. Alexander took the poison to obtain relief from heart exhaustion and took too much. Indeed, it would seem that this was so, as she left no written message for her children to all of whom she was devotedly attached.
Deceased was a native of Douglass County, Kansas, and aged 47 years and 7 days at the time of her death. She had lived 10 years in California, eight years of which were spent at Pine Log, where she was battling alone in support of her four young boys. Mrs. Alexander was highly intelligent, of a friendly disposition, and was greatly esteemed by the people of the section where she lived as a kind neighbor and friend and a loving mother. The other children of deceased, besides those mentioned above are: Mrs. Phil Kahl of Tuttletown, Jobe Alexander of Columbia, David Alexander of El Portel and Tony Alexander whose whereabouts is unknown. She is also survived by a divorced husband, Tony Alexander, a well-known trapper who is operating in the Hetch Hetchy section.
The funeral was conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Burden chapel in Sonora. The services were conducted by Rev. Jno. W. Edgell, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial was in the public cemetry in Columbia, where quite a concourse of people gathered to witness the last sad rites.
Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina.
The family had lived in Mississippi and Arkansas before moving to California.
Per the 1880 Census, Minnie was that year living in her birthplace of Douglas, Butler County, Kansas, as were her siblings. She was the second child of William Lewis Couch and Sintha E. (Cynthia) Gordon Couch. Minnie's older sibling was Ira S., and her younger siblings were Albert and Eugene Q. Her father was a stock dealer. Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina. Her paternal grandparents were Meshack H. Couch and Mary (or) Polly Bryan Couch. Her maternal grandparents were Jonathan Gordon and Irena Macy Gordon.
Minnie's husband, Robert Hatten "Tony" Alexander, was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They were married August 10, 1895, in Oklahoma.
In 1900, Minnie and Robert and their two eldest children, Ruth and Jobe, lived in Lawrence County, Mississippi, where Robert was a farmer.
Minnie's children, Jobe Joseph Alexander, Ruth Cynthia Alexander Kress, Viola Alexander Kahl and Samuel Alexander, are buried in this cemetery in marked graves. Her other children were David W., Robert "Tony", Paul, Gordan and Murphy.
Minnie's son, Paul Douglas Alexander, was born in Arkansas April 4, 1907 and passed away in Amador County on March 29, 1994 at age 86.
Minnie's son, Robert Tony Alexander, was born January 10, 1905, in Michigan. He passed away in Stanislaus County, California, November 17, 1968.
Minnie's son, Murphy Alexander, was born in California and was killed in an accident in the Springfield Mine, Springfield, Tuolumne County, California on May 24, 1936 at the age of 22. He is buried in Mt. Shadow Cemetery in Sonora.
Find Mother Dead in Bed
Mrs. Minnie A. Alexander, living alone in the Pine Log section with four of her boys of tender years, was found dead in her bed last Sunday morning, and subsequent investigation by the Coroner O'Beirne indicated that the woman came to her death by an overdose of strychnine crystals, taken either with suicidal intent or to serve as a heart stimulant in a moment of depressed mental and physical condition, to which she was at times subject.
At the isolated home where the mother presided were four of her seven sons, Gordon, aged 12, Paul 11, Murphy 8 and Samuel 6. Saturday evening she provided supper for the children, and later tucked them in their beds and retired herself. She was in good spirits. The next morning the children got up at six o'clock and were surprised not to find their mother about the house, as she invariably was at that hour. They played about a bit, and then the youngest lad went into his mother's bedroom and called her, but receiving no answer he told the older brothers and they went to the bed and found her still in death. Two of the boys hastened to the home of their sister, Mrs. Louis Kress, Jr., at Yankee Hill, two miles away, over a rough trail and through a heavy snow storm, and told of the sorrow that had come to the family. The Coroner was called and an investigation at the premises conducted. There was no reason to doubt that the death of deceased was due to strychnine poisoning in crystal form. A partly filled bottle with some of the contents spilled on her clothing was found resting upon her breast. An empty bottle which had contained the same poison was nearby, as was a bottle of Lysol, and there were other poisons in the house. In fact, poisons of various kinds had always been kept by the Alexanders and used in killing wild animals and subsequently in the tanning of their hides. While the general belief prevails that it was a case of suicide, the fact remains that it is just possible that Mrs. Alexander took the poison to obtain relief from heart exhaustion and took too much. Indeed, it would seem that this was so, as she left no written message for her children to all of whom she was devotedly attached.
Deceased was a native of Douglass County, Kansas, and aged 47 years and 7 days at the time of her death. She had lived 10 years in California, eight years of which were spent at Pine Log, where she was battling alone in support of her four young boys. Mrs. Alexander was highly intelligent, of a friendly disposition, and was greatly esteemed by the people of the section where she lived as a kind neighbor and friend and a loving mother. The other children of deceased, besides those mentioned above are: Mrs. Phil Kahl of Tuttletown, Jobe Alexander of Columbia, David Alexander of El Portel and Tony Alexander whose whereabouts is unknown. She is also survived by a divorced husband, Tony Alexander, a well-known trapper who is operating in the Hetch Hetchy section.
The funeral was conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Burden chapel in Sonora. The services were conducted by Rev. Jno. W. Edgell, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial was in the public cemetry in Columbia, where quite a concourse of people gathered to witness the last sad rites.
Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina.
The family had lived in Mississippi and Arkansas before moving to California.
Per the 1880 Census, Minnie was that year living in her birthplace of Douglas, Butler County, Kansas, as were her siblings. She was the second child of William Lewis Couch and Sintha E. (Cynthia) Gordon Couch. Minnie's older sibling was Ira S., and her younger siblings were Albert and Eugene Q. Her father was a stock dealer. Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina. Her paternal grandparents were Meshack H. Couch and Mary (or) Polly Bryan Couch. Her maternal grandparents were Jonathan Gordon and Irena Macy Gordon.
Minnie's husband, Robert Hatten "Tony" Alexander, was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They were married August 10, 1895, in Oklahoma.
In 1900, Minnie and Robert and their two eldest children, Ruth and Jobe, lived in Lawrence County, Mississippi, where Robert was a farmer.
Minnie's children, Jobe Joseph Alexander, Ruth Cynthia Alexander Kress, Viola Alexander Kahl and Samuel Alexander, are buried in this cemetery in marked graves. Her other children were David W., Robert "Tony", Paul, Gordan and Murphy.
Minnie's son, Paul Douglas Alexander, was born in Arkansas April 4, 1907 and passed away in Amador County on March 29, 1994 at age 86.
Minnie's son, Robert Tony Alexander, was born January 10, 1905, in Michigan. He passed away in Stanislaus County, California, November 17, 1968.
Minnie's son, Murphy Alexander, was born in California and was killed in an accident in the Springfield Mine, Springfield, Tuolumne County, California on May 24, 1936 at the age of 22. He is buried in Mt. Shadow Cemetery in Sonora.
The Union Democrat - Feb 4, 1922 - Page 1
Find Mother Dead in Bed
Mrs. Minnie A. Alexander, living alone in the Pine Log section with four of her boys of tender years, was found dead in her bed last Sunday morning, and subsequent investigation by the Coroner O'Beirne indicated that the woman came to her death by an overdose of strychnine crystals, taken either with suicidal intent or to serve as a heart stimulant in a moment of depressed mental and physical condition, to which she was at times subject.
At the isolated home where the mother presided were four of her seven sons, Gordon, aged 12, Paul 11, Murphy 8 and Samuel 6. Saturday evening she provided supper for the children, and later tucked them in their beds and retired herself. She was in good spirits. The next morning the children got up at six o'clock and were surprised not to find their mother about the house, as she invariably was at that hour. They played about a bit, and then the youngest lad went into his mother's bedroom and called her, but receiving no answer he told the older brothers and they went to the bed and found her still in death. Two of the boys hastened to the home of their sister, Mrs. Louis Kress, Jr., at Yankee Hill, two miles away, over a rough trail and through a heavy snow storm, and told of the sorrow that had come to the family. The Coroner was called and an investigation at the premises conducted. There was no reason to doubt that the death of deceased was due to strychnine poisoning in crystal form. A partly filled bottle with some of the contents spilled on her clothing was found resting upon her breast. An empty bottle which had contained the same poison was nearby, as was a bottle of Lysol, and there were other poisons in the house. In fact, poisons of various kinds had always been kept by the Alexanders and used in killing wild animals and subsequently in the tanning of their hides. While the general belief prevails that it was a case of suicide, the fact remains that it is just possible that Mrs. Alexander took the poison to obtain relief from heart exhaustion and took too much. Indeed, it would seem that this was so, as she left no written message for her children to all of whom she was devotedly attached.
Deceased was a native of Douglass County, Kansas, and aged 47 years and 7 days at the time of her death. She had lived 10 years in California, eight years of which were spent at Pine Log, where she was battling alone in support of her four young boys. Mrs. Alexander was highly intelligent, of a friendly disposition, and was greatly esteemed by the people of the section where she lived as a kind neighbor and friend and a loving mother. The other children of deceased, besides those mentioned above are: Mrs. Phil Kahl of Tuttletown, Jobe Alexander of Columbia, David Alexander of El Portel and Tony Alexander whose whereabouts is unknown. She is also survived by a divorced husband, Tony Alexander, a well-known trapper who is operating in the Hetch Hetchy section.
The funeral was conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Burden chapel in Sonora. The services were conducted by Rev. Jno. W. Edgell, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial was in the public cemetry in Columbia, where quite a concourse of people gathered to witness the last sad rites.
Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina.
The family had lived in Mississippi and Arkansas before moving to California.
Per the 1880 Census, Minnie was that year living in her birthplace of Douglas, Butler County, Kansas, as were her siblings. She was the second child of William Lewis Couch and Sintha E. (Cynthia) Gordon Couch. Minnie's older sibling was Ira S., and her younger siblings were Albert and Eugene Q. Her father was a stock dealer. Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina. Her paternal grandparents were Meshack H. Couch and Mary (or) Polly Bryan Couch. Her maternal grandparents were Jonathan Gordon and Irena Macy Gordon.
Minnie's husband, Robert Hatten "Tony" Alexander, was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They were married August 10, 1895, in Oklahoma.
In 1900, Minnie and Robert and their two eldest children, Ruth and Jobe, lived in Lawrence County, Mississippi, where Robert was a farmer.
Minnie's children, Jobe Joseph Alexander, Ruth Cynthia Alexander Kress, Viola Alexander Kahl and Samuel Alexander, are buried in this cemetery in marked graves. Her other children were David W., Robert "Tony", Paul, Gordan and Murphy.
Minnie's son, Paul Douglas Alexander, was born in Arkansas April 4, 1907 and passed away in Amador County on March 29, 1994 at age 86.
Minnie's son, Robert Tony Alexander, was born January 10, 1905, in Michigan. He passed away in Stanislaus County, California, November 17, 1968.
Minnie's son, Murphy Alexander, was born in California and was killed in an accident in the Springfield Mine, Springfield, Tuolumne County, California on May 24, 1936 at the age of 22. He is buried in Mt. Shadow Cemetery in Sonora.
Find Mother Dead in Bed
Mrs. Minnie A. Alexander, living alone in the Pine Log section with four of her boys of tender years, was found dead in her bed last Sunday morning, and subsequent investigation by the Coroner O'Beirne indicated that the woman came to her death by an overdose of strychnine crystals, taken either with suicidal intent or to serve as a heart stimulant in a moment of depressed mental and physical condition, to which she was at times subject.
At the isolated home where the mother presided were four of her seven sons, Gordon, aged 12, Paul 11, Murphy 8 and Samuel 6. Saturday evening she provided supper for the children, and later tucked them in their beds and retired herself. She was in good spirits. The next morning the children got up at six o'clock and were surprised not to find their mother about the house, as she invariably was at that hour. They played about a bit, and then the youngest lad went into his mother's bedroom and called her, but receiving no answer he told the older brothers and they went to the bed and found her still in death. Two of the boys hastened to the home of their sister, Mrs. Louis Kress, Jr., at Yankee Hill, two miles away, over a rough trail and through a heavy snow storm, and told of the sorrow that had come to the family. The Coroner was called and an investigation at the premises conducted. There was no reason to doubt that the death of deceased was due to strychnine poisoning in crystal form. A partly filled bottle with some of the contents spilled on her clothing was found resting upon her breast. An empty bottle which had contained the same poison was nearby, as was a bottle of Lysol, and there were other poisons in the house. In fact, poisons of various kinds had always been kept by the Alexanders and used in killing wild animals and subsequently in the tanning of their hides. While the general belief prevails that it was a case of suicide, the fact remains that it is just possible that Mrs. Alexander took the poison to obtain relief from heart exhaustion and took too much. Indeed, it would seem that this was so, as she left no written message for her children to all of whom she was devotedly attached.
Deceased was a native of Douglass County, Kansas, and aged 47 years and 7 days at the time of her death. She had lived 10 years in California, eight years of which were spent at Pine Log, where she was battling alone in support of her four young boys. Mrs. Alexander was highly intelligent, of a friendly disposition, and was greatly esteemed by the people of the section where she lived as a kind neighbor and friend and a loving mother. The other children of deceased, besides those mentioned above are: Mrs. Phil Kahl of Tuttletown, Jobe Alexander of Columbia, David Alexander of El Portel and Tony Alexander whose whereabouts is unknown. She is also survived by a divorced husband, Tony Alexander, a well-known trapper who is operating in the Hetch Hetchy section.
The funeral was conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Burden chapel in Sonora. The services were conducted by Rev. Jno. W. Edgell, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial was in the public cemetry in Columbia, where quite a concourse of people gathered to witness the last sad rites.
Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina.
The family had lived in Mississippi and Arkansas before moving to California.
Per the 1880 Census, Minnie was that year living in her birthplace of Douglas, Butler County, Kansas, as were her siblings. She was the second child of William Lewis Couch and Sintha E. (Cynthia) Gordon Couch. Minnie's older sibling was Ira S., and her younger siblings were Albert and Eugene Q. Her father was a stock dealer. Minnie's parents and all her grandparents were born in North Carolina. Her paternal grandparents were Meshack H. Couch and Mary (or) Polly Bryan Couch. Her maternal grandparents were Jonathan Gordon and Irena Macy Gordon.
Minnie's husband, Robert Hatten "Tony" Alexander, was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They were married August 10, 1895, in Oklahoma.
In 1900, Minnie and Robert and their two eldest children, Ruth and Jobe, lived in Lawrence County, Mississippi, where Robert was a farmer.
Minnie's children, Jobe Joseph Alexander, Ruth Cynthia Alexander Kress, Viola Alexander Kahl and Samuel Alexander, are buried in this cemetery in marked graves. Her other children were David W., Robert "Tony", Paul, Gordan and Murphy.
Minnie's son, Paul Douglas Alexander, was born in Arkansas April 4, 1907 and passed away in Amador County on March 29, 1994 at age 86.
Minnie's son, Robert Tony Alexander, was born January 10, 1905, in Michigan. He passed away in Stanislaus County, California, November 17, 1968.
Minnie's son, Murphy Alexander, was born in California and was killed in an accident in the Springfield Mine, Springfield, Tuolumne County, California on May 24, 1936 at the age of 22. He is buried in Mt. Shadow Cemetery in Sonora.
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