Son of John Bruce and Elizabeth Clay.

His twin brother Constantine Bruce, was the "Daniel Boone" of the family. He cared only for the dog and gun, and loved the chase more than the business pursuits of men.

February Term of Court of 1818. — Alexander Bruce was given a certificate of "honesty, probity, and good demeanor" as a lawyer.

Married Amanda Bragg on 18 Feb 1819, Armstead C. Bragg & Robert Grant, bondsmen: Thomas Bragg, father, gives consent.

Alexander Bruce came to Lewis County, where he studied law and where he was admitted to the bar. He initiated the active practice of his profession at Vanceburg, where he rapidly built up a large and representative clientage and where he gained distinctive prestige as one of the leading members of the bar in eastern Kentucky. He was a farmer, merchant and mill owner and represented Lewis county in the Kentucky legislature in the session of 1825-6.

October Term of Court of 1830 - Alexander Bruce was ordered to take care of Anges Ruffner, who was sick at his house, and mentally deranged, and to employ medical aid for him; and if no friends came to pay his bills, to report the same to the court.

June Term of Court of 1833 - Rowland T. Parker, Alex. Bruce, George Swingle, Jeremiah Snyder, and Thos. E. Redden were appointed trustees of the town of Vanceburg. In the September Term of Court, Alexander Bruce was replaced by Thomas N. Davis for refusing to qualify.

Alexander Bruce, Lewis County Justice in 1833-1835 and 1835-1838
Alexander Bruce, Lewis County Sheriff about 1841 when Charles Caines resigned.

It is a sad story about the rise and fall of Alexander Bruce. Once high in achievement and respect became victim of alcohol abuse and it destroyed his life, family, and the respect he had among the Vanceburg community.

Lawsuits of Lewis County, Ky.: File 26, Lewis Co. Lawsuits
AMANDA BRUCE vs. ALEXANDER BRUCE, Sep 1841, Petition for divorce.
Amanda Bruce states that her husband, Alexander Bruce, owned a tract of land on the Ohio River in the upper end of Forman's Bottom (purchased of John Forman & consisting of between 130 & 200 acres) & a
brick house, in Vanceburg, formerly the property of Thomas Lukins dec. Amanda Bruce states that her father, Thomas Bragg, dec., left her land on the Ohio River, near Vanceburg, where her mother, Lucy Bragg, now lives, & some slaves.

Alexander Bruce, in his answer states they were married in Feb 1819. Says Amanda was the youngest of her father's children.

Depos. of Henry C Bruce, 22 Mar 1842, says he is the son of the plaintiff (Amanda Bruce) & that he left home six years ago to assist T.E. Redden, a merchant. Has a brother, Thomas Bruce.

Thomas J Bruce, in his depos. says that three of Alexander & Amanda's sons are well able to support her.

To the Honorable the Judge of the Lewis Circuit Court in chancery sitting: Your Petitioner, Volney E. Bragg, respectfully represents - That since the adjournment of your Honorable court he has learned that in the case of Amanda Bruce vs. Alexander Bruce the said Alexander Bruce had during the court tendered an amended answer which was objected to by the complainant's counsel - Yet it is lodged among the papers in this suit - This amended answer is from beginning to end a rigmarole of the grossest vituperation and scandal and abounds with the most false and pure slander and libel and vulgar blackguardism - Your petitioner would have thus noticed in this manner the answer alluded to - But being on the eve of moving to the state of Missouri - lest by some strange accident it should escape the attention of the court and remain with archives of the county - your Petitioner begs this means of counteracting that dirty answer - Not that this petitioner could possibly be affected among those who know Alexander Bruce by anything he can do or say - But strangers and future generations might be misled - I cannot condescend to go into a repetition of the foul slanders which are heaped upon me and my kindred and friends in this answer - It is enough for me to say the whole are as false as Bruce is infamous and this is the superlative degree - This Bruce is known to be a mere piece of dram shop furniture - the butt and pest of every groggery in the neighborhood - He is known to be a filthy foulmouthed drunkard and away down below the notice of a decent slave, much more gentleman - He has been a man of education talent and note but has become so degraded that he is looked upon and treated as a thing and not a man - It would be a burlesque upon any man's character to bring an action against him for slander or libel in this community and if he swears to that answer he can certainly be sent to the penitentiary if any jury could be found to believe him sane - For my part I pity the poor fallen - fallen - fallen - loafer creature - For he is to degraded to excite even contempt - I write this for those who know not this fellow - And if the foul ravings of that drunken madman are to soil the archives of the county, I desire that this paper may attend and explain it - I know I cannot be here at the next court else I should act otherwise - If he succeeds in introducing personal defamation into the papers of the court, I hope I may be indulged in explaining the matter to those who may come after us - Shall his answer be suffered to remain in the papers of this case? - I appeal to the court to put an end to such a degradation of the county archives.
April 2nd, 1842 V. E. Bragg

According to Bruce King, GGGG-grandson of Alexander Bruce and Amanda Bragg that Alexander Bruce In canvassing the county in 1850, as a candidate for county judge, he contracted pleurisy, of which he died before the election was held.

The divorce was granted & the estate divided.(Alex. Bruce & Amanda Bruce lived separately after the divorce but they are buried on the same lot in the Woodland Cemetery, Vanceburg, where they were reburied after the old Vanceburg Cemetery was abandoned.)