Alexander - Stevens Families - Family Histories

      Frank Marion Alexander (May 12, 1833 - January 15, 1902) left his home and joined the Texas Rangers in 1862 and was assigned to a ranger camp in the vicinity of the Santa Anna Mountains, as Comanche Indians had been raiding in that area. This regiment established a fort at Camp Colorado. Records show that Frank also established a way station built of logs on the banks of the Hords Creek and Jim Ned Creek about thirteen miles east of Coleman. Newspaper articles have noted Alexander as "one of the roughest, yet one of the bravest men in the regiment" stationed at Camp Colorado in those early days.

     Story has it that the Christmas of 1862 found Frank Alexander and John St. Clair stationed at the ranger camp near the Santa Anna Mountain. They agreed to kill a turkey for Christmas dinner and knew of a thicket on the Santa Anna Creek several miles from the ranger camp where wild turkeys had been seen. Upon finally arriving at the point on the creek, they dismounted and crept up under the trees, presuming that the turkeys would seek shelter in the protected bottom. It was impossible to see far ahead. due to the blizzard that had been raging, but at about fifty yards, Alexander caught sight of a big, lone gobbler. As the turkey disappeared in a thicket, he ran around the opposite side, hoping it would come out of the brush and he would get a shot at it. St. Clair, meanwhile, saw several turkeys running in an opposite direction and took in after them. Alexander, still waiting for the gobbler to come out of the thicket, decided to smoke his pipe. He put his gun down in order to crumble some tobacco in the palm of his hand. While thus engaged, he heard brush rustling in back or or him. Turning quickly, he ducked just in time to avoid a knife thrust from a powerful savage who had sneaked up behind him. He caught the Indian's wrist holding the deadly knife. Frank was one of the strongest men in the 46th Cavalry and he held the Indian at bay by the wrist in a vice-like grip. He slowly but surely forced him to his knees and finally down flat on his back. In a battle to the death, the ranger wrested the knite from the savage and instantly plunged it to the hilt in his heart.

To Alexander, the killing of this Indian was no great feat, just an incident in frontier life. He never liked to talk about the tragedy. Once he did remark: "I'm not rejoicing. Maybe that red skin wanted a Christmas turkey, too. Maybe he loved life like the rest of us. But darn him, he had no business going after my scalp. That's where he made a mistake."

     He married Polly Ann St. Clair (February 25, 1844-February 23, 1904) (see Lorenzo St. Clair). Following his stay in the Rangers, Frank Alexander became the night watchman for the city of Coleman until his death. The children of Frank and Polly A. included:

     (1) Polly (Hicks);

     (2) Dollie (Head), 1872-1911;

     (3) Bettie (Chrisman), 1876-1907;

     (4) Lou (Worthington);

     (5) Mattie (McKee);

     (6) Frankie Marion (March 1, 1885-July 3, 1965) was born on land bought by her father on the Jim Ned and Hords Creek. She attended Camp Colorado School where she met Leonard W. Stevens (April 23. 1884-March 9, 1974. They were married November 20, 1910 at their place on the Jim Ned. They moved to Copperas Cove, Texas in 1912 where their daughter, Iola was born. They moved back to Santa Anna, then to the Dibrell Ranch where Boyd L. was born. They moved back to the old home place on the Jim Ned Creek where Edith L., Aaron R., and Winifred A. were born. The family of Leonard W. and Frankie M. consists of:

       (6a) Iola (February 14, 1913), married Oscar Hill Terry II (see Oscar Hill Terry).

       (6b) Boyd L. (May 14, 1916) married June Cutler (April 18,1920-December 12, 1942). They have one child, Rebecca Sue (November 22, 1943), married Chuy Fonseca. live in Reseda, California and have two children, Michael and JoAnn. Boyd and June are now retired from their jobs and reside in St. Helena, California.

       (6c) Edith L. married Ross Altman (August 11, 1921-November 21, 1973) and also resides in St. Helena, California.

       (6d) Aaron R. (August 19, 1921) resides Coleman.

       (6e) Winifred A. (October 30, 1923) married Iva Mae Taylor (see Winifred Stevens).

     Frankie and Leonard also raised one foster child, George Lynne Chrisman (July 3, 1906-June 19, 1982), son of Frankie's sister, Bettie, grandson of Isaac and Hettie (St. Clair) Chrisman (see Lorenzo D. St. Clair).

     There were two stillborn children in the Stevens' family, a girl in 1911 and a boy in 1914. A son, Billie Wayne, was born February 12, 1926, and died in 1927.

     It is unknown when the family of Leonard W. Stevens moved to Coleman County, but his parents, Rufus King Stevens and Josephine Silvey, were married in 1875 and to them were born six boys and five girls: Rufus Andrews (August 11, 1877) at Gause, Texas; Betty (February 1,
1878) at Gause, married J. J. Williams of Port Arthur; Tennie Bell (August 31, 1880-August 29, 1964) married John Vincent Andrews; Mollye (October 7, 1884); Leonard W.; Nettie Lee (October 22, 1886); Jimmy (September 3, 1889); Clarence (April 23, 1892); Tommye (February 14, 1894); Cecile (March 4, 1896); Homer Edney (April 11, 1898-July 30, 1967) married Grace Shafer.

     (7) John.

(Images to be added)

Frank Alexander Josephine Stevens Lynne Chrisman

The Stevens Family- Front: Iola, Leonard W., Frankie M.,
Edith I.; Back: Boyd L., Winifred A., Aaron R.