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Alexander Douglas II, son of
Alexander Douglas I and Mary Stapleton
Douglas was born 27 October 1807 in Lancaster County, South Carolina. He
married Margaret Tirzah Cowsar in 1835 in Lancaster County. They removed
in 1837 to Talladega County, Alabama with other Cowsars and Douglases . He
was converted to Methodism in the Great Revival and in 1843 in Alabama ,
he was licensed as a local Methodist preacher by the Fourth Quarterly
Conference and named among the leading men in the Talladega Circuit during
years 1833-1845. He arrived in Tyler, Texas by January of 1848 where he
engaged in the real estate sale of newly created town lots of Tyler . He
also operated the first livery stable, a hotel, several stage lines and
carried the U.S. Mail. He engaged his two oldest son, James P. and John B.
in these concerns.
Douglas and his family were among the
charter members of the present Marvin Methodist Church. Originally
operated under the name of Methodist Episcopal Church South. All-Faith
Services were held at first in a log cabin on the town square; later in
Adam's Blacksmith Shop, south of the square. The church was organized by
Douglas and Sam Box.
Reverend Douglas died in 1853 only five
years after his arrival in Tyler, but he left his mark on the town . His
sons James P. John, Eli and Robert all served in the Civil War Mary
Elizabeth , the only daughter to live to womanhood m. E.T. Broughton ,
also a Civil War hero. For more on this family see The Broughton -Douglas
Families of East Texas by Mary Lee Barnes; also numerous stories in Tyler
history.
Obituary
Rev. Alexander Douglas
For the T.W. Banner
Brother Douglas is no more. He was born in
the State of South Carolina, Lancaster District, October 27, 1807, and
embraced salvation by faith in his native place. In the great revival of
"33 , and joined the M.E. Church, the church of his choice. Two years
afterwards , he was united in holy matrimony to Miss Margaret T. Cowsar,
daughter of James and Hannah Cowsar and in 1837 he emigrated to Alabama,
where he was licensed to preach in 1845; moved to Texas in the spring of
1848 and in December same year ordained Deacon by Bishop Andrew and
traveled an itinerary and then located in this place (Tyler) where he was
taken sick August 4th and died of typhoid fever 19th inst. Aged 45 years ,
9months and 23 days . Parson A. Douglas was a man of sanguinary
temperament and more than ordinary zeal and was manifest in his preaching
and exhortations , and many souls were converted and built up under his
ministry. He was, however , the subject of severe trials, and passed
through some fiery ordeals in the last few years. That he has been
misrepresented and sometimes persecuted, none can doubt. That he did not
bear his afflictions alluded to, with as much composure and faith in
Christ as the church desired is what Brother Douglas often confessed and
bemoaned with the deepest penitential sorrow. He was ardently loved by the
members of the quarterly conference and Preacher in-charge. The writer
visited him in company with Rev. B. H. Hamilton in his sickness and
conversed about his prospects of the future he , he melted to tears and
lamented his leanness, and promised if God spared him "to live a new life.
A few days before his departure he remarked to Rev. Mr. Tunnel that "all
was well" Rev. B West also visited but the writer does not recollect the
conversation on the subject of religion between them. His friends are
satisfied that is at rest, beyond the trials and changes of life. He was
buried with Masonic honors. He leaves an afflicted wife, four sons and two
daughters to mourn his loss. May the his children meet the expectations of
a kind father and indulgent mother and be the "Salt of the earth and the
light of the world: As he has brothers and sisters, and relatives in South
Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, etc. it is earnestly desired that the
Nashville and Louisville Christian Advocate, Charleston Ch. Advocate and
New Orleans Ch. advocate will please copy the above. T. O. Ellis Tyler
Smith Co., Texas Aug 30 '53 (1853 )
Obituaries Died in Tyler on the 27
Inst. , Mrs. Margaret T. Douglas in her 48th year. She was born in
Lancaster District, South Carolina, was married to Rev. Alexander Douglas
in 1834, joined the Methodist E. Church same year; moved to Ala. in 1838;
thence to Texas, and settled at Tyler in 1848. The deceased was one of the
first settlers in Tyler. Her name stands registered as one of the
chartered members of the Methodist church here. Left a widow years ago
with her children to raise and educate, with but limited means , she
deserves great credit for her prudence and economy. In the discharge of
such responsible duties. For two years her three sons have been in the
army and she has been left to struggle almost alone. But in all this a
merciful God has sustained her; naturally meek and quiet in her
disposition, she consequently said but little openly about her prospects
for the future. A few hours before she died, the writer called to see
her--finding her sinking rapidly, I asked her if it should be the will of
god to take her, "whether she was ready to go! Her reply was "Oh, yes,
yes." Thus passed away a good Christian, a worthy citizen, an affectionate
mother, in every way a model woman. Heaven bless her children. J.W. Fields
Descendants of Alexander Douglas II
1 Alexander Douglas II b: October 27, 1807 in Lancaster
Co., SC d: August19, 1853 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX; buried Oakwood Cemetery
. +Margaret Tirzah Cowsar b: 1810 in Lancaster, SC m: 1835 d: September
1862 in Tyler, Texas; buried Oakwood Cemetery.
.. 2 James
Postell Douglas b: January 07, 1836 in Lancaster Co., SC d: November
27, 1901; Oakwood Cemetery, Tyler, TX ...... +Sallie Susan White b: 1844
in Griffin, GA m: March 16, 1863 d: August 22, 1872 ; Elkins Cemetery,
near Old Omen, Tx
...... 3
Beckham L. Douglas b: January 31, 1865 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX
...... 3 Blumer Gustus Douglas b:
July 13, 1867 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX d:September 04, 1884 in Tyler, Smith
Co., TX
...... 3 Winona
Estelle Douglas b: 1869 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX .......... +Lawrence
William Wells
..........
4 Lawrence William Wells, Jr.
.......... 4 H. D. Wells
. ......... 4 A. L. Wells
.............. +A. L. Wimmer
...... 3 Mary Ellen Douglas b: August 03, 1872 in
Tyler, Smith Co., TX d: June 04, 1952 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX
.. *2nd Wife of James Postell
Douglas: ...... +Alice Earle Smith b: June 03, 1852 in "Whitehouse"
plantation, near Corinth, Mississippi m: July 07, 1874 in Tyler, Texas d:
June 28, 1955 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX
...... 3 Florence Douglas b: May 12, 1875 in Tyler, Smith
Co., TX d: 1876;bur. in Oakwood Cemetery, Tyler, TX
...... 3 Earl Cowsar Douglas, Sr. b: March
11, 1877 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX d: August 31, 1959 in Tyler, Smith Co.,
TX
.......... +Mary Gladys
Buford b: September 15, 1883 d: October 18, 1968;bur. in Oakwood Cemetery,
Tyler, TX
.......... 4 Earl
Cowsar Douglas, Jr.
.......... 4 James Buford Douglas
...... 3 James Postell Douglas, Jr. b: December 27, 1878 in
Tyler, Smith Co., TX d: October 17, 1880 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX
...... 3 Lucia Rutherford Douglas
b: December 16, 1880 in Tyler, Smith Co.,TX d: August 18, 1964;bur. in
Oakwood Cemetery, Tyler, TX
...... 3 Marc Fleishel Douglas b: October 11, 1885 in
Tyler, Smith Co., TX d: January 07, 1890 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX
...... 3 Alice Earle Douglas b:
November 16, 1888 in Tyler, Smith Co., TX d: April 07, 1979 in Tyler,
Smith Co., TX
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