Peter Alexander was born 26 Mar 1881 in Mason county, the son of William Alexander and Bimasawekwe Mesinebekwe. Mother's name from the 1908 Durant Roll field notes.
Sister Martha was born 23 Oct 1898, died 24 Oct 1898. Daughter of William Alexander and Martha Smith. [The records of the Riverton Methodist Church say she was baptised as Ella on 25 Oct 1898 in Custer.]
In 1899 Peter was a student at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School
1900 Federal Census - Custer, Mason, Michigan
Alexander, William, head, born Mary 1862, 35, married 17 years
Martha, wife, born Aug 1867, 32, married 17 years, 2 children born, no children living
Annie, adopted daughter, born May 1887, 12
1900 Federal Census - Mount Pleasant, Isabella, Michigan
Kejwagwan, Minnie, at school, born Dec 1882, age 17
Peter was married to Minnie Kewajwon on 9 Jun 1904 in Custer, Mason, Michigan, Peter gives his age as 23, parents as Wm. Alexander and Susan Smith. Minnie was 22, daughter of Moses Kewajwon. [Moses was actually her grandfather.]
Daughter Celia was born 26 Sep 1905. Sadly she died 20 Oct 1905.
1908 Durant Roll Field Notes
Page 51 line 2 No-te-no kay (children)
Child 1 - son, dead, see 12/32
child 1's son, Peter Alexander, 29, resides Bradley (see 12 p. 32), 6/58; wife Minnie see 2/55; child Rosie born summer of 1907 Aug 1907
Child 2 Elizabeth Isaac, 50, see 4 p. 53
Child 3 Annie Ostie, 46, see 10/53
Page 55 line 2 - Pe-to-we-ke-zhick, dead; wife name not given
child 1 - name not given
child 1's daughter - Minnie Ke-wa-ge-won, age 25, P.O. Salem or Dorr or Millerton Bradley, Mich, see 22-57; husband Peter Alexander, age 29, see 2-51, 12-32 & 6-58; their child Rose Alexander, born summer of 1907 (Sept) Aug.
Page 57 line 22 - Kin-ne-quay, dead; husband Moses Kewaygewon - living, 77, see 13/62 & 6/58
Child 1, dead
child 1's daughter, Minnie Keywagwon, Custer; husband Peter Alexander, see 2/55 & 6/58; 12/32
Page 6 line 58 - Key way che won/Moses, 77, resides Bradley; wife dead, 13/62
Child 1 - Joseph, dead; wife dead
child 1's daughter Minnie or Mary Ann (Key way che won) age 26, resides Bradley, wife of Peter Alexander, 35, 29, see card, 2/55, 12/32, 2/51; their child Rosie Alexander, born Aug 21/ 07
Child 2 - dead, no heirs
card with 6/58
12/32 x'd out 2/51
6/58
2/55 2/51 Enrolled A5 OK
Peter Alexander
age - 29
Father - William Alexander
Mother - Bimarawchwe Mesinebekwe
wife Minnie Alexander 27
her father Joseph Kiwejwan Kewagewon
her mother Nejigabawekew Betawegejik (Petwagezhick)
your childrens names 1 Rosie Aleander, 20 mo.
and ages 2 Frances Alexander 6 wks.
Page 62 line 13 Waw-be-e-be-quay, dead, [0-1-1 female - had one child in 1870]
Child 1 - Moses Ke-way-che-won, age 71, see # 6/58
Page 55 line 7 - John Smith, dead, wife Mary Smith Fitch, living, now wife of Amos Fitch, Custer, Mich, see #12/58
First husband [John Smith]
Child 1 Martha Smith Alexander, age 44, husband dead, no children, unmarried; her adopted son, John Alexander or John Pete, illigitimate (sic) child of dead daughter of Amos Fitch #4 (father's surname is Pete)
see 7-9-55
Child 2 Joseph Smith, 38 years, wife Anna Medawis Smith, 30 years, daughter of Joe Medawis; their children: Elizabeth, 12, Rosie, 8, Agnes, 5, Moses, 3, David, 2
Child 3 Matilda Smith, 30 yrs, daughter of Mary Smith Fitch, unmarried, no children
Second husband [of Mary Smith] Amos Fitch, living, 46, (see #9 p55)
Child 1 Thomas Fitch 17 yrs
Child 2 Nancy Fitch, 13 yrs
(Alice King, adopted daughter, child of dead daughter of Amos Fitch; father is Joe King, 23, living, an Ottawa)
While Horace Durant refers to this page in connection to the Peter Alexander who is the focus of this blog post they are two different men.
Line 12 page 32 O-nay-naw-goonse or Alexander, dead; wife dead
Child 1 - Alex Nanagoonse, dead
Child 2 - dead
Child 3 - dead
Child 4 - Christina, dead
Child 5 - John Mobis Nanngoonse, 66
Child 6 - Pete Alexander, 35, resides Bradley, see 2/50; 22/57
1910 Federal Census - Wayland, Allegan, Michigan
Alexander, Peter, head, 30, married 5 years, occupation stone Mason
Minnie, wife, 28, married 5 years, 3 children born, 2 children living
Roise, daughter, 2
Frances, daughter, 1
Ki-we-ja-wam, Moses, grandfather, 79, widowed
all are listed as full Ottawa.
Daughter Alberta was born 14 Mar 1914.
On 12 Sep 1918 Peter William Alexander registered for the draft. He gave his birth as 26 Mar 1880, address as 331 Bartlett St. SW in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan. Occupation was repair man for the G.R. Gas Co. Nearest relative was his wife, Minnie Jane Alexander. Peter was described as medium height and build with dark eyes and black hair. [This is not the middle name Peter uses later in life]
Daughter Alberta died 20 Nov 1918 of influenza. [During the Spanish Flu epidemic].
A daughter was stillborn on 14 Nov 1919
1920 Federal Census - Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
331 Bartlett St. SW
Alexander, Peter, head, rents, 39, occupation carpenter
Minnie, wife, 38
Rose, daughter, 12
Francis, daughter, 10
Evelyn, daughter, 8
1920 Federal Census - Custer, Mason, Michigan
Alexander, martha, 54, widowed
John K. son, 16
Smith, Matilda, sister, 41
Alice, niece
-----, niece
1921 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Peter J., laborer, living at 331 Bartlett
Son Joseph was born 5 Sep 1924. Sadly he died 7 Sep 1924. Cause was aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure. Burial at Woodlawn. Address was 244 Finney St.
On 19 Jul 1927, daughter Francis, 18, born Millerton, married Peter Mark, 19, born Bradley, son of Alfred Marks and Nancy Walker.
1927 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Frances, resides 244 Finney av SW
Peter (Minnie) forman G E Gas & Light Co., resides 244 Finney av SW
Rose, wrapper at Winters & Crampton Mft Co., resides 244 Finney av SW
On 26 Oct 1929, daughter Evelyn, 18, born Bradley, married Rowland Hills, 24, born Mancelona, Mich, son of Martin Hills and Lela Loomis.
1929 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Peter J. (Minnie) forman G R Gas Light Co., resides 304 Williams SW
Rose, student, resides 304 Williams SW
1930 Federal Census - Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
304 [street name not given]
Alexander, Peter J., head, rents - $20 per month, 46, 1st married at 23, foreman City St Dept
Minnie, wife, 45, 1st married at 22
Rosie, daughter, 22, student
Marks, Frances, daughter, 21, 1st married at 17
Rosa, granddaughter, 7/12
Alberta, granddaughter, 1 5/12
Alexander, Margaret, (ad) daughter, 4 10/12
It is not known when Margaret was adopted.
1930 Grand Rapids City Directory
Evelyn, resides 304 Williams SW
Frances, maid
Peter J (Minnie) forman G R Gas Light Co resides 304 Williams SW
Rose student resides 304 Williams SW
On 19 Nov 1931, daughter Rose, age 24, born Salem, married Moses Miksawbi, 29, born Emmet Co., Michigan, son of William Miksawbi and Philemina McDagin.
1935 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Peter J. (Minnie) repairman GR Gas Light Co., resides 435 Breen ct SW
1937 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Peter J (Minnie) forman GR Gas Light Co, resides 435 Breen ct SW
1940 Federal Census - Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
435 Breen Ct
Alexander, Peter, head, 59
Minnie, wife, 57
Margaret, daughter, 14
Marks, Frances, daughter, 31 married
Mary, granddaughter, 6
Hill, Evelyn, daughter, 29, married
Peter, grandson, 8
Robert, grandson, 2
Peter registered for the draft on 27 Apr 1942 in Grand Rapids. He gave his name as Peter Joseph Alexander, address as 435 Breen Ct SW in Grand Rapids, born 26 Mar 1881 in Mason county. Named Rosie Miksawbi of 46 Pleasant St SW as a person who will always know Peter's address. His employer was Michigan Consolidated Gas Company. He was described as 5' 7" tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. Peter wore glasses.
From The Indian Leader Haskell Institute - 12 Apr 1946
Alumni News
The Alumni Association acknowledges the following gifts to the memorial fund for Haskell servicemen and women in World War II: Haskell staff members, $175; Boy Scouts, Troop 57, $5; Ray Mike ('38), $5; Mrs. Rose Alesander McSawbi ('30) $5.
New Members of the Alumni Association: Mr. and Mrs. Archie Howkins ('40); Mrs. Doris Gale of Pontaic, Michigan; Mrs. Rose Alexander McSawbi ('30) of Grand Rapids 3, Michigan.
1949 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Peter J (Minnie J) resides 435 Breen ct SW
1950 Federal Census - Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
435 (down) Breen Ct.
Alexander, Minnie, head, 67
Peter J., husband, 67
Marks, Frances, daughter, 41, separated
Johnson, Alberta J., granddaughter, 21, married
Marks, Mary B., granddaughter, 16, housekeeper in a private home
Stanlley D., grandson, 7
Hills, Evelyn C, daughter, 39, separated
Jean C., granddaughter, 20, sander at furniture factory
Peter J., grandson, 18, glue machine operator at furniture factory
Robert J., grandson, 11
Johnson, Ollie E., grandson in law, 22, married, mechanic, at auto service factory
Rosemary, great granddaughter, 1
435 (up) Breen Ct.
McSawbie, Mose, head, 46, truck driver at box board factory
Rose, wife, 42
1951 Grand Rapids City Directory
Alexander, Peter J (Minnie) resides 435 Breen ct SW
Wife Minnie died 28 Jan 1956. Her obituary was printed in the Grand Rapids Press.
Peter died 2 Nov 1958. His obituary was printed in the Grand Rapids Press 4 Nov 1958.
Daughter Rose died between 1969 (when her husband died) and 1989.
Daughter Evelyn died 3 Nov 1989 in Grand Rapids
Adopted daughter Margaret died 18 Feb 1993. From the Grand Rapids Press 20 Feb 1993.
copyright (c) 2024 Vicki Wilson
Another grandfather of mine!
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