Minnie Lee (Harris) Alexander (abt. 1879 - 1995)

Born about 17 Aug 1879 in Canada Township, Jackson County, North Carolina, United States of America

Ancestors

Died 7 Feb 1995 at about age 115 in Canada Township, Jackson County, North Carolina, United States of America

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Biography

Minnie Lee Alexander, born Minnie Lee Harris, was a centenarian. When she died on 7 Feb 1995, she was possibly the longest-lived person in North Carolina, United States.

Birth

Minnie Lee Harris was the daughter of Columbus Harris and Rachel Scruggs, according to her social security application and her obituary.

Her exact birth date is not certain. Her social security application (1972) and her obituary (1995) ) list her birth as 30 Aug 1879. This would mean she lived to 115 years old.

However, census records give other birth years: she was born 1888 per 1900 census, 1892 per 1910 census, 1888 per 1920 census, 1883 per 1930 census and 1880 per 1940 census. The earlier census records place her as born about 1888 rather than 1879. In particular, if she was born in 1879, then she would have been 21 years old in the 1900 census and likely working, and not 11 years old and at school as listed. Furthermore, she is not listed in the 1880 census with her parents. Collectively these suggest she may have been born about 1888, and lived to about 107 years old, still a remarkable achievement.

In the 1900 census, her mother had remarried to Javan Parker, and Minnie Harris was listed as step-daughter, 11 years old.

In the 1910 census, Minnie was 18 years old (born about 1892) and still living with them in Canada Township, Jackson, North Carolina.

Marriage and Children

Minnie married Judson Alexander.

In the 1920 US census, Minnie Alexander (32, born about 1888) and Judson were living in Canada, Jackson, North Carolina, with children Rachel (9), Telvin (5) and Mandy (0), and her mother Rachel (67).

In the 1930 census, Minnie Alexander (47) and Jut Alexander (50) were living in Canada, Jackson, North Carolina, with daughter Rachel Hoxit (18) and her husband Alvin Hoxit (20), and children Tolvin (16), Willie M (10) and Margaret (6).

In the 1940 census, Minnie Alexander (60) and Judson (66) were living in Canada, Jackson, North Carolina, with children Tolvin (25), Willa (21) and Margaret (16).

Death

Minnie Alexander died on 7 Feb 1995 in Sylva, North Carolina, United States, according to her obituary.

Sources

• 1880 census

Columbus W Harris (34) and Rachel D Harris (32). High Shoal, Rutherford, North Carolina. Children Seline A Harris (9), Richard Harris (7), Susie Harris (4) and Seffois Harris (2). Year: 1880; Census Place: High Shoal, Rutherford, North Carolina; Roll: 981; Page: 491C; Enumeration District: 160. Ancestry Record 6742 #19838509

• 1900 census

Minnie Harris Age: 11Birth Date: Aug 1888 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1900: Canada, Jackson, North Carolina Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Step Daughter [Stepdaughter] Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's name: Rachael Parker Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina. Household Members: Name Age Javan Parker 51 Rachael Parker 50 Case Parker 16 Coleman Parker 14 Minnie Harris 11. Ancestry Record 7602 #57251309

• 1910 census

Minnie Harris [Minnie Haris] Age in 1910: 18 Birth Year:abt 1892 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1910: Canada, Jackson, North Carolina Street: No Names for Road Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Step Daughter [Stepdaughter] Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's name: Rachel Parker Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Native Tongue: English Attended School: No Able to Read: No Able to Write: No. Household Members: Name Age Javan Parker 61 Rachel Parker 59 Case Parker 23 Colman Parker 21 Minnie Harris 18. Ancestry Record 7884 #20582656

• 1920 census

Minnie Alexander [Mathis Baxter] Age: 32 Birth Year:abt 1888 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1920: Canada, Jackson, North Carolina Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Wife Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Judson Alexander Father's Birthplace: North Carolina Mother's name: Rachel Alexander Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Able to Speak English: Yes. Household Members: Name Age Judson Alexander 37 Minnie Alexander 32 Rachel Alexander 9 Telvin Alexander 5 Mandy Alexander 0 [2/12]  Rachel Alexander 67. Ancestry Record 6061 #32497048

• 1930 census

Minnie Alexander Birth Year:abt 1883 Gender: Female Race: White Birthplace: North Carolina Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Wife Homemaker?:Yes Home in 1930: Canada, Jackson, North Carolina Map of Home:View Map Dwelling Number: 75 Family Number: 75 Age at First Marriage: 17 Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: No Father's Birthplace:North Carolina Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina Able to Speak English: Yes. Household Members: Name Age Jut C Alexander 50 Minnie Alexander 47 Tolvin Alexander 16 Willie M Alexander 10 Margaret E Alexander 6 Alvin Hoxit 20 Rachel Hoxit 18. Ancestry Record 6224 #76457416

• 1940 census

Minnie Alexander Age: 60 Estimated birth year:abt 1880 Gender: Female Race: White Birthplace: North Carolina Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Wife Home in 1940: Canada, Jackson, North Carolina Map of Home in 1940: View Map Inferred Residence in 1935: Canada, Jackson, North Carolina Residence in 1935: Same Place Resident on farm in 1935: No Sheet Number: 5A Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: None Weeks Worked in 1939: 0 Income: 0 Income Other Sources: No Neighbors: Household Members: Name Age Judson Alexander 66 Minnie Alexander 60 Willa Alexander 21 Margaret Alexander 16 Jalein [Tolvin] Alexander 35 [25]. Ancestry Record 2442 #152888487

• US Social Security Application and Claims

Name:Minnie Harris Alexander [Minnie H Alexander] [Minnie Harris Harris] Gender: Female Race: White Birth Date:17 Aug 1879 Death Date:7 Feb 1995 Father: Cloumbus Harris Mother: Rachel Harris Type of Claim 11 Oct 1972: Name listed as MINNIE HARRIS ALEXANDER; 03 Mar 1998: Name listed as MINNIE H ALEXANDER Ancestry Record 60901 #25309398

• Obituary

Minnie Harris Alexander, age 115, birth date: about 1880, Residence: Tuckasegee, Death date: 7 Feb 1995, Death place: Sylva, Obituary Date: 9 Feb 1995, Obituary place: Asheveille, North Carolina, Parents: Columbus Harris and Rachel Scruggs Harris, Spouse: Jut Alexander, Children: Tolvin Alexander, Rachel Hoxit, Willie Mathis, Margaret Mathis. Source: Asheville Citizen-Times; Publication Date: 9 Feb 1995; Publication Place: Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Newspapers.com; Ancestry Record 61843 #606990910

• Source: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/606990910:61843