Alexander Jadwin of Texas County, Missouri

Alexander Jadwin, one of the old and prominent citizens of Texas County, Mo., was born in De Kalb County, Tenn., November 30, 1815, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Van Hooser) Jadwin, natives of Virginia, who died in Texas County, Mo., in 1858, at the age of eighty-three, and in 1854, aged sixty-six years, respectively. Both became residents of Tennessee when quite young, and married in Warren County, and resided there and in De Kalb County until 1843, when they came to Missouri and located in Texas County, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father was a farmer, and a son of Joseph Jadwin, who was born in Scotland, and served seven years in the Revolutionary War under Gen. Morgan, participating in many battles, and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Cowpens. Seven children were born to the marriage of Joseph and Mary (Van Hooser) Jadwin, only two of whom are now living: Martin C., a farmer residing in Dent County, Mo., and Alexander, whose name heads this sketch. The latter, having learned the blacksmith’s trade, began doing for himself at the age of seventeen years, and worked at his trade in Smithville, Tenn., until 1851, when he came to Missouri, locating at Houston, where he was engaged in blacksmithing three years, and then entered the land on which he is now living, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1856-57-58-59 he was sheriff and collector of Texas County, and afterward served two years as county judge and four years as probate judge. January 5, 1843, he wedded Elizabeth North, a native of Bradley County, Tenn., born March 23, 1817. She was a consistent member of the United Baptist Church for many years, and died November 18, 1873, having borne the following children: Manson M., who served in Company B, Col. Burbridge’s regiment, Confederate States Army, and was killed at Saline; Mary Angeline (deceased); William C., who is now collector of Texas County; Nannie (deceased), was the wife of S. G. Cannady; Mattie A., Laura E., Sarah E., Joseph E. and Matilda P. Mr. Jadwin is a Mason and a Democrat, and is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of the county.