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Record #3917
Name :
: Janet Murray ALEXANDER (1896 - 1977)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 5 May 1896

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 26 Nov 1977   Notes : Kidney Failsure
Abode (1) : Place of BirthScotland, Lanark, Glasgow
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialUnited States of America, Youngstown
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 19 Jun 1906
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Corinthian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Quarriers
NotesIn 1906, Janet Alexander, 8 (along with her sister, Sarah Alexander, 16) arrived at Quebec, Canada, along with a group of 87 children from Scotland en route to Brockville, Ontario, Canada. (Sister, Mary Alexander, 13, arrived in 1905 and Agnes Alexander (who paid her own passage to Canada) arrived in 1906.)

Jim Coates provided this information on the Alexander family of Scotland:

Janet's father, Paul Logan Alexander, was married 3 times. The first of these 3 marriages was to Agnes Sarah Wilson the daughter of David Wilson and Mary Todd. They were married January 20, 1873 in the town of: Carrickfergus in the county of Antrium, in the country of Ireland. They had 2 sons Andrew Alexander September 9, 1873 and John Alexander December 14, 1874. I have not found a record for the death of Agnes Sarah; however they were only married a few years before Paul was widowed.

Paul Logan Alexander second marriage was to Mary Margaret Graham. They were married May 18, 1877, in the town of Nandulstown, Drummal in the county of Antrium in the country of Ireland. There was 1 daughter Eliza Alexander March 2, 1878. I have not found a record for the death of Mary Margaret; however they were only married also a few years before Paul was widowed again.

Paul Logan Alexander and his 3 children left Ireland for unknown reasons and came to Scotland to the town of Old Monkland / Coatbridge in Lanark County. He was listed in all of the official Scottish documents as Alexander Paul Alexander. Paul then married his third wife, Euphemia McInnes. They were married on March 8th, 1887 in the town of Coatbridge / Old Monkland, in the county of Lanark, Scotland. Euphemia was the daughter of Robert and Margaret McInnes (which is listed on her death record but her marriage record lists William McInnes and Agnes Downie). At the time of their marriage the parents from both sides were already deceased. They began their family of 6 children: Agnes Barbour 1888, Sarah Stewart 1890, and Mary Eliza 1892, Twin boys William Murray, and Paul 1894, and Janet Murray 1896.

Paul worked as a laborer in the coal mines, a railway porter, a stableman, and margarine maker at Neil?s bakery in Glasgow. Euphemia did not have a work record. They lived in Coatbridge and Glasgow until Paul Alexander died of alcohol poisoning due to excessive drinking in October 8, 1897 at age 43. Their mother Euphemia passed away 5 months later in February 23, 1898 of heart disease at age 41. The children, without adult care, were referred to the Quarrier Home Children Association by a local clergyman after the families of the first two marriages would not take them in.

During the 1800?s Scotland was a developing industrialized country that changed the demographics of its citizens. Many country peasants and farmers moved to larger villages or cities to find work in the factories, mines, etc. Unfortunately a lot of these people lived in deplorable ghetto conditions, some starving and many developing communicable health issues. Many of these people suffered terribly at the hand of the wealthy. They were forced to work long hard hours and many had to have their children exploited as workers in the textile mills and coal mines. Eventually the government made laws to protect the children. The counties, townships, or shires that they lived were required to provide suitable living conditions for the children. The laws provided an avenue for the local government officials to take control of orphans and extreme poverty cases from their parents and put them into facilities to protect, educate, or institutionalize.

Five of the Alexander children were put into this system by their eldest half-brother, Andrew Alexander. They were sent to the Quarrier home orphanage in the Bridge of Weir where they were cared for, and educated. They were residents of the orphanage between 7 to 9 years and the four girls were sent to Canada. Brother William died at age 6 and is buried in the Bridge of Weir cemetery. The other brother Paul died at age 2 prior to this event.

Janet was only 9 months old when her both parents died. She was not brought with the other children from the Poorhouse, as she was ill at that time and could not be removed. She arrived on September 10th, and, with the exception of an itch, was in good health.

Janet was adopted/fostered along with sister Sarah by Dr. Fredrick and Jennie Hagar in Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada. She spoke both English and some French. Janet decided to immigrate in 1923 from Canada to Youngstown, Ohio to attend nursing school. She was sponsored and lived with her sister Mary and Lamont Steen.

Shortly after arriving in Youngstown she met Clyde Coates Sr. and was married July 9, 1924.

Janet and Clyde Coates had two children, Dora, born 1925, and Clyde Jr., born 1926. Janet and her children was Presbyterian and they attended South United Presbyterian, John Knox United Presbyterian and Foster Memorial United Presbyterian Church on Glenwood for Sunday services.

Janet never went to nursing school but her involvement as a past president of the Youngstown Osteopathic Guild she was involved in many projects and fund raising efforts for Cafero Osteopathic hospital. She was an active member of the Internal Order of the Odd Fellows Lodge on Glenwood Avenue, a member of the Dames of Malta, the Royal Neighbors, the Daughters of Scotia and various other Scottish organizations. Odd Fellows is known as "The Three Link Fraternity" which signifies Friendship, Love and Truth.

Janet Alexander Coates certainly lived by these values and those around her were blessed by her kindness. She died November 26, 1977.


Printed 1/16/1978 Youngstown Vindicator

"Rites Wednesday for Mrs. Coates

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Thompson Funeral Home for Mrs. Janet M. Coates, 80, of 55 E. Dewey Ave., who died of kidney failure at 10:20 p.m., Saturday in Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital, where she had been a patient for five weeks.

Mrs. Coates was born May 5, 1897, in Glasgow, Scotland, a daughter of Alexander Paul Alexander and Euphemia McInnes Alexander, coming to America and Youngstown in 1923. She was a member of Foster Memorial United Presbyterian Church, and was past president of the Youngstown Osteopathic Guild, a member of the Dames of Malta, the Royal Neighbors, the Daughters of Scotia and various other Scottish organizations. Her husband, Clyde Sr., whom she married July 9, 1924, died Nov. 26, 1977.

She leaves a son, Clyde Jr. of Youngstown; a daughter, Mrs. Dora Sefcik of Cleveland; eight grandchildren; and six great grandchildren." 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-23 20:21:30 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-11-02 21:25:01 /

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