Biography of Alexander Provines, pages 664 / 665. History of De Kalb County, Indiana. Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885. Alexander Provines was born in the village of Burgettstown, Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 31, 1818, a son of Robert and Jane (Smith) Provines, natives of Pennyslvania, of Irish descent. He is the third of five children, and the only one now living. In the fall of 1818 his parents moved to Harrison County, Ohio, where his mother died April 27, 1823. Sept. 11, 1823, his father married Esther Jenkins. Two of their three children are living--- Mrs. Lovina Dickason and Mrs. Esther Dickason. His father entered 160 acres of land in Harrison County, and remained there seven years, when he moved to Tuscarawas County. The second wife died Oct. 7, 1828. He then left the farm and worked at the blacksmith’s trade till taken with the sickness which, resulted in his death, Aug. 3, 1829. Alexander Provines was thus left an orphan at the early age of eleven years. He lived with a relative, William Moore, a short time, and then went to Wayne County, Ohio, where he spent the greater part of the time till his majority, working at the carpenter’s trade and in grist-mills. He early learned the lesson of independent action, and it has tended to make him a self-reliant, energetic and prosperous business man. His education was mainly obtained by private reading and observation. He is a close observer of passing events, a man of decided convictions, and one free to express his opinions on matters of public interest. He is a ready and pleasing conversationalist, a genial, social friend, and is esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact. It has been his habit for many years to keep a daily record of temperature and rain and snow fall, and in extremes of hear or cold an hourly observation from sun to sun. He is an ardent Republican, and, although on the side of the minority in his township, has held several positions of trust. He was Assessor two years in an early day, and has been County Commissioner five years. Mr. Provines was married Oct. 21, 1841, to Dorcas Adams, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born Jan. 16, 1821. In April, 1853, they came to De Kalb County, and settled on section 9, Jackson Township, where they have a pleasant home of 157 acres all well improved. But fifteen acres had been cleared when he settled on it. The first year he planted an orchard, which is now one of the best in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Provines have had nine children, four of whom were born in De Kalb County. The eldest and youngest died in infancy. Those living are---John A., James, Alexander H., Lucian, Robert C., Mrs. Jane Prosser and Mary. John A. is a druggist of Spencerville, the rest all reside in Jackson Township. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com