Biography of Alexander Provines, page 249 / 250. History of Northeast 
Indiana; LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb Counties, Vol. II, under the 
editorial supervision of Ira Ford, Orville Stevens, William H. McEwen, and 
William H. McIntosh.  The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 1920.

   Alexander Provines, a member of a family that has been in DeKalb County 
for over sixty-five years, has for half a century been a farmer in Jackson 
Township, and along with the duties imposed by a large and growing family 
has played a worthy and public spirited part in the upbuilding and progress 
of the community.
   Mr. Provines was born in Ashland County, Ohio, July 18, 1845, as son of 
Alexander and Dorcas (Adams) Provines.  His father was a native of 
Washington County, Pennsylvania and his mother of Wayne County, Ohio. They 
were married in Ohio, lived on a farm in Ashland County for several years, 
and Alexander, Sr., in addition to cultivating the soil also followed the 
trade of carpenter and contractor. In April, 1853, he located in section 9 
of Jackson Township, DeKalb County, and lived there until his death at a 
good old age, in August, 1898.  The mother passed away in March, 1897. She 
was a member of the Lutheran Church.  In politics he was a republican. They 
were the parents of seven children: John A., deceased; James, of Jackson 
Township; Alexander; Lucian, who died in 1897; Robert, of Oklahoma; Jane, 
wife of James H. Farber, of Jackson Township; Mary, who is unmarried and 
lives at Auburn.
   Mr. Alexander Provines had lived in Jackson Township since he was four 
years old.  He made good use of his advantages in the local school and for 
ten winters was a teacher.  He married Samantha Knight, of Concord Township.  
She died October 3, 1911, the mother of eight children, named as follows: 
Harris G., who is a graduate of the common schools and of the University 
of Chicago and has a teacher's license in Chicago and Oklahoma; Effie, 
wife of Samuel Morr, of Fairfield Township; Lola, wife of B.W. Carper, of 
Jackson Township; Mary, wife of Claude Moore and a graduate of Auburn High 
School; Roy, of Jackson Township; Dorcas, who is a high school graduate 
and the wife of O.D. Sherer; Emma, who is deceased; and Edna, wife of E.M. 
Gifford and a graduate of Auburn High School, the State Normal, was 
superintendent of schools at Warren, Indiana, three yeas and now lives in 
Indiana Harbor.
   As a farmer Mr. Provines is owner and still manages the cultivation of 
173.7 acres in Jackson Township. He has filled several local offices, is a 
republican in politics, and is one of the trustees of Auburn Lodge No. 191 
of the Knights of Pythias.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com