Alexander Mervine (1830-1905)

Earliest known family member to date to be born in America. Ancestors were originally from Alsace Lorraine, France. By reviewing the City of Philadelphia's Census Records from 1850 to 1900, I was able to piece together the life of Alexander.

In 1850 Alexander Mervine was listed as being 20 years old and married to Mary Ann who was listed as being 17 years old. Alexander was a "Bricklayer". Sometime in the following few years, Mary Ann died ( date & cause unknown) because Alexander was married to Sarah and the first of their three children was born in 1855.

I could not locate either Alexander or his wife Sarah in the 1860 Census Records.

On August 18th, 1862, Alexander enlisted in the Civil War. He served in the 68th Infantry Pennsylvania Regiment and was discharged July 3rd, 1865. (Film M554, Roll 83) On May 2nd, 1863, Alexander was captured by the Confederates in Chancellorsville, VA. and sent to Libby Prison for two weeks before being paroled.

After the Civil War, Alexander became a 'Butcher", a trade he would work in until his death in 1905.

In the 1870 Census Records, Alexander & Sarah Mervine had three children, Hannah (1855), Charles (1860) and John (1868). Alexander was 40 years old. His wife, Sarah was 38 years old.

In 1875, Sarah Mervine, second wife of Alexander Mervine died.

In 1880, Alexander no longer lived with his children but was a boarder in the home of the "Jacobs" who lived at 318 Haverford Avenue. The Jacobs were also employed as "Butchers" as was Alexander. He was 50 years old.

On June 28th, 1883 at Our Mother of Sorrows Church located at 48th & Lancaster Avenue, Alexander married his third wife Mary Ann Hughes. (direct descendant) According to the 1890 city Directory, Alexander and Mary Ann lived at 2629 Arizona. Between 1886 and 1891, they had four children, Caroline, William, Mary (direct descendant) and Anna.

In the 1900 Census Records, the family lived at 2924 Clearfield Avenue. Alexander was still employed as a "Butcher". He was 70 years old. In addition to his wife, those listed in the family home were Caroline (14yrs), William (13yrs), Mary (11yrs) and Anna (9yrs).

On January 18th, 1905, Alexander Mervine died at the age of 75 years old and was interred in Odd Fellows Cemetery located at 24th & Diamond Streets.

To date, I do not have any information on Mary Ann Mervine after 1905.

Regarding Odd Fellows Cemetery;

The cemetery fell in disrepair in the 1940's and was purchased by the City of Philadelphia in 1950. In 1951, 65,000 bodies were removed and reinterred in the Mount Peace and Lawnview cemeteries also owned by Odd Fellows. Alexander Mervine's body was reinterred in Lawnview located on Huntingdon Pike in Rockledge, PA.

The city built the Raymond Rosen Housing Project on the cemetery's site. When the housing project was removed in 1999, caskets with remains were unearthed. It appeared that not all the bodies were removed in 1951.

Mortuary Notice

Mervine, Alexander on Jan 18, 1905, age 75 yrs. Relatives & friends are invited to attend the funeral services, Saturday at 2PM from the residence of his son J.H. Mervine 2516 N. Arizona Street, interment at Odd Fellows Cemetery.