John Alexander was born in 1847, came to Kansas May 28, 1880, applied and made
  his deposit for a Homestead of 160 acres in Grant Township, Pratt County, two and
  one-half miles south of Coats, Kansas. His wife, Jane Channel Alexander, born
  1860, and their small son, Andrew Jackson, born in Macon, Missouri, Jan. 31, 1881,
  arrived at the homestead by wagon and mules, bringing their cattle and household
  goods, in approximately 1885. Two daughters, Ethel and Lulu, completed the family.
  Their first home was a half-dug-out. Buffalo and Indians were their neighbors in
  the tall virgin grass lands. They were one of the first pioneer families in the
  area. Coats did get the railroad and depot station late in 1886.
     A.J. (Andy) grew to manhood and bought a 160-acre farm four miles south of
  Coats in McAdoo Twonship, Barber County. He married Laura Kumberg, born 1882. Their
  daughter Ruby Irene was born Nov. 19, 1905. Her mother, Laura, died in 1908.
     Anna J. Kiras, born Oct. 16, 1886 and A.J. Alexander were married July 19, 1920.
  To this union six children were born; Frieda, Albert, and Pauline, all deceased;
  Walter Andrew of Medicine Lodge; Dolly Jane, Oklahoma City; Faye, Southport, Conn.;
  and adopted daughter, Betty Raye, Woodville, Miss.
     Ruby was raised in this family home. After graduating from Coats High School, she
  and Ray Luther of Coats, were married. Their daughter, Betty Raye, was born Dec. 6,
  1926. After her mother's death on April 27, 1928, Betty was adopted and raised in
  the Alexander home. All these children drove a horse and buggy or walked the two and
  one-half miles to a one room grade school, McAdoo #69. All eight children attended
  Coats High School, seven graduated.
     John Alexander died Nov. 1941; his wife Jane, in 1945. A.J. Alexander died June
  1962; his wife Anna J., on March 18, 1971. All are buried in Coats Cemetery.
     Walter Andrew (W.A.) and Doris Ann Skinner were married Jan. 29, 1937. We continued
  farming in the family farm tradition of the times, doing the work together. Jan. 15, 
  1938 our first son, Donald Andrew was born. Nov. 26, 1943 our second son, Ted Ross
  completed our family. The boys enjoyed their childhood on the Skinner ranch north of
  Lake City. They attended and graduated from Lake city Grade School. During this time
  we were active in the school, YWCA, community, and Methodist Church, with the boys
  attending church summer camps. We wre members of the Eastern Star, active in Masonic
  and Consistory work.
     Don attended and graduated from Coats High School, twenty five years after my
  graduation. Don was in the 4H, music program, and basketball; so we supported these 
  activities. We worked for the Coats Community Center, a recreation place for all age
  groups. Also we helped organize the Square Dance Club there. Don completed his education
  at Pratt Jr. College. He married and has two sons, Lloyd Andrew and Mark Troy of
  Springfield, Missouri.
     The summer of 1957, we moved near Marionville, MO., where Ted graduated from High
  School. We continued our Church and school activities, adding the hobby of building
  go-carts, which Ted designed and drove inraches. He had the privilege of going to 
  Nassau, Bahamas, in 1961 with a team from Springfield, Mo. He continued his education
  and graduated from Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield, with a B.S. degree
  in Industrial Technology, and BFA in Art. He attended the University of Oklahoma in
  Norman, teaching and earning his Master's Degree in Sculpture. There he met Melanie
  R. Rubin of Highland Park, Illinois, and they were married March 22, 1972. That spring
  she graduated from the University of Oklahoma, earning a BFA in ARt. Ted and Melanie
  moved to Barber County in May, 1975. Their home is one and one-half miels east of Sun
  City. March 6, 1976 their daughter, Mona Erin was born. June 1, 1978 a son Brian
  Daniel arrived. So continues this branch of the Alexander family.
     We had moved to the Texas Panhandle in 1962, where I worked as a plumber. I earned
  my Master Plumber's License, making it possible to won and operate my own Plumbing
  Business. Due to health reasons, we returned to Medicine Lodge, Nov. 1976, to our
  present home.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 83 
     Submitted by: W. Andy Alexander and Son, Ted R. Alexander