Dexter family.

The Dexter family has long been associated with the history of Alabama and the city of Montgomery, Ala. Andrew Dexter (1779-1837) was born in Mass., graduated from Brown University in 1796, and practiced law in Boston, Mass. He married Charlotte Apthorp who died in 1819. In 1816 Andrew inherited some Georgia land script and chose to locate on the Alabama River. He settled on the present site of Montgomery and named the town New Philadelphia. He set aside locations for the future state capitol and Oakwood Cemetery. Dexter later relocated to Texas, Mexico, and Mobile, Ala. where he died of yellow fever.

His son, Andrew Alfred (1809-1854), was trained as a civil engineer and surveyed the first railroad from Charleston, S.C. to Augusta, Ga., laid out the town of Aiken, S.C., and became a cotton planter in Macon County (Ala.). He was surveying a railroad from Mobile to New Orleans when he died of yellow fever.

This collection contains the personal correspondence of the Dexter family. Correspondents include Andrew Dexter (1779-1837), Andrew Alfred Dexter (1809-1854), Charlotte Sophie Dexter (1812-1878), Samuel Dexter (1815-1837), and Mrs. James Robert Smith(nee Venetia Dexter). Subjects discussed include financial affairs, family matters, and the Mexican War.

Also included in the collection are clippings from the Montgomery Advertiser and Washington Post concerning the renaming of Dexter Avenue, and 13 family photographs including views of Samuel Dexter, Charlotte Morton Dexter, Laura Dexter, Mary Venetia Dexter, Venetia Smith Gale, Andrew Alfred Dexter, and Alfred Newton Dexter.

From the description of Dexter family papers, 1821-1941. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122557902