Born in Ireland, at age 10, Alexander sailed with his family to New York, the summer of 1848, by way of Liverpool aboard ship Ivanhoe. Arrived at NY, Aug, 25, 1848. Alex was the 3rd born of 10 children, one of which died at sea. He moved with family to Mt. Erie, IL in 1858.

On Mar. 8, 1868, in Mt. Erie, IL. Alex married Isabella Best, daughter of Henry George Best and Elizabeth Whealon. She was born Jan 7, 1844 in Hanover, Columbiana, Ohio and died Apr 4, 1870 in Mt. Erie, Wayne, Illinois
They had 3 sons, Samuel Robert and George Melvin (twins), born November 4, 1868, and Alexander, b. April 4, 1870 d. May 1870 (6 weeks)

On August 24, 1871, Alex married Sarah Jane Williams, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth [Reed] Williams. She was born Dec. 19, 1851 and died in 1977. They had 5 children: Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie", Annie May, Claudius F., John A. Sturgeon and Sarah Jane.

Alex married Mrs. Mary Olive [Gaddis] Wilson in Nov. 1886, in Wayne City, IL at the home of her father. She is the daughter of John Gaddis and Mandana Walton, born Jul 8, 1859, Millersburg, Indiana and died Apr 17 1939, near Mount Carmel, Wabash, IL. Mary Olive Gaddis married her first husband Lewis H. Wilson on May 3, 1876, Fairfield IL and had one son, Edward.

Alex S. Jessup enlisted on October 5, 1861, in Company M, of the Fifth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served until October 28, 1865. Among the battles which he participated in were the battles of Cotton Plant, siege of Vicksburg, Mechanicsburg, Woodville, Egypt Station and others. He entered as private; was promoted to Captaincy of Company M, on September 16, 1862, and on August 8, 1865, was commissioned Major. He served on the General's staff as Assistant Inspector, from April, 1864, until March, 1865. He was next appointed as Ordnance Officer of the District of West Tennessee, with headquarters at Memphis.

He died at Long Beach, CA and is buried in the national cemetery.

Alexander J Jessup