Dr. Columbus Rutherford Alexander was born in Jones County Georgia October 3, 1822, however we know very little about his early life in Georgia.  We do know that once Columbus reached the age to receive an education he surely attended school where he received an education in the medical field, but we do not know where he attended school and perhaps it was in Georgia.  It appears that upon graduating from school Columbus came to Florida where he settle in Hernando County near Brooksville. Dr. Columbus R. Alexander is among the earliest practicing physician or medical doctors in Hernando County.  In 1850, at the young age of 26 years, Dr. Columbus Alexander and his wife Mary, age 22, along with their 4 year old daughter, Sarah, were living in the Annutaligua Settlement of Hernando County.  In addition, in 1850 Dr. Columbus Alexander, like many Hernando residents, is recorded as owning (1) one 26 year old male slave; who likely worked as a house servant for the doctors family. As the Alexander Family became more settled in Hernando County Columbus became involved with the community.  In January of 1853 the DeSoto Masonic Lodge No. 32 was charted to meet in Brooksville.  Among those members recorded in the DeSoto Lodge is Columbus R. Alexander, who would become a Senior Deacon within the Lodge.  Throughout the mid 1850's Indian hostilities in Hernando County became more increased causing grief among the early settlers.  As a result men were called to arms and by the end of 1855 a well organized State Militia was gathering throughout for preparations of the 3rd Seminole Indian War of Florida 1856-58. As the call to arms came the medical services of Dr. Alexander were requested.  In December of 1855 Columbus R. Alexander was mustered into service with the Florida Militia where he served as a Staff Officer in the rank of 1st Lieutenant and Surgeon.  In his position Dr. Alexander worked and tended to the medical needs of the soldiers and Militia while in the field, no doubt medical condition were primitive.  After serving with the Florida Militia in the 3rd Seminole Indian War, Columbus Alexander returned to his family and medical work in Hernando County. In 1858 Dr. Columbus Alexander was working as a coroner of sorts in Hernando County.  In this position Dr. Alexander conducted post-mortem examinations of persons found dead within Hernando County.  In 1858 Dr. Alexander performed a post-mortem examination on the body of Thomas Stanfield who had been found dead within Hernando County.  In addition to conducting these examinations on white resident, Dr. Alexander was also called upon to conduct these post-mortem examinations on the bodies of slaves who had been found dead upon the plantations of Hernando County for unknown reasons.  In 1858 when a slave belonging to Sterling McCarty was discovered to be dead, Dr. Columbus Alexander was called upon to conduct an examination of the body.  For his services Dr. Alexander received compensation and pay from the State of Florida, somewhere at the rate of $15- $20 per examination.  On January 10, 1859 Governor Thomas Brown approved payment from the State Treasurery to Dr. Columbus Alexander for his post-mortem examination services in Hernando County. Throughout the year of 1860 Dr. Columbus Alexander increased his interests in Hernando County in several different ways.  By July of 1860 Columbus had purchased yet another slave and he now owned two, both valued at $1700.  With a value of $1700 its believed that the two slaves owned by Columbus Alexander were working in the family home as house servants.  In addition Dr. Alexander is shown as owning 1 horse and a carriage, which he used for transportation.  In August of 1860 Columbus Alexander received title and deed to 80 acres of property situated in Hernando County.  This 80 acres is further described as being located in section 14, township 22, range 19. At the start of the Civil War the medical services of Dr. Columbus Alexander were once again requested.  In June of 1862 Hernando County resident Samuel E. Hope raised a company of men for the Civil War.  Capt. Hope requested the services of Dr. Alexander and he was commissioned in 1862 as a Surgeon for Capt. Samuel Hope's Company C of the 9th Florida Infantry Regiment.  Being a commissioned officer Columbus did not enlist and his position was more of an employment.  Early in the War Dr. Columbus Alexander was stationed at Bayport.  From Bayport Dr. Alexander was transferred to Capt. John C. Chamber Company where he was stationed at Crystal River.  This pioneer Veteran of the Florida Seminole Indian Wars was no stranger to the battle inflicted wounds of war.  During his Civil War services Dr. Alexander never left Hernando County and remained close to home and his family.   After the Civil War Dr. Columbus returned to his home life and his family.  By 1866 Columbus and Mary were expecting the birth of a new child.  It was also ca. 1866 that Columbus suffered with the loss of his wife Mary, perhaps her death was a result of complication during the birthing process.  The new born child survived and was named Stephen, however he would only live for a few years after his birth. Soon after Mary's death, sometime ca. 1867, Columbus Alexander was married for a second time.  Dr. Alexander, now 45 years old, married to the young 25 year old Amanda Hill; daughter of Chesley D. and Elizabeth Hill.  By October of 1868 Columbus and his new wife, Amanda Hill Alexander, had their first child; a baby boy who they named Thomas.  Following Thomas was the birth of daughter Barthorone E. in March of 1870. After the Civil War Dr. Columbus Alexander employed one of his former slaves as a domestic house servant.  In addition to being employed by the doctor, this former slave also took the last name of her former master and carried the name Nancy Alexander.  With the offers of employment the doctor also provided a room in his home for Nancy and she cared for the family and took care of the home. By 1872 in addition to his medical practice, Dr. Alexander was having his hand in a new occupation, farming.  The doctor turned to farming 17 acres of his previously acquired property, however he had sold a portion and only retained 43 acres.  Dr. Alexander had also acquired an additional horse, now owning two, as well as two mules to work his 17 acres in cultivation.  Dr. Alexander was also the owner of 100 head of meat cattle as well as 30 head of hogs.  Shortly after Dr. Alexander began his engagement in farming he decided to relocate further south in the county, perhaps following his cattle like many farmers. By 1873 the Alexander Family had settled in a section of Pasco County near to the small community of Darby.  In December of 1873 Dr. Columbus Alexander was recorded as a member of the new Fort Dade Masonic Lodge No. 48.  The doctor settled his family on a 40 acre tract of property where he would soon engage, once again, in farming.  Here the doctor and his family would continue to live for the next 25 plus years, supporting their community in numerous ways.  In April of 1876 Columbus and Amanda would have another child, a daughter who they named Jane Elizabeth. In October of 1878 Dr. Columbus Alexander was appointed trustee of the Willow Oak School, which served the early educational needs of the small Darby Community.  In his capacity of school trustee Dr. Alexander assisted in the needs of the community children and their education.  The doctor would serve as a trust of the Willow Oak School until ca. 1881.  On August 23, 1883 Dr. Columbus Alexander received full title and deed to the 40 acres of property, near Darby, where he and his family had settled.  The doctors property is further described as being located in section 27, township 24, range 20 in Pasco County. Sometime ca. 1885 Dr. Alexander would once again suffer the loss of his dear wife Amanda as she passed from this life.  The exact date of Amanda Hill Alexander's death and burial location are unknown.  After the death of Amanda, Dr. Columbus Alexander would not remarry and lived the remainder of his life as a widower.  The doctor survived his wife, Amanda, by nearly 20 years, however in his older age the doctor had several physical ailments. In 1901, at age 79, Columbus Alexander was seen and examined by Dr. J.G. Wallace of Dade City.  According to Dr. Wallace's examination Columbus, he was suffering from very bad eyesight as well as a very mild case of "soresis and that he is badly ruptured on both side."  In old age Columbus Alexander was in poor physical condition. On March 14, 1904 Dr. Columbus Rutherford Alexander succumbed to death at the age of 81 years old.  The doctor was interred in the Emmaus Cemetery in a small family plot.  Dr. Alexander's family erected a headstone in his memory and today the plot lies in a small fenced in area of the Emmaus Cemetery near Darby. (Research by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008) (Photo will be added soon)