Son of James McAffee and Martha McMichael, Alexander McAffee was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., 2 November 1798. He died 24 March 1852 at Roscoe, Ill. Gravestone picture.

He married Jane McCarty of Muncy, Penn., on 7 November 1825. She was the daughter of William McCarty and Mary Lloyd, and was born in Muncy, Lycoming Co., on 6 April 1800, one of thirteen children.

"Alexander and Jane McCarty were among the early pioneers to the far West. In October 1838 they with their family of five children, migrated to Roscoe, Illinois, by wagon and horseback, stopping for a time with friends in Michigan, with whom they left their women-folk, while they themselves pushed on, and finally located claims on the banks of Rock River, about one mile from the village of Roscoe, in northern Illinois. Mr. McAffee paid $400 for his claim of 400 acres. Here they erected a double log-house, and returned for the women and children. Chicago, ninety miles distant, was their only market, and their produce was hauled there, and goods for their use brought back, for many years, by wagon. Here they reared their family of nine children. Both Alexander McAffee and his brother John, who accompanied him, were prominent in the community and occupied positions of trust."¹⁰

He left Pennsylvania in October 1838 and arrived in Roscoe 31 January 1839 after a short stay in Michigan near South Bend, Indiana. (His sister Mary and husband John McMichael, had moved to Harris Prairie, about eight miles northeast of South Bend in about 1832 or 1833 with their family of nine children.)

He and his brother, John, bought a claim of four hundred acres a half mile south of Roscoe at a cost of $440. Fifteen acres had been under cultivation but there was no house. They built a double log house and returned for the family. About 1849 Alexander built the brick farm house about a mile south of the village of Roscoe. James, his son, helping to haul the brick from Milwaukee at the age of 21. After marriage of the children, the farm was sold to Theodore Mallott. It was an early day tavern and hotel at the west side of the intersection of McDonald Road.

John McAffee built a house across the road further south, a short distance north of the Lovejoy School (at Swanson Road). John was Harlem Township tax collector in 1851.

1859 map of McAffee land in Harlem Township
also showing farm of Thomas Ralston, before the road was changed to add curve at section line.
(Click map for large view.)

1860 Map of McAffee farmland South of Roscoe in Harlem Twp., Winnebago Co., Illinois.
(Click map for large view.)

Alexander was first Township Supervisor from Harlem Township in 1850. Also in 1851.

He had nine children, 4 sons and 5 daughters (2 children died in early childhood):

+1) James born in Penn., 18 August 1827, first married Almeda McCausland who died 1856, one child, Almeda, born 10 July 1856 Pecatonica, IL and died 24 October 1939 Waverly, IA. He remarried Margaret L. Cross and lived on the Cross farm north west of Roscoe. Three children, Hannah Jane, Julia Ellen, James Caten.

2) William D., born in Penn., 10 July 1829. A bachelor, died Roscoe 7 October 1862.

3) Amanda born in Penn., 28 February 1831 married Henry A. Fahnestock and lived in Waverly, Iowa. She died 4 January 1917, no children.

4) Ben Franklin, born Towanda 6 December 1832, died Towanda, 27 November 1834.

5) Charlotte Temple, born Towanda, 29 January 1836, died 17 February 1839, Roscoe, age 3.

6) Mary Ann, born Towanda., 16 January 1838 married Melvin J. Wood 1858 and lived in Roscoe. She died 22 February 1920, he 24 January 1890, no children.

7) Martha Jane, born in Roscoe, Ill., 8 June 1840, married Gust A. Wood, September 1870. One child Mabel born 30 December 1871, she married George Lovell.

8) Harriet born in Ill., 16 June 1842, married Ben F. Campbell. 2 children Alta and Fred. Harriet died 3 September 1888.

9) Edwin born in Ill., 8 June 1845, married Helen York of Byron, Illinois. He farmed in Audubon Co., Iowa. 4 children, Willis, Herbert, Leslie Alexander, Edna Jane, and Elma, all born Exira, Iowa. Edwin died in Estherville, Iowa Dec. 5, 1915

Following Alec's death, Jane lived on at the Harlem Township farm until about 1870, when it was sold for $4,500 and she went to live with a daughter in Iowa. She died there 9 March 1878.

The following is taken from Portrait and Biographical Record of Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois" Chicago, Ill., 1892, Biographical Publishing Co:

"James McAffee was originally from the Keystone State, born in Bradford County in August, 1827. His father Alexander McAffee was also a native of that State but was born in Northumberland County in 1798. The elder Mr. McAffee married Miss Jane McCarty, of Lycoming County Pa., born at Muncy in 1800, and one of thirteen children. The result of this union was nine children, four sons and five daughters, two of whom died in early childhood. Of the seven that grew to adult years, only four now survive, and they are Amanda, now Mrs. Henry A. Fahnestock, at Waverly, Iowa; Mary A., widow of Melvin J. Wood, resides in Roscoe, Ill.; Edwin, a farmer of Audubon County, Iowa, and our subject who is the eldest of the family. The parents of these children came West from Pennsylvania in October, 1838, made the journey with teams, and landed in Roscoe on the 31st. of January, 1839. While on the way to this State, they were in Michigan, near South Bend, Ind., for a short time, and the father and his brother John came on to Roscoe Township, where they bought a claim of four hundred acres one-half mile from the (then) village of Roscoe. They paid $440 for this tract, and, although fifteen acres had been cultivated, there was no house on it. They immediately erected a double log house and then returned for the family." "Alex and his Brother John stayed with Jenks family while building it. Alex built the brick farm house about a mile south of the village about 1849 with James the son helping to haul the brick from Milwaukee at age 21. After the marriage of children, the farm was sold to Theo. Malott. It was an early day tavern on the main road north from Rockford. Alex's brother John built a house across the road further south, a short distance north of Lovejoy School."

"Here the father passed the remainder of his days, dying of an abscess in March, 1852, when not quite fifty four years of age. His wife remained a widow and survived him twenty-six years, keeping the family together until about 1870, when she went to live with her daughter. About this time the old place was sold for $4,500. Mrs. McAffee died in March, 1878, when about seventy-eight years of age, her death occurring in Iowa, where she was visiting her daughter."