Prince | Alexander History
From whence came the talent that successfully created the business of Prince/Alexander Architects --- from the DNA of numerous ancestors --- but only partially in the DNA. It also took the study, development, guts, perserverance, and work of this individual. All of these are qualities also possessed by early pioneers -- Stephen Jeffery Alexander, AIA, founder of Prince/Alexander Architects and Associates.
On the Alexander side: such as one room school, something to indicate entrepreneurs, farmers, carriages, selling fuel and ice (forerunner of HVAC), cars, furniture, musical instruments, hardware, lithography.
On the Prince side: steamboats, farms, log homes, BC Church, lakes, interior design, real estate sales.
The name of the company, Prince/Alexander comes from the surname of his parents – Carolyn Prince and Milton Alexander. The ancestors of these individuals emigrated mainly from Great Britain, and by the 1820’s were migrating westward into the unknown land of America.
Early pioneers had to be experts in what we now consider to be professions, just to survive in this primitive land of Indiana. They had to be road builders to navigate forests, farmers to have food and clothes, sawyers to cut native timber for lumber, heating and cooking, builders to have homes, blacksmiths to keep their wheels turning and have tools, spinners to make use of cotton, flax, and wool for cloth, midwives and healers to survive and teachers – before schools were established.
They also must have had emotional stamina and an adventurous spirit to even begin. Perhaps those two elements are what make a successful entrepreneur, as much as talent in one's field of endeavor.
Thomas Alexander, protigenter of the Johnson County, Indiana, family was the descendant of a weaver. He became a schoolteacher. “A log school-house on Maux Ferry Road, (part of Camp Atterbury) was where Thomas Alexander taught during the winter of 1827-28”.
Johnson County History by Banta - In 1831 a law was approved mandating township schools. Section 16 in each township was reserved to be sold to finance schools. In 1838 Thomas Alexander was appointed the second County School Commissioner. The Alexanders that followed maintained their spirit of independence by owning farms and businesses, including bankers, livery stables, carriage trade, automobiles, fuel and ice (predecessor of HVAC), hardware, furniture and music.
Earliest pioneers in Indiana from Stephen’s maternal line, settled just south of the Johnson County line in Hamblen Township, for which that township was named. In this line of descendants we find many builders, first of logs. Uriah Ford was the first in this county to build a frame house. Also, he built the first community church, known as Zion. The Prince family came later from Wheeling, where most family members were involved in the steamboat business as captains or owners.
Howard Prince’s first business was a canning factory in Helmsburg. From there he went from selling cars, to selling gasoline, owning coal mines, and an excavation business which led him back to the roots of both himself and his wife in Nineveh Township, Johnson County, and Hamblen Township, Brown County. His most well known achievement is development of the area now known as the Town of Prince’s Lakes, and the planning, promotion and preliminary building of the Cordry/Sweetwater Lakes area. His descendants include this architect, and many other individuals involved in various pursuits that include politics, art, business, interior design and real estate.