Ancestors of Leora Troper (great grandfather)

Harris Alexander
(b.? in Russia, d. 1937, England)

Occupation: Tailor

Son of unknown parents. Brother of unknown siblings. Husband of Katie (Block) Alexander Father of Bess, Lewis, Norman and Janet Judith Miller told me a few stories about her grandfather Harris Alexander, whom she knew mostly through her mother's stories, since he died when she was three years old. Harris Alexander ended up in England by accident. Harris thought he was getting on a ship for America, but because of his lack of English at the time he did not understand that the ship he was boarding was going to London instead. He came via France, and we do not know how long he was there. (Source : Clare Alexander, granddaughter of Lewis Alexander) Harris Alexander was a tailor of fine clothing. Judith said "He made very classy men's and women's clothing, suits and overcoats and that sort of thing. He was a high class tailor, in contrast to Berel Miller [Judith's other grandfather] who was a simpler tailor, barely a tailor at all really."

Above: 1902 photo of Katie (Block) Alexander, Harris Alexander, and children Bess, Lewis and Norman in photo taken before the birth of Leora Troper's direct ancestor, Janet, the youngest child in the family.

Claire Alexander reports that he came from St. Petersberg. This she notes would be "interesting if true since Jews were not supposed to live there unless working for the crown. Dad always claimed Harris said he was tailor to the Czar."

Harris Alexander died when his granddaughter Judith was 3, in 1937 or 1938. He died of a heart attack, and he was around 60 years old. One day after gardening, he said he was tired, went upstairs for a rest, and died in his afternoon sleep.

Judith said "He loved gardening. My mother also described his 'glee' as he sprinkled salt on the snails..."

"Have you ever seen it?" asked Judith laughing. "Its delightfully horrific.. it's very horrid and extraordinary. They just sort of shrivel up. My mother [Janet Miller] described his enormous pleasure in getting rid of the snails."

"He planted lots of vegetables and fruits in the garden."

"I know that he absolutely adored his grandchildren [Judith, Barbara, John (b. 1936).]" (Judith's sister Janet was born after his death.)

"He may have been a bit on the shy side."

"He was well liked by his customers."

~

The image of the shy successful tailor, taking his aggression out on the garden snails, while his wife Katie Block Alexander ruled the house with an iron hand, is an interesting one, I think.

The middle class status and aspirations of this Russian Jewish immigrant couple seem very evident in the picture of the house they evidently lived in (see page of Janet Miller their daughter), and in the pictures of them here.

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