This week I'm going to write about families at the first of the alphabet.

Webster "Web" Ahrens was born on Sept. 8, 1906. He left his family home and moved in with the Lloyd Doerfers in Western Kansas until he could build his own sod house. He married Blanche Mather in 1932. They came to Mancos in 1946. After he retired, he assisted Dr. F. E. Reddert for 10 years. He shared produce from his gardens with family and friends. A daughter, Violet Hamblin, and a son Jerry survived him. He passed away on April 14, 1987.

James Sylvester "Boe" Alexander was born on Jan. 27, 1891. He loved his cattle and the outdoors. Among his many activities, he was a State Highway Maintenance Patrolman and a school bus driver. He married Callie Noland in 1914. They had five daughters, Genevieve, Eloise, Kathleen, Nancy and Tommy Lou; and a son, Noland. Boe died of a heart attack on June 25, 1960.

Caroline "Callie" Noland was born on Oct. 18, 1895. She was the fifth child of Caroline Mitchell and Oen Edgar Noland. When Callie was two weeks old, her mother died, leaving four children under the age of 13. She had fond memories of spending summers at her father's trading post southwest of Cortez. She married Boe Alexander. She passed away on Jan.11, 1990.

Tommy Lou Alexander was born on Oct. 29, 1932. She was a daughter of Boe and Callie Alexander. She graduated in 1950 from Mancos High, where she had been an excellent musician. She passed away in Leadville, where she had pneumonia, followed by a heart attack, on Nov. 14, 1973

Kent Noland Alexander was born on Nov. 29, 1950. He was a son of Noland and Betty Alexander. He died in the Greeley hospital during treatment and observation. His survivors included a sister, Gwen Alexander Hawkins. He passed away on June 21, 1952. Noland and Betty passed away recently.

Thomas J. Alexander was born on Jan. 16, 1862. He married Marguerite Creevan in 1885. He worked as a carpenter. He left a daughter, Mrs. Steve Elkins and a son, Boe Alexander. He passed away on Sept. 28, 1932.

Genevieve Alexander was born on Jan. 15, 1915. She was a daughter of Boe and Callie Alexander. A daughter, Judith, preceded her in death. Genevieve passed away on Dec. 14, 1984.

William McGregor was born on Feb. 28, 1907. He married Genevieve Alexander. Death came on July 26, 1974 while he was in the mountains working mining claims.

Kathleen Alexander was born on March 15, 1920. She was a daughter of Boe and Callie Alexander. She married Gilmer Newsome in 1937. She passed away on Sept. 24, 1978.

Gilmer Newsome was born on May 1, 1915. He worked for the CCC in 1936. He worked for Piccone's Market at the south end of Main Street, carried mail to Mesa Verde National Park and helped in the construction of the Jackson Gulch Dam.

Boe Hawkins is great-grandson of Boe Alexander.

Darrel Ellis is a historian of the Mancos Valley. Email him at dnrls@q.com.