The Alford American Family Association
Serving the Alford community over 25 Years
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The Alford American Family Association Serving the Alford community over 25 Years We Are Family!! Click for CONTACT Information |
| Last Updated: 13 SEP 2021 by #0197 |
Note:
AAFA apologizes for the inappropriate references to Native Americans in the following article. They reflect the cultural biases of the period during which this was written.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ALBERT ALFORD is one of the early pioneers of this state [Oregon] and during the Indian wars of 1855 and 1856 he was one of the ready volunteers to expose himself to the dangers and hardships of camp life among the unsettled, mountainous districts in which the savage red man of the north had established his almost inaccessible haunts. He was born in Sheridan [Chariton] county, Missouri, on the 4th of May, 1833, and is the son of Thomas and K. (Culp) Alford, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. His mother died when he was but a small child. In 1850 Thomas Alford emigrated to the state, crossing the plains with ox teams. He arrived in Oregon late in the seaaon and at The Dalles the members of his party took boats down the Columbia river and made their first settlement in Linn county. The cattle were driven down the trail from The Dalles. On reaching Linn county Mr. [Thomas] Alford filed upon a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he established his home and continued to reside until the time of his death, which occurred in the ninety-third year of his age. He was three times married. He chose as his second companion in life Miss Polly Williams, who unfortunately met her death on the plains during the time of their emigration to this state. He later was united in marriage to Miss Gaily, of Linn county.
Published in the AAFA ACTION, Fall 1994, Issue 26, pp. 13-14.
Prepared by Alicia Alford Houston, AAFA #000I.
From The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912, Illustrated, Volume III, by Joseph Gaston.
Albert Alford was reared in his father's home and acquired a limited education in the common schools of Missouri. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his twenty-first birthday. He then filed upon a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Linn county. On this land he established his home and for many years was devoted to its development and agricultural pursuits. While a resident at that place the Rogue River Indian wars became a menacing element to the settlers on the Pacific seaboard and he at once became a volunteer, enlisting in Captain Keeney's company, of which he was an orderly sergeant, and later became a part of the command of Captain Blakeley's company in 1856. This campaign was often attended with great hardships, and at one time during the winter of 1855 his company was snowbound in the mountains and for seven days were without food supplies of any kind. At the close of his sevice in the Indian wars he returned at once to his home in Linn county and reengaged in the improvement of his place. Here he continued to reside until 1869, when be disposed of the property at a handsome profit and removed to Jackson county and for five years lived upon a rented place at Tolo. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the town of Talent and on that place he continued to live until 1910, at which time he sold the property and built for himself and family a handsome home in Talent, where he is now living a retired life. He is one of the principal stockholders of the First National Bank of Medford.In 1853 Mr. Alford was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Brinker. Mrs. Alford is a native of Missouri and from that state emigrated to Oregon in the same train in which Mr. Alford was himself an emigrant in company with his parents to the Pacific coast. To Mr. and Mrs. Alford four children have been born: Russell, now at Klamath Falls; Moses, the first cashier of the First National Bank of Medford; Alice, the wife of L. F. Willetts, of Klamath Falls; and Ollie, the wife of C. W. Walters, of Talent, this state.
Mr. Alford is affiliated with the republican party and has served two terms as county commissioner and was a member of the county board at the time of the building of the new courthouse. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Albert Alford is indeed one of the hardy pioneers of this state and among all his associates and friends he is known to be a man of integrity. His moral influence upon the community in which be lives is distinguished for its salutary and helpful nature in maintaining and building up a healthy community life among the people.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ALBERT ALFORD The subject of our memoir is a native of Chariton county, Missouri, and born May 4, 1833. Here he was educated. In 1850 he crossed the plains to Oregon, accompanying his parents who settled in Linn county, where he married Catherine Brinker, on December 18, 1853. She was born in Missouri, on December 24, 1838. Mr. Alford continued to reside in Linn county up to 1869, when he came to Jackson county, Oregon, and settled near Table Rock. In 1874 he moved to Talent, and is now a resident of the place. He was elected county commissioner from Eden precinct in 1880, and re-elected in 1882, which office he still holds. A view of his residence can be found in another part of this work. His children are: Russell A., born March 16, 1855, Masas [Moses] L., born April 27, 1857, Alice, born February 13, 1859, and Amanda 0., born February 7, 1862.
From History of Southern Oregon, Comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos Counties, 1884, by A.G. Walling.
