A lifelong resident of Macoupin county, Robert E. Alford, of North Otter
township, can claim intimate acquaintance with the resources of this
section, and a well kept farm of more than four hundred and sixty acres is
evidence of his good judgment and sound business ability. He was born
October 21, 1855, a son of M. T. and Rebecca (Edwards) Alford, both of whom
were natives of Tennessee. They arrived in Illinois in 1850. With nothing to
depend upon but a good constitution and an indomitable will to make a
creditable name for himself among his fellowmen, M. T. Alford lived to
witness his early dreams realized. He became a leading farmer of Macoupin
county and acquired three hundred and seventy-three acres, which yielded a
generous annual harvest. The mother of our subject died in June, 1869, when
he was thirteen years of age. In their family were nine children, namely:
William, who is now living in southwestern Kansas; Charles F., of Clay
county, Nebraska; George, who is deceased; Robert E., of this review;
Benjamin F., who died in 1880; Martha, Samuel and Mary, all of whom have
passed away; and Caleb C., who lives in Macoupin county. The father was
again married, his second wife being Susan Mary Searsey, and by this union
eight children were born: Sarah, the widow of William Vogel, who lived near
Palmyra; Martha, who married John Angle, of Carlinville; Rosa, who is the
wife of H. A. Whithorn and lives near Mount Ayr, Iowa; Joseph, of Nilwood,
Illinois; John and Bertha, both of whom are deceased; Oliver Pritchett, of
Kentucky; and Cleveland H., of Nilwood. The father of these children lived
to an advanced age and died May 21, 1906.
Robert E. Alford attended
the public schools and continued assisting his father upon the home farm
until twenty-seven years of age. He then began renting land on his own
account, starting with one hundred and eighty acres, but he increased his
operations and cultivated two hundred and twenty acres for a number of
years. At the end of eleven years he purchased two hundred acres, which he
later sold, and then bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, North
Otter township, where he has made his home since 1895, and to which he has
added three hundred acres. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser and
through good business management has prospered financially so that he now
enjoys ease and comfort as the result of many years of wisely directed
effort.
On the 26th of March, 1884, Mr. Alford was married to Miss
Mary E. Ballard, a daughter of Wiley and Elizabeth (Brodmarkle) Ballard. The
father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Maryland. In their family
were three children: John, who is deceased; Mary, now Mrs. Robert E. Alford;
and Charles W., who lives in Girard. One child, Alma B., has been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Alford. She is the wife of Alvah O. England, of Macoupin
county, and is now living at home with her parents, being the mother of one
child, Maurine, who was born July 27, 1906.
Politically Mr. Alford
gives his allegiance to the democratic party. He has taken the interest of
an intelligent and wide-awake citizen in local affairs and for fourteen
years has served as county supervisor, a position he has filled to the
general satisfaction of taxpayers irrespective of their party affiliation.
He has also held various other offices of responsibility, evincing a
fidelity to trust that has gained for him many friends throughout the
county. He is a stanch supporter of worthy causes and his religious belief
is indicated by membership in the Methodist church.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 101-102.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022