AAFA ACTION The Official Publication of the Alford American Family Association Fall 1999 Vol. XII, No. 2 The President’s Piece By Richard M. “Dick” Alford I am honored and pleased to introduce myself as your new AAFA President. If you’re a new member, welcome to one of the finest family organizations in the country. If you’ve been with us for a while, thank you for your sup- port and participation. You know how great AAFA is! Contents I am a retired family physician from Idaho, having practiced for The President’s Piece 1 Editor’s Farewell 3 forty-some odd years. I was born, raised, and began my practice Past President’s Piece 5 in Illinois. We moved to Idaho in 1967 when Chicago became too New Member Lineages 6 crowded. Our children are dyed-in-the-wool Northwesters and I In Remembrance of am a Yankee through and through. AAFA Members 24 Obituaries 28 My ancestor was Benedict Alford, who arrived in Massachusetts Warren Alford, M.D., of TN 47 about 1634 at a very early age with his much younger sister and Will of James M. Alford, brother, facts that I learned only because of research already done 1846 MS–1923 TX 48 by AAFA. Andrew Alford, Radio Antenna Inventor 50 Texas “Alford” Marriages, M–Z 51 I’m a fairly active genealogist and AAFA member—I’ve attended AAFA Members in the News 60 four annual AAFA meetings so far, done some census extractions Digging Up Bones! 67 for Alicia Houston, our Census Team Manager from Pennsylva- “Alfords” in the 1850 nia (my wife Connie and I have also put our feet under her table MA and NJ Censuses 68 for a lovely dinner), and have visited some of my family histori- Australian Alford Connections 77 cal haunts in the Midwest, Connecticut and New York. I have Engagements, Weddings, and also visited that very famous basement in Gil Alford’s home in Anniversaries 78 Florissant. I’ve been to Salt Lake City to do research twice and I 1998 Meeting in KY— have contacted my share of courthouses, libraries, and genealogy More Final Photos 86 1999 Meeting in groups with a modicum of success. It has been both fun and San Antonio, TX 88 rewarding. Welcome New AAFA Members 96 Index 96 (Continued on p. 2) Page 2 AAFA ACTION Fall 1999 AAFA Officers (The President’s Piece, cont. from p. 1) young members into leadership roles to assure the future of AAFA. Some of Alford American Family Association Just as AAFA has been a boon to me, our older members, who’ve been “on P.O. Box 1586 so can its extensive ongoing re- the job” with AAFA since its begin- Florissant, MO 63031-1586 search—through census extraction, ning, are ready to step down—or at E-mail: [email protected] collection of birth, marriage and death least slow down! We have some very http://www.alford.com/alford/aafa/ certificates, land records, obituaries, active younger members already in homepage.html wills and other miscellaneous items place, but they will need help. Within that members have found—be a real the next month I’ll appoint a nomina- BOARD OF DIRECTORS benefit to each of you and many others tions committee. I hope to have it in place by the time the next Online Cecil O. Alford Ramona Alford Darden out there looking for the same material. Donald R. Alford Kim Savage I am a recent member of another Newsletter (OLNL) is published. If Gilbert K. Alford, Jr. Lynn Davidson Shelley family group that is having a problem you can help AAFA in any way, Lodwick H. Alford Janice Stogsdill Smith staying alive because the members contact a committee member—or they Max Ray Alford Sally Bateman Stoewer might be contacting you! Paraphrasing Richard M. Alford Doris Alford Vetri have not been as dedicated in their research. We are one of “the best” for the WWII poster, “AAFA Needs You.” PRESIDENT that reason. RICHARD M. “DICK” ALFORD In the coming years, the board intends 502 25th Avenue I’m very proud to be a member—and to broaden the focus of AAFA. The Lewiston, ID 83501 now a leader—of AAFA. As we enter OLNL and the quarterly will continue (208) 743-9416 a new century, let me reflect briefly on to get better, bringing you more E-mail: [email protected] our accomplishments so far. If AAFA meaningful genealogical content and had done nothing else, the collection, AAFA news. Our web site will be VICE-PRESIDENT processing, and publication of Alford enhanced and expanded to help make LYNN D. SHELLEY our growing volume of information 1921 E. Nottingham Lane information in the quarterly would be Springfield, MO 65804-7733 considered a worthwhile effort and a available. We want to develop research E-mail: [email protected] source of pride. But we did much teams, set up like our very effective more! Our first annual meeting in 1988 Census Team, to do in-depth local SECRETARY that lasted three hours grew, over a research at courthouses, cemeteries, MAX RAY ALFORD period of little more than a dozen and historical societies for marriage 427 Wheatridge years, to the last one that lasted three data, land records, cemetery records, Mesquite, TX 75150 days—and with related AAFA spon- wills, and military records. The board E-mail: [email protected] sored tours, it covered an entire week! will be considering publishing books TREASURER Additionally we have the awesome and CDs containing Alford census DORIS ALFORD VETRI work of the AAFA census team, the extractions, Alford state-oriented data, 981 Larkspur Place, N. incredible Master Book List, an and Alford genealogies. Long-term Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 outstanding photo collection, an storage of our photos and other E-mail: [email protected] effective web site, a significant collections is a concern. They’ll be collection of Alford wills, a modest looking at a proposal to initiate and EDITOR, AAFA ACTION collection of cemetery data—and all fund a scholarship program. There will PAMELA ALFORD THOMPSON that is just a beginning. surely be yet unknown opportunities 1017 Marilyn Drive from the discovery of new sources and Mountain View, CA 94040 increased technology. AAFA’s board E-mail: [email protected] What we’ve accomplished in a relatively short time is the result of the is excited about the challenges in this All contents Copyright ©2000 by the new century, and I look forward to Alford American Family Association efforts of many dedicated members. unless copyrighted by individual contribu- We are now about to enter into a new leading our association as we meet tors or reprinted from published work. millennium with some added chal- them! lenges. Over a year ago, the board The Alford American Family Association established a strategic planning One more change: as you’ll read on the is a Missouri corporation which has been next page, this issue of AAFA ACTION exempt from federal income tax by the committee headed by Jimmie Alford, Internal Revenue Service as provided by with a mandate to look ahead and will the last for editor Pamela Alford Internal Revenue Code 501 (c7). The develop plans for our future. Thompson for two years. Have fun and Association has no paid staff or employees enjoy your break, Pam, but hurry back. and depends entirely on volunteer workers. One of their objectives is to bring more Thank you so much and Godspeed!! ❖ ISSN 1082-3212 Fall 1999 AAFA ACTION Page 3 Editor’s Farewell By Pamela Alford Thompson page drafts of the Winter issue, they’ve Getting to Know ... Editor, AAFA ACTION got some great ideas for innovative changes that I think you’ll love! (As Pamela Alford Thompson his, the 46th issue of AAFA always, the team needs and welcomes AAFA #30 ACTION, is the last one I’ll be your help with any aspect of the Tediting for a couple of years. production.) I’m a California native—the San It’s been my honor and pleasure to Francisco Bay Area and Silicon deliver AAFA’s news and “Alford” One of the striking changes you’ll Valley, to be precise—born here in research to you since our first 8-page notice right away in the Winter issue is 1948. My father, Ray Dortey Alford, issue in June 1988. Many of you have the inclusion of mini-biographies and AAFA #459, was born in Louisiana in written articles, contributed photos, photos (when available) with each new 1911, the second of five children of sent information you’ve found in member lineage. This feature is a great James Maxie Alford and Isabel Vogel. printed sources and online, and shared way to get acquainted with members, They lived in East Texas for a few your family histories. You’ve helped especially those who can’t make it to years, moving to California in the make this quarterly interesting to the meetings. Not long ago a member 1920s. My mother, Marie Arnst, was readers with a casual family interest as wrote that it isn’t until we publish an born in Wisconsin in 1918, the fifth of well as valuable to serious Alford “In Remembrance” article that we nine children of German immigrants genealogists. learn about the life of our members. from the Volga region of Russia, With this new feature, we’ll begin to David Arnst and Sophia Pfister. Now I need a break! In 1988 I was five correct that! years into the revision and update of a My parents met right after WWII in Cole family genealogy and expected to We’d also like to begin including a San Francisco.