George Benton Alford
Prominent in the history of Wake County from the earliest times, the family of Alford has maintained its position to the present day. Among the many whose lives have added lustre to the name, none is more worthy to be recorded here than that of the subject of this sketch.
George Benton Alford was born July 24, 1845, two miles south of Cary.
His father was Green Haywood Alford, who was a farmer and a miller.
His mother was Rebecca Alford, whose maiden name was Jones.
The Alfords came to America a long time before the Revolution and settled about the corner of Wake,. Nash and Johnston counties, in the vicinity of the present town of Wakefield. James Lotwick Alford, also known as Maj. Tanner Alford, served under Gen. Nathanael Greene in the Revolution as a Continental Army officer, or belonged to the State troops in the war. He was supposed to have been one of the earliest settlers in this part of the State. He had several brothers who settled in North Carolina, one of whom was Warren Alford, great-grandfather of the late J. H. Alford, a prominent citizen of Raleigh at the time of his death, a few years ago.
The great-grandfather of George B. Alford on his mother's side was Etheldred Jones, who was elected ensign in Captain Hinton's company, and was afterwards known as Captain Jones. He served under General Greene and fought in the battles of Cowpens and Guilford Court-House.
His sword has been placed in the museum of war relics at Guilford Battle Ground. Etheldred Jones had a brother, Jesse. Both came from Virginia before the Revolution and settled in that part of Wake County now embraced in Middle Creek Township, at the place once known as the Barney Jones precinct, being the place where Gales Johnson now resides. The mother of Mr. Johnson was a granddaughter of Etheldred Jones. The Jesse Jones place is that which is known as the Andrew Betts old homestead, in Wake County, near the line of Harnett, in the vicinity of Harnett Chapel Church. Etheldred Jones owned most of the land now included in Middle Creek Township, and a large part of Holly Springs, Swift Creek and Buckhorn townships.
The great-grandmother of George B. Alford was a Lane, an aunt of Gen.
Joseph Lane, who came to Raleigh in 1860 when a candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with John C. Breckinridge. Mr. Alford remembers the visit of his distinguished relative distinctly, on account of an incident with a fatal termination, viz.: His uncle, Alvin Jones, who had recently recovered from typhoid fever, went to Raleigh to see his cousin, Joseph Lane. The trip resulted in a relapse, followed by death in a few days.
James Lotwick Alford had several sons, all of whom, except Green Alford, left this part of the country. Green Alford once lived at Morrisville before the North Carolina Railroad was built. He died and was buried at the place which belonged to him, now known as the old High house, near Cary. James Lotwick Alford was buried near Wakefield, which place derived its name from one of his plantations, called the Wake field.
Delaney High, who lived near Wakefield, was a great aunt of George B. Alford. She was the mother of Green High, who was enrolling officer in the Confederate service during the War Between the States. She left a large number of descendants in Wake County, numbering among them several distinguished people.
Green Haywood Alford was a man much in the public eye. He had a bent for politics and was often called to the service of his fellow-citizens. He was one of the justices in Judge Badger's County Court. He served two terms in the House of Representatives of the State Legislature. After the Civil War he was a candidate with Judge A. S. Merrimon as delegate to the State Convention. The sons of Green Alford, brothers of George B. Alford, have made their mark in the world. A. J. Alford, who lives in Jacksonville, Fla., served one or two terms in the Senate of that State. C. A. Alford, who was an extensive operator in lumber, died five years ago, after accumulating a fortune of a million dollars. He lived at Willingham, Ga. He also served in the Senate of his State. W. L. H. Alford, who resides at Sylvester, Ga., has served two terms in the Legislature of his State.
The educational advantages of George B. Alford were cut short by the War Between the States. He attended the academy at Alford's School-House and other subscription schools, but when the war came on he had to give up his books and go to work. His business career was begun in Middle Creek Township. He began as a turpentine operator, then turned his attention to merchandise and farming. Later he returned to the turpentine business, and finally found the occupation that suited him in the lumber industry. In this line of business he has achieved marked success and has become a citizen of the highest standing and of commanding position.
The subject of this sketch is not a politician, but he is keenly alive to the welfare of the public and has his views about political matters. He was born a Democrat, but, in 1896, believing that the Democratic party, in its advocacy of free silver, had departed from its first principles, he assumed an independent attitude, voting according to his judgment and supporting the candidates of his choice.
Mr. Alford is proud of the record he made in canvassing the Fourth District for Congress on the sound-money platform in 1896. Although the votes were against him, he saw the views for which he contended vindicated by the course of events very soon afterward.
He has been a justice of the peace, and was a county commissioner two years, serving with Chairman William R. Pool, S. J. Allen, E. E. Gill and Amos Adams. He declined to accept a second term.
By virtue of his service in the Confederate army, George B. Alford has been honored by his comrades by election to the position of Commander of the Camp of United Confederate Veterans, No. 1278, at Holly Springs. The military service of Mr. Alford began in the fall of 1864, when he joined the R. H. Tucker cavalry company. He was with his company in Baker's regiment, Barnes' brigade, at Petersburg and Dinwiddie CourtHouse. He was in important raids to Stony Creek and to Bellfield. Being taken ill with typhoid fever., he was sent to the military hospital at Raleigh, under the care of Dr. Tracy. Upon his recovery he was ordered back to his regiment, near Petersburg, the day the battle of Averasboro was fought. Before he could get to the front Richmond fell, and the war was over. At the surrender, as at his enlistment, he was a private.
As a reader of books Mr. Alford has shown fine discrimination. He has found delight in the study of the Bible, history, and in religious books written by well-balanced authors. While holding membership in the Methodist Church at Holly Springs, Mr. Alford classes himself as a Protestant. All creeds, he declares, contain some error mixed with truth. He holds that the Protestants are those who maintain the faith and the principles upon which the American Government was founded.
Referring to matters that should claim the attention of all good citizens, Mr. Alford says that, first of all, we should realize that the foundation on which our liberty, prosperity and happiness are based are the Bible and the plan of salvation as set forth in the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour. Without such a foundation we cannot hope to perpetuate the great republic. Our policy should be to clarify politics first. Evidently the tendency is toward a departure from the foundation principles of the government laid down by our forefathers.
Our government, says Mr. Alford, is based upon the individuality of its citizens. Each locality should govern through its representatives in local affairs without coercion from the outside. In this view of political affairs, State prohibition is wrong in principle. Besides, it is not temperance and is not founded on God's truth. We need better roads and more money for our schools, which we had in the county before the prohibition law went into effect. Mr. Alford believes the State prohibition law should be repealed; that the county should issue bonds for building modern highways, and not keep on wasting the taxes, as is the prevailing practice.
For the benefit of young men starting in life, Mr. Alford would say that there is no better time to strike out for one's self than now.
Economy is the first lesson to be learned. If a young man will choose an honorable vocation and stick to it with persistent patience, he will command success. A steady, slow and sure advance on the road to fortune is more to be desired than a mushroom growth, however fascinating the latter may be. Reading good books is helpful to the young man in business. In all his reading, the Bible should be first.
Mr. Alford is an occasional contributor to the newspapers, having written for The News and Observer, The Gold Champion, The Evening Times and some others. He has been too busy with other matters to attempt any ambitious task in writing.
The interest of Mr. Alford in local educational affairs appears from the fact that he is chairman of the Holly Springs Public High School Committee. Besides, he is president of the Holly Springs Land & Improvement Company and president of the G. B. Alford Company (Incorporated).
Mr. Alford has been married twice. His first wife was Charlotte Ann, daughter of Johnson and Martha Olive. His second wife, who is now living, was Mrs. Texanna O. Collins, widow of Walter Collins. Mr.
Alford has two children—a daughter, Mattie V., who is married to Mr.
R. J. Utley, and a son, Green Haywood Alford.
(Source: Historical Raleigh With Sketches of Wake County (From 1771) and its Important Towns (Moses Amis, 1913) Submitted by Amy Robbins)