Fresno County Biographies

B. T. Alford

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

       B. T. Alford, Fresno, was born in Ralls County, Missouri, in 
1853. His father, James L. Alford, was extensively engaged in general farming 
and stock-raising, owning 400 acres of land. The subject of our sketch was 
educated in the subscription schools of Missouri, and subsequently took a 
business course at Heald's Business College, San Francisco. He came to 
California in 1871, and was employed in Fresno County on the stock ranch of his 
uncle, J. G. James, for one year. He then bought 500 sheep and continued in the 
business two years. At the end of that time his flock numbered 1,600 sheep, and 
he sold out, clearing $2,500. All this occurred before he reached his 
twenty-first year. In 1875 he bought 100 horses and drove them to Battle 
Mountain, Nevada, but in this venture he lost money. He returned to Fresno 
County in 1877 and took charge of his uncle's ranch, remaining on it until 1887 
and still having the management of it in connection with his other business. In 
1888 Mr. Alford started a market on Fresno Street, between I and J Streets, and 
in 1889 sold a one-half interest in it to J. W. Coffman, and since then they 
have been doing a prosperous wholesale and retail business under the firm name 
of Alford & Coffman. They own 640 acres of land in the western part of the 
county, which is stocked with 400 head of cattle. Mr. Alford was married in 
Missouri, in 1875, to Miss Dellie Briggs. They have three children Lena May, 
Claude, and Onida, all living at home. Mr. Alford was appointed a member of the 
City Council, December 1, 1890, to fill the unexpired term of J. N. Albin, 
deceased. He is a member of Fresno Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M., and of Yo Semite 
Lodge, No. 171, A.O.U.W.

Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California, Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp.343-344.