Confederate Biography :  GEORGE F. ALFORD, Dallas Co, TX   

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Submitted by Susie McFarland Lemin - slemin46@yahoo.com
31 October 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson, pg. 145                                                                                                                     

George F. Alford, of Dallas was born in New Madrid, Mo., Aug. 14, 1836.  
His father, Gen. George C. Alford came to the Republic of Texas and 
fought under Sam Houston through the revolution.  In November 1836 he 
removed his family to Texas, locating in historic old Nacogdoches and 
it was here that the subject of this sketch was reared and educated.  
Among his schoolmates in this early period were Col. Thoma P. Ochiltree, 
the greatest of American raconteurs: Hon. James B. Likens, the 
illustrious lawyer; Adah Isaacs Menken, afterward queen of one the 
petty German Kingdoms, and novelist, actess and poetess; Marcellite 
Thorn, afterward the wife of William Garner the New York financier- 
both drowned in their yacht, the Mohawk, in 1876; and Lucy Holcomb, one 
of the most beautiful women of modern time, who married Gov. Francis W. 
Pickens the American Ambassador to Russia.  Their little daughter 
"Douschka" was born in the imperial palace of Romanoff and the 
Empress Catherine was her godmother.  It is said that her tiny fingers 
pressed the button that fired the first shot at Fort Sumter, Charleston 
harbor, April 12, 1861.  Young Alford gained a good education in the 
academy in Nacogdoches, for it had competent teachers as its roll of 
talented graduates attest.  After reaching manhood he engaged in 
business in Palestine, Texas, and was quite successful.  In August 
1860 he was elected to the legislature, and when the issue of 
secession was presented he stood with his father's old commander, Gov. 
Sam Houston, in opposing it.  But when the popular will had decided in 
favor of withdrawal from the Federal compact he cheerfully acquiesced 
and faithfully devoted his time, talents, and forturne to the cause 
which his state espoused.  He donned the uniform of gray, first as a 
private and then as lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, and still later as
adjutant-general on the staff of that brilliant Texan, Gen. Hamilton P. 
Bee.  Upon the close of hostilities Gen. Alford was in 1866 again 
elected to the legislature from his old district and served until 
ousted by the military authouries along with Gov. Thorckmorton and the 
other state officials.   He now removed to Galveston and entered upon 
a career as cotton factor and banker, and accumulated a handsome
competency.  He gave up active buisnesss in 1896 and has since resided 
in Dallas where in his retirement he often gratifies his literary 
tastes, writing for various journals and magazines.  He has made many 
contributions to current literature, and his papers on the famous men 
and women of the early days of the Republic of Texas have attracted 
favorable comment throughout the United States.  He has been a member 
of the Masonic grand lodge of Texas since 1858, and had been a 
Democrat all of his life.  He was married Feb. 16, 1857, to Miss Annie 
Marie Maulsby, his early schoolmate and sweetheart, and they have six 
children---two daughters, both married and four sons.  Of the later, 
Hon. Albert H. Alford, has been speaker of the Idaho legislature.