Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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Jonathan Alford, second son <strong>of</strong> Jeremy<br />
and Sarah (Eno) Alford, was born September<br />
16, 1720, married, December 17,<br />
1744, Charity Thrall, born about 1729,<br />
and died September 9, 1776, the daugh-<br />
ter <strong>of</strong> William and Hannah (Thrall)<br />
Thrall.<br />
Joseph Alford, second son <strong>of</strong> Jonathan<br />
and Charity (Thrall) Alford, was born<br />
July 6, 1748, married, in 1772, Lucy Griswold,<br />
who was born in 1753, and died<br />
April 10, 1835. She was the daughter <strong>of</strong><br />
Moses and Mary (Nichols) Griswold, <strong>of</strong><br />
Poquonock, town <strong>of</strong> Windsor.<br />
William Alford, eldest son <strong>of</strong> Joseph<br />
and Lucy (Griswold) Alford, was born<br />
May 3, 1774, and died December 26, 1856,<br />
at Poquonock. He married (second)<br />
April 3, 1810, Selina Griswold, born Janu-<br />
ary 2, 1782, and died February 4, 1821<br />
she was the daughter <strong>of</strong> Isaac and Chris-<br />
tiana (Holcomb) Griswold.<br />
Euclid W. Alford, fifth son <strong>of</strong> William<br />
and Selina (Griswold) Alford, was born<br />
July 16, 1813, and resided at Poquonock,<br />
where he died April 24, 1859. He mar-<br />
ried, October 10, 1842, Mary Elizabeth,<br />
the daughter <strong>of</strong> Leonard Keeney, <strong>of</strong> East<br />
Hartford, <strong>Connecticut</strong>. They were the<br />
parents <strong>of</strong> the following children: 1.<br />
Celeste, born March 3, 1844; married<br />
George W. Barnes, <strong>of</strong> Windsor, and died<br />
in that town in February, 1915. 2.<br />
Hestes Ward, <strong>of</strong> whom further. 3. Wil-<br />
liam Euclid, born March 16, 1848; removed<br />
to Oklahoma, and died there about<br />
1914; he married, in <strong>Connecticut</strong>, Elsie<br />
Merriman, <strong>of</strong> Tarrifville, formerly <strong>of</strong><br />
Windsor. 4. Frank Wells, born Decem-<br />
ber 27, 1856, who has lived on the paternal<br />
homestead at Poquonock during his en-<br />
married tire life ;<br />
man, the sister <strong>of</strong> his brother's wife; she<br />
was born October 29, 1857, and is the<br />
mother <strong>of</strong> the following children : Alden<br />
Euclid, born November 29, 189a; Mary<br />
;<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
Katherine Suess Merri-<br />
87<br />
Sophia, January 9. 1893, Elsie Merriman,<br />
April 10, 1895, Alice Viets, August 16,<br />
1897, and Leon Morton, November 20,<br />
1899.<br />
Hestes Ward Alford, son <strong>of</strong> Euclid W.<br />
and Mary Elizabeth (Keeney) Alford,<br />
was born May 4, 1845, in Poquonock, and<br />
received such education as the public<br />
schools <strong>of</strong> the neighborhood afforded. He<br />
was but fourteen years <strong>of</strong> age when his<br />
father died, and as eldest son much <strong>of</strong> the<br />
responsibilities <strong>of</strong> the management <strong>of</strong> the<br />
paternal farm fell upon him. He still<br />
continues to till a portion <strong>of</strong> this farm and<br />
has given much attention to tobacco cul-<br />
ture. After many experiments he dis-<br />
covered the best use <strong>of</strong> fertilizers and the<br />
peculiarities <strong>of</strong> the tobacco plant, and has<br />
long been known as one <strong>of</strong> the most suc-<br />
cessful growers <strong>of</strong> the Windsor section.<br />
He never had an ambition to try any<br />
other life than that <strong>of</strong> farmer, and was<br />
always fond <strong>of</strong> hunting and fishing. He<br />
relates many interesting details <strong>of</strong> his ex-<br />
periences while pursuing these sports.<br />
He has been an extensive collector <strong>of</strong> bird<br />
specimens, and has a very large number<br />
representing the natives <strong>of</strong> this locality.<br />
All <strong>of</strong> these were mounted by Mr. Alford<br />
himself, and he takes a just pride in exhibiting<br />
his collection to those who may<br />
be interested. His intimate knowledge <strong>of</strong><br />
bird nature and habits enabled him to so<br />
mount his specimens as to bring out the<br />
most characteristic pose <strong>of</strong> each. Equally<br />
interested in the development <strong>of</strong> plant<br />
life, his success in agriculture naturally<br />
followed his study <strong>of</strong> these subjects. Mr.<br />
Alford has always maintained an intelli-<br />
gent interest in the progress <strong>of</strong> his coun-<br />
try, and has ever espoused the principles<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Republican party, but he has<br />
always shunned any political preferment.<br />
His shrewd and successful management<br />
<strong>of</strong> his own affairs naturally led his townsmen<br />
to seek his services in other con-