John was the son of John Alford (1786-1870) and Jane MCELHATTAN (1791-1860.)

March 4, 1840, John was married to Lucinda Ann 'Lucy' Cordell in Meigs County, Tennessee. Together they had the following children: Robert and William.

Apr 13, 1847, John was married to Hannah Hollomon. Together they had the following children: Pleasant Holloman, JErimiah Charles, SArah Elizabeth, Matthew M, Charles H, Thomas Richard, Owen, Susan, Mary and John J.

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The following story is cited at: http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GETdb=bstout2id=I57
by Bill STOUT


Source: "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps Dent Counties, Missouri," Published 1889, Goodspeed Publishing Company. Transcribed by: Penny Harrell ([email protected])

John M. ALFORD, merchant and farmer, and one of the principal stock dealers of Dallas County, MO., was born in Knox County, Tenn., on February 9, 1822, and is the son of John and Jane (McElhattan) Alford also Tennesseeans, who immigrated to Carroll County, Ark., in 1852,and there spent their declining years.

The father was a farmer, and also carried on milling in his early days, and of his large family of children there are living at the present time: Malinda, Robert, John M., Orlando D., Thomas, Margaret, Rebecca and Mary.

John M. was reared on a farm in his native State, and was married in Meigs County, Tenn., March 4, 1840, to Lucinda Cardell, by whom he became the father of two children, Robert and William. In 1855 he came with his family to Dallas County, MO., and reached Four Mile Prairie November 5, 1855, where he purchased a claim that was partly improved, with about ten acres cleared, and on which was a little log house.

In 1856 he entered several forty acre tracts, 160 acres being prairie land and the rest in timber, and here has lived up to the present time. He now owns 1,600 or 1,700 acres of valuable land, the most of which is under cultivation, and is an extensive dealer in the better class of stock. He has a good residence and other buildings on his farm, and a look over his home farm shows the thrift and energy that has put his place in its present admirable condition.

Since 1862 he has been engaged in the mercantile business at Wood Hill Post-office, and in his public as well as social career would prove a valuable addition to any community. He married his present wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Hallomon, on April 13, 1847, and nine of their ten children are now living: Pleasant, Jeremiah, Sarah, Matthew, Charles, Thomas, Owen, Susan, Mary, and John.