HENRY DWIGHT ALVORD

1823 NY – 1910 IA

 

This article was also published in AAFA ACTION, Fall 1994, p. 14, “Henry D. Alvord, 1823–1910.”

 

Bibliography: BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD AND PORTRAIT ALBUM OF WEBSTER AND HAMILTON COUNTIES, IOWA. Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.

 

            Henry D. Alvord, residing on section 28, Otho Township, Webster County, was born in the town of Geneseo, in Livingston County, New York, March 17, 1823. His father, Melzer Alvord, was a native of New England, and a pioneer of Livingston County, New York. He was among the pioneers of the Genesee Valley, and at one time owned eighty acres of land where the city of Rochester now stands, which he sold for $200. He was also one of the early merchants of Geneseo. The mother of our subject was Lura (Smith) Alvord.

            In 1836, when Henry D. was a lad of thirteen years his father immigrated to La Grange County, Indiana, and a few weeks later, after finding a location, sent for his family, which consisted of his wife and three children. Henry D. being the only son, drove the team through from Geneseo to their frontier home. They were also accompanied by an uncle, Ansel Dewey, who settled in LaSalle County, Illinois. At the time of their settlement the State of Indiana was almost in a state of nature, and was principally inhabited by Indians and wild animals.

            Melzer Alvord was unfortunate in his pioneer experience in Indiana. Soon after settling there he contracted a disease of the eyes which compelled him to return to Rochester, New York, for treatment. He finally partially recovered the use of his eyes, but in the meantime had spent most of his substance. He however only survived a few years, and the labor of supporting the family devolved on the mother and her son, the subject of this sketch. [Melzer died in 1850, La Grange Co., IA.]

            In 1852 the family removed to Clayton County, Iowa, settling in the town of Farmersburg, eight miles west of McGregor, where the mother died May 25, 1856. August 31, of the same year, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Rawson, who was born in Cornish, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, December 2, 1836, a daughter of Enos and Eliza (Lewis) Rawson.

            In 1852 Mr. Rawson immigrated with his family to Clayton County, Iowa, and settled on a new farm, remaining there until 1870. In that year the Rawson family removed to Humboldt County, where the mother died in March, 1874. Mr. Rawson died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alvord, in December 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Rawson were the parents of five children of whom Mrs. Alvord is the eldest, the names of the others being Lucina M., Charles M., Hester A. and George F.

            The two sisters of Mr. Alvord before mentioned, were named Harriet and Catherine. The former married John Merriman, and died in Indiana many years ago. The latter is the wife of H. W.Wakeman, of Holyoke, Colorado.

            Mr. and Mrs. Alvord have had born to them nine children—Lura E., Hartley D., Charles J., Henry M., Alice M., Hattie I., Jessie L., Mabel E., and Leslie E.

            In March, 1876, Mr. Alvord settled on his present farm in Otho Township, which he purchased from Edwin Twining, and since then has made some improvements on his place. In politics Mr. Alvord is a Republican, having been identified with that party ever since its organization. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Alvord are identified with any religious denomination, but both are believers in the principles of Christianity, and their lives have ever been consistent with that belief.

 

AAFA NOTES: Henry’s ALVORD lineage is Henry Dwight 1823 NY¹, Melzer 1793 MA², Bezaleel 1762 MA³, Azariah 1738 MA⁴, John 1711 MA⁵, John 1685 MA⁶, Thomas 1653 CT⁷, Alexander 1627 England⁸.