William Alford

Black male, born about 1870 in River Junction, FL. Parents were Henry and Maggie Alford. Died of angina pectoris on 14 May 1939. [The death certificate says his place of death was Ferry Pass Rd., Olive, FL, but I believe it was Olive Rd., Ferry Pass, FL], at the age of 76. He was widowed at the time of his death; his occupation was listed as Labor (private), which work he had been doing for 40 years. His last residence was Olive, FL [Again, I believe this to be Ferry Pass, FL]. Rebecca Harris was the informant on the death certificate. He was buried at the Escambia County Poor Farm.

William appears in the 1870 census in Gadsden County, FL, as an infant with his family: His father, Henry Alford, age 29, a farm laborer born in Virginia who could not read or write; his mother, Margaret, age 28, also a farm laborer born in Florida who was not able to read or write; his older sisters Mary P (age 10); Cari (age 8); and his brothers Henry (age 7) and John (age 2). William was 0 years old at the time. All the children were born in Florida.

In the 1880 census for Gadsden County, FL, William was 9 years old, working on the family farm with his siblings Kate (16 – possible “Cari” from the 1870 census); Henry, Jr. (18); John (14); Maggie (7); Hector (6); Milton (4); and Angus (2). Mary is listed near the bottom, age 23, with a last daughter named Sibby (3). William’s father, Henry, was born in Virginia, as wel both his parents; Margaret was born in Florida, but her parents were both born in Georgia.

In the 1930 census, William was living at 68 Olive Road in Ferry Pass, FL. He was 60 years old and was described as being married, and having been for 29 years, but he was alone in the household. He was born in Florida, his father in Virginia, and his mother in Florida. His occupation was Farm laborer.

Will Alford in the 1935 Florida state census was 66 years old and alone in his household. His education was 1st grade. He was a fireman.

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