Tulare County
Biographies
B. M. ALFORD, M.D.
B. M. Alford, M. D., is a native of Wilson County, Tennessee. His father, Weilie Alford, was a farmer in Tennessee, and there young Alford was reared and received such an education as the State afforded, taking his medical course at the University of Nashville, where he graduated in 1856.
Dr. Alford began the practice of his profession at Boston, eastern Texas, where
he purchased 400 acres of land and also carried on general farming. In 1862 he
volunteered for the Confederate service, in the First Mounted Battalion from
Texas, Major Crump, and as surgeon of his battalion was in active duty until the
close of the war, with the exception of one leave of absence. He was in many
sharp battles but was never wounded, and received his discharge at Meridian,
Mississippi, May 8, 1865.
He then returned to Texas, found everything disorganized, became disgusted with
the country and in 1868 went to New York and took steamer for California, coming
via the Isthmus route. The Doctor was married at Boston, Texas, in 1860, to Miss
Josephine M. Poer. Landing at San Francisco, they came to Tulare County and
located at White River to look after the interests of a toll road across the
Green Horn mountains to Kernville, which had been built by Dr. Alford's
father-in-law, W. B. Poer. Besides attending to this business the Doctor also
engaged in the practice of his profession. After remaining there five years he
sold his two-thirds interests in the road to Kern County, and returned to Texas,
located at Fort Worth and followed his profession two years. Again deciding to
visit California, he came to Porterville, Tulare County, subsequently locating
in Tulare. This was about 1878, soon after the town of Tulare was started. He
bought property on the corner of Tulare and K streets, and there established his
office. After passing through two fires, the Doctor erected a brick store and
office building in 1890. He also owns other city property and a ranch of 920
acres, devoted chiefly to grain farming.
In 1889 Dr. Alford retired from practice and bought property at Santa Cruz,
where, with his family, he passed sixteen months in rest and idle recreation.
Since then he has returned to Tulare and engaged in the practice of medicine.
Dr. and Mrs. Alford have four children, - William H., Josephine Pearl, Forrest
L. and Daisy. He is a member of Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Tulare
Lodge, No. 76, A. O. U. W. William H. Alford, the older son, is engaged in the
practice of law in Tulare County. Pearl, the older daughter is a teacher in the
public schools of Santa Cruz. Forrest is attending the University of the
Pacific, and Daisy, the youngest of the family, is attending the high school in
Tulare City.
SOURCE: History of Central California Memorial and Biographical History of the
counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California :Chicago, The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1892 Page 655-656 Transcribed by Beverly Green
GEORGE REUBEN ANDERSON
George Reuben Anderson, of Visalia, was born
in West Chester, Butler County, Ohio, March 4, 1847. He is of Welch ancestry,
and is the son of David Anderson, a native of Butler County, Ohio. George
Anderson, grandfather of George Reuben, emigrated from Wales to America when a
boy. His forefathers were Presbyterians and people of rare force of character
and influence. Mr. Anderson's father was a tanner by trade, and he also dealt in
manufactured leather goods. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Frazer, a native of
Trumball County, Ohio. They had six children, of whom five are living. Mr.
Anderson was the third child and finished his education at Lincoln College. He
was in business with his father as a partner seven years. In 1880 his father
died, and he succeeded to the business and continued it till 1885, when he came
to Visalia, California, and embarked in the same enterprise till 1890, doing a
good and successful business. He disposed of his interests and engaged in
farming on a ranch of 160 acres, which he owns; after living there some time he
was burned out and sold his stock and removed to Visalia, and is engaged in
building for himself a nice residence corner of South and Chestnut streets.
In 1877 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Libby Kent, a native of Pennsylvania,
and they have five children, namely: Louie, Jessie, Willie, Annie and Cre. Mrs.
Anderson's mother's maiden name was Martha Blare. She was a niece of General
Anthony Wayne of Revolutionary fame. When the great civil war began Mr. Anderson
was only fourteen years old, and he could not enlist, but when sixteen years of
age in 1863, his parents consented to his enlisting, and he joined the First
Kansas Light Artillery, and served his country till the close of the war. He
participated in the battles of the army of the Cumberland under General Thomas,
and was slightly wounded both at Johnsonville and Nashville. He was honorably
discharged in July, 1865. He is a worthy member of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and was a charter member of Lincoln Post, organized in Topeka, Kansas,
in 1866; he has filled all the officers of that lodge. He is also a member of
the I. O. O. F. Mr. Anderson is a strong Republican, and was his party's
candidate for city clerk in 1890, but could not overcome the large Democratic
majority in the city.
SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and
Kern, California: Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 Page 799
Transcribed by Beverly Green