FAMILIES A-C: ALFORD ~ Raymond Charles Alford
Alvin L. Alford Enlists in U.S. Army
According to the enlistment record at the right, Alvin Alford enlisted in the U.S. Army three days after Christmas, 1942 and relatively soon after his first wife died (see notation of the Army record that his marital status was "Widower or widow, without dependents."
Since Alvin graduated from Darrtown High School on May 28, 1937, it seems probable that he married and lost his wife sometime between the summer of 1937 and his enrollment in December, 1942.
Alvin Alford Graduates From High School
The following image shows the diploma that was awarded to Alvin Alford from the Milford Township High School on May 28, 1937.
Signatures on the diploma include:
Local school superintendent - John S. Burkhart
County school superintendent - C. H. Williams
Local school board president - Fred A. Kramer
Local school board clerk - B. M. Wykoff
The seal that appears in the lower left corner of the diploma includes a small ribbon - the colors of which suggest that Darrtown High School's were blue and gold.
Alvin Alford Advances to High School
The following image shows a "Certificate of Promotion to High School" that bears the title "State of Ohio ~ Department of Education" and the signature of the County Superintendent, Mr. C. H. Williams. The document is dated May 12, 1933.
There was a time when many in America ended their formal education at the eighth grade; hence, the advancement to high school was seen as a significant accomplishment. Some people might be tempted to look down on a person who "only had an eighth grade education." Click the following link to access an 1895 eighth grade examination (example from the state of Tennessee / City of Knoxville); see 8th Grade Exam and test yourself, if you like.
Alvin Alford
- 1930
- age 10
This image shows
1930 Federal Census information for
Alvin Alford,
the oldest child of
Ray and Anna Belle Alford.
As noted above,
the family was living in Hamilton in 1930.
Seven years later,
Alvin Alford graduated from high school as
a member of the
1937 Darrtown High School senior class.
Two school documents (BELOW) attest to Alvin Alford advancing from the eighth grade to high school and graduating from high school.
Alvin appears, as a young adult, in the image of the basketball team that was sponsored by the Darrtown Union Sunday School.
According to an Internet source: "The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, enacted September 16, 1940, was the first peacetime conscription in United States history. This Selective Service Act required that men between the ages of 21 and 35 register with local draft boards. Later, when the U.S. entered World War II, all men aged 18 to 45 were made subject to military service, and all men aged 18 to 65 were required to register."
Raymond Charles Alford
- 1942
- age 47
RIGHT: This excerpt from the 1942 Hamilton, Ohio
City Directory reports that the Raymond C. Alford family lived at 42 Gordon Avenue and Raymond worked as a machinist.
Raymond Charles Alford - 1942 - age 47
The following image shows a 1942 draft registration card for Raymond Charles Alford, who was 47 years old at the time.
Note the additional demographic data about Ray Alford. For example, Ray listed his street address as "142" Gordon Avenue; not the "42" that appears in the City Directory record show above.
Raymond Charles Alford
- 1930
- age 35
Still living in Hamilton,
Ray and Anna Belle
have three sons;
Alvin, Raymond F.,
and Elmer.
Webmaster Note - A bit of foreshadowing about Elmer Alford, who was four years old in 1930:
It appears that the Raymond C. Alford family moved from Hamilton to Darrtown during the 1930s. By 1940, the family had moved back to Hamilton.
Approximately 20 years later, Elmer Alford returned to the Darrtown area, when he purchased a farm located at 1820 Scott Road - east of Darrtown
By 1920, Ray and Anna Belle were married,
living in Hamilton,
and the parents of
one son, Alvin
- who was, at that time,
seven months old.
NOTE:
The demographics of this "Alfred" record so closely match those of the Raymond C. Alford family that the surname
"Alfred" must be the result
of a misspelling.
Raymond Charles Alford
- 1900
- age 5
According to the U.S. Federal Census report
shown at the right,
Raymond C. Alford
was born in January, 1895 to Alvin and Ida E. Alford, who, in 1900, lived in Alexandria, Kentucky.
Presumably, Ray had a sister, Lottie, who was two years younger than he.
This Alford Family page originated in October 2013, after Madonna Burke contributed several Darrtown-related items that belonged to her father, Alvin Alford.
Alvin Alford, who graduated from Darrtown High School in 1937, was the son of Raymond Charles Alford and Anna Belle (Abney) Alford.
Origin of the Alford Family in Darrtown:
Ray and Anna Belle Alford appear to be the first Alfords to have lived in or near Darrtown.
Historical records indicate that Ray and Anna Belle Alford moved from Hamilton, Ohio to Darrtown. sometime between 1930 and 1940. The Alford family lived in Darrtown long enough for their oldest child, Alvin, to graduate from the Milford Township High School, in 1937.
More information regarding the Alford family of Darrtown, Ohio will be added as it is discovered and/or received. If you have information about the Raymond Charles Alford family of Darrtown, please use the "Contact Me" link below to communicate with the Darrtown.com webmaster.
