Obituary:

MAIL TRIBUNE

Medford, Jackson Co., OR—Monday, 13 March 1944

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR M.L. ALFORD 2 P.M. WEDNESDAY

           Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday for Moses L. Alford, who passed away Friday at the home of his son, Herbert L. Alford, after a protracted illness. The services, to be conducted by the Rev. Harry Hansen, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will be at the Perl Funeral Home. Interment will be in Siskiyou Memorial Park with graveside services in charge of the Elks lodge.

           In the death of Mr. Alford, Southern Oregon loses one of its prominent pioneer citizens. A genial, kindly, quiet man, with a keen sense of humor, he had acquired in a long, busy and useful life a host of friends throughout the valley.

           He was born April 27, 1857 and had he lived until April 27 would have been eighty-seven years old. His parents came to Oregon and settled in Linn county in 1850, where he was born and lived until the family came to southern Oregon, making their home at Talent.

           Mr. Alford attended school in Ashland, and his wife, also of prominent pioneer stock, Rachel Lindsay Applegate, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Applegate, was a classmate.

           He became one of pioneer merchants of Ashland and later served with the firm of D. R. Mills Mercantile Co. of that city. In 1901 he moved to Medford to accept a position as cashier of the Medford Bank, now known as the U.S. National Bank. In 1906 he organized the First National Bank of Medford and was president at the time of his retirement therefrom.

           It is indicative of the confidence reposed in him that for the past twenty-seven years he served Medford as its recorder.

           Not only did he serve his community as a business man, but in its civic interests he also took active part. He was an Elk and a member of the Southern Oregon Pioneer Association.

           His wife preceded him in death December 28, 1940 and at that time they had passed their 60th wedding anniversary.

           A personification of the pioneer, he believed in the principles for which his forefathers had fought, honesty and integrity first.

           Survivors are his son, Herbert L. Alford; a grandson, Richard L. Alford, both of this city, and his sister, Mrs. L.F. Willits, of Klamath Falls, Ore.