My Genealogy Hound

Alpheus Pitchford was born in Barren County, Ky., in 1838, being the third child born to Fleming and Susan (Russell) Pitchford, a short notice of whom is given in the sketch of John J. Pitchford. Alpheus Pitchford was educated in the subscription schools of Kentucky, and at the age of twenty-three years began doing for himself, working in the Decatur Flouring Mills, and after a time entered the employ of Mr. Goodman, with whom he remained twelve or thirteen years. In 1861 he was married in Cole County to Mary Shikle, by whom he has a family of three children: Matilda Jane (Mrs. Farris), Benjamin Andrew, who is in the grocery business in Olean, and John William. Mr. Pitchford has improved farms in Cole, Moniteau and Miller Counties, and now owns a fine 120-acre farm, with ninety acres under cultivation. He erected a substantial residence in 1888, and has done fully his share in the development of the county. He is a member of the Democratic party, and during the Rebellion was a member of the Enrolled Militia, and was stationed on garrison duty at Jefferson City. Mrs. Pitchford’s parents, Samuel and Anna (Centers) Shikle, were born in Allen County, Ky., and the father was a millwright by occupation. They came to Missouri in 1840, and opened a farm in Cole County, and here Mr. Shikle assisted in building all the mills in the county. He died in, 1878, but his widow still survives him, and resides on the old homestead in Cole County.