My Genealogy Hound

Alvah G. West was born in Washington County, Ark., near Viney Grove, November 25, 1837, and is one of four surviving members of a family of nine children born to James S. and Mary A. (Crawford) West, who were Tennesseeans by birth. The father came to Arkansas when a young man (about 1834) and located in Washington County, where he reared his family and became a wealthy land owner. He was married three times, and died in 1881. Alvah G. West attended the common schools and the Cane Hill College, receiving an excellent education in the higher English branches and higher mathematics in the latter institution. In 1859 he went to the Rocky Mountains, locating at Pike’s Peak, where he was engaged in mining for about three years, then removed to Nevada Territory, where he mined nearly two years. About this time he met with a serious accident, which unfitted him for further hard work, and in the latter part of 1866 he returned home, and in 1867 engaged in agricultural pursuits. On January 22, 1868, he was married to Elizabeth J. Blair, a native of the county, and daughter of Rev. Jesse M. Blair, formerly of Tennessee, and soon after his marriage took charge of his father-in-law’s farm of 200 acres. He has made some valuable improvements, and has 135 acres cleared and under cultivation, with a fine orchard, consisting of fourteen acres. Mr. West has been a member of the school board for a number of years, and takes a great interest in educational matters. He is a member of the Cane Hill Lodge of A. F. & A. M., No. 57, and is a Master Mason, and secretary of his lodge, which position he has held for a number of years. His children are as follows: Jesse Blair, James E., Mary J., George C., Maggie E., William R. and Hattie E. Mrs. West is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.