Lofland - Alfred D.
Source: 1881 Montgomery County In History of H. W. Beckwith, p 227 (Chicago: HH Hill)
farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born in this township August 12, 1841. His father, William Lofland, emigrated from Delaware to Montgomery County as early as 1834, and after his arrival married Sally Simpson. Her father, Allen Simpson, had located on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, having bought it several years before from a Mr. Croy.
Mr. Lofland's father was a tanner and worked at his trade. His tanyard was on this place. He died when our subject was only three years of age, and left three other children, John, Hevellow, and Nancy. The two last are dead. The mother's second marriage was with Henry Thurston. She died December 31, 1879, and was sixth-eight years old at her death.
Mr. Lofland was enrolled August 16, 1862, in Co. E, 72d Ind. Vols. At Louisville his regiment was brigaded with the 17th Indiana, and the 98th and the 123d Illinois regiments. For its distinguished service this command became celebrated as Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry. He served under Rosecrans in his advance from Murfreesboro, fighting at Hoover's Gap, and participated in a brilliant affair, by his brigade alone, in gaining the rear of Bragg's army, and assaulting Deckerd Station by night, causing the enemy to fall back the next day. He was engaged at Chickamauga, and was in pursuit of Wheeler's cavalry twenty-one days after that battle. In the following winter three hundred of his regiment were detailed, under the command of Maj. Carr, and went with the expedition under Gen. Sooy Smith to cooperate with Gen. Sherman in the Meridian campaign. He was present throughout the prolonged disaster which befel Gen. Smith's command, and fought in the sharp engagement at Okolona. He was in constant service during the Atlanta campaign, and after that terminated returned to Rome, Georgia, where the horses of the brigade were turned over to Gen. Kilpatrick, when the men went back to Louisville to be remounted. When this had been accomplished they joined Gen. Wilson's column, which took Selma, Alabama, by assault, destroyed an immense amount of property, and supplemented the bold achievement with the taking of Columbus and Macon, Georgia, when the close of the war put an end to further operations. He was mustered out at Indianapolis July 6, 1865.
Mr. Lofland was married October 5, 1870, to Miss Catherine Hamilton. Their only child, William, born October 7, 1871, died of diphtheria January 12, 1881. Mr. Lofland belongs to the Methodist church. He is an Odd Fellow, and owns 115 acres of choice land. In politics a republican. In 1876 he traveled in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. - typed by kbz