Albert Alfson was born to Olav and Kari Alfson in 1877 near Farmington, Minnesota. He came with his parents to Pilot Mound Township in 1881. Here he grew to manhood. He was postmaster of Cottonwood Post Office at his parent's home for several years.

In 1904 Albert married Alpha Thinglestad. They filed a claim north of Binford, and when their residency time expired, moved into Binford and built a home. Albert, with his brother Henry, set up a hardware and machine dealer partnership as the Alfson Brothers. Later they sold out to J. C. Thinglestad. Albert stayed on, farmed on the outskirts of Binford, and built a house in south Binford. Henry moved back to the home farm in Pilot Mound. Albert continued with his farming and in addition operated three custom traveling threshing machines complete with crew, teams, cook cars, and cooks.

In spite of his busy farm life, Albert was a regular on the Binford baseball team. He and his wife Alpha were charter members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Binford. They each held various offices in the church and Ladies Aid and sang in the church choir. Mrs. Alfson was church organist for more than thirty years and directed a men's choir and youth choir for some years.

The Alfsons lived in Binford until their deaths. Albert died in 1956 and his wife Alpha passed away in 1957.

They had five children:

1. Evelyn (Mrs. Hopley) of Devils Lake

2. LeRoy of Binford

3. Bernice (Mrs. Glen Broten) of Valley City

4. Hillard (deceased) and

5. Elaine (Mrs. Russel Anderson) of McVille.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 20