Alvord was born in Vancouver, Washington, and graduated number seventeen of thirty-seven from the United States Military Academy in 1882.

He attended the Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth.

[1] Alvord was an instructor at West Point and at the Infantry and Cavalry School.

[3] Alvord was married to Margaret McCleery, the daughter of Army chaplain J.

[4] Margaret's sister Kate was the wife of Major General John Frank Morrison.