Rachel Fowler Alford Sherrard Clower was the daughter of Fort Alford and Hannah Goodson. She was born in Georgia and came to Mississippi at age 6 with her father and mother and her mother's family. She was the Granddaughter of William Goodson of Lawrence Co. Rachel and her sister Sarah Ann (Moses Collins), with the consent of their father Fort Alford, were raised and educated by their Grandfather William Goodson after their mother Hannah and baby brother William died in 1817. Rachel married Benjamin Sherrard, son of John Sherrard 30 June 1825 in Lawrence Co., MS with the consent of both Fort Alford and John Sherrard. Rachel and Benjamin had four children Sarah Ann (John Curtis Clower), Nancy Elizabeth (Thomas W. Evans), William F. (Martha Allen) and Julianna (Wren McMillan). When Benjamin died in Holmes Co., MS in 1835, there were court records between Rachel and Benjamin's brothers about the settlement of Benjamin's estate sale. It is not known where Benjamin is buried or how he died. It is thought that Rachel's daughter Juliana McMillan, who died before 1858, could be buried in Shiloh Cemetery in Madison Co., MS.

Rachel married Peyton Lawrence Clower 30 Aug 1837 in MS and after her 4 Sherrard children were grown and married, Rachel and Peyton moved to Texas. Rachel and Peyton's children were: Frances, Samantha Jane, John Francis, Charles Elbert, Augustus Marion, Mary Margaret and Robert Pleas. Their son Robert Pleas Clower is also buried in Hopewell Cemetery.

Rachel had one sister Sarah Ann Alford born in 1812. Sarah married Moses Collins in Hinds Co., MS on 19 July 1827. Their Grandfather William Goodson, who had raised the two sisters, gave his consent. Sarah and Moses had 4 children; Rachel, Andrew, Rebecca and Thomas.

Rachel's father, Fort Alford, was born in S.C. between 1785 - 1790. Researchers say he died in St Tammany Parish, LA about 1848. He is listed in a book of Georgia Volunteers as a Captain during the War of 1812. Fort's second wife was Elizabeth Stringer. Their children were: Damaris Ann, James Monroe, Nancy Elizabeth, Fort B. and William.