Alfred Moore Scales was born on November 27, 1827, was admitted to the bar in 1851, and settled in Madison that same year. In 1852 he served in the N.C. House of Commons, in 1857 in the U.S. Congress, in 1861 in Vol. Co. H. of 3rd N.C. Volunteers, in 1863 as a Brigadier General CSA, and from 1875 to 1884 again in the U.S. Congress. He died in 1892.