
Person Info
Thomas J. Ford: Birth: 1854 in Louisiana?.
Caroline Ford: Birth: 1857 in TX. Death: 16 MAY 1926 in City of Big Spring, Mt. Olive Cemetery
Cornelius Ford: Birth: 1857 in Texas.
Mary Matilda "Dink" Ford: Birth: 08 JAN 1860 in LaGrange Fayette CO TX. Death: 14 FEB 1935 in Walling Bend Cem
Josephine Ford: Birth: 1862 in TX.
Nancy Ellen Ford: Birth: 16 AUG 1866 in TX. Death: 12 FEB 1918 in Bosque, [county], Texas, USA
Julia Ann Ford: Birth: 08 JUN 1871 in Texas. Death: 17 MAR 1943 in Texas
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Note: John R. Ford was born about 1825, not 1808 or 1801 as many web sites indicate. Census data below clearly shows this. He also indicates he was born in Louisianna. However, census records from his children show various states as to where their father was born. He was committed to an assylum before many of them were very old. Perhaps they just didn't know where he was born. Relatives indicate that he bought and sold land. We have a document regarding the sale of land. His occupation is listed as farmer in the 1870 census. What we actually know about John Ford and Elizabeth Purcell: 1854 Married Elizabeth Purcell 1861 Serves as Private in Civil War Early history of Fayette County, Texas------ Muster Roll of Captain A.R. Gates for the month of June 186 This has name of John Ford-----1st row----7th guy from bottom. From: Fayette County, her history and her people, pg 125-126 The bombardment of Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861) was Ihe signal of rally that echoed throughout the Southern States and gathered the South under the Hag of the Southern Confederacy. The cooler heads that still counseled peace or neutrality were pushed aside. Governor Sam Houston, refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the Confederate States was ejected from his office of governor. Lieutenant-Governor Hon. Edward Clark, more in harmony with the views of the people, took the prescribed oath and succeeded Sam Houston in office. Everywhere troops were levied and ordered out in defence of the Southern Confederacy by proclamation of the governor of the state. Companies Raised In Fayette County. The first companies that responded to this call in Fayette County were the Fayette Guards under command of Capt. A. R. Gates, the Rough and Ready Rebels under command of C'apt. Ben Shropshire and a company of artillery-men raised by .1. F. Ernst and E. Creuzbauer. $350 were appropriated for them (June 22, 1851). At the end of 1861 Capt. Ira G. Kil- lough's company was mustered in at San Antonio. At the beginning of 1862 other companies were raised and various appropriations were made for them. The companies then raised were: B. Timraon's company, commanded later by S. C. Izard; J. Duff Brown's company ; Capt. M. Cook's company ; Capt. S. Alexander's company of conscripts, and Capt. Victor Sladczyk's company of conscripts. 1870 CENSUS WASHINGTON CTY TX Page 184 Line 1 John 45 born in LA Elizabeth 40 born in LA - this is an error (LA) I think the census taker just took a shortcut. She later states in 1880 she was born in Indiana. Other research supports this. Children: Thomas 16 born in LA Caroline 13 born in TX Matilda 12 born in TX Ann 10 born in TX Josephine 8 born in TX Ellen 6 born in TX August 1876 Charged with Lunacy Found by court to be of unsound mind and in need of restraint. Doesn't say if he committed a crime against anyone. Have court record of the trial. Sentenced to Lunatic Asylum in Austin TX - note 1 month later he's dead..must have been great care back then.... September 1876 John Ford dies at the State Mental Assylum John Ford was committed to an assylum and died. Senile Dementia. Kenneth Hill's mother said he was real nice but became insane in a short period of time. He died in less than a month after he was admitted to the State Hospital (admitted August 23, 1876 - died September 3, 1876) Per Austin State Mental Hospital Genealogy Coordinator: I found your relative Mr. Ford, but unfortunately all I could find was a mention of him in one of the indices from that time period; his actual record of admission appears to be lost. I'm afraid there's a lot of material missing from that era, so it's somewhat hit and miss. He was admitted on August 23 of 1876 and died as you know on Sept. 3 of that year. His county of referral is listed as Bosque(that would be the county that committed him, which is not necessarily where he lived), not Washington, and his age is listed as 68. It's kind of cold comfort, but even if the records were extant they probably wouldn't offer much insight into any descendant's psychiatric problems as sometimes they would write about the patient's condition in the records, but more often than not they simply have what demographics they had and just the name of the patient's condition. Also, our understanding of psychiatry in that period was primitive, to say the least. Also, we are unable to find his name on the cemetery listing, meaning he's probably one of the many unknowns. Unfortunately, for the longest time they marked the graves with small wooden crosses with just the patients' case numbers on them, and of course these wooden markers rapidly disintegrated. By 1880, John has died and Elizabeth was left to provide for her children alone. It is evident that this family then fell on very hard times. Mary Matilda and Julia An Ford were both "married off" at the tender ages of 14 (Mary Matilda) and 12-13 (Julia). Elizabeth Purcell Ford would die just 8 years later in 1888. 1880 United States Federal Census about Elizabeth Ford Name: Elizabeth Ford Home in 1880: Precinct 8, Williamson, Texas Age: 53 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1827 Birthplace: Indiana Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) Father's birthplace: Indiana Mother's birthplace: Indiana Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Keeps House Marital Status: Widowed Race: White Gender: Female Household Members: Name Age Elizabeth Ford 53 Josphene Ford 18 Ellen Ford 15 Julia Ford 11 POSSIBLE ANCESTRY: He may be the son of John Pinkney Ford and Salina Tims but there are some problems with this that I have yet to resolve. I have opted to keep my notes about this link in my file for purposes of sharing/cross validating research with other relatives. ***This/His ancestry is not proven as son of John Pinkney Ford and Salina Tims...this is based on bits and pieces and logical fits. I document this here so that other researches can view/provide feedback so that someday maybe we can actually prove the origin of John Ford. ***Update : 4-13-2009 I had originally thought our John R. Ford was the son of John Pinkney Ford based on all the following information. However new information has surfaced which says that the John Ford son of John Pinkney died in the Civil War so that cannot be our guy. So. I do know this John R Ford is connected to the Ford families here in Bosque/McLennan etc counties but they named all their children with family names so I just don't know who to connect him to. I am determined to figure this out as they were all neighbors so there is definately a connection. For now, I am leaving the other Fords in my file for reference of other researchers. In 1870 he is living next to James Ford. Here is how this puzzle comes together: A. It all began with an email from my genealogy friend Russell. Correspondence from Russel Jordan. Russel Jordan, a descendent of Simon Peter Ford contacted me to share information he had obtained. He had seen my website and saw some relationship but pieces of the puzzle were incomplete. He had been provided with the information below: ------------ From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: John R, Ford Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:36:29 -0500 Jan, Hope you do not mind if I email you. My name is Russell Jordan and I am grt-grt-grt-grdson of Simon Peter Ford that died in 1896 in Fayette Co.,Tx. and is buried there,also. Back in 2000 I emailed the Fayette Co. Library/Archives for any information on Simon Peter Ford. They sent me a list of what was thought to be Simon's children. The names on the list were Sentha Ford married Dennis Wesrbrook,Mary Ford married W.B. Rankin,John Ford married Elizabeth Purcell,James Ford married Mary Jane McGary,W.S. Ford married Mary Jane Smith,George Ford married Sarah Brown,and Andrew J. Ford married Sarah Kemp. The first two names on the list are Simon Peter Ford's Daughters( by Mollie (Hale)Cook from Sabine Parish,La.),but to my knowledge Simon Peter Ford never had any sons. Besides Simon is borh in 1816 and John was born in 1808,so don't think pan out for Simon as father. Would you possibly know what the connection might be? Reason I ask is I have a lot of information on Simon Peter Ford from 1836 on but other than date of birth and death can't seem to locate anything. Was John R. Ford maybe a sibling. If you think we may have any connection,I would be more than glad to share what information i have. Hope to hear from you---Russell Jordan ------------ B. After receiving this information I conducted extensive searches on all the individuals mentioned and reviewed data on the ones known already to me to determine relationship. Both Russell and I felt these folks were siblings rather than Simon Peter Ford's children. In my internet digging, I ran across a story that seemed to mention several of the individuals (specifically the McGary's and Fords. That story follows: ------ John M.(Mack) McGary Death by CAUSE: Gun Shot John McGary died when the younger boys were not yet grown. In the LDS data files in the Family Search Ancester File Johns lastname is spelled McGarey. This spelling is John McGarey to Mis MaryAdaline Decker on the Marriage Certificate of the State of Texas, co of McLennan, 24 Dec 1867, md the 25 of Dec.Copy of certificate also listed on Pg 34 of Marriage Record Volume 1 McLennan Co Texas This story was told to me by my cousin William Martin (Red) McGary about our Great Grandfather John M. McGary. I believe this probably happened in the middle to late 1870's as he died in 1881. One morning while he and another person by the name of Ford, possibly a relative, were riding their young horses to the place where they worked. While passing a farm house a dog ran out and spooked thei rhorses. One of them shot and killed the dog. On their way back homethat evening they stopped at a watering hole to water and rest thehorses. While there the farmer, who had been hiding behind a tree shot them both with a shotgun. Ford was killed outright and G.Gr.father McGary was wounded. He had a tally book in his shirt pocket. This took most of the pellets from the blast but one pellet either entered his heart or lodged in the vicinity of his heart. He managed to get Ford and himself home. The farmer disappeared leaving his family behind and was never heard from again. This history is taken from another kin of the family, Elsie O Kent......It varies but also contains some history of John MCGary, from their families view.....and rememberence... I will print it here......John McGary was the Husband of Mary, sister of Grandma Ford. (Alexander Steel Ford and Sarah Elizabeth). They had a son named Bud McGary who was bitten by a rattle Snake in his Back. An Indian Chief rode 35 miles to cure him with a poultice of Egg Shalls and Eggs with Charcoals heated hot in a Rag which drawed out the poison. He was about 8 years of age at that time. John McGary had a valuable horse and Saddle. The indians were raiding and stealing. John wanted to save his horse and tied a chain around the neck of the horse, and pulled the chain through a hole into the house and tied the cahin to his bed. The indians however managed to steal the beautiful solid black race horse. John McGarys wife, Aunt Mary, had long beautiful blond hair. In Coryell County one day, while she was combing her hair, the indians attacked them, and shot an arrow clear through John. Aunt Mary grabbed her gun and started running toward the indians, which scared the Indians and they run off. The boys took John and pulled the arrowout, and run a silk handkerchief through the wound and cleaned it out.He lay for days nearly dead, but lived over it. The 1880 Coryell County, Texas census show G.Gr.father John to bedisabled and insane. It also shows their neighbors to be James and Mary Ford. I believe these people to be James H. Ford and Mary Jane McGary Ford. This couple were married in Fayette County, Texas on12-10-1 856. I believe Mary Jane and G.GR.father John were cousins. Inthe courthouse registry his name is listed as H. James Ford. 1880 ce film 0805300 pg 98 Mc Lennon Co Texas web site pg 411c John Mc Gary self farmer age 32 born La Mary McGary wife age 32 California Mc Gary dau age 11 George son age 8 William son age 6 Daniel son age 3 John son age 2m -- ** Unfortunately I have not been able to locate the person who posted this story. But here again is a mention/match of several people in the Fayette County Archives. I asked my Great Aunt Odessa (oldest living relative I have from this line) about this story, she was not familiar with it but said the names seemed to indicate a relationship...we were still missing pieces. C. Finally, after much digging I came upon the following ancestry documented by Elizabeth Freeman which provides the relationship and ancestry of the individuals identified in both the Fayette Archives and in the mentions of the story. --- From: "Calvin and ElizabethFreeman" < [email protected]> Subject: Re: ROLL CALL--JOHN HOWARD FORD-- MD> GA Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 13:45:07 -0700 Walt, ** JOHN HOWARD FORD was born 30 July 1753 in Baltimore Co., MD, and died 30 July 1801 in Montgomery Co., GA. He married ESTHER JESSUP, daughter of WILLIAM JESSUP and MARGARET WALKER. She was born 21 May 1762 in Pitt Co., NC, and died in Montgomery Co., GA. Children of JOHN FORD and ESTHER JESSUP are: THOMAS JAMES FORD, b. Abt. 1775, AL; d. 1796, ARKANSAS, KILLED BY INDIANS. SR. JAMES B. FORD, b. 1778, Tattnall Co. GA; d. 19 April 1854, Montgomery Co., TX. JR. JOHN HOWARD FORD, b. 22 August 1778, GA; d. 25 October 1812, Hebron Community, Clarke, Co., AL. WILLIAM FORD, b. 21 August 1782, Virginia. PINCKEY FORD, b. Abt. 1783, Virginia; m. CHARLES MACKEY. ** JAMES B. FORD was born 1778 in Tattnall Co. GA, and died 19 April 1854 in Montgomery Co., TX. He married (1) POLLY BIRD 19 March 1798. died . He married (2) SARAH WIGGINS Aft. 1812. She died in MONTGOMERY CO. TEX.. **JOHN PINKNEY FORD was born Abt. 1801 in Tattnall Co., GA, and died 1869 in Blackjack Springs, Fayette Co., TX.. He married SALINA TIMS, 09 March 1824 in Demoapolis, AL, daughter of JOHN TIMS. She was born 1805 in South Carolina. Children of JOHN FORD and SALINA TIMS are: i. ALFRED TIMS FORD, b. 24 December 1824, Waco, Tx.; d. 03 June 1903. ii. NAOMI (PINKIE) FORD, b. 01 May 1826, AL; d. 23 June 1897, Lometa, Lampasas Co., TX. iii. SARAH JAMES FORD, b. Abt. 1827. iv. DANIEL M. FORD, b. Abt. 1829, AL. v. JOHN FORD, b. Abt. 1831. (Might be my John Ford) vi. JAMES HOWARD FORD, b. Abt. 1834, Ala.; m. MARY JANE MCGARY, 10 December 1856, Fayette Co., TX. vii. ANDREW JACKSON FORD, b. 1836; m. SARAH UNK.. viii. WILLIAM SPARKS FORD, b. 03 December 1837, Merrieton, Tx.; d. 27 January 1923; m. MARY JANE SMITH, 1853. ix. RIAL ALEXANDER FORD, b. Abt. 1839; d. 02 December 1909. x. SPENCER FORD, b. Abt. 1840, MS. xi. ALEXANDER STEELE FORD, b. 18 March 1843, Miss.; d. 21 January 1920, Rice Tx.. xii. SAMUEL H. FORD, b. Abt. 1845, Prob. Montgomery co., TX; d. 1866, Waco, Tx. xiii. THOMAS FORD, b. Abt. 1846. **NAOMI (PINKIE) FORD was born 01 May 1826 in AL, and died 23 June 1897 in Lometa, Lampasas Co., TX. She married MICHAEL D.(MIKE) MCCALLISTER Bef. 1844, son of MICHAEL MCCALLISTER and HANNAH. He was born 03 May 1818 in TN, and died 11 May 1871 in TX. Descendants of NAOMI (PINKIE) FORD AND MICHAEL D. (MIKE) MCCALLISTER are now living in Comanche, Comanche Co., TX., as well as other Central Texas areas. Liz --- D. Please note that John Ford's date of birth in Mrs. Freeman's ancestry is not an exact match. However, if you look at the 1870 actual census records...his age could be either 45 or 48. We are not sure from the handwriting. This would bring his date of birth more in line and consistent with this ancestry from Mrs. Freeman. |
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