John A. Ford, William Ford and James W. Ford

JOHN A. FORD was born January 6, 1819, in Ohio County, Ky., where he has always resided. His father, Joseph Ford, a native of Pike County, was born in 1797, and died in 1868. He was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, who also served in the war of 1812, and died in Pike County about 1825. Joseph married Lucinda, daughter of John and Dolly (Piper) Awtry, of Ohio County, born in 1794, died in 1859, and from this union sprang John A.; Dolly (Likins); David; Joseph; Isaac served in the late war; also William; Burrel; killed in battle; Angeline; Martha; and Charlotte, who married three brothers named Kuykendall. October 15, 1840, Mr. Ford married Martha J., daughter of Nathan and Nancy (Likins) Keown, of Ohio County, born May 16, 1821, and to them have been born Mary (O'Bannon), Newton J. (served in the late war), John W. (in the late war, at the capture of Morgan), Margaret (Berkley), Narcissa A. (Lunsford), Alexander (deceased), Joseph N. (deceased), Thomas H., Jacob S., Lucinda J., and Nancy M.  Mr. Ford is a farmer having 177 acres of fair land in a good state of cultivation. He has, for forty years, been a member of the Baptist Church and politically is a stanch Republican.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  John Alfonzo Ford died 14 May 1894 in Ohio County. Mr. Ford is buried in the Old Salem Cemetery.

WILLIAM FORD, Ohio County, was born in Shelby County, Ky., September 19, 1824. His parents were John and Nancy (Garth) Ford. The father was born in South Carolina, and at the age of ten years came with his father, Elisha Ford, and settled in Shelby County, Ky. The mother was a native of Rockingham County, Va. The grandfather, Elisha Ford, served eight years as a soldier in the war of Independence. There were of John Ford's family eleven children, six of whom are living: J. Harvey Ford, resides at Fordsville, Ohio County; Mrs. Reuben Miller, a widow, residing in Ellis Precinct; Mrs. Truman, of Fordsville, also a widow; William, our subject; Milton Ford, who resides in Daviess County, and Mrs. William Bates, of Breckinridge County. An elder brother, now deceased, was a resident of Fordsville, and gave his name to the town and precinct; his son, James Ford, is a successful business man of Hartford. The father, John Ford, settled in Ohio County, near Fordsville, in 1833, and died in 1870; his wife in 1865. William Ford was married, December 9, 1846, to Elizabeth Whittinghill, second child of J. C. Whittinghill. She was born in Daviess County in 1830, and received a fair education. Mr. Ford, at the age of twenty four years, purchased a farm in Ohio County, subsequently sold it, and purchased another, which he sold, and soon afterward removed to Illinois, where he remained five years and prospered greatly as a farmer; he then sold his property in Illinois, and returned to his native State and settled on a farm in Breckinridge County. Wishing to give his children the opportunities of receiving a good education, he removed to the city of Owensboro, and subsequently purchased the beautiful farm on which he now resides, in Ellis Precinct, Ohio County. Mr. and Mrs. Ford are the parents of three children: James W. married Maggie Metcalf, daughter of William Metcalf, Sr.; Mary Jane, the wife of Virgil Miller, is an accomplished scholar and teacher; Sallie E., also well educated, is a teacher of music. The family are life long members of the Baptist Church. Our subject, prior to the late war, was an old line Whig, since that time he has been a Democrat. He has been successful as a farmer; has taken a deep interest in the education of his children, all of whom are intelligent members of society. His home is one of the best in the precinct, and his farm of 107 acres of good land is well improved. A brother, Elisha, now deceased, represented the counties of Ohio and Hancock twice in the Kentucky State legislature.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  William H. Ford died 19 Jan 1918 in Ohio County. Mr. Ford is buried in the Panther Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

JAMES W. FORD was born January 25, 1842, at Fordsville, Ohio Co., Ky., a son of Elisha M. and Nancy (Hardwick) Ford. Elisha M. is a native of Shelby County, Ky., where he was reared and educated; when a boy his father moved to Ohio County. His parents were natives of North Carolina, and were among the first settlers of Shelby County. Elisha M. was a tobacconist and farmer by occupation, and served his district two terms in the State legislature. He was a leading citizen, and took a prominent position in all local enterprises. His death occurred in 1851; his wife died in 1852. They were Baptists; he was a Mason. They were the parents of five children, two living: Mrs. Eliza Ogelvie, of Charleston, Mo., and James W.  The latter was reared in this county until fourteen years of age, when he went to Missouri to live with his sister. In company with four other boys he worked his way through to Pike's Peak in 1859. After his return from Missouri and Pike's Peak to Hartford, Ky., after an absence of about four years, he attended school until 1861, when he enlisted under Capt. Pendleton, in Company C, Ninth Kentucky Infantry (Confederate service), and served four years. "There were 140 enrolled in his company at its organization, and but twenty-six returned, and these bore forty-seven wounds." He enlisted as a private, was promoted to sergeant, later elected lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Baton Rouge, Murfreesboro, Vicksburg, Hartsville and in the Atlanta campaign, and never missed a battle of his regiment. Upon his return from the war he entered the drug business, at Hartford, in partnership with Mr. Taylor, whom he afterward bought out, and has since carried on the business himself, with the exception of a short term of partnership. He carries a large stock, is well located on the public square, and enjoys a flourishing trade. November 12, 1872, he married Miss Abbie E. Rowan, of Ohio County. They have one daughter, Jessie, ten years of age. Mrs. Ford is a Methodist.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  James W. Ford died 17 May 1927 in Ohio County. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Ohio County.