Ohio County 2014 Armed Forces Day Observance

Ohio County 2014 Armed Forces Day Observance

CONFEDERATE TOMBSTONE DEDICATION AFTER 118 YEAR WAIT

Manalcus Ford was born in Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky on July 10, 1826 and died March 12, 1896, in Centertown, Ohio County. He was the son of William Ford, Jr. and Sarah (Chapman) Ford.  He was married July 9, 1849 to Mariah Sawyer who was born July 19, 1831, died April 7, 1923 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Livermore, McLean County, Kentucky.  Manalcus Ford is buried at Walton’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near Centertown, Ohio County, Kentucky, with son G. Manalcus ‘Mack’ Ford born October 18, 1855 and died May 6, 1891, of tuberculosis, having joined Walton’s Creek Church in 1878.

Manalcus ‘Mack’ Ford, Sr., a blacksmith, also was a minister of the General Baptist faith and served as a Sunday School superintendent.   His military history reflects his service in the Confederate States of America army as a Captain in the Civil War.   He served in Brigadier General Hylan B. Lyon’s Brigade Cavalry of 8th Kentucky and was captured and taken prisoner in Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865 and released in Mobile, Alabama on May 30, 1865.

Mariah Sawyer Ford, as a widow, lived with son, Dr. Robert L. Ford and wife, Nora (Bennett) Ford, who are also buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.  

Newspaper clippings disclose that Manalcus came to Centertown as a new blacksmith.  Another article talked about a rooster on a post, assuming a wrought iron rooster he made that was apparently a long ago fixture of Centertown.  He was also a General Baptist minister at Green River Union Baptist Church. 

  

2014 marks the 200th year anniversary of Waltons Creek Church whose members will join American Legion members, Sons of Confederate Veterans members, with retired United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Rick Lambert, great-great-grandson of Manalcus and Mariah Ford, to dedicate a Civil War marker for Captain Manalcus Ford.  The marker was set by members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Forrest’s Camp #1744, Calhoun, Kentucky members.  The ceremony will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 17, 2014, at the cemetery.   The dedication will be performed by members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - Sgt. Elijah P. Marrs Camp 5, Nicholasville, Kentucky.

A fitting tribute of respect for observance of Armed Forces Day, Church members and Centertown Welborn Lee Ashby American Legion Post #296 and Auxiliary Unit will be serving lunch at the church following the ceremony.

Thanks to Helen McKeown.