My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Richard B. Ford is one of the old settlers of Steele Township, coming to this State and locating his present farm, which was then wild land, in 1858. He was born in Madison County, Ala., a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Flowers) Ford, natives of Virginia. His father, a farmer by occupation, was born in 1778 and died in Mississippi in 1850. The mother was born in 1768, a daughter of George Flowers, and died about 1843. She was a devout Christian woman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. To Mr. and Mrs. Ford were born twelve children, four still living, viz.: William (a farmer of Mississippi), Henry F. (a physician of Texas), Richard B. (the subject of this sketch), and Lucinda (now Mrs. Geetaw, of Louisiana). The subject of this sketch enlisted in the late war as recruiting officer in 1861. In 1863 he helped organize a regiment known as Crawford’s regiment of cavalry, and was elected captain, serving in this regiment with distinction, until the close of the war. He took part in all the principal battles on Price’s raid through Missouri. May 4, 1839, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances H. Fort, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1872. Of the eleven children born to Mr. Ford and wife, but four are now living. They are William J. (a farmer of this township), Richard F. (an “old bach” living with his father), Marcus H. (a farmer, also residing in this township), and Cora (widow of Mr. Parks, who keeps house for her father and brother). Mr. Ford owns 240 acres of land, sixty acres of which he has under cultivation, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of this township. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and takes an active interest in promoting the welfare of his community. He is highly respected by all with whom he is acquainted.