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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Sharp County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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David R. Ford, a well-known farmer, ginner and miller, of Sullivan Township, was born in Smith County, Tenn., in 1827, and is a son of James G. and Martha (Rowland) Ford, of Smith County, born in 1803 and 1802, respectively. The parents lived in that county until the year 1844, and then moved to Arkansas, and settled on White River, in what is now Stone County, where they lived among the early settlers for the rest of their days. The father died in 1866, and the mother in 1868, both members of the Methodist faith. The elder Ford was a farmer by occupation, and a soldier in the Seminole War, in Florida. He was a son of Zachary Ford, of Virginia, one of the early settlers of Smith County, Tenn., where he farmed and held the office of justice of the peace for a great many years. The Ford family are of French descent. David Rowland, the father of Mrs. J. G. Ford, was born and reared in North Carolina, and was also one of the early settlers of Smith County, Tenn., where he died at an advanced age. David R. Ford is the third child of three sons and five daughters, and moved to the State of Arkansas with his parents in 1844. In 1855 he was married to Martha P. Headstream, daughter of John and Harriet Headstream. The father was a native of Sweden, and a sailor for a number of years before coming to America. He was married in Tennessee, his wife’s native State, and moved to Phillips County, Ark., afterward to Monroe County, where he died. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, of whom eight sons and one daughter still survive. Soon after their marriage they settled at a point about eight miles above Batesville, where they resided until February, 1887, when Mr. Ford concluded to move to their present farm, some ten miles south of Evening Shade. He now has 350 acres of land under cultivation, owning altogether about 700 acres, besides operating a cotton-gin, corn-mill and thresher, and his present prosperity is due entirely to his own enterprise and energy. Before the war Mr. Ford was captain of a company of militia, and when the outbreak occurred he enlisted in Newton’s regiment of cavalry, Arkansas’ troops, and served about one year and a half. After the war he was elected justice of the peace, and held the office two years, and in 1874 was elected assessor of Independence County, a position he filled with distinction for the same length of time. He is a Democrat in politics, and a valuable man to his party, being a strong supporter of his principles.

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This family biography is one of 43 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Sharp County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Sharp County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Sharp County, Arkansas family biographies here: Sharp County, Arkansas Biographies

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