My Genealogy Hound

T. J. FORD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Towanda; born in Boston, Mass., upon the 6th of January, 1841, where he attended the public school until 12 years of age, when he emigrated with his father to Wisconsin and located in Milwaukee Co., where he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age; when, upon Aug. 18, 1862, he enlisted as private in Co. H, 24th Wisconsin Vol. Infantry, and went forward to battle for the Union; he was forwarded to the army of the Cumberland under Gen. Rosecrans, and was engaged in the battle of Prairieville, Oct. 8, 1862; Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862; Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863; Mission Ridge, Nov. 24 and 25, 1863; Rocky Face, May 9, 1864; Resaca, May 14, 1864; Calhoun, May 17, 1864; Adairsville, May 18, 1864; Spring Hill, Nov. 29, 1864; Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864; Nashville, Dec. 15 and 16, 1864; at the battle of Prairieville, he was promoted to Sergeant for meritorious conduct; at the battle of Adairsville, he was wounded by a ball in the left breast, and which he yet carries in his breast, from the effects of which he is unable to perform much manual labor, especially that which causes much movement of the chest and muscles; he has been treated by physicians for the same for the last fourteen years; he laid in the hospital some six months, when he again joined his regiment at Chattanooga, and remained with the regiment until he received his discharge, June 22, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly three years; his father and brother also served in the Union army three years; after receiving his discharge, he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in farming until 1867, when he came to McLean Co., and located upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns eighty acres upon his home place, all under a high state of cultivation; all of which he has made by his correct business habits. His marriage with Mary Finley was celebrated Aug. 8, 1868; they have no children. Mr. Ford has taken a deep interest in politics, being a strong Republican, and has always supported the above party since its organization; he has taken an interest to such an extent that he was called upon to make speeches for the support of the Republican party, of which favorable mention was made by the Bloomington papers; to use his own expression, he votes as he fought.