My Genealogy Hound

EDGAR P. FORD is First Deputy Clerk in the County Clerk’s office, and was formerly Deputy Internal Revenue Collector of the Sixth District. He received his appointment to his present position in January, 1895, and in the intervals of his regular duties is pursuing law studies, which he took up first two or three years ago, and for nine months was in the office of Messrs. Sangree & Lamm. Numbered among the active young Republicans of this section, he was at one time Chairman of Cedar Township Central Committee, and is now Treasurer of the County Central Committee. While he was a student in Drury College at Springfield, Mo., he was Second Sergeant of a militia company, and at present is a member of Company D, Second Missouri National Guards.

Mr. Ford is a native of Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, born October 12, 1870. His father, William R., was born in Rumley, Harrison County, Ohio, July 2, 1833, and his grandfather, Henry Ford, was also a native of the Buckeye State. The latter was a merchant, farmer and miller in Monroe County, whither he moved about 1839, and was a hero of the Mexican War. William R. Ford was reared in Monroe County, and though he studied medicine, did not practice, preferring to engage in merchandising. In April, 1861, he raised a company, of which he was made Lieutenant, and six months later was promoted to be Captain of Company E, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry, the regiment which was formerly commanded by Colonel Crook. Captain Ford served for three years, during which time he was under General Hayes, General Crook and Colonel Devol. At Winchester he was shot through the temples and was left for dead on the field, being reported as such. This was not the case, however, and he was taken captive by the Confederates, lying for six weeks in Libby Prison before being exchanged. Thus incapacitated for service, he was obliged to resign in 1864. In 1866 he moved to Pettis County, Mo., but for a few years traveled back and forth between his new home and his former one, while engaged in the sheep business. At first he lived on a farm south of Sedalia, and later on one north of the city, and subsequently moved to a farm near Georgetown. In July, 1889, he was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector by Gen. H. F. Devol, of Kansas City, his old army colonel. His health failed in a short time thereafter, and his son, Edgar P., took charge of the office. The father died August 31, 1893, aged about sixty years.

April 26, 1866, William R. Ford was married, in Woodsfield, Ohio, to Ann E. Hunter, who was born in that village, January 18, 1837. Her father, Hon. William F. Hunter, who was born in Virginia, was an attorney-at-law in Woodsfield, and for two terms was a Member of Congress. He was called to his final rest in 1873, leaving a wife and three children. The former, who is now living in Georgetown, and whose birth occurred in Pittsburg, Pa., was Miss Mary Kincaid before her marriage. Her only brother, William F., Jr., is President of the Ohio State Law School at Columbus. Mrs. Ford is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she has been identified for many years. Her three children are Edgar P., Frank F. and Mary R. One child died at the age of seven years.

Edgar P. Ford was reared to manhood in this county, and until fourteen years of age attended the district schools. Then, entering the Sedalia High School, he graduated from there in 1890, and entered Drury College at Springfield, Mo., but in the sophomore year was obliged to return home to take charge of his father’s office, on account of his failing health. The father having resigned in October, 1892, our subject was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector of the Sixth District, on the 17th of the same month, by Colonel Devol. He had full charge of fourteen counties in the center of the state, namely. Cole, Miller, Johnson, Camden, Cooper, Hickory, Benton, Henry, St. Clair, Bates, Cass, Pettis, Morgan and Monteau, and held the office satisfactorily until Decembers, 1893, when there was a change made in the office force on account of political influence. During the next year our subject turned his attention to law studies, and taught one term of school near this city. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph, and religiously is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church.