WILLIAM FORD, one of the successful farmers and
stock-raisers of Knox Township, residing on section 9, and an old and respected
pioneer of Clarke County, was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, December
8, 1824, a son of Elisha and Nancy (Feul) Ford. The father was born in East
Virginia, a son of Henry Ford, who was also a native of East Virginia, of Irish
ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Ford were the parents of twelve children – eleven
sons and one daughter – their names being James Henry, Polly, William, Isaac,
Abraham, Jacob, Peyton, Thornton, Alpheus, Joseph, Elam and George. William
Ford was reared to manhood in Virginia, receiving a limited education in the
subscription schools and by study at home. At the age of nineteen years he
began learning the tanner’s trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years,
living some time at Hagerstown, Maryland. He then returned to Virginia, and a
short time after started on a western trip, down the Ohio River, then up the
Mississippi to Fort Madison, Iowa, going from there by stage to Iowa City,
where he spent the winter of 1847. The following spring he went to Grand
County, Wisconsin, where he operated a saw-mill on the Little Platte River for
eighteen months. In the fall of 1849 he returned to Virginia. In 1850 he
removed to Marshall County, Illinois, where he resided about five years. He came to Knox Township, Clarke County,
Iowa, May 17, 1855, and settled on 160 acres of land, which he had entered the
year previous. He then built a log cabin 16 x 22 feet, the logs being taken
from Long Creek, which was considered one of the best houses in that part of
the county at that time. This house is still standing, and is now used as a stable.
He built his present residence in 1866. He has now 310 acres of
finely-cultivated land, with good farm buildings, his barn being one of the
best in the township. In size it is 36 x 50 feet, 16-foot posts, stone
basement, and is well arranged for the convenience of stock, and for hay and
grain. He devotes considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock,
and has some fine specimens of thorough-bred and high-grade cattle. He was married in the fall of 1849 to Sarah
Dillon, of West Virginia, daughter of John and Maria Dillon. They have nine
children – W. S., Mary, Jennie, Josephine, Loretta, H. G., Myra, Katy and
Frederick. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Ford enlisted in Company B,
Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, and served twenty months. He received an honorable
discharge at Little Rock, Arkansas. He was elected county supervisor under the
old law, and has also served under the present system, with credit to himself
and to the best interest of his county. He has held most of the town offices of
his township, and is one of the most respected men of Knox Township. He is one
of the self-made men of Clarke County, beginning life without means, and by his
own industry and good management has acquired his present fine property. In
politics he was formerly a Republican, but now affiliates with the Greenback
party. He takes an active interest in all things that are for the advancement
of his county, and is one of the pioneers who has assisted in building roads,
schools and churches.
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke
County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 380-1
