In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1818
From History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882. Together with biographical sketches .. (1883)
ELISHA H. RICORD, son of Thomas Ricord, now a resident of Dallas, Texas; was born October 16, 1818, in Dearborn county, Indiana; came to Iowa City with his father's family in March, 1840, and made a claim adjoining his brother Edward, in Iowa county, and assisted in building the first log cabin on Old Man's creek, in the Ricord settlement; he made his home with his brother Edward, and assisted in making rail fences and breaking the prairie for their farms, and assisting in building cabins until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in the Fifteenth United States Infantry, and remained until the close of the war. He came home and made a new settlement in Fillmore township, Iowa county, section 1, township 78. He was married in December, 1849, to Miss Catharine Butler. He built himself a house and barn on his claim, and lived there until 1872, when he sold out, and in 187;> went to Texas. The family consisted of three sons and two daughters; one son died in infancy; Augustus died in St. Louis at the age of 17, and Thomas is married and lives near Red Oak, Iowa, and his two daughters are living with their father in Texas.
As printed in History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882. Together with biographical sketches .. (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.