Walter P. Ford

As printed in 1910

WALTER P. FORD.

In order to succeed well in any one line of endeavor, close application or right principles and persistency are necessary. Realizing this early in life, Walter P. Ford, farmer and stock man of Lexington township, Lafayette county, has always sought to carry them out, and that he has been rewarded with a large measure of success goes without saying. He was born in Danville, Kentucky, August 14, 1849, the son of John R. and Caroline (Foster) Ford; the former was the son of John Ford, who spent his entire life in the Blue Grass state. Caroline Foster was born at Natchez, Mississippi, and was the daughter of James Foster, the first postmaster of that city. John R. Ford, father of Walter P. of this review, came to Missouri in 1858 and located near Sedalia, where he lived until 1861, when he moved to Lexington and remained here four years, then bought a farm three miles south of Lexington. Selling out in 1873, he bought the farm where Walter P. of this review lives at the present time. There the elder Ford lived and prospered until he was called from his earthly labors by death in August, 1894. He was followed to the "narrow house" by his wife on July 8, 1901. John R. Ford was an influential man in his neighborhood, and was an elder in the Presbyterian church for a period of fifty years. Politically he was a Democrat, and he cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John R. Ford, namely: Elizabeth married Dr. L. G. Barber, who was first principal of the Aull Seminary at Lexington; he is now deceased and she is Hving in Louisville, Kentucky; their family consisted of four children, living; Carrie Ford married Xenophon Ryland, who lives in Higginsville, this county; her death occurred in February, 1898; their family consisted of seven children; Stella married E. L. Heeding and resides in St. Louis; C. Y. lives near Odessa, Missouri, Charles W. is farming in Texas; Walter P., of this review; William Hved with Walter P.; James died while living at the home of Walter P.; John R., who served in the Confederate army under General Forrest, was killed in Mississippi during the war; his brother, C. Y., mentioned above, also served in Forrest's cavalry for three years.

As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.