Reverend James Harvey TEDFORD
TEDFORD, ROWAN, WILLIAMS, ROBY, BEALL, SPURRIER, SPENCE, VALE
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/8/2010 at 09:28:30
Rev. J. H. TEDFORD
Rev. James H. TEDFORD was born March 4, 1833, in White County, Indiana. His mother died when he was three months old and his life was filled with the usual hardships of pioneer times.
Although lame from the time he was five months old, he early in life resolved to secure an education. He worked his own way through Hanover College, earning means to complete his education by teaching school in Kentucky. He was graduated from Hanover in 1856 and was the oldest living graduate of the college at the the time of his death.
He decided to enter the ministry and was graduated from Xenia Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio.
He was married to Elizabeth ROWAN at Argyle, New York, and her death occurred August 26, 1905.
His first pastorate was at Greenville, Pennsylvania, and for twelve years he ministered to the United Presbyterian congregation at Tipton, Ind. He removed to Mount Ayr in 1879, and was pastor of the local United Presbyterian Church for six years.
He then purchased a half interest with Robert WILLIAMS in the Ringgold Republican. This partnership later purchased the Ringgold Record of George R. ROBY. In due time, Mr. TEDFORD purchased the interest of his partner in the paper and became the sole owner and editor, and continued his newspaper and editorial work in Mount Ayr until the time of his death, which occurred September 13, 1924, at the ripe age of 91 years and 6 months.
After completing his education, his son Howard became a partner in the business, and this partnership continued for years. During this time, Howard TEDFORD was elected State Binder, which office he held for six years. At the close of this period, the TEDFORDS purchased the Twice-A-Week News of Walter BEALL, and at this time Sam SPURRIER was taken into the partnership, and he later acquired ownership of the paper, Reverend TEDFORD retaining the position of editorial writer. His only daughter married a Mr. SPENCE and lived in Texas. She died there a few years ago [1936].
NOTE: Rev. James Harvey TEDFORD died on September 13, 1924, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.
Charles TEDFORD, son of Rev. and Elizabeth (ROWAN) TEDFORD, died in his youth.
Henry "Howard" TEDFORD, son of Rev. and Elizabeth (ROWAN) TEDFORD, was born in 1870, Ringgold County, and died in 1943. He married in 1902 to Anne "Regina" VALE.
Rev. TEDFORD's mother Margaret (McCLURG) TEDFORD was born in Blount County, Tennessee on March 22, 1803, the daughter of John McCLURG (1776, PA - 1848, IN) and Hannah Bell (?) McCLURG (1777, VA - ?), and died September 22, 1833, Carroll County, Indiana, with interment at Pleasant Run Cemetery in Tippacanoe Township of Carroll County. She married Henry Paxton TEDFORD in Blount County, Tennessee, December 18, 1827. Henry Paxton TEDFORD, the son of Mary (FERGUSON (1785, VA - 1841) and John TEDFORD Jr. (1781, VA - 1870, IN), was born in Blount County, Tennessee on July 4, 1806, and died on November 7, 1874, Carroll County, Indiana. The TEDFORD family moved to Indiana in 1840. Henry Paxton TEDFORD was amonth the first settlers in Jefferson Township of Carroll County, Indiana. Henry served as a representative to the Indiana General Assembly in 1845, and as county sheriff from 1850 to 1853. He also served as Captain of the 77th Regiment of the Indiana Militia in 1839. Henry married 2nd to Catherine Eliza (DOLL or DULL) in Carroll County, Indiana on November 13, 1836. Catherine was born October 1, 1807, and died December 6, 1883. Henry Paxton TEDFORD died in Carroll County, Indiana, on November 7, 1874.
SOURCES:
LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 p. 72. Blair Pub. House. Lamoni IA. 1937.WPA Graves Survey
Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2010
Ringgold Biographies maintained by Tony Mercer.
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