William Ford, who has continuously resided in Center township for seventy-two years, devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and is still the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres but has lived retired in Tipton since 1901. His birth occurred in Logan county, Ohio, on the 24th of July, 1831, his parents being Andrew and Jane (Smith) Ford. The father was born in Virginia on the 8th of May, 1803, while the mother’s natal day was April 22, 1811. They were married in Ohio and subsequently removed to Indiana, where they spent a year and a half.
On the expiration of that period in 1838, they came to Cedar county, Iowa, arriving here in March of that year. They crossed the Mississippi river at Rockingham and made the journey with ox and horse teams, locating three miles south of the present site of Tipton. They experienced all of the hardships and privations of frontier life and were numbered among those sturdy pioneer settlers who efforts contributed to the early development and upbuilding of this part of the state. Andrew Ford spent the last few years of his life in Lucas county, Iowa, passing away on the 16th of February, 1893, when ninety years of age. He was twice married, his second union being with Miss Sarah McCoy, by whom he had three children, namely: Andrew, who is a resident of Kansas City; Sarah, living in Chicago; and Eleanor. Unto Andrew Ford and his first wife were born six children, as follows: William, Mary Jane, Robert, Dean, Isabelle and Nancy. All are now deceased with the exception of our subject.
William Ford, who was a lad of seven years when brought to this county by his parents, remained at home until the time of his marriage and then purchased a tract of land east of Tipton, where he carried on his agricultural interests continuously and successfully throughout the remainder of his active business career. He has lived retired in Tipton since 1901 but still retains possession of his farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land three and a half miles east of the town.
In December, 1859, Mr. Ford was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Morgan, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, on the 1st of November, 1839, her parents being Jonathan and Elizabeth (Mintor) Morgan, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. The father came to this county from Indiana in 1836, locating on a farm three miles south of Tipton, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the 29th of November, 1863, at the age of seventy-nine years. He won an extensive circle of friends during the period of his residence here and many will long remember his genial countenance. Unto him and his wife were born two children: Mrs. Ford; and Ruth, who is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ford were the parents of the following children: Lewis, who died when two years of age; Ida M., at home; Walter, living in Ida county, Iowa; Herman, likewise at home; and Jed, who is a resident of Ida Grove, Iowa. The wife and mother passed away on the home farm in Center township, her demise occurring on the 27th of September, 1895.
As above stated, Mr. Ford has continuously resided with the borders of Cedar county for more than seven decades and he is therefore largely familiar with its annals from pioneer times down to the present. He witnessed the erection of the first building in Tipton—a little hewed log structure which served as a store. He has now passed the seventy-ninth milestone of life’s journey and that his career has been anupright and honorable one is indicated by the fact that the associates of his boyhood and youth are still numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
