James Harvey TEDFORD, of Mt. Ayr, senior editor of the Ringgold Record, is a man who has the reputation of knowing how to make the best used of the English language in his well-known newspaper. He was born in Putnam county, Indiana, March 4, 1833, of stock whos genealogy can be traced through the best families of Tennessee. He is wholly self-made, having earned the money with which his education was secured by teaching school. He entered Hanvoer college at the age of 17, and graduated therefrom in 1856, with the degree of bachelor of arts. He subsequently attended the United Presbyterian Theological seminary at Xenia, Ohio, for three years, during the time Whitelaw REID was publishing a paper in that city. On the completion of his education he entered upon the ministry, and for thirty years filled the pulpits of prominent churches in Greenville, Pennsylvania; Tipton, Indiana, and at Mount Ayr, Iowa. At the conclusion of his pastorate in the last named city [Mount Ayr] in 1886, he became associate editor and part owner of the Ringgold Republican, a paper that had been established a short time previously. About one year thereafter he, with his partner, purchased the Ringgold Record, the oldest paper in the county, having been established in 1865, and the two papers were consolidated.

At the time he first located in Mount Ayr, in 1879, he was employed as pastor of the United Presbyterian denomination, to which work his time was devoted until entering upon a journalistic career. As a newspaper man he has been a success. Commencing with but limited capital, he now owns, with his son, one of the best newspaper plants in southwestern Iowa.

His political preferences have always been for the republican party. He was clerk for the interstate and foreigncommerce committee in the national house in 1895-6, appointed by Congressman W. P. HEPBURN, of whom he has ever been a warm supporter and faithful friend in victory and in defeat.

He was married in June, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth ROWAN, at Argyle, N.Y. They have two children: Howard, who is connected with him in the publishing of the Record, and Mary TEDFORD.

NOTE: James died on September 13, 1924. Elizabeth was born in 1836, and died August 26, 1905. James and Elizabeth were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCE:
GUE, B. F., Ex-Lieutenant-Governor [IA] Biographies and Portraist of the Progressive Men of Iowa: Leaders in Business, Politics and the Professions, Together with a History of the State Pp. 463-64.Conaway & Shaw Publisher. Des Moines. 1899.

WPA Graves Survey, Ringgold County

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009