Courier-Democrat
Thursday April 27, 1899
A Pope County Centenarian
This was written by the editor of the Courier Democratx
Wm. Ford had journeyed life's rugged pathway for more than 100 years. A brief sketch of his life and early recollections of pioneer days.
In a humble and unpretentious, though happy, vine clad cottage nestled amid the tall pines, stately oaks and towering clips of Sulphur township, this county, where styles of dress do not change with each passing season and many of the primitive customs of our forefathers yet prevail, there dwells a character remarkable for the fact that for more than five score years he has withstood wintry blasts of the storm while traveling life's rugged pathway. Thus surrounded do we find Grandfather William Ford, who as he takes a retrospective view of the various events and vicissitudes through which he has passed very appropriately, with the poet in summing up life's existence, exclaim:
"Just a little sunshine, just a little rain, just a little happiness, just a little pain, just a little poverty, just a little gold, and the eventful tale of life is told".
Mr. Ford was born in Ray (Rhea) county, Tennessee, May 3, 1898, and passed his 100th milestone last year, a privilege enjoyed by the very few indeed. Should a kind and indulgent providence permit Grandfather Ford to prolong his journey upon this terrestrial globe until the advent of the coming year, a greater and far less frequent privilege will be his to boast, to wit: that the historian who may be called upon to record his biography will deal with the figures of three centuries, 1700 to 1900 inclusive. In the view of the fact that he is reported quite hale and hearty, and with a mind as fresh and vivid as many men two score years his junior, his family and friends apprehend no fear but that this privilege will be accorded to him. Speaking of his health in a letter to the writer and dictated by Father Ford, he says his health has always been good, never having but two spells of sickness in his life, one of slow fever and the other of rheumatism.
Mr. Ford has been thrice married, the first occurring in Tennessee Feb. 7, 1822 (probably 1842), when he was united to a young widow lady named Cherry, nee Mary Ranock (Rannock, Rathnock). For forty years, five months, and three days, they shared alike the joys and sorrows of life, enjoying the sunshine or dwelling amid the shadows as date decreed. It being the will of providence that no children of their own should come into their lives and brighten their household by their presence. They adopted and reared 7 orphaned children all of whom lived to maturity, married and became good citizens either of Tennessee or Missouri. His second wife was Miss Applegate (Sarah Applegate, I think) the marriage occurring in Taney County, Missouri. To this union were given seven children, only two of them are now living. In this lady's lifetime, our subject's beneficent disposition was again displayed by the care and education of two more orphan children, namely Benjamin and George B. Mackey of Missouri. The third and last marriage of our subject was to a Mrs. Lizzie (Levinia Elizabeth Maxey) Spencer, the widow of M. C. Spencer, who was killed in this county by a man named Simmons. To them have been given four children, three of who are now living. In addition to their own, however, Mr. and Mrs. Ford have cared for and provided for two orphan children, William Thompson and Harvey Spencer, both of whom are now grown and residents of this County.
It is necessary to state that Mr. Ford's parents were among the earliest settlers of Tennessee, a country then inhabited largely by Cherokee Indians, and whom he assisted in transferring across the Father of Waters when they came west. We are not advised as to the nativity of Mr. Ford SR., but understand he came to this country at a very early date and took an active part in the War of the Revolution. Thoroughly, impressed with the idea that greater opportunities an possibilities were to be had this side of the Mississippi, Mr. Ford at a very early day emigrated westward settling in Southern Missouri, where he continued to reside until 1869 when opportunities were presented whereby he better his condition by coming to Arkansas. His residence in Pope County dates to 1882. In this connection it might not be amiss to state that our venerable subject has always led a life consistent with true citizenship. While never associated with any church, he says he has always sympathized with the Methodist people. As an evidence of his punctuality in business affairs and a life of morality he points to the fact that he was never sued for an account or indicted by a court. Politically , he is a democrat and has every been in sympathy with the principles advocated by that party.
Mr. ford is a veteran of four wars, the first being that of 1812 when at the age of fourteen years, he shouldered his gun and in defense of his country marched against that great military power, Great Britain. Soon after attaining his majority he was again called from the quietude of civil life, then engaging in what has since been known as the Florida War. He joined the union forces for two years fought the battles of his country through the Mexican War. When our late unpleasantness broke out, being a southerner by birth and through sympathy and interest with the southern cause, he aligned with the Confederate forces until the surrender of Lee, bore his part of this terrible struggle as a soldier and a patriot.
In recalling the names of noted men of early day he remembered, t was evident that Father Ford derived a great deal of pleasure from his recollection of Andrew Jackson, Old Hickory and seventh President of the United States, though quite young when it was his pleasure to meet General Jackson then noted for his skill and ability in Indian warfare, his memory is quite clear upon many of the peculiarities and eccentricities that have since made his name famous in the history of his country. Another character whose personality is stamped upon the history of our country with the first part of the present century and remembered by our subject is Henry Clay, who entered upon his political career as a lawyer in Louisville, Ky. The names, personalities and characteristics of men of note of those good old days are as securely retained in Father Ford's store house of memory as are the scenes and incidents of the school boy's yesterday, but space forbids our continuing the list further.
There are few people in this age who comprehend the difficulties and privations these old pioneers endured during the first half of the present century and their accounts of the many incidents connected therewith are both interesting and instructive. Those were times when the war-whoop of the wild red men were within earshot of the humble log huts of the precious few whites who inhabited the lonely prairies and forest of this then western country, now thickly settled with civilized people from all quarters of the globe. The wild Americans--the only true Americans--weren't the only pests these early settlers had to contend with. The woods were full of wolves, panthers, and other vicious beasts, looking for prey, that would as soon tackle a human being as anything that crossed their path. Besides the encounters with the savage Indians, the fear and dread of that race, which they had constantly to endure and dangerous beasts, these old pioneers suffered many other hardships of frontier life while carving out comfortable homes for themselves, their wives and children. They were without roads, bridges, mills, blacksmith shops and many other things so essentially necessary to the welfare and convenience of a community. Yet, withal, they lived happily, says Grandfather Ford, save the fear and dread of Indians and beasts. Every settler owned one gun and one dog, at least. These were considered indispensible, for without them the wild beasts would have invaded the homes and yards of these pioneers. Each raised a patch of flax, a patch of cotton, and a little corn, as these were deemed necessaries. They manufactured all their own clothes out of skins of wild animals and out of flax and cotton. The old fashioned loom and the big and little spinning wheels were common furniture in most of the houses. These machines were manufactured by the men and the women knew how to use them. In winter the men wore fox-skin caps and straw hats in the summer. Shoes were made of buckskin tops and rawhide soles and were called shoe pocks or moccasins. The women wore home-made cotton goods dresses and much rivalry existed between the ladies in regard to getting up new and beautiful patterns of checked and striped cotton dress goods. Sugar was made at home out of the sap of sap of Sugar Maple trees, while coffee, being an foreign article was so costly that it was a luxury these pioneer settlers could not afford. Venison, bear meat, wild turkey, and wild honey abounded in great abundance and those who had cows to produce milk really live in a land flowing with milk and honey. Bee trees filled with honey could be found everywhere and the honey cost only the labor to get it. Wild game was so abundant that the early settlers kept their families well supplied with it. With these meats, wild honey and wild fruit and plenty of hoe cakes the pioneer housewife could set a table good enough for a king. Such are the recollections of Grandfather Ford who has stood the test of pioneer life and today though numbered among the centenarians, is hale and hearty and looks much better than could be expected by an outsider who had read the many histories of our early settlements.
In the heart of the grand old forest
A thousand miles to the west
where a stream gushed out from the hillside
They halted at last for rest
And the silence of ages listened,
to the ax stroke loud and clear
Divining a kingly presence
in the tread of the pioneer.
He formed of the prostrate branches
a home that was strong and good
The roof was from reeds of the streamlet,
The chimney built of wood,
And there by the winter fireside
While the flames up the chimney roared,
he spoke of the good time coming
When plenty should crown his board.
When the forest should fade like a vision
And over the hillside and plain,
The orchard would spring in its beauty
And the field of golden grain
And tonight he sits by the fireside
In a mansion quant and old.
With his children's' children around him
Having reaped a thousand fold.
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