Joseph Ford

Joseph Ford, Isaac Ford, [Peter Ford/Pierre Faure1].

Joseph Ford was born in Elbert county, Georgia, 12 January, 1802 [___;b.r., Rome;g.s.] to [Peter/Pierre?] Ford and Elizabeth ___, she was born in Virginia, abt. 1780 [U.S. Census, Rome, 1850].

He died at 9 March, 1872 and is buried in the Birdsong Property Cemetery, Rome, Floyd county, Georgia [___, Rome;g.s., Floyd Co. Cem;170].

He married at Jasper county Georgia, [igi] 12 Jan 1820, [igi says Elbert county m., and 1802 date. Ref: F836981 - 1395542 Film NONE Sheet:5] Sarah Smith [___ m.r.] the daughter of Arthur Smith she was b. 16 Aug. 1806 and d. 22 July, 1862 [Rome;g.s.].

He married, 2nd, Mrs. Caroline H. Lake, widow of James Lake who had been a grocer in Cave Spring. They had no children.

Their children were born at Cobb, Floyd Co. and Rome [Andrew L. Leath]:

1. Napoleon Bonaparte Ford b., 4 March, 1825 ["1822" –igi]; He died 28 December, 1886 [ALL]; m. Susan E. ___ daughter of ___ ; she was b. 23 November, 1834 in North Carolina [ALL]. Descendents in Rome, and Florida today.
2. Joseph Asbury Ford b., 2 June, 1831 [ALL]; d. at Henrietta, Texas, 1 January, 1894 [ALl]; m. at ___ ___ daughter of ___ ; she was b. ___ [___]; census of 1850: “farmer” at Cave Springs, Georgia.
3. Arthur Smith Ford b., 14 Sept., 1826 [igi.]; d. at ___ [source]; m. at ___ ___ daughter of ___ ; she was b. ___ [___].
4. Isaac David Ford, b., 9 April, 1828 [Rome;g.s.]; d. at ___ 24 Dec., 1904 [Rome;g.s.]; m. at ___ Louisa Reece daughter of Jesse Reece and ___ [___]; she was b. 20 May, 1836 and d. 31 March, 1903 [Rome;g.s.].
5. Martha Ford b., ___ 1833 [igi.]; d. at ___ [source]; m. at ___ ___ of ___ ; was b. ___ [___].
6. Thomas J[ospeh?] Ford, b. ca., 1835 [ALL, 1821 –igi.]; died before 1866 [ALL]; he married at Floyd county, Georgia, Sarah Elizabeth Baker; she was b. ca. 1837, daughter of John and Elizabeth Baker [A:134 ALL]; census of 1850, “farmer”. They apparently had no children. Thomas J. Ford signed his will 19 Sep 1862, which names his wife Sarah E. Ford. The will was proved in March 1866. Joseph Ford deeded 99.21 acres of land to his son Thomas J. Ford in 1858. Frank L. Miller sold this same land in 1877. Sarah Elizabeth Baker Ford m., 2nd, 22 November, 1866 Floyd County, Georgia (A:277), Franklin Lake Miller. He was b. 14 May 1845 GA d. 26 Nov 1901 buried Round Hill Cemetery, Cave Spring, Georgia. One known child:
   1. Ethel.

• Franklin L. Miller was a brother of John Jeter Miller, the second husband of Martha G. Ford.

Biography

Joseph Ford was born 12 Jan 1802 in Elbert County, Georgia, according to his tombstone. Joseph Ford bought 82 acres of land in Elbert Co., Georgia, in 1822 (Elbert Co., GA, Deed Records U:52). We have not found a record of him selling this land.

Joseph Ford married 4 May 1824 in Jasper County, Georgia, Sarah Smith. She was born 16 Aug 1806 in Baldwin (now Jasper) County, Georgia, the daughter of Arthur Smith, Sr. Joseph Ford was involved in a lawsuit in Elbert Co., GA, in 1826 and 1827 (Elbert County Superior Court Minutes, 1825-1827:81, 115, 147, 197, 215).

Joseph Ford bought 202.5 acres of land in Fayette County, Georgia, in December 1827, Lot 128 of the Seventh District. The deed stated Joseph Ford’s residence as Elbert County. Apparently Joseph and Sarah Ford moved back to Elbert County after their marriage. Joseph Ford appears on the 1829 tax rolls of Fayette County with 6 slaves and 202.5 acres of land. This land was near the land of Sarah Ford’s brothers, Arthur Smith Jr. and Lawrence Smith.

Joseph Ford is on the 1830 census of Fayette County, Georgia, as “Joseph Foard.” He appears on the 1831 tax rolls with 7 polls, 202.5 acres in Fayette County, and 490 acres in Appling County. The 1832 tax rolls show him with 6 slaves and the same land. We have not found a record of him selling the Fayette County land. In the 1832 Gold Lottery, Joseph Ford of Fayette County won Lot 432, District 2, Section 3. This was in either Cobb or Paulding County.

Joseph and Sarah Ford moved to Floyd County, Georgia, about 1833 and settled several miles southwest of Rome. They bought their first tract of land in Floyd County in 1833 and eventually established a farm with over 1,000 acres and a brick home that stands today. Joseph Ford was a farmer. Joseph Ford volunteered in 1836 for a local cavalry company in Floyd County for "protection against the Indians" (Northwest Georgia Historical & Genealogical Quarterly, 1988, p. 19).

Sarah Smith Ford died 22 Jan 1862 and was buried on the old homeplace.

Joseph Ford bought the Webster Hotel in Cave Spring in 1865 as well as other properties in the town and moved to Cave Spring. Joseph Ford married again, to Mrs. Caroline H. Lake, widow of James Lake who had been a grocer in Cave Spring. They had no children.

Joseph Ford sold the family homeplace, over 1000 acres of land and his brick home, in 1868 for $17,500. He reserved 1/4 acre for a family graveyard (Floyd Co., GA, Deed Records P:304). As the administrator of the Lake estate, he sold the old Lake residence in Cave Spring to his son Arthur S. Ford. Joseph Ford then went into the grocery business in Cave Spring with his son Arthur S. Ford.

Joseph Ford died 9 Mar 1872 near Rome, Georgia, as a result of a train accident. He was buried beside his first wife on the family homeplace. Charles N. Featherston was appointed administrator of his estate in April 1872 (Floyd Co., GA, Ordinary Court Minutes, C:458). His heirs sold a small tract of land north of Rome in 1875. A.S. Ford bought the interest of the other heirs in a 636 acre farm north of Rome (Floyd Co., GA, Deed Records, U:315, W:372, 373, Z:23, JJ:651, 652).

This history is based on the research of my grandfather Arthur Otts Ford during the 1930s and 1940s and his 1947 printed history. His basic outline was based on a 1934 letter from his uncle Charles W. Ford of Atlanta, Georgia. Jim Lear has provided additional information on the N.B. Ford line and Kathleen Rose has provided information on the Ware descendants.

• Andrew L. Leath, Four Generations of the Family of Joseph and Sarah (Smith) Ford Ms., mailed to dff ca. 2004. P.O. Box 1166, Tyler, Texas, 75710. January 1993. (Revised November, 2000.)

Census

1880 census

• Joseph A. FORD, Self  M  Male  W  49  GA  Farmer   GA   GA 
• Martha E. FORD, Wife  M  Female  W  42  GA  Keeping House   VA   VA 
• Oliver S. FORD, Son   S   Male   W   22   AR   On Farm   GA   GA 
• Cornelia F. FORD, Dau  S   Female   W   24   GA   Teacher   GA   GA 
• Isaac D. FORD, Son    S   Male   W   14   AR   At School   GA   GA 
• George S. FORD, Son   S   Male   W   11   GA   At School   GA   GA 
• Augustus M. FORD, Son  S   Male   W   6   GA   At Home   GA   GA 
• Mary E. FORD, Dau  S   Female   W   2   GA   At Home   GA   GA 
• Burrill G. ANDERSON, Nephew  S  Male  W  19  GA  On Farm   GA   GA 

Cave Spring Georgia.

PARENTAGE OF JOSEPH FORD

Several other researchers (including Jim Lear and Kathleen Rose, with recent additions of Marian Downey and Sharon Brawner) and I have attempted to prove the parentage of Joseph Ford. Though we think we have good evidence, we don't have the final proof yet. This appendix will discuss the evidence we have found so far.

Joseph Ford's tombstone states that he was born in 1802 in Elbert County, Georgia. In a letter written by his grandson Charles W. Ford in 1934 to Arthur Otts Ford, it states that Joseph Ford had a brother Elisha Ford who had some descendants by the name of Wright who lived in Atlanta. Charles W. Ford also lived in Atlanta, and I assume he was personally acquainted with these Wright relatives and personally knew the relationship. So the fact that Joseph Ford had a brother Elisha Ford seems pretty reliable.

The records of Elbert County, Georgia, do indeed show an Elisha Ford and a Joseph Ford who are the right ages to be brothers and to be our Joseph Ford. Elisha Ford was born about 1797 in Georgia. He married in 1818 in Elbert County, Georgia, Elizabeth Deadwyler. Elisha Ford appears on the 1820 and 1830 censuses of Elbert County and the 1840, 1850, and 1860 censuses of Chambers County, Alabama. The deed records show that Elisha Ford and Joseph Ford owned adjoining tracts of land on Dove's Creek in western Elbert County (Elbert Co., GA, Deed Rec. U:52).

Elbert County records show several Fords living in that county in the early 1800s, but all except one live in other sections of the county other than Dove's Creek and with no apparent connection to Elisha and Joseph Ford. The exception is an Isaac Ford who owned land adjoining Elisha and Joseph Ford on Dove's Creek. In the 1820 census, Isaac Ford has a son the correct age range to be our Joseph. Joseph Ford bought land from Isaac Ford in 1822. Isaac Ford and Elisha Ford were co-defendants in a criminal assault case in 1823 and 1824 (Elbert County, GA, Superior Court Minutes, Vol. 1821-7:115,183,187, Vol. 1825-7:101, Vol. 1828-31:317). By the way, the jury found them "not guilty" in their March 1824 trial.

Isaac Ford could be the correct age to be the father of Elisha and Joseph. According the 1830 census, he was age 50-60, so born in the 1770s. Isaac Ford bought land in Elbert County as early as 1797 (Deed Rec. D:115) and is on the tax rolls of 1801 and 1814. This suggests he was in the county in 1802 when Joseph Ford was born. We are searching for an estate settlement of this Isaac Ford that hopefully will name his heirs and prove our theory that he is the father of Joseph and Elisha Ford.

An Elizabeth Ford, born about 1770 in Virginia, was living with Joseph Ford in Floyd Co., GA, in the census of 1850 and 1860. She was a slave owner, owning 8 slaves in 1850 and one slave in 1860. She is commonly assumed to be Joseph Ford's mother, though the censuses for 1850 and 1860 do not state relationships among the household members.

Charles W. Ford also stated in his 1934 letter that "The Ford family migrated from France to England about the 14th century, A.S. Ford [Sr.] said he was French-English." This tradition also has been repeated in the Napoleon B. Ford branch of the family. We have found a French Huguenot Ford family in Virginia that may be ours.

The Huguenot Society documents that a Pierre Faure came to America about 1700 and settled with a large settlement of French in present day Goochland County, Virginia. Faure's descendants anglicized their surname to Ford by the second generation. Pierre Faure, aka Peter Ford, had a great grandson Isaac Ford born about 1768 who was living in the early 1790s in Buckingham Co., VA, but no further information. He disappears off the Buckingham Co., VA, personal property tax rolls in the early 1790s. This Isaac Ford in Buckingham Co., VA, had a brother Joseph Ford and a brother Elisha Ford. Did this Isaac Ford leave Buckingham Co., VA, in the 1790s, settle in Elbert Co., GA, and name sons Joseph and Elisha after his brothers? Unfortunately the Buckingham Co., VA, courthouse burned in 1869, which makes research on this Isaac Ford difficult. More research needs to be done to prove or disprove this connection.

It would be unwise at this point for anyone to claim that Joseph Ford was definitely the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Ford, or that he was descended from Pierre Faure of Virginia. But for anyone interested to join us in our search, you now know where to start.

United States Census Records

1830

• Fayette Co., GA, p. 195, FOARD, Joseph m. f.

1840

• Floyd Co., GA, 924th Dist., p. 249

FORD, J. m. 0221/01 f. 0101/01 slaves m. 3 under 10, 3 10 under 24, 1 36 under 55, f. 4 under 10, 1 10 under 24, 1 24 under 36

1850

• Floyd Co., GA, p. 103

FORD, Joseph 48 GA Farmer, Sarah 44 GA, David 22 GA, Joseph A. 19 GA, Thomas J. 15 GA, Elizabeth 80 VA Slave Sched., p. 627 m. black 50, 50, 46, 46, 32, 28, 26, 22, 20, 20, 16, 16, 16, 12, 12, 10, 10, 9 f. black 70 Agric. Sched., p. 303 250 acres improved, 700 acres unimproved, value of farm $20,000, value of farm implements $350, 3 horses, 7 asses & mules, 10 milch cows, 3 work oxen, 15 other cattle, 65 sheep, 100 swine, value of livestock $1400, 3500 bu. Indian corn, 50 bu. oats, 200 lbs. wool, 50 bu. peas & beans, 300 bu. sweet potatoes, 300 lb. butter, value home mfg. $75, value animals slaughters $400

• ---, FORD, N. D. no Population Schedule Agric. Sched. p. 309, 30 acres improved, 150 acres unimproved, value of farm $3000, value farm implements $25, 1 horse, 1 milch cow, 1 work oxen, 10 swine, value of livestock $80, 750 bushels Indian corn, 1 bale cotton
• ---, p. 119, FORD, A. S. 24 GA Farmer, N. J. 21 SC, Joseph G. 1 GA
• ---, WARE, William no poulation Schedule Slave Sched., p. 627 m. black 14, 11, 6 f. black 40, 40, 18, 17, 8, 7 Agri. Sched., p. 299 75 acres improved, 195 unimproved, value $4000, value farm implements $75, 3 horses, 3 asses & mules, 4 milch coes, 2 work oxen, 3 other cattle, 20 swine, value livestock $377, 150 bushels Indian corn, 6 bales cotton, 50 lbs. butter, value animals slaughtered $75

1860

• Floyd Co., GA, p. 98 (226)

FORD, Joseph 58 GA Farmer, Sarah 54 GA, Elizabeth 90 VA Slave Sched, Barker's Dist., p. 449 m. black 19, 19, 1, 2, 36, 10, 58, 46, 35, 28, 18, 16, 18, 14, 8, 5, 3/12 f. black 38, 21, 18, 16, 12, 10, 6, 4, 2, 26, 9, 8, 6, 4, 5/12, 46, 17, 14, 11, 9, 38, 22, 20, 14, 2, 6/12 Agric. Sched., p. 18 300 acres improved, 600 acres unimproved, value of farm $25,000, value of farm implements $80, 2 horses, 9 asses & mules, 2 milch cows, 4 work oxen, 5 other cattle, 55 sheep, 100 swine, value of livestock $2000, 550 bu. wheat, 2000 bu. Indian corn, 100 bu. oats, 75 bales cotton, 100 lb. wool, 100 bu. peas & beans, 40 bu. Irish potatoes, 300 bu. sweet potatoes, 15 gal. wine, 100 lb. butter, 10 tons hay, value of home mfgs. $200, value of animals slaughtered $200

• ---, p. 5 (133) FORD, Napoleon 38 GA, Susan 25 NC, T. Jefferson 9 GA, William R. 7 GA, Martha G. 5 GA, Joseph 4 GA, Asberry 1 GA slave Sched., Floyd Springs Dist., p. 2/459 m. black 23, 4, 2 f. black 27, 9, 3/12 m. mulatto 7 Agric. Sched., p. 1 75 acres improved, 240 acres unimproved, value of farm $4000, value of farm implements $250, 2 horses, 2 asses & mules, 2 milch cows, 9 other cattle, 16 sheep, 28 swine, value of livestock $850, 115 bu. wheat, 900 bu. Indian corn, 20 bales cotton, 50. lb. wool, 20 bu. peas & beans, 100 bu. Irish potatoes, 500 lb. butter, 1 ton hay, 100 gal. molasses, value of animals slaughtered $450
• ---, (345)

FORD, A. S. 31 GA Farmer, Margaret 30 GA, Joseph 12 GA, W. E. (f) 9 GA, J. H. G. (m) 7 GA, D. W. (m) 5 GA, A. S. (m) 2 GA, W. B. (m) 1 GA Slave Sched., Livingston Dist., p. 62/465 m. black 25 f. black 30, 8, 1 Agric. Sched., p. 49 100 acres improved, 420 acres unimproved, value of farm $3500, vslue of farm implements $60, 1 horse, 2 asses & mules, 3 milch cows, 31 sheep, 6 swine, value of livestock $500, 100 bu. wheat, 500 bu. Indian corn, 11 bales cotton, 20 lb. wool, 100 lb. butter, 1 ton hay

• ---, p. 97

FORD, I. D. 32 GA Farmer, Louisa A. 24 GA, Oscar R. 5 GA, Joseph W. 3 GA Saline Co., AR, Calvert Twp, p. 573

• FORD, Joseph A. 28 GA Farmer, Martha E. 23 GA, Cornelia F. 5 GA, Joseph W. 3 AR, Oliver S. 2 AR Slave Sched., p. 2/267 m. black 32 f. black 17

Floyd Co., GA, p. 123 (251)

• WARE, William 32 GA Farmer, Martha G. 27 GA, Martha O. 10 Ga, George H. 8 GA, Homer S. 6 GA, Mary E. 3 GA, Sarah E. 1 GA Slave Sched., Barker's Dist., p. 449/450 m. black 50, 50, 26, 24, 17, 17, 17, 9, 9, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3 f. black 43, 44, 22, 16, 1, 1 Agric. Sched., p. 23 140 acres improved, 300 acres unimproved, value of farm $4500, value of livestock $300, 2 horses, 5 asses & mules, 4 milch cows, 2 work oxen, 15 other cattle, 90 swine, value of livestock $1600, 115 bu. wheat, 1000 bu. Indian corn, 75 bu. oats, 30 bales cotton, 20 bu. peas & beans, 30 bu. Irish potatoes, 125 bu. sweet potatoes, 10 gal. wine, 100 lb. butter, 7 tons hay, 10 lb. beeswax, 100 lbs. honey, value of animals slaughtered $325
• ---, p. 115 (243)

FORD, Thomas J. 25 GA, Sarah E. 23 GA Agric. Sched., p. 21, 40 acres improved, 60 acres unimproved, value of farm $2500, value of farm implements $175, 2 horses, 2 milch cows, 4 other cattle, 30 swine, value of livestock $310, 500 bu. Indian corn, 3 bales cotton, 5 bu. peas & beans, 6 bu. Irish potatoes, 20 bu. sweet potatoes, 50 lb. butter, 2 tons hay, value of animals slaughtered $50

1870

• Floyd Co., GA, Subdiv. 141 p. 5

FORD, Joseph 68 GA Retail Grocer, Merchant, Carline H. 58 TN

• ---, Subdiv. 49 p. 117

FORD, Napoleon B. 45 GA Farmer, Susan E. 36 NC, Thomas J. 19 GA, William R. 17 GA, Martha G. 15 GA, Joseph J. 13 GA, David A. 11 GA, Napoleon B. 9 GA, Frances B. 4 GA, Orstenaula 2 GA

• ---, Subdiv. 141 p. 2

FORD, Arthur S. 44 GA Retail Grocer, Merchant, Martha J. 41 GA, Willie A. 17 GA, Joseph H. G. 15 GA, Benjamin W. 14 GA, Arthur S. 12 GA, William B. 10 GA, Susan A. 8 GA, Charles W. 3 GA

• ---, City of Rome, Ward 3, p. 23

FORD, Isaac D. 40 GA Farmer, Louisa A. 30 GA, Oscar R. 15 GA, Waller 12 GA, Eula M. 10 GA, Dora 6 GA

• ---, Subdiv. 141 p. 4

FORD, Joseph A. 38 GA Retail Dry Goods Merchant, Martha E. 33 GA, Cornelia F. 13 GA, Joseph W. 11 AR, Oliver S. 9 AR, Isac D. 5 AR, George S. 1 GA

• ---, Subdiv. 141 p. 139

MILLER, John J. 35 SC Farmer, Martha G. 37 GA, WARE, Mary E. 13 GA, Sarah E. 11 GA, William 6 GA, *MILLER, Franklin 10 GA, Ella 6 GA, Minnie G. 3 GA, Cora L. 1 GA

• ---, Subdiv. 141 p. 18

MILLER, Franklin L. 25 GA Farmer, Elizabeth S. 32 GA (Insane), Ethel 2 GA, lvg with Elizabeth BAKER

1880

• Floyd Co., GA, ED 66 p. 50

FORD, Napoleon 54 GA GA GA Farmer, Susan E. 43 GA NC NC, Bartow 14 GA GA GA, Oostanaula 12 GA GA GA, Lorein 8 GA GA GA, Markus B. 2 GA GA GA

• ---, ED 70 p. 35

FORD, Arthur S. 53 GA GA GA Farmer, Margaret J. 50 SC SC SC (Curv. of spine), Daniel W. 24 GA GA SC, William B. 20 GA GA SC, Sarah A. 17 GA GA SC, Marcelus E. 14 GA GA SC, Charls W. 12 GA GA SC, Clarence C. 9 GA GA SC, Margrett L. 7 GA GA SC

• ---, ED 64 p. 6 (City of Rome, Ward 3, South Street)

FORD, Isaac D. 51 GA GA GA Grocer, Louisia A. 41 GA, Oscar R. 25 GA GA GA Physician, Eula M. 19 GA GA GA, Dora E. 16 GA GA GA

• ---, ED 70 p. 36

FORD, Joseph A. 49 GA GA GA Farmer, Martha E. 42 GA VA VA, Oliver S. 22 GA GA GA, Cornelia F. 24 GA GA GA, Isaac D. 14 AR GA GA, George S. 11 GA GA GA, Augustus M. 6 GA GA GA, Mary E. 2 GA GA GA

• ---, ED 71 p. 40

MILLER, Jeter J. 44 SC SC SC Farmer, Martha G. 46 GA GA GA, Ella M. 15 GA SC GA, Minie G. 12 GA SC GA, Cora L. 10 GA SC GA, Adelle 6 GA SC GA, CUNNINGHAM, Green 63 GA VA SC Farmer, Joicey 66 GA VA VA, WEAR, Emma 21 GA GA GA (niece), William 17 GA GA GA (nephew)

1900

Henderson Co., KY, ED 57 p. 13 (Town of Henderson, S. Green St., Letcher's Hosp. FORD, Isaac Jun 1827 GA (father-in-law), Louise May 1835 GA (mother-in-law, living with James H. Letcher Clay Co., TX, ED 14 p. 4 (Henrietta)

• FORD, Mattie E. Jan 1836 GA GA GA 11/6, Gus M. Jun 1877 GA GA GA Salesman, Confectionary, Wander May 1892 TX GA TX