My Genealogy Hound

Loyd D. Ford, merchant and planter, Atkins, Ark. This prominent business man and planter first saw the light of day in Tennessee, May 21, 1832, and of the ten children born to his parents he was the youngest in order of birth. The father, Thomas Ford, was born in 1787, in Maryland, and was married in Tennessee to Miss Margaret Chapman, a native of Tennessee, her birth occurring in 1792. In 1834 they moved to Kentucky, and the father followed farming and blacksmithing until 1844, when he moved to Arkansas, settling in Poinsett County, where he had eight children living. He was killed in 1854 by a fall from a horse. The mother died in Kentucky in March, 1843. Loyd D. Ford resided with his brother until twenty-six years of age, and was then married to Miss Catherine McClode, a native of Pope County. He then entered a farm of eighty acres in the western part of Pope County and there resided for five years when his wife died, leaving two children, both of whom are also deceased. In 1862 he enlisted in Hill’s battalion and served in Arkansas. He was in very poor health, and on this account was in service only about a year. He was married the second time in July, 1863, to Mrs. Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of Charles Carrell, and a native of Tennessee. In 1865 Mr. Ford bought a farm of 200 acres on Point Remove Creek, and to this has since added until at the present time he is the owner of 360 acres in one tract and has 120 acres under cultivation. The remainder is in timber. He also owns eighty-one acres in the bottom lands, has sixty-five acres of this under cultivation, and is the owner of land in Faulkner and Conway Counties. He resided on his farm until 1876 and then moved to Atkins, where he erected a residence and has since made his home. In 1884 he engaged in general merchandising with J. A. Bost, with whom he continued for fifteen months. Mr. Ford’s time is now mostly occupied in renting and overseeing his land, but he has retired from active business. When Mr. Ford first came to Pope County he was sick and did not own a dollar. All he has made is the result of his own enterprise and industry. In 1876 he, with Mr. Bost, built the first steam-mill and cotton-gin in Atkins, which was well patronized, and this they conducted for nine years. To the second marriage of Mr. Ford were born ten children, seven of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Lizzie Ford (wife of Hugh C. Bledsoe, a druggist of Atkins), Kittie Brown and Loyd D. Jr. Mary Arkansas, a daughter of his first wife, died at the age of nine years. Besides his own children Mr. Ford has reared several orphan children. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has been a strong advocate of schools and is a public-spirited citizen. He is a Mason, a member of Galla Rock Lodge 172, chapter at Atkins, and is a charter member. He is also a member of the K. of H. Mr. Ford owns an interest in two brick buildings and other town property in Atkins.