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Below is a family biography included in The History of McDonald County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John A. Ford, sheriff and collector of McDonald County, Mo., was born in Madison County, Ark., on December 13, 1842, and is a son of John W. Ford (deceased), who was a native of Bradley County, Tenn. The latter died in Arkansas when John A. Ford was an infant, and the mother brought her family of four children to McDonald County, Mo., in the fall of 1843, settling near Rocky Comfort, which is the subject of this sketch’s present home. The latter received a limited education in a subscription school held in an old fashioned log school-house, containing slab benches, puncheon floor, clap-board roof and stick and clay chimney. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate army four years as a member of Company D, Advanced Battalion Missouri Cavalry, and participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Prairie De Hand, Springfield, Mark’s Mill, Cane Hill Run and in all the engagements of Price’s raid. Mr. Ford has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, except what time he was in the army. He owns 200 acres of fine land, which his sons are now managing. On August 4, 1867, he was united in marriage with Margaret C. Hawkins, a daughter of Reuben T. Hawkins (deceased). She was also born in Madison County, Ark. Ten children have been born to their union, eight of whom are living. They are Thomas N., Noah S., Mary C., Charles T., John M., Whaley A., Ada S. and Grace E. The family are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of McDonald County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: McDonald County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional McDonald County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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