Geneology Spotlight - Reuben Ford

Rueben Ford the son of John Ford Sr. and Elizabeth England was born in 1806 at Grassy Cove, Bledsoe County Tn. He moved to Osage township (called Colville township in 1860 and 1870 census), Benton County, Arkansas in 1848 or 1849 because he is on the 1850 census there. He married Suzanna Loden, born in 1802 probably of Fluvanna County Virginia, about 1826. They had 9 children William Ford born circa 1821-8125, John D. Ford born circa 1826-1828, Melissa J. Ford born circa 1828, James G. Ford born circa 1830, Rufus Ford born circa 1833, Robinson Ford, called Robert, born circa 1835, Enoch Ford born 1837, Arminta Ford, called Nettie, born 1844, and Mary Ford born circa 1845; plus 5 orphans awarded by the Benton County Probate court of Arkansas as next of kin to James G. and Catherine Ford in April 1866. The records do not state the exact relationship of Rueben to James G. Ford only that the parent of the 5 orphans are both deceased, but probably their son who died 16 Apr 1866 even though I haven't found a record of his marriage or children's births. The 5 orphans are found with Rueben and Suzanna on the 1870 census. By the 1880 census the 4 remaining orphans are with their newly married brother, John W. Ford, in Mississippi township, Sabastian county, Arkansas. A descendant of John Ennis, whose daughter Elinor Ennis married Rueben's son Rufus Ford, stated that Rueben shot John Ennis after they got into an argument about the Civil War. Suzanna dies in 1880 and is buried in Mt Hebron Cemetery, Colville, Benton County, Arkansas. Rueben is dead by 25 Oct 1888 and buried by Nov 1888 in Mt Hebron Cemetery, Colville, Benton County, Arkansas. See gravestone picture above, Nancy and I found at Mt Hebron Cemetery, Colville, Benton County, Arkansas when we went to Arkansas to do genealogy work.

Geneology Spotlight - John Ford, Sr.

John Ford (Sr), my great great great great grandfather, was born on November 13, 1762 in Albermarle County, Virginia to parents John T. Ford and Elizabeth Farrar. He married Elizabeth England April 12, 1785 in Fluvanna County, Va. Elizabeth was born 18 Feb 1764 in Albermarle County, Virginia to parents John Lee England and Ann Eubanks. His occupations were listed as Soldier, farmer, and landowner. He came to Grassy Cove, Tn in 1801. As our earliest settlers accustomed themselves to their new environment in Grassy Cove, Tn, John Ford heard the crying need for things these pioneers could not produce for themselves. Hitching four horses to one of the heavy wagons in which he migrated from Virginia, he went over the mountain to Nashville to see what he could find. He returned bearing salt, salaratus, spices, copreas, log wood, indigo, coffee, and sugar, as well as findings for milady's work basket, such as shears, tailor's charts, needles and buttons. He also found a market for furs, hides, beeswax, tallow, hickory-smoked meat, and just about everything of which the pioneers could produce a surplus. He built a store, which became a popular trading center for the citizens for miles around. John Ford, Sr, was pensioned on Cert. 13573, which was paid at the Tennessee Agency. John Ford donated land and had the first Grassy Cove Methodist Church built in 1803. John and Elizabeth had 6-10 children?. Jane born 1786, Sarah born in 1786/1789/1793?, ?William born 1793, John born 25 Dec 1795, ?Polly 1797, ?Jane born 1798, Nancy born 1798/1799, Ruben born 1802/1806(our ancestor), Mary (Polly) born 11 Nov 1803, ?William Thomas born 1805. John Died 5 Aug 1844 in Grassy Cove,Bledsoe, Tn and was buried 7 Aug 1844 in Grassy Cove, Tn in the Grassy Cove Methodist cemetery beside the log meeting house he built in 1803. Elizabeth died 30 Sep 1845 in Grassy Cove,Bledsoe, Tn and was buried 3 Oct in the Grassy Cove Methodist cemetery