Eliab L. Ford
E. L. Ford, merchant, farmer and stock dealer, Milledgeville, was born in Cumberland County, Maine, September 20, 1819, where he was educated in the common schools and neighboring seminaries till fourteen years of age, when he began teaching, and continued until 1841, and then came to Hamilton County, this state, and taught till 1843. He married Miss Martha M, Snider, daughter of General John Snider, of Hamilton County, June 4, 1843. Mrs. Ford was born September 16, 1825. Seven children are the result of this marriage; four sons and three daughters. Soon after marriage, Mr. Ford engaged in the mercantile business for two years, and shortly after followed stock trading. He took two droves of horses to Boston, Massachusetts, riding the whole distance on horseback.
In 1846, he came to South Plymouth, where he now lives, and drove team for a time, buying country produce, hauling it to Cincinnati, seventy miles, and purchasing a load of staple goods for a back load.
The first land he bought was one hundred acres, at $18.00 per acre. He has since bought at prices ranging from $18.00 to $70.00 per acre. He now has a farm of more than fourteen hundred acres, all in a good state of cultivation, well fenced, well watered and well stocked. He deals largely in sheep, cattle and hogs, and has held the office of township trustee for years.
In 1872, he was elected commissioner of this county and served one term. He served several years as director of the Merchants and Farmers Bank of Washington, and is liberal to the support of churches, schools and other public improvements. He and his wife are members of the Universalist Church.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
There are some men in every community who naturally come to the front in spite of the lack of early advantages or the many discouragements which may meet them in their upward career. They possess sutlicient energy and perseverance to overcome the obstacles in their path and win for themselves a foremost position in their vocations. A most worthy illustration of this class of self-made men is afforded by the life of Mr. Ford, a prominent citizen of Fayette County and the owner of a splendid farm in Jasper Township.
When Mr. Ford came to Fayette County, in October, 1846, he settled on his present homestead, making a purchase of one hundred acres, for which he paid $18 per acre. He has since added to the original amount, paying different prices, ranging from $18 to $90 per acre, until now he is the owner of sixteen hundred acres of finely-improved land. He has embellished the place with a substantial set of farm buildings, including a commodious and comfortable residence, and a store building in which he keeps a stock of dry goods and groceries. In connection with farming, he carries on an extensive live-stock business, in which he has met with success.
A native of Maine, born in Gray, September 20, 1819, our subject traces his lineage to the Pilgrim Fathers. His paternal grandparents were Nathaniel and Mary (Jones) Ford, natives of Maine. His father, James Ford, was born August 19, 1796, and was reared to maturity in his native State, Maine, where he married Miss Lucy Latham. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Eliab L., of this sketch; James, Jr., born March 14, 1823, died September 3, 1860; Mary J., born July 24, 1824, died November 17, 1870; Lucy L., born April 10, 1827; Nathaniel, May 19, 1829; and Charles, April 29, 1833.
During the summer of 1850, James Ford removed from Maine to Warren County, Oliio, where he resided until his demise, April 1, 1865. His death was the result of an accident, he being thrown from a wagon and sustaining injuries which finally proved fatal. The mother of our subject was born December 18, 1798, in Gray, Me., and died December 25, 1891, at Maineville, Warren County, Ohio, having one week before her demise celebrated her ninety-fourth birthday.
In the public schools and academies of his native State, our subject received a good education and employed the vacation seasons in aiding his father in the store. When twenty years of age, he started out for himself, coming to Montgomery, Hamilton County, Ohio, where he taught school for a couple of years. He was there married, June 4, 1843, to Martha M. Snider, a daughter of Gen. John and Hannah (Moore) Snider, the former a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and the latter of Newburgh, N. Y. John Snider was born August 31, 1798, and served in the Indian Wars, gaining the distinction of Brigadier-General; he also recruited men for the Mexican War. He passed his entire life in his native county, where his death occurred May 24, 1857. His wife was born March 9, 1800, and died July 24, 1832. Two of their nine children are now living: Mary and Martha, The deceased are: Cindory, Rozeny, Ethelinda, Cornelius, John, Harvey and Sarah.
Mr, and Mrs, Ford are the parents of seven children, as follows: Sarah L., born June 10, 1844, married John L. Barnes; Lucy E., born June 13, 1847; Mary O,, June 24, 1851; Charles E., born January 23, 1854, is a farmer in Illinois; Frank, born July 22, 1856, is a lawyer in St. Paul, Minn.; James, born March 3, 1862, is engaged in the hardware business at Washington Court House; William S., born December 21, 1864, completes the family circle. Mr. Ford and ids estimable wife are members of the Universalist Church, and are prominent in the social circles of the community.
A pronounced Democrat in his politics, Mr. Ford has been called upon by his fellow-citizens to occupy public positions of trust. For a period of almost thirty years he was Township Treasurer, and in 1872 was elected County Commissioner, serving one term. He was a Director in the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, at Washington Court House, for several years. During the late war, he contributed freely to the support of the Union, but being advanced in years, and with his family dependent upon him, he was unable to enlist for active service. In 1847, he became a member of Fayette Lodge No. 107, F. & A. M., and has taken the Chapter degrees at Wilmington, Commandery degrees at Chillicothe, and Scottish Rite, Thirty-second degree.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]