Ford, William Mason;  Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000




**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 Ford, William Mason, one of Shreveport's progressive business men, engaged in
the insurance business, was born in this city, Dec. 30, 1875.  He is a son of
the late Richard W. Ford, who was a native of Alabama, from which state he
removed with his father to Gilmer, Tex., when he was a mere boy.  He grew to
manhood in the Lone Star state and with the coming on of the Civil war cast
his lot with the Confederacy and served as a gallant soldier.  Just after the
close of the war, Richard W. Ford became a clerk in a mercantile house at
Shreveport.  A while later he became a member of the firm of Gregg & Ford,
general merchants and cotton factors, with which he was identified until his
death, which occurred in 1880.  He was a successful business man and a
prominent factor in commercial life of Shreveport, where he was held in
highest esteem as a citizen.  He was an active member of the Masonic
fraternity and in public measures manifested a spirit of progress.  In
Marshall, Tex., he married Josephine Mason, whose father was a prominent
lawyer and planter in Texas, where his daughter was born.  Five children were
born unto Richard W. Ford and wife, namely,  Hattie, the wife of J. D.
Hereford, of Dallas, Tex.;  James P., a prominent business man and citizen of
New Orleans;  Richard W., Jr., who died at the age of 26 years;  William
Mason, whose name introduces this personal sketch, and  Josephine (Josie),
wife of R. C. Townes, of Phillips, Miss.  The Methodist Episcopal church was
the faith of the parents.  The mother is now residing in Shreveport.  William
Mason Ford was reared in his native city, where he was educated in Thatcher's
Military institute.  Closing his school days, Mr. Ford spent the next 3 years
of his life as a mercantile clerk in Shreveport.  He then engaged, Jan. 1,
1896, in the fire insurance business with the firm of Jas. P. Ford & Co., now
Penick & Ford Insurance Agency, of which W. S. Penick is president; J. P.
Ford, vice-president, and William M. Ford, secretary, treasurer and manager. 
Mr. Ford, since becoming identified with this firm has been its general
manager and under his management the company has experienced a rapid increase
of business and today ranks among the leaders of northern Louisiana in the
field of fire insurance.  Mr. Ford is a member of the Shreveport Golf and
Country club and the Presbyterian church.  In 1905 he married Miss Cornelia
Ahlum, a native of New Jersey.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp.
163-164.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century
Historical Association.