Bio: John McWilliams Ford; Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000





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John McWilliams Ford, of Shreveport, a member of one of the old and notable
families of Caddo Parish, has had an active career in the grain and milling
business, and has rendered services as a public official, particularly during
his long term as mayor of Shreveport.

Mr. Ford was born at Shreveport in 1880.  His grandfather, James Ford, came
from Virginia and was one of the pioneer settlers of Caddo parish.  A lawyer
by profession, he was elected one of the first judges of the District Court of
the parish.  Dr. Thomas G. Ford, father or John McWilliams Ford, was born in
Caddo Parish in 1848, and died in 1913.  He practiced medicine for a long
period of forty-two years, and was one of the builders and the first
surgeon-in-chief of Charity Hospital of Shreveport.  Doctor Ford married Alice
McWilliams, daughter of Capt. J. G. McWilliams, also a Shreveport pioneer, and
organizer of what is now the Commercial National Bank.  He was engaged in the
banking business for many years.

John McWilliams Ford after a liberal education completed in the University of
the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, entered business and has become one of the
best known figures in grain and milling circles in this portion of the
Southwest.

Since 1914 he has been prominent in public affairs. being elected in that year
a member of the Caddo Parish police jury.  His friends wishing to send him to
the Legislature, he was elected in 1913 to represent Caddo Parish, accordingly
resigning his place on the police jury.  In 1916 came his first election as
mayor of Shreveport, and by successive elections he served until November,
1922.  His administration is Credited with the judicious expenditure of many
millions of dollars in needed improvements, including the handsome modern
buildings of the Municipal Court, the main building of the fire department,
the City library, and many miles of paved streets and Sewers.  Shreveport
became one of the thoroughly progressive modern cities of the South while Mr.
Ford was mayor.

During the World war he acted as chairman of the Caddo Parish Council of
Defense and chairman of the Local Draft Board, and was continuously busy in
the cause.  He is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner; is a past
exalted ruler of Shreveport Lodge of Elks, and is now serving as district
deputy grand exalted ruler for the Northern District of Louisiana.

In 1908 Mr. Ford was united in marriage with Miss Mary Louise Pearce, a native
of Alabama, daughter of J. T. and Susan Samford Pearce, and a niece of
Ex-Governor Samford of Alabama.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 221, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by
The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.