Bio: W. P. Ford, Caddo Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker
sueshoe@hotmail.com




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W. P. Ford, cashier of Merchants & Farmers' Bank and also clerk of the
district court, was born in Madison County, Miss., on January 26, 1848, and
is a son of Samuel and Cornelia V. (Nicholson) Ford, both natives of
Mississippi, and Mrs. Ford the daughter of Judge Nicholson of Mississippi.
Samuel Ford was a lawyer by profession.  His death occurred in 1857.  The
mother is still living and the wife of Gen. Theodore G. Hunt, of New
Orleans.  By the first marriage there were four children born, all now
living:  Virginia, Rosa and Samuel, and to the last union there was one
child, Dr. Randell Hunt, of Shreveport. W. P. Ford, the eldest in order of
birth of the first family, was reared in Shreveport, whither he had moved
with his parents in 1853, and here he received a common-school education.
At an early age, or in 1870, he engaged in the cotton business with Joseph
Boisseau, with whom he continued until 1877, when the firm was dissolved by
mutual consent.  Mr. Ford subsequently engaged with E. & B. Jacobs, in one
of the largest wholesale houses in the city, and continued with this until
June, 1880, at which time he assumed the duties of district clerk, having
been elected to that office the November previous.  His personal popularity
has been shown by his election to the same position three consecutive terms
without opposition, and he still holds that office, the duties of which he
is well qualified to discharge.  He has given entire satisfaction to the
public in general.  On the organization of the Merchants & Farmers' Bank in
September, 1889, he was elected its cashier, which position he now
occupies.  He is one of the most capable, practical banking men in the
South, and is thoroughly familiar with the people and their manners.  He
held the office of administration  of public accounts of the city of
Shreveport in 1877, and filled that as he has all other positions, in a
very satisfactory manner.  He is now deputy clerk of the Supreme Court of
Louisiana at Shreveport.  Mr. Ford was married in 1870 to Miss Clara B.
Kline, daughter of J. J. Kline, of Shreveport, and the fruits of this union
have been three children, two now living:  Edwin G. and Charles B.  Mr. and
Mrs. Ford are members of the Episcopal Church.  He is a Knight Templar in
the Masonic fraternity, is a member of the K. of P., K. of H., L. of H., I.
O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W.  He has represented his lodge in the Grand
Lodge of the I. O. O. F.  The Merchants & Farmers' Bank, of which Mr. Ford
is the capable and experienced cashier, was organized in September, 1889,
and commenced business in October of the same year with a paid-in capital
of $200,000.  The institution of this bank was the outgrowth of a demand
for more capital to handle the rapidly increasing commercial interests of
the city of Shreveport.  The prime movers in this enterprise were Charles
N. Fowler, of New York, and Charles Benjamin Wilkinson, of Philadelphia,
the latter of whom is vice-president of the bank.  The local officers are
men of enterprise and large business experience and capacity, and enjoy the
good-will and confidence of the entire community.  Their frank and easy
manner in dealing with the people has already drawn to them a large and
influential patronage.  The directory is composed of some of the most
substantial and respected citizens of Shreveport.  The names of the
officers are:  Thomas B. Chase, president; Charles Benjamin Wilkinson,
vice-president; W. P. Ford, cashier, and Arthur J. Newman, assistant
cashier.  Mr. Chase is largely identified with the business interests of
Shreveport, and Mr. Wilkinson is the well-known Philadelphia capitalist.
Mr. Ford is a fine financier in every sense of the word, and is a gentleman
of ability and rare business judgement.  Mr. Newman is an energetic, active
and reliable officer.