OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 159 Today's Topics: #1 M. NILE FORD - ALLEN COUNTY [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #2 ALLEN COUNTY - PART 4 [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 18:51:40, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: M. NILE FORD - ALLEN COUNTY HISTORY OF OHIO, The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume III, Page 137-138 M. NILE FORD. After some years of practical work in his profession as a pharmacist Mr. Ford was called to the office of secretary of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, with headquarters at Columbus. His many services in his official capacity have made him known among all members of the drug profession and business in the state. Mr. Ford was born on a farm near Delphos, in Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio, July 5, 1882. His parents were Edward J. and Lovina (Phillips) Ford. His great-grandfather, Joseph Ford, Sr., a native of Maryland, was a pioneer settler in Ohio, locating in Champaign County. Edward J. Ford, son of Joseph Ford, Jr., was born December 19, 1853, in that county, and soon afterward the family moved to Marion Township of Allen County. Lovina Phillips is a daughter of Isaac and Polly (Crites) Phillips. Her grandfather, Daniel Phillips, came from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to Fairfield County, Ohio, and in 1855 the family moved to Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio. The home and environment of M. Nile Ford until he was twenty years of age, in 1902, was his father's farm. In the meantime he had attended the township schools, had spent two years in Ohio Northern University at Ada, and he studied pharmacy in the Scio College of Pharmacy in Harrison County, a school conducted by Dr. J.H. Beal, for many years famous as a professor and teacher of pharmacy. While in pharmacy college Mr. Ford was captain of Company B of the college cadets, and at the end of his college course he was awarded first prize for the best workmanship in the pharmacy laboratory. Mr. Ford was graduated with the degree Graduate in Pharmacy from this college in 1906, and then returned to his home town of Delphos and was a pharmacist there until 1912. In that year he was appointed secretary of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. This is one of the independent departments of the state government, reporting directly to the governor. In the past ten years the board has done a great deal of important work in raising the standard of requirements for entrance into the profession of pharmacy, and at the present time these requirements are higher than those found in any other state. While the influence of the board has thus acted as a bar to incompetent membership, it has also safeguarded the welfare of the profession and practice of pharmacy by furthering all legitimate legislation affecting the business. Mr. Ford is associated with all state and national organizations affecting pharmacy. Mr. Ford married Miss Goldy May Friedline of Delphos, on April 30, 1913. He had the misfortune to lose his wife by death on March 3, 1920. She is survived by a son and daughter, Robert Edwin, born September 6, 1915, and Mary Ellen, born February 2, 1920. Mr. Ford is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Methodist Church. ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 22:59:29, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: ALLEN COUNTY - PART 4 HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF OHIO, By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898 THE BLACK SWAMP MUTINY A day of two before the battle of the Thames, Raper's company was told to march up the lake some fifteen miles to prevent the landing of the British from their vessels, and the engagement took place during their absence. This circumstance rendered it necessary for his company, which was now the strongest, to be put in charge of the prisoners taken by Commodore Perry and Gen. Harrison, and march them across the State to the Newport Station in Kentucky. His superior officers having been taken sick, the command devolved upon him. It was a responsible undertaking for so young an officer. The company consisted of 100 soldiers, and the prisoners numbered 400. Their route was through the wilderness of the Black Swamp, which at that season was nearly covered with water. In their march they became bewildered and lost. For three days and nights they wandered about in the swamp without food, and became so scattered, that on the morning of the third day he found himself with a guard of only twelve men, and one hundred prisoners. Seeing their weakness the prisoners mutinied, and refused to march. No time was to be lost; Raper called out his men, commanded them to make ready, which they did by fixing bayonets and cocking their guns. He then gave the prisoners five minutes to decide whether they would obey him or not. At the expiration of the last minute the soldiers were ordered to present arms, take aim, and-but before the word "fire," had escaped his lips, a large Scotch soldier cried "hold," and stepping aside, asked the privilege of saying a word to his companions; it was granted, whereupon he addressed them as follows: "We have been taken in a fair fight, and are prisoners; honorably so, and this conduct is disgraceful to our king's flag, not becoming true soldiers. Now, said he, "I have had no hand in raising this mutiny, and I propose that all who are in favor of behaving themselves as honorable prisoners of war shall rally around me, and we will take the others in hand ourselves, and the American guard shall stand by and see fair play." This speech had the desired effect, the mutiny was brought to an end without bloodshed, and Raper delivered his prisoners at Newport. They had among the prisoners two Indians, whom Raper forced at the point to the sword to lead them out of the swamp. After Raper's arrival in Newport he was offered a commission in the regular army. Such was his love for his mother that he would take no important step without consulting her. The answer was characteristic of the noble mothers of that day. "My son, if my country was still engaged in war and I had fifty sons I would freely give them all to her service, but, as peace is now declared, I think something better awaits my son that the camp-life of a soldier in time of peace." In 1819 Raper became a minister in the Methodist Church, and while travelling in Indiana, upon the first visit to one of his appointments, a fine, large man approached him, called him brother, and said: "I knew you the moment I saw you, but I suppose you have forgotten me. I am the Scotch soldier that made the speech to the prisoners the morning of the mutiny in the Black Swamp. After we were exchanged as prisoners of war, my enlistment terminated. I had been brought to see the justice of the American cause and the greatness of the county, and I resolved to become an American citizen. I came to this State, rented some land, and opened up a farm. I have joined the Methodist Church, and praise God! the best of all is, I have obtained religion! Not among the least of my blessings is a fine wife and noble child. So come, said he, "dinner will be ready by the time we get home." And the two soldiers now as friends and Christians, renewed their acquaintance, and were ever after fast friends. At another time Raper met with a singular accident while riding to one of his appointments. Swimming his horse over a swollen creek, the horse became entangled and sank, but with great effort he managed to catch hold of the limb of a tree overhead, where he was enabled to rest and hold his head above water. While thus suspended, the thought rushed upon him. "Mother is praying for me, and I shall be saved." After resting a moment he made an effort and got to shore, his horse also safely landing. His mother, ninety miles away, that morning awoke suddenly in afright with the thought upon her, "William is in great danger," when she sprang from her bed, and falling on her knees prayed for some time in intense supplication for his safety, until she received a sweet assurance that all was well. When they met and related the facts, and compared the time, they precisely agreed. This hero of the Black Swamp died in 1852, closing a life of great usefulness. Father Finley says of him that he was an eloquent preacher, a sweet, melodious singer, was filled with the spirit of kindness, while his conversational powers were superior, replete with a fund of useful incidents gathered from practical life in camp, pulpit and cabin. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #159 *******************************************