Francis Cates Ford, M. D. It is now thirty years since Dr. Ford began his practice at Nacogdoches. His career as a member of the Texas Medical profession is even longer, since he earned his degree and began practice in the state in 1873. In his profession he has been known as a man always apace with the progress of his great science, and by post-graduate work and private study, has never suffered severely from competition by younger men. Both his family and his personal record are interesting subjects for biographical mention. Francis Gates Ford was born in Newton county, Texas, September 17, 1849. The forefathers were descended from the Stuarts of Scotland, came over the ocean and founded a home among the American Indians, and as early settlers of South Carolina joined the fighting forces under General Marion, and lent their aid in effecting independence for the colonies. The grandfather of Dr. Ford was John Ford, a South Carolina planter and slave holder, who subsequently moved to Hinds county, Mississippi, where he died. His children were: Joseph and Samuel, who were long identified with the profession of law at Shreveport, Louisiana; Washington, who died in Mississippi; Catherine, who married Mr. Wommack and died at Shreveport; and Sarah, who became the wife of Rev. Thomas Griffin, the latter having been a prominent factor in the separation of the Methodist church into Northern and Southern branches, and was one of the fathers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Rev. David Ford, the father of Dr. Ford, was a Methodist minister, was born in the Marion district of South Carolina in 1806, and came to Texas in the early forties while the Republic was still in existence. He had a liberal education, and it is believed that he was a student at Princeton College, since he met his wife there. Though a regular preacher of the gospel, he devoted himself to farming, and had a household of slaves until the war set them free. Though too old and physically infirm to go to the front, during the war he was quartermaster in his district, and did a fine service in relieving hunger and distress, and in handling the mail as postmaster at Burkville, where he lived. He furnished four sons to the Confederate army, two of them with the First Texas infantry, in the army of Northern Virginia, and two in the First Texas Cavalry. His son, John, in the Virginian army, was captured with twenty-three comrades, while fighting a regiment of Federals, after killing more than two hundred of the enemy, and suffering capture only because ammunition ran out. The bravery and resolution of these Confederates caused their captors to desire their parole, but instead they were sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where John Ford died, and his body was buried there. Rev. David Ford married Miss Maria Van Dyke Hamilton, who died at Nacogdoches in 1897. Rev. David Ford died at Burkville. Texas, in 1874. His children were Thomas W., of Houston; Mrs. Catherine Nation of Newton county. Texas; Mrs. Ellen Gates, died near Shreveport, Louisiana; Addie. who married William Norvel, and died at Burkville; John D., who was the soldier above mentioned; Henry Harrison, who died at Orange; William Hamilton, who died in Beaumont; and Dr. Francis C. Bnrkville was the early home of Dr. Ford, and he received his education both under private instructions and in the public schools. Though a boy just entering his teens, when the war broke out, he was old enough to give much assistance to his father, in the conduct of the quartermaster's business, and in handling the Burkville postoffice. That experience proved valuable to him in later life, as an early training in routine of business. About ]S70 he took up the study of medicine in Mobile, Alabama, where he was graduated in 1873. Returning home, he practiced at Burkville a few years, and then interrupted his practice for another period of study, entering Tulane University at New Orleans, where he was graduated in 1SSO. From that time until 1883, Dr. Ford was located at Jasper, and since then has had his home and his office in Nacogdoches. His professional efficiency has been increased by several courses in postgraduate work at different times, and he has identified himself with professional affairs as a member of the County and State Medical Societies and National Association. Dr. Ford has a noteworthy military record. His experience in that direction began in 1887, when he joined the Nacogdoches company of the Texas National Guards, and finally retired after having served as chief surgeon and medical director. At the outbreak of the Spanish- American War, Dr. Ford was commissioned by President McKinley as brigade surgeon and assigned to the Second Brigade of the First Division of the 7th Army corps. His actual service, however, was as division surgeon of 1st Division, 7th corps, on staff of General J. Warren Keifer's command of General Fitzhugh Lee's corps. He went to Cuba with his command, and aided in establishing Camp Columbia, near Havana, and helped to clean up the capital and make it a sanitary place, after the Spanish troops had left. Dr. Ford left the island in April, 1899, and was discharged by general order of the war department soon after that date. In early years Dr. Ford did considerable service as an active Democrat, representing his home district as delegate to various state conventions. He was a delegate when Governor Ross was nominated, and again in 1890 when Governor Hogg received his first call from the Texas democracy. Outside of his profession, and his careful attention" to the large clientage in and about Nacogdoches, with several other citizens he assisted in constructing the original water works plant at Nacogdoches, now one of the best in the state. Dr. Ford affiliates with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry, with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Woodmen of the World, and his church is the Episcopal. Dr. Ford in May, 1876, at Shreveport, married Miss Fannie Gates, a daughter of Wesley Gates. She died in Burkville in 1879, leaving a son, Francis C., a druggist of Nacogdoches. At Nacogdoches, in June, 1898, Dr. Ford married Miss Jane Thompson, whose father was Judge Thompson, marine judge in New York City. The doctor has no children by his second marriage.