Saint Mary's beacon., 1901-02-28
!. Frank Fora Dsad.


Paradise. A noble, generous. talented
gentlemen has fallen in manhood's hardy
prime, and all over our State there is
sincere sorrow at his loss Friday last,
Mr.. Ford returned home from Annapo-
lis and it is thought that the exposure
of the drive from Mechanicsville brought
on the complications that ended his life.
Saturday he was up and received friends
who called upon him, and, though suf-
fering from cold, no serious trouble
was apprehended. On Sunday he was
taken worse and fingered until Tuesday
at about p M, when he died. There
is no man In st Mary's county but who
at times mas been the recipient OF some
delicate act of kindness at Mr.. Ford's
hands, for he was, in every sense of the
word, "heIpful' man and his courtesy
was unfailing. He was lovable man
and none could know him without feel
inn the charm OF his personality He was
so human He shared his friends SORROWS
and rejoiced in their gladness, and
wfere'er he met stranger, there he left
friend, Tis. sad indeed that be Was
Snatched in his prime, perfect man
Who should have stood unbent meath
four.score years.
Though he is dead, his memory will
long linger with US and the recollection
Of his kindnesses still live on May he
rest in pescel
Mr. Ford was born at Leouardtown.
st Mary's county, on the Sth day of
January. l84G His father was Robert
Ford, Of this county, who was Associate
Judge OF the Seventh Judicial Circuit Of
Maryland from 1868 to 1882 and his
mother was Ellen Baltzell. daughter of
DIR John Baltzeli, of Frederick, Mary
land He was educated at the public
schools of st. Mary's county, and Cal
vert College, New Windsor, Carroll
county, Maryland After leaving col
lege, Mr. Ford taught the pubic school
at Leonardtown for several years, and
read law, but never applied for admis.
sion TO the bar. In January, 1872, he
was appointed Secretary, T. easurer and
Examiner Of public schools in his native
county, which position he retained until
December. 1873, when he became Clerk
Of the Circuit Court for st. Mary's coun
ty, to which Office be had been elected 4
the preceding election in November of
that year He was reelected clerk In
1879, and again 10 1885 In 1891 he was
nominated by the Democratic Party OF
the State for the office OF CLERK OF the
Court OF Appeals Of Maryland, and
elected at the election that year In 1897
he was again nominated by the Demo
cratic State Convention for the po itinn
Of Clerk Of the Court OF Appeals, but WAS
defeated at the election which followed
that year by the Hon Allan Rutherford
Upon the death Of MIR. Rutherford, in
1900, he was appointed to the position
Of Clerk Of the Court Of Appeals by the
judges Of that court, and qualified as
such on the end day of May, 1900, 70 hold
until his successor should haYeheen elect
ed at the general election In 1901 In
January, 1875. he married Miss Ida Man
ning OF ST Mary's county, and has
family Of four children. After his de
feat In 1897 for the Office OF Clerk OF the
Court # Appeals, he entered the firm OF
Dudley & Carpenter, commission mer
chants, in the city Of Baltimore. but had
to abandon the business st the eIpira.
tion of one year, by reason OF ll-health.
Mr. Ford will be buried at MrdleY's
Neck, Thursday morning AT 1880 o'clock.
There will be solemn Requiem Mass
The active pall.bearers will be; Joseph
J Cough, Charles Cough, Daniel Combs,
Roger Combs, Benjamin Combs, VIM
Meverell Loker Honorary pail bearers
James McSherry, Chief Judge OF the
Court Of Appeals, James Alfred PeArce,
David Fowler, A. Hunter BoyG, / Thorn
as Jones, john r. Briscoe, Samuel d.
Schmucker, Associate Judges Court Of
Appeals, and Guy Thompson Wilfred
Bateman, w. T Brantly, Il. V. Clayton.