Ohio Governor. Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, he moved to Burton, Ohio in 1807 with his family when he was a child. He returned to Connecticut and graduated from Yale University in 1825. Ford studied law under Peter Hitchcock and was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1827. He commenced to practice as an attorney in Geauga County. He was also involved in military affairs and became Major General of the Ohio Militia. Ford was elected as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and served from 1835 to 1839. He became a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1841 to 1848 and helped to repeal the Ohio Loan Law of 1837. A member of the Whig Party, he became a candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1848 and campaigned against slavery and for the repeal of the Black Laws. The results of the election were the closest in the history of the state and had to be decided by the Ohio Legislature. After a delay of six weeks, Ford became Ohio's 20th Governor and served until 1851. He was successful in the repeal of the Black Laws and also dealt with issues involving a severe cholera epidemic in Columbus, Ohio in 1850. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1851 and returned to his home in Burton. Less than a week later, he was paralyzed from a stroke and was isolated to his residence until his death in 1855 when he was 53 years old.
Ohio Governor. Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, he moved to Burton, Ohio in 1807 with his family when he was a child. He returned to Connecticut and graduated from Yale University in 1825. Ford studied law under Peter Hitchcock and was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1827. He commenced to practice as an attorney in Geauga County. He was also involved in military affairs and became Major General of the Ohio Militia. Ford was elected as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and served from 1835 to 1839. He became a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1841 to 1848 and helped to repeal the Ohio Loan Law of 1837. A member of the Whig Party, he became a candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1848 and campaigned against slavery and for the repeal of the Black Laws. The results of the election were the closest in the history of the state and had to be decided by the Ohio Legislature. After a delay of six weeks, Ford became Ohio's 20th Governor and served until 1851. He was successful in the repeal of the Black Laws and also dealt with issues involving a severe cholera epidemic in Columbus, Ohio in 1850. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1851 and returned to his home in Burton. Less than a week later, he was paralyzed from a stroke and was isolated to his residence until his death in 1855 when he was 53 years old.
Bio by: K Guy
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