Mary E.and Thomas Duke Ford, M.D.

Thomas Duke Ford, Jr. was born in Mississippi on 1 July 18?8, to Thomas Duke and Jennie Lou Pearson Ford. They had two other children, Loyd Lester and Lillie. Thomas Duke Ford, Sr. was torn in 1861 his birthplace is not known. He is “buried at Canton, Texas. The Ford family came to America from England.

Mary Eva Barnett was “born at Braggadocio, Missouri, on 11 April 1881 to Lou E. Michie and James Lamar Barnett. She is buried at Canton, Texas.

The Ford family was living in Van Zandt Co., near Canton, when T.D., Jr. decided he would like to become a doctor. He entered Baylor Medical School and after graduation he started his practice at Marietta, where Eva and their children had moved while he was attending medical school, probably around 1903-1904, as their fourth child was born in Marietta in 1904.

Their first three children were born in Canton, TX. Dr. Ford also practiced in Almira before he moved his family and his practice to Linden, Tx. He practiced for a brief time at Midland, Anna, and Coahoma in West Texas before he returned to Linden, Tx. where he practiced until his death in 1932. When Dr. Ford first began his practice he went on horseback or by buggy to see his patients. Many times in the middle of the night he would be summoned and his boys would get up to help hitch the buggy or saddle the horse - even when the sleet and snow would be falling. Sometimes Dr. Ford would have to swim Flat Creek to get to the other side so he could help ease the pain of some poor suffering soul. Later in about 1913 Dr. Ford purchased a Model T. Ford and even later a Model A Ford. When the calls came at night Dr. Ford would always depend on one of his sons to drive him to answer the call of a needy patient. Dr. Ford died on 26 Deo. 1932. Sunday mornings meant Sunday School and Church for the 9 children of Mary and T.D. Ford, “we always knew where we were going on Sunday” said Gerald Ford. Mary Eva Ford organized and was the leader of the first Girl’s Auxiliary at the First Baptist Church of Linden in 1931. Her daughter Mary Elizabeth “Dood” was 11 years old and in fifth grade, but Mary Eva continued with the G.A. group long after Dood outgrew the organization and in 1962 Mary Eva was honored in a special ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Linden. She died 22 July 1964.

Dr. and Mrs. Ford’s nine children have all contributed a great deal to the people and their lives in Cass Co. Tx.

(1) Ruth Violet, born 1? Nov 1898 in Canton, Tx. died 10 Sept 1979 in Linden, Tx., married James Sloan Penny on 26 Dec 1921. She was a teacher and housewife. (2) James Harvey, born 12 Dec 1900 in Canton, Tx. died 2 Nov 1891 in Linden, TX., married 1st Mayme Blackwell on 9 Aug 1918 and 2nd Thelma Stephens on 17 Mar 1939. He owned a drug store and in later years an automobile parts store. (3) Gerald Columbus born 8 Oct 1902 in Canton, TX., married Lena Lucile Stanley on 1 April 1932, taught school for 40 years, now living in Linden, Tx.

(4) Ralph Waldo was born 25 Sept 1904 in Marietta, TX., died 11 Sept 1951 in Linden, Tx., married Bennye Henrye Patman on 25 Aug 1925. Ralph was a rural mail carrier and postmaster at Linden.

(5) Tom Butler birth and death dates not known married Jeanette 0’Kelly on 12 Aug 1935. He taught school for about 40 years.

(6) Loyd Winston born 13 July 1909 in Linden died 18 Aug.1929 in Texarkana, Tx. He was attending the College of Marshall when he died at the age of 20.

(7) J.L. was born 8 July 1913 in Linden and died 23 July 1969 in Houston, Tx. He married Mary Lou Davis on 10 Aug 1935. He owned and operated a cleaning plant in Jefferson, Tx.

(8) Jennie Lou was born 7 Feb 1916 in Linden, she married James Connor Henderson in Nov 1934. Mary Elizabeth Dood was born 30 Nov 1919 in Linden and married 14 Oct 1937 to Milton Thomas O’Rear, they are living in Linden, Texas, where Dood retired after many years of teaching school.

—By Gerald Ford and Mary Elizabeth “Dood” Ford O’Rear A SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL OF OUR READERS If you are having trouble with your Genealogy or just want to know who your Great Grandfather was and what he did The Cass County Genealogical Society might be able to answer your questions.

C. C. G. S. P. O. Box 880 Atlanta, Texas 75551 E-mail us at evanjevans@yahoo.com Call us at (903) 796-3081

Or just visit us in the Family History and Genealogy Section on the Second Floor of the Atlanta Public Library.