Samuel H. Ford, Son of Rev. Thomas H. Ford, was licensed in 1840, passed through the classes in the State University of Missouri, and was ordained in 1843, at Bonne Femme church, in Boone Co., Mo. He became pastor at Jefferson City, Mo., and in two years after of the North church in St. Louis for two years; also at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and the East Baptist church, Louisville, Ky. In 1853 he was associated with Dr. John L. Waller in the editorship of the Western Recorder and Christian Repository. Of the latter he is still the editor. His talented wife has written "Grace Truman," "The Dreamer's Blind Daughter," and other works of great value. At the breaking out of the war, Dr. Ford went to Memphis, where he preached for some time. For two years he was in Mobile as pastor of the St. Francis Street church. At the close of the war he accepted the pastorate of the Central Baptist church of Memphis, where he preached for seven years, till ill health caused him to resign. While in this church he was instrumental in building a capacious and splendid house of worship, upon which $75,000 were expended during his pastorate, and in increasing the membership from 75 to 450. Dr. Ford has received the honorary degree of L.L.D. He preaches without manuscript, is earnest and eloquent, and many hundreds have been converted under his ministry. He is a firm Baptist, and he has had discussions with Alexander Campbell, Bishop Spaulding, of the Catholic church, and Dr. N. L. Rice. Dr. Ford is a Hebrew and Syriac scholar; he is well read in general literature, and is specially familiar with the Romish controversy. In his theology he is a Calvinist. In the past twenty-seven years he has written upon almost every subject bearing on the religious issues of the times. He is now sixty years of age, and is as active, energetic, and laborious as ever. Baptists in all parts of our country and the British provinces, and in the British islands, wish length of years to the learned editor of the Repository, and to his cultured and talented wife.==================== [From The Baptist Encyclopedia, William Cathcart, editor, 1881; reprint, 1988, pp. 404-405. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
SAMUEL HOWARD FORD
Spencer's A History of Kentucky BaptistsSamuel H. Ford was a prominent member of Long Run Association, from 1853 to 1861. If he was not a native of Missouri he was raised up in that State, and there commenced his ministry. About 1851, he located in Paducah as a teacher. He remained there about two years. In 1852, he preached a discourse before West Union Association, on The Past and Future of the Baptists. The sermon was published, and attracted some attention. The next year he moved to Louisville, and became joint editor, with John L. Waller, of the Christian Repository. He soon attracted the attention of the denomination as a brilliant writer, and an eloquent preacher. After the death of Dr. Waller, Mr. Ford became the sole editor of the Christian Repository, except that his brilliant and accomplished wife conducted the family department. The magazine soon became very popular, and so continues to the present time. Mr. Ford also edited the Western Recorder a part of the time that he spent in Kentucky. He was pastor of East church in Louisville, some years, and afterwards, of Long Run and Floyds Fork (now Fisherville), in the east end of Jefferson county.
In the Fall of 1861, Mr. Ford left Louisville privately, and hastened to share his fortune with the Southern Confederacy. He was a member from Kentucky, of the first Confederate States Congress. At the close of his term he went to Memphis, and from there to Mobile, Alabama. At the close of the war, he returned to Memphis. Here he was instrumental in establishing a new church, to which he ministered, in connection with his editorial labors, several years. Subsequently he moved to St. Louis, where he still resides, devoting his time principally to conducting the Christian Repository. Dr. Ford is now (1885) about 65 years of age. He has been conducting his valuable and deservedly popular monthly, about 30 years. He is still robust in health, and apparently able to perform as much mental labor as when he commenced his editorial career.
================== [From J. H. Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, Volume 2, 1886; rpt. 1984, pp. 191-192.]
And:
In the death of Dr. S. H. Ford, which occurred at his home in Missouri on July 5th, there passes one who has held for many years a prominent position in the denomination. He was eighty-seven years old, but was a visitor to the late meeting of the Kentucky General Association at Russellville where his voice was heard several times in the meetings. He was a frequent visitor to this body, having been once a citizen of Louisville and a pastor. For almost half a century he had been the editor of "Ford's Christian Repository," which he but recently gave up. His wife [Sally Rochester Ford], who was visiting at her childhood home at Georgetown, Ky., at the time of his death, is well known as the author of "Grace Trueman" [and Mary Bunyan, the Blind Daughter of John Bunyan].[From The Baptist Argus, July 13, 1905, p. 9; via Baylor U. digitized documents.]
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