G. W. (UNCLE WASH) FORD
The Pioneer Magazine
December 1903
One of the earliest
settlers of Collin County is G. W. (Uncle Wash) Ford, who lives about one mile
southeast of Allen. Recently, when the writer called on him, we found him
sitting on the front porch of his modest home, ready to welcome us with simple,
true, genuine hospitality. Though the weight of nearly a century of years rested
upon him and had frosted his hair to snowy whiteness, he stood erect, his eyes
were bright and his mind clear. To watch him move around on his farm, nimble and
quick, proudly pointing out his choicest specimens of Poland Chinas, Durhams,
Barred and White Plymouth Rocks, one readily concludes that "Uncle Wash," as he
is familiarly known, is yet a "young man."
He first greeted the
light of day January 15, 1821, in Missouri. He moved with his parents to
Fayette, Ark., in 837. On November 1st, 1843, he landed on the David O'Brien
place, about three miles northwest of McKinney. He claims to be the first man
married in Collin County. On August 29th, 1844, he was married to Miss Parmelia
Langston, stepdaughter of George McGarrah, who also was one of the pioneers of
Collin County. He lived near old Fort Buckner until 1846, when he headrighted
the land on which he now lives near Allen. Among those who came to Texas with
him he mentioned Bill Rice, who lived east of McKinney, and whose offspring are
many now living. Also George McGarrah, John Graham and Joe Stover. Among his
neighbors (many of them miles away,) he mentioned Hogan Witt, Jacob, Godfrey,
Ben and Pete Baccus, Robert Whisenant, Billy Snyder, Jim, Pete, Dave and Lew
Wetsell; also Mrs. Lucinda Taylor and Mrs. Dr. Howell, whose maiden names were
Wetsell. There was Allen McMillan yet living near Murphy; Andy and Jim Maxwell;
Isaac, Daniel and Shird Hearn, and Esquire Pegue. He referred to Bill Sachse,
the quaint old Dutchman who settled at the present site of Sachse, and though he
came here a poor boy, was one of the wealthiest men of the county when he died.
Bill Snider had built a grist mill near where the Widow Strain now lives. He
first met William Sachse at this mill, where the latter had come to get some
grinding. Mr. Ford also mentioned Pete Fisher, John Simonds, Bill and Gabe
Fitzhugh as "near neighbors."
Mr. Ford was
physically a strong man in his youth. He told how he walked to McKinney from his
present home on Monday morning and made rails during the week for Dan Howell on
the present farm of Widow Buck, southwest of McKinney. He made 4,000 rails for a
horse. He said that in going to the bottoms to make rails several would join
together, take their guns and change bout in standing guard against the Indians.
In those days Indian raids were expected. He recalled to mind the massacre of
the Muncy family near the Howlett [Rowlett] bridge on the Dallas road by the
Indians. Also a man by the name of Jameson was killed. A man by the name of Lee
reported this horrible affair to old Fort Buckner. A party was made up at once,
including Mr. Ford, to go and bury the murdered victims. All the bodies were
found except those of two boys, which were discovered a year afterwards, in
March 1844, in some woods not far away. It is coincidence that while this party
were looking after the victims of this massacre, Grafton Williams and Monroe
McRunnels came along in their wagons, just making their debut into Collin
county, and who settled a few miles southwest of McKinney, where Grafton
Williams just recently died. Mr. Ford told briefly of the murder of Joe Rice, a
son of Bill Rice, by the Indians near old Howlett [Rowlett] church. A party of
deer hunters had gone out, including the subject of this sketch and poor Joe
Rice. The latter had wandered away from his companions, when a small squad of
Indians shot him. His companions made a rush to get to him, but before they
could do so the redskins had killed and scalped him. Mr. Ford, in his
reminiscences, told of ex-Sheriff Reed, Monroe McRunnels and a man by the name
of Holcombe meeting a sad death in Smith County. The memory of the Quantrell
gang came to him and in this connection he told of a lot of these fellows
halting at the home of Lewis McMillan, near Mr. Ford, and ordering their dinner.
Half of them ate heartily while the other half stood guard, and then they
changed. Mr. Ford said that their presence in the community cost him seven head
of sheep, which he "cheerfully" furnished. One of the squad had left a mare with
him in exchange for a fresh horse. This mare was taken from a Kansas stable
during the famous Lawrence raid. She was a good mare which Mr. Ford let Weden
Franklin have in compensation for building a west addition to his present home
nearly forty years ago.
Among the incidents
of the life of our subject, is his trip to California, which was made in 1850.
Mr. Ford, Jack McGarrah, Tom McDonald and Tolly Dunn, joined by about 150 men at
Fort Worth, started on a gold seeking trip to California. They went via El Paso
and were seven months in reaching their destination. They encountered many
privations, at one time doing almost without food six days. A Mexican horse was
killed and eaten on one occasion during threatened starvation. Mr. Ford returned
in 1853 by a steamer sailing from San Francisco. After touching at Acapulco,
Mexico, cholera broke out on the crowded ship. About two hundred died of this
dread disease. When a patient died the corpse was weighted with coal cinders
tied to the feet and the body let down a plank into the ocean, and the weight
would carry the corpse to the bottom, out of the supposed reach of the sharks.
Through fear and trembling Mr. Ford reached Panama, and with others footed it
across the noted isthmus, where he took a ship for New Orleans and thence back
to old Collin, never to leave it except for service in the Confederacy. He was a
member of Capt. Ned Chambers' company in this war. He said Jack McGarrah died at
Sonora, California.
Mrs. Ford died
September 10th, 1855. The children now living are George Ford, who lived with
him; Lorenzo Ford, in Jack County; Mrs. Caroline Green, in Wood County; Mrs.
Mary Warrington, of Guthrie, Okla; Mrs. Harriet Culledge, Carrollton, Dallas
County; Jim Ford, west of McKinney, and Stanley Ford of Dallas, Texas. The
children dead are Sarah Jane Goeman, died July 21st, 881; Joseph Wilbur, died
February 24th, 1872; Ida Thomason, died 1900; Mrs. Irene Chapman, wife of W. W.
Chapman, died June 8th, 1898
Mr. Ford is one of
the pioneer fine hog breeders of Collin county, and, as before stated, takes
much interest in his stock. He is a member of the Baptist church. He is nearing
his 83rd birthday. During these many years he has witnessed the marvelous
changes of the century just passed. The shadows are growing longer. The vale of
the western slope of life is only a little way. The perfumed zephyrs of the
farther shore play among his snowy locks. The glistening dewdrops of eve are at
his feet. O, that youth would bow before the aged in this and every other clime
and cheer the forms of declining pioneers.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"G. W. (Uncle Wash) Ford,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
|
