[1] Ford was born in Kinsman, Ohio, on February 14, 1822; received a common school education, and became a Farmer by occupation.
He served as chairman of the Town of Nekimi, and held other local offices.
He was elected in 1877 from the 4th Assembly district of Winnebago County (the Towns of Nepeuskun, Nekimi, Poygan, Rushford, Utica, and Wolf River) as a Greenback, with 518 votes to 355 for Democrat E. B. Rounds and 261 for Republican George Slingsby (Republican incumbent Sidney Shufelt was not a candidate for re-election).
He was assigned to the standing committee on federal relations, which he chaired (the Democrats and Republicans were almost tied in the Assembly, and the 13 Greenbacks and 1 socialist had a disproportionate influence as tiebreakers).
[3] He was not a candidate for re-election in 1879, and was succeeded by fellow Greenback David R. Bean.