Nathaniel Ford
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Ford was an American
politician and Oregon
pioneer during the time of the Oregon Territory
. A native of Missouri
, he worked as a sheriff in that state before moving to the Oregon Country
where he was selected as judge in the Provisional Government of Oregon
and served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
. Ford also lost a civil case that freed his slaves that he had brought across the Oregon Trail
from Missouri
.
Holmes family as slaves as slavery was still legal in that state at the time.
politician John Minto
, however Ford was in charge of a different company. On this journey across the west Ford brought with him three slaves to help him build the family farm.
Once in Oregon, Ford began farming in Polk County
, five miles (8 km) from a place called Nesmith's Mills
. Later he served as the first postmaster at Rickreall
.
freed the family, but never mentioned slavery in his decision.
time in the Oregon Country, Ford was selected by the Provisional Legislature
to be the Supreme Judge of Oregon in 1845, but Ford declined to serve. Years later in 1856 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature to represent Polk and Tillamook Counties. The following two years he was again elected, but representing other counties in addition to Polk County. During this time he served in the upper chamber, called the Council, as a Democrat. 1858 was the last year of the Territorial Legislature, and Ford’s last term as the following year Oregon became a state and the Council became the Oregon Senate
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
pioneer during the time of the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
. A native of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, he worked as a sheriff in that state before moving to the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
where he was selected as judge in the Provisional Government of Oregon
Provisional Government of Oregon
The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It existed from May 2, 1843 until March 3, 1849. Created at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region, this independent government...
and served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
. Ford also lost a civil case that freed his slaves that he had brought across the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Early life
Nathaniel “Nat” Ford grew up in the state of Missouri. Born around 1795, Ford worked in Missouri at a number of different occupations. He was a county sheriff, school teacher, surveyor, and a flatboatman. As sheriff of Howard County in Missouri, Ford acquired the blackBlack people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
Holmes family as slaves as slavery was still legal in that state at the time.
Oregon
Colonel Ford arrived in Oregon in 1844 from Missouri on the Oregon Trail. In his wagon train he was called Colonel Ford as he was the second in command of the large group of pioneers. Part of this same party included fellow future Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
politician John Minto
John Minto (Oregon pioneer)
-External links:* from salemhistory.net...
, however Ford was in charge of a different company. On this journey across the west Ford brought with him three slaves to help him build the family farm.
Once in Oregon, Ford began farming in Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
, five miles (8 km) from a place called Nesmith's Mills
Ellendale, Oregon
Ellendale is a ghost town in Polk County, Oregon, United States, about two and a half miles west of Dallas. It was the first White settlement in present-day Polk County. The community's name changed over the years, with the first post office in Polk County being opened in this locality as "O'Neils...
. Later he served as the first postmaster at Rickreall
Rickreall, Oregon
Rickreall is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Rickreall as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the...
.
Slavery
In 1844, before leaving Missouri, Ford promised his slaves Polly and Robin Holmes that he would free them after reaching Oregon and establishing a farm. However, Ford did not keep this promise and only years later did he agree to free any of the family. Finally, in 1852, Robin Holmes sued Ford in civil court to free his family, as slavery was illegal in the territory. Eleven months later the new chief justice of the supreme court arrived and the case was heard July 13, 1854. Judge WilliamsGeorge Henry Williams
George Henry Williams was an American judge and politician. He served as Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, was the 32nd Attorney General of the United States, and served one term in the United States Senate...
freed the family, but never mentioned slavery in his decision.
Politics
During the provisional governmentProvisional Government of Oregon
The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It existed from May 2, 1843 until March 3, 1849. Created at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region, this independent government...
time in the Oregon Country, Ford was selected by the Provisional Legislature
Provisional Legislature of Oregon
The Provisional Legislature of Oregon was the single-chamber legislative body of the Provisional Government of Oregon. It served the Oregon Country of the Pacific Northwest of North America from 1843 until early 1849 at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region...
to be the Supreme Judge of Oregon in 1845, but Ford declined to serve. Years later in 1856 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature to represent Polk and Tillamook Counties. The following two years he was again elected, but representing other counties in addition to Polk County. During this time he served in the upper chamber, called the Council, as a Democrat. 1858 was the last year of the Territorial Legislature, and Ford’s last term as the following year Oregon became a state and the Council became the Oregon Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
.
Family
Ford's wife Lucinda and the rest of the family were members of the Rickreall church in Polk County. This family included a daughter named Lucinda. Nathaniel died in Dixie (aka Rickreall) in Polk County at the age of 75 years old on January 9, 1870, with his wife dying a few years later on January 4, 1874. The family is buried along with other pioneer families at Burch Pioneer Cemetery in Polk County.External links
- Rickreall pioneer known for slave lawsuit Statesman JournalStatesman JournalThe Statesman Journal is the major daily newspaper published in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1851, the Oregon Statesman later merged with the Capital Journal to form the current newspaper, the second-oldest in Oregon. The Statesman Journal is distributed in Salem, Keizer, and much of...
article from June 1, 2004