A. P. Ford was born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, October 27, 1845, son of John and Annie (Lund) Ford. John Ford was born in Dundee, Scotland, and was a ship carpenter and sailor by occupation. He came to the United States in his youth and followed ship carpentering in Bangor, Me., and Pictoria, Nova Scotia. He afterward became a sailor on a merchant vessel, trading with different nations. In 1855, he permanently located in New Haven, Conn., and became foreman of the ship yard at that place. He died in 1882. His wife was a native of Prince Edward's Island and was born in 1825. Three of their children are living: Joannah (Mrs. John Kauffman, residing in Chicago, Ill.), Louise (Mrs. George Johnson, residing in Connecticut), and A. P., our subject, who was educated at New Haven, Conn. At the age of fourteen he left the paternal roof and became a sailor boy, and served constantly on the ocean for eleven years, and being steady, energetic and reliable became an able seaman, afterward second lieutenant, and at last first lieutenant. During his many years of service on the ocean he visited all the important seaports of the known world, and nearly every nation; sailed around the globe three times and passed Cape Horn seven times. In 1870 he abandoned the ocean and came to Dyersburg, Tenn., and began buying timber in large quantities and shipping to foreign countries, and is meeting with good success in that occupation. In October, 1878, he married Miss Louella Bradshaw, daughter of James E. and Catherine V. Bradshaw. Mrs. Ford was born in Dyer County July 29, 1859, and is the mother of four children: Annie Catherine, Thomas, Beatrice and Nannie. Mr. Ford is a man of good business qualities, and is much esteemed in the community in which he resides.