John rip ford biography

Background Information on John Salmon (Rip) Ford

By: Judy C. Ware

John Salmon Ford was born in South Carolina on May 26,   Growing up on a plantation, he first had aspirations of becoming a doctor.  He studied medicine in Shelbyville, Tennessee, around the age of 16, and was briefly married there to Mary Davis.  The union ended in divorce.  John decided to move to Texas in ; joining the Texas Army in its&#; battle for independence from Mexico.  He served until   John then settled in San Augustine and practiced medicine for eight years.  A man of many talents, he also studied law and passed the bar exam.  In , he was elected to the Texas House, where he introduced the resolution to accept annexation to the United States.  Shortly after John relocated to Austin in , he purchased the local newspaper and changed the name to the Texas Democrat. His passion was public service.

It was during the Mexican War that John got his nickname of &#;Rip.&#;  He served as a regimental adjutant under Jack Hays, and one of his main duties was to report on men killed in action. He completed each report with the words "rest in peace" after his signature.  As the number of fatalities increased he abbreviated the phrase to "R.I.P."  Soon the men were calling him "Old Rip."

In , Ford &#;went to see Governor H. R. Runnels about the Indian menace.  After a lively talk in which they covered the whole area of frontier defense, Ford walked out of the capitol as senior captain of all state troops with orders to get up a company and strike at the Comanche heartland out on the Canadian River.&#;  He obtained a striking reputation as an Indian military experience in this arena enabled him to be a logical choice as a cavalry officer in the Civil War.

John married Addie Smith in Brownsville Presbyterian Church on May 31, (Ref. ) He also commanded an expedition to Brazos Santiago and initiated a trade agreeme

John Salmon Ford, better known as “Rip” Ford, would epitomize the saying “win the battle but lose the war,” as he would command the Confederate forces that won the Battle of Palmito Ranch, the last engagement of the Civil War.

Ford was born on May 26, in Greenville District, South Carolina, and moved to Texas in He served for a time in the Texas Army, and then settled in San Augustine to practice medicine until That year, he was elected to the Texas Congress, where he supported annexation to the United States. In , he moved to Austin, and became a newspaper editor.

Ford served as an adjutant in the Mexican War and was cited for “gallant service.” It was during this time that he would acquire his nickname of “Rip” for sending out official death notices with the citation “Rest in Peace” written at the top.

In , Ford would explore and map the country between El Paso and San Antonio. He would also become a captain in the Texas Rangers and participate in various fights with local Native American tribes. Ford was elected to the Texas Senate in , and in he led state troops against both Native American and Mexican uprisings.

With the growing tension between North and South escalating in , Ford served as a member of the Secession Convention, and after Texas left the Union, he initiated a trade agreement between the Confederacy and Mexico. Ford served as colonel of the 2nd Texas Cavalry based in the Rio Grande district, and was assigned to protect trade routes with Mexico. Between and , he was also commandant of conscripts.

Ford’s greatest military exploit was the Battle of Palmito Ranch on May , , when he defeated attacking Union forces under Colonel Theodore H. Barrett. Barrett had attempted to surprise Confederate forces at Fort Brown, outside Brownsville, but was repulsed by Ford’s daring frontal attack. The battle was considered a Confederate victory, with Union troops retreating and suffering casualties. Ford’s men had an estimated six ki

Description

The Texas of John Salmon Ford's day demanded men of courage and versatility. Ford was such a man. He came to Texas in , quickly became active in Texas affairs, and remained so until his death in During his long life, Ford was a practicing physician, adjutant in Colonel Hays's regiment of Texas Rangers during the Mexican War, newspaper editor, explorer and surveyor, state senator, mayor and city marshal of Austin, Ranger captain and Indian fighter, Mexican revolutionary general, Sunday-school teacher, Confederate colonel, mayor of Brownsville, superintendent of the state Deaf and Dumb School, and a charter member, of the state historical society.

Ford was instrumental in getting Texas into the Union and, fifteen years later, in getting her out. After the Civil War he helped frame the new state constitution and place Texas once again in the roster of states. He defended her frontiers in the west against Comanches and in the south against Mexican raiders. The story of his life is one of service to his state. He loved Texas as only an old "Texian" could and stood ready to serve her in any capacity. Texas called on him to serve primarily as a trouble shooter, and he served well.

Although the hero of several dime novels, "Old Rip" has never before been the subject of a complete biography based on historical research. His colorful and adventurous life reflects the growing pains of Texas during the formative years. Ford's life was never dull; neither is his biography.

Publisher

University of Oklahoma Press

Keywords

Texas, John Salmon Ford

Disciplines

United States History

Recommended Citation

Hughes, W. J. (). Rebellious Ranger; Rip Ford and the Old Southwest.

American soldier and politician

John Salmon Ford (May 26, – November 3, ), better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and the Texas Senate. He was also the mayor of Brownsville and Austin. Ford was a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, a doctor, a lawyer, and a journalist and newspaper owner. He commanded men during the Antelope Hills expedition and later led the Confederate forces in what was arguably the last engagement of the American Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch on May 12–13, It was a Confederate victory