By William J. Hughes, W. J. Hughes
The Texas of John Salmon Ford's day demanded males of braveness and flexibility. Ford used to be this type of guy. He got here to Texas in 1836, quick grew to become energetic in Texas affairs, and remained so until eventually his demise in 1897. in the course of his lengthy existence, Ford used to be a training doctor, adjutant in Colonel Hays's regiment of Texas Rangers in the course of the Mexican struggle, newspaper editor, explorer and surveyor, kingdom senator, mayor and town marshal of Austin, Ranger captain and Indian fighter, Mexican innovative normal, Sunday-school instructor, accomplice colonel, mayor of Brownsville, superintendent of the kingdom Deaf and Dumb institution, and a constitution member, of the country old society.Ford was once instrumental in getting Texas into the Union and, fifteen years later, in getting her out. After the Civil warfare he helped body the hot country structure and position Texas once more within the roster of states. He defended her frontiers within the west opposed to Comanches and within the south opposed to Mexican raiders. the tale of his existence is one in every of carrier to his nation. He enjoyed Texas as in simple terms an previous "Texian" may perhaps and stood able to serve her in any capability. Texas referred to as on him to serve basically as a bother shooter, and he served well.Although the hero of numerous dime novels, "Old Rip" hasn't ever sooner than been the topic of a whole biography in keeping with historic examine. His colourful and adventurous existence displays the becoming pains of Texas throughout the adolescence. Ford's existence was once by no means uninteresting; nor is his biography.