August 20, 1903. 
 
 or i.o tell the grief of those who knew him 
 death. The fi""* v 
 
 
 
 
 University of California Berkeley 
 
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 \ 
 
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( 
 
ROCHESTER FORD 
 
 THE STORY OF A SUCCESSFUL 
 CHRISTIAN LAWYER. 
 
 FATHER AND MOTHER, 
 
 S. H. FORD, 
 SALLIE ROCHESTER FORD, 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his wayt by taking 
 heed thereto according to Thy word." Psalm 119: 9. 
 
 ' Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." 
 Rom. 12: 11. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY M. P. MOODY, 
 
 OP THE 
 
 AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 
 ST. LOUIS, 
 
 1904. 
 
NIXON-JONES PTQ. CO., 215 PINE ST., ST. LOUIS. 
 
TO YOUNG MEN 
 
 Entering on the activities and responsi- 
 bilities of life, with the earnest hope that 
 they may be helped by the example of him 
 whose life is herein recorded, this volume 
 is most affectionately inscribed. 
 
 THE AUTHOKS. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 I. Birth and Early Childhood . 1 
 
 II. Removal to Memphis, Tenn. 7 
 
 III. Baptism and Church Life. . 10 
 
 IV. Life and Education in St. 
 
 Louis 16 
 
 V. Entering on the Practice of 
 
 Law 27 
 
 VI. Encouraging Success . . 34 
 
 VII. His Professorship .... 40 
 VIII. His Connection with Missouri 
 
 Sanitarium 42 
 
 IX. Sudden Prostration with La 
 
 Grippe 46 
 
 X. Life in Exile 50 
 
 XI. Surmounting Difficulties . . 57 
 XII. His Political Position in Tuc- 
 son, Arizona Territory . . 61 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Life in Tucson .... 68 
 Characteristics .... 75 
 Eochester Ford as a Speaker 85 
 Rochester Ford as a Writer 96 
 Serious Monitions . . 110 
 His Last Trip to Wash- 
 ington City .... 113 
 Extracts from Letters of 
 
 1902 116 
 
 Summer Visit Home and 
 
 Return to Tucson. . . 124 
 His Mother's Visit to Him 132 
 His Last Return to St. 
 
 Louis 137 
 
 Memorial Services . . 146 
 Some Testimonials from 
 
 the Many Received . 159 
 Some Extracts from the 
 
 Press 247 
 
 Hon. Rochester Ford, by 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Dodge. 
 
 Lines by Mrs. M. J. 
 
 Clemson . 264 
 
CONTENTS. vii 
 
 Page. 
 
 XXVII. Letter of Dr. Howard 
 
 Osgood, D.D. Letters 
 
 of President H. G. 
 
 Weston, D.D., LL.D. 267 
 
 XXVIII. Concerning Them Who 
 
 Are Asleep in Jesus . 275 
 XXIX. Heaven "My Father's 
 House " Many Man- 
 sions. . 288 
 
The Story of a Successful Christian 
 Lawyer. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BIRTH EARLY CHILDHOOD. 
 
 u Not slothful in business, fervent in 
 spirit, serving the Lord." 
 
 u Whosoever liveth and believeth in 
 me shall never die," said the Lord of the 
 living and the dead. 
 
 " The life I now live I live by faith in 
 the son of God," wrote the celestial hero 
 Paul. 
 
 A LIFE LIVED in the strength of faith, 
 in the light of love, in concentrated 
 thought in lofty aim and noble purpose 
 with a heart to sympathize a hand 
 to do and a voice to utter kind and help- 
 ful words a life thus led, though brief, 
 lives on in time and eternity. 
 
 (i) 
 
2 ROCHESTER PORD. 
 
 "Man lives in deeds, not years, in 
 thoughts, not hreaths, and he most lives 
 who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts 
 the best." We read of the first man 
 who died, " He being dead yet speaketh," 
 and in a degree beyond human realiza- 
 tion or thought, the character the deeds, 
 the words of those who lived for God and 
 their fellow-men, live on, and influence 
 men and glorify God through all time. 
 The burning and glorious light though 
 shaded in some measure by death, unrec- 
 ognized, it may be, still burns and shines, 
 and when it can be unobtrusively done, the 
 shade should be lifted that the light may 
 still be seen the life still live and the 
 dead yet speak in silent, impressive elo- 
 quence. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth of June, eighteen 
 hundred and fifty-seven, the writer was 
 expected to fill an appointment at the 
 commencement exercises of Georgetown 
 College, Kentucky, a hundred miles dis- 
 tant from Louisville, his home. He kept 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 3 
 
 his engagement, and, not waiting for the 
 closing scenes, returned at once. It was 
 to find a sweet, black-haired, bright-eyed 
 baby boy nestling in his smiling mother's 
 arms with aunts and dear friends many, 
 gladdened by the presence of the heav- 
 enly visitor whom God had sent us. We 
 gratefully recognized the gift as from our 
 Father and dedicated the boy to the 
 blessed Giver. 
 
 We called him " Rochester," thus link- 
 ing him not only with his mother's name 
 but also with her Rochester relatives in 
 Rochester City, New York, as well as 
 with her immediate family in Ken- 
 tucky. 
 
 There was joy in the home. A new 
 light had dawned on us, a new life had 
 become one with ours, an immortal 
 spirit in mortal vestment. A mind with 
 all its measureless powers, a man in in- 
 fant form had been intrusted to our care 
 to be taught, trained, furnished and fitted 
 for life's duties and heaven's glories. 
 
4: ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 What a sublime responsibility ! How it 
 chastened our souls. 
 
 Weeks passed. The smile of heaven 
 heightened the joys which awoke with 
 new beauties as the bright beaming eyes 
 noticed and recognized and the cherub 
 lips smiled and the tiny hands clasped. 
 
 At midnight, after hours of literary 
 labor, the father entered the room of 
 mother and babe. The little one lay in a 
 crib beside the mother's bed sleeping 
 'neath the care of his guardian angel. 
 What a beautiful picture ! The father 
 knelt and in tearful earnestness, with 
 faith in the promises of God and with 
 heartfelt holy vow gave that baby boy to 
 the Lord, beseeching that from childhood 
 the Holy Spirit might lead him, and that 
 early in life he might be " born again to 
 a living hope " made a chosen vessel 
 a servant of the Highest, a blessing to 
 the home, to the cause of Christ to the 
 world. That midnight prayer was heard, 
 was answered. Our God be praised. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 5 
 
 He was the charm of the household. 
 He added to great sprightliness a genial, 
 winsome way that won entrance to all 
 hearts. He was a regular boy self- 
 reliant, self-respecting, fond of sport, 
 courageous, with a certain degree of 
 resentment that did not allow any impo- 
 sition upon his supposed rights. He 
 early manifested a decided taste for 
 books, loving to handle them and study 
 the pictures even when they were upside 
 down. He cared but little for toys priz- 
 ing only his alphabetical blocks and 
 hobby-horse. He learned his letters no 
 one knew how, for his parents were averse 
 to taxing the active mind that moved a 
 not very strong body. 
 
 As soon as he could walk the distance 
 to church there were no street cars in 
 Louisville at that time he would accom- 
 pany his mother and, seated beside her, 
 would listen with the utmost gravity to his 
 father's sermon, receiving impressions no 
 doubt that influenced his after life. 
 
6 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 The congregation all loved the pastor's 
 u little Rochester " and he loved them, 
 learning as the years passed by, their faces 
 and names, and always greeting each one 
 with a trustful smile, for he believed them 
 all to be brothers and sisters of his father 
 and mother. 
 
 At the age of five years he was 
 taken by his parents to Mobile, from 
 thence into Georgia, where the effects of 
 the extreme winter climate were greatly 
 counteracted and he grew perceptibly 
 stronger. Returning to Mobile, he 
 entered a private school taught by the 
 Misses Moss. At this period he could 
 read quite well, having in a great meas- 
 ure taught himself. But he did not like 
 "Miss Maria Moss," and, coming home 
 one day quite excited, he declared she 
 " had insulted him and he would not go 
 back to school any more." Nor did he. 
 It seemed wiser under the circumstances, 
 as his physician did not approve of con- 
 finement for him, to keep him at home 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 7 
 
 and let him play in the park with his sister 
 Fanny and little baby brother Noble with 
 their nurses " Aunt Lizzie " and " Wil- 
 liam." Here his attendance at the Sun- 
 day-School of the Saint Francis Street 
 Baptist Church was regular, and it could 
 be seen his young mind and heart were 
 deeply impressed with the truths of the 
 Word. He was unusually attached to 
 his home and consequently did not min- 
 gle promiscuously with the boys of his 
 age. He loved the family servants and 
 they regarded him with an interest tender 
 and respectful, and so " little Mars'. 
 Rochester 7 ' was, as he had ever been, the 
 pet of the home. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 REMOVAL TO MEMPHIS, TENN. 
 
 The physicians of Mobile who were 
 called upon to attend him in the attacks 
 to which children are subject, all ad- 
 vised his removal to a more northern 
 
8 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 climate, and in the spring of 1865 the 
 family sought a home in Memphis, Tenn. 
 Rochester was not desirous for the 
 change. He loved the beautiful South 
 with its grand magnolias, its fruitful 
 orange and lemon trees, its varied wealth 
 of flowers, but above all the wide spread- 
 ing leafy-bonghed live oaks that lined 
 Dauphin Way. What glorious sport to 
 watch the little boats of the oyster gath- 
 erers as they came gliding up the bay, 
 like so many white swans on dress parade. 
 And then the excursions down the bay 
 to Fort Morgan gave him such a bound- 
 less aqueous outlook, his heart throbbed 
 to be a sailor. But the most delightful 
 of all pictures was a ride down the Shell 
 Road to the magnolia forests whose tall 
 trees filled with thousands of pearly blos- 
 soms seemed to reach the sky and bom- 
 bard it with their profuse fragrance . And 
 then to say good-bye to " Aunt Lizzie " 
 and " Willie," for they could no longer 
 be of the family, gave him heartfelt sor- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYEK. 
 
 row. All these things were developing 
 a manly, resolute character, and giving 
 to his intellectual nature a marked im- 
 petus. He was losing the boy in the 
 coming man. 
 
 The trip through the chain of lakes 
 from Mobile to New Orleans, his stay in 
 that beautiful city with its multitudinous 
 gardens of spring roses and violets, its 
 unique cemeteries with the dead lying in 
 long white walls, its sailing vessels which 
 bore him across billowy Ponchartrain, 
 giving him the only opportunity of his 
 life to see the great red orb of the even- 
 ing sun suddenly dip from sight as if to 
 quench its glowing fire in the clear cool 
 water of the lake then the old French 
 market now in hopeless desuetude, then 
 in its glory, the ancient Cathedral and 
 Jackson Square, with lovely drives here 
 and there, filled him with wonder and 
 delight and gave to his young mind much 
 food for reflection. 
 
 The sail up the Mississippi, which he 
 
10 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 now saw for the first time, in the "Re- 
 public," the landing at Memphis, the 
 meeting with friends who had visited 
 his parents during their residence in 
 Mobile, and all the varied incidents of the 
 new home which promised to be a perma- 
 nent one, awoke in him a new train of 
 thought which manifested itself in various 
 inquiries and avowal of intention to do 
 something in the world. This purpose 
 was assiduously cherished by his parents, 
 who fully recognized his ability and 
 nobility of character. 
 
 The first three years in Memphis were 
 spent in school and in such employments 
 and enjoyments as usually engage boys 
 of his age. He regularly attended Sun- 
 day-school and worship and was a close 
 student and constant reader. 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 CONVERSION BAPTISM CHURCH-LIFE . 
 
 His father took charge of the Cen- 
 tral Baptist Church, then worshiping in 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER, 11 
 
 " The Tabernacle " a huge structure built 
 of unplaned planks and covered in with 
 unseasoned shingles which permitted the 
 rain to come down on the congregation 
 whenever it chose so to do. These were 
 the days of reconstruction, and the South- 
 ern people with fathers and sons just 
 come from the war wisely adapted them- 
 selves to the circumstances and went 
 forward in the worship of God, not 
 waiting to erect a handsome building, 
 but laboring for the highest good 
 of their families. The congregations 
 were always large in " The Old Tab- 
 ernacle " and composed of the best social 
 elements in the city. Revivals were 
 frequent, and a general glow of fervor 
 marked the church. Rochester, now 
 twelve years old, was a constant and in- 
 terested attendant. He became deeply 
 impressed. He was specially affected 
 and convinced by the gospel truth which 
 had been thus quaintly expressed to him : 
 Religion has two halves the one is, I am 
 
12 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 a great sinner, the other, Christ Jesus is 
 a great savior. Prayer was earnestly and 
 believingly made for him in the family and 
 also in the congregation. He confessed 
 faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He came 
 before the church, a candidate for baptism 
 and church membership. 
 
 Here was a weighty yet blessed respon- 
 sibility to be met. Was it the influence 
 of others who were uniting with the 
 church? Was it a love for his family and 
 a desire to be like them and with them? 
 He had lost a younger sister, little Fanny, 
 whom he had loved intensely, and then an 
 infant brother, Noble Bruce. May not 
 these strange, sad providences, without a 
 saving knowledge of Christ, be moving 
 him? How we feared a mistake might be 
 made, lest he be received into the church 
 unconverted. The deacons of the church, 
 godly men, each talked with the child. 
 They felt he gave satisfactory evidence 
 of having passed from death unto life. 
 But the mother hesitated. She could 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 13 
 
 not have her boy self-deceived. There 
 was a Presbyterian minister noted for 
 his unfeigned piety and daily walk with 
 the Lord. This brother, who had been 
 converted at twelve years of age, was 
 asked to converse with Rochester. He 
 did so very fully, and testified to the 
 child's heart knowledge of the way of 
 salvation and to his trust in the merits 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ and in nothing 
 else. 
 
 Rochester came forward at a Wednes- 
 day night meeting, when the usual invi- 
 tation was given, together with several 
 older persons. The father asked three of 
 the elderly deacons to take his boy aside 
 and hear his experience and report to the 
 church. This they did. They testified 
 he had given blessed evidence of the new 
 birth. 
 
 According to the Southern custom the 
 hand of welcome by each of the mem- 
 bers was given him. 
 
 Oh, what a moment of grateful joy was 
 
14 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 that to his parents ; and also to one who 
 had watched over him with, we might 
 say, angelic devotion his " Aunt Sue," 
 long since gone to her reward. That 
 welcome and the following baptismal 
 scene are a fadeless memory pointing ever 
 to the greeting and glory of the resurrec- 
 tion morning. 
 
 And now, young as he was, his devoted 
 life-service commenced. He at once 
 joined with other youths, all considera- 
 bly older than himself, in organizing a 
 u young men's prayer-meeting." It was 
 arranged to distribute tracts and to invite 
 the unconverted to the prayer-meeting. 
 Their efforts were greatly blest to them- 
 selves and to others. His interest and 
 constant activities were recognized by 
 the church, and when but thirteen years 
 of age he was sent with the messengers 
 as a representative to the West Tennes- 
 see Baptist Convention at Brownsville. 
 He showed an intense interest in all its 
 proceedings, surprising in one so young. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 15 
 
 This interest in the cause of Christ con- 
 tinued to grow through every year of the 
 thirty-three of his subsequent life. His 
 education was liberal. He had never to 
 be urged to study, but frequently had to 
 be warned against too great eagerness in 
 pursuit of knowledge, as from his birth 
 he was never robust. 
 
 When about thirteen years old he was 
 taken from the High School in Memphis, 
 Tenn., and entered in a class of Jewish 
 boys taught by a learned Rabbi. In an 
 unprecedently short time he had made 
 remarkable progress in Hebrew and then 
 in the Syriac. The object of this course 
 was to fit him for a profession of Semitic 
 languages if he should feel inclined to fill 
 such position. 
 
 On a visit with his father to a neigh- 
 boring city the pastor of the church, 
 Dr. M., who had considerable knowl- 
 edge of Hebrew, having heard of Roches- 
 ter's proficiency in that language asked 
 him to read one of the Psalms in Hebrew. 
 
16 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 He read it without a pause. " Now,'' said 
 the doctor, " translate it." " Oh, I am not 
 sure I can do that." "Try," said the 
 doctor encouragingly. He did and gave 
 a very fair rendering. " Few professors 
 could do that as well," exclaimed Dr. 
 M. ; and this story the doctor told up to 
 his death. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 LIFE AND EDUCATION IN ST. LOUIS. 
 
 His removal to St. Louis when about 
 fifteen, his course through the High 
 School and Washington University, must 
 be passed over briefly. Always a fine 
 student he stood with the first, often the 
 first in his classes, graduating from both 
 institutions with honor. 
 
 In 1878, when about twenty years of 
 age, he voluntarily took down in short- 
 hand, a full report of the proceedings of 
 the Southern Baptist Convention, held in 
 Marshall, Texas, for the St. Louis dailies, 
 
ROCHESTER FORD (AGBD 19). 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 17 
 
 which was copied in most of the denomi- 
 national journals, and when but twenty- 
 six, he was unexpectedly elected assistant 
 moderator of the Missouri Baptist Gen- 
 eral Association by unanimous vote of 
 that body, presiding during much of the 
 session. 
 
 During his senior year in the Univer- 
 sity an incident occurred that told 
 markedly on his after life. It had been 
 announced that a centennial historic dis- 
 course would be delivered at the Second 
 Baptist church on Sunday. This was 
 during the Centennial Year of Baptist 
 missions. The announcement attracted 
 attention and the Globe-Democrat, the 
 leading city daily, sent a special stenogra- 
 pher to report the discourse. After the 
 dismissal the stenographer introduced 
 himself to the speaker that he might get 
 some names and dates exact. The gen- 
 tlemanly young man was invited to dinner, 
 he accepted. Here he and Rochester 
 kindred souls who seemed to know each 
 
18 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 other, at once formed a life-long friend- 
 ship. Rochester at once began to study 
 shorthand, at that time known and prac- 
 ticed by but few. He was soon able to 
 accompany his friend and aid him in 
 taking down public addresses. So dili- 
 gent and accurate were his study and 
 practice he soon equaled and then sur- 
 passed the city and legal reporters. 
 
 The result was (wholly unexpected to 
 his parents) the city editor came to the 
 house to solicit him to take a position on 
 the Globe-Democrat with a salary of 
 eighty dollars per month. 
 
 James Boyle, Rochester's reporter 
 friend, soon after became assistant editor 
 of the Cincinnati Commercial, then 
 private secretary to Maj. McKinley, who, 
 on becoming President, appointed him 
 consul to Liverpool about the most 
 lucrative and responsible office in his gift, 
 and he holds that position still. Amid 
 all his busy cares he paused to write the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 19 
 
 following tribute of friendship and re- 
 spect : 
 
 Consulate 
 
 United States of America, 
 Liverpool. 
 
 6th Oct., 1903. 
 MY DEAR DOCTOR AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 The news of the death of your son 
 Rochester has made me very sad. He 
 and I were friends when we were young 
 men, both full of strength, vigor and en- 
 thusiasm. I grew to love him. He had 
 a lovable nature very gentle and con- 
 siderate. I also grew to respect him, for 
 I learned to appreciate that, combined 
 with his amiable, generous attributes, he 
 had a strong manly nature, the foundation 
 of which was religious conscientiousness. 
 Our ways in life separated ; years elapsed 
 before we saw each other again ; that was 
 long ago ; then we saw each other no 
 more. But I cherish the belief that my 
 
20 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 dear "big brother," as I affectionately 
 called him, thought occasionally of me, 
 so far away. I know I did of him. And 
 now he has gone out of our lives forever. 
 My heart is full of tenderness in thinking 
 of him, and his memory is to me a bene- 
 diction. To you, his parents who are, 
 I know, grateful and proud in having had 
 such a son 1 send my profound and 
 heartfelt sympathies. 
 
 With sincere respect and esteem, my 
 dear Doctor and Mrs. Ford, I am 
 
 Yours faithfully. 
 
 JAMES BOYLE. 
 
 Rochester did not long remain in posi- 
 tion on the Q-lole- Democrat, It was in 
 many ways unpleasant to him, especially 
 the night work, so different from his 
 former regular habits. But he met the 
 tasks without a murmur. Cigars of the 
 finest make, drinks of the best quality 
 were constantly offered him by his friends. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 21 
 
 He would promptly decline with, "Thank 
 you, I never smoke," or, "I never 
 drink." Nor did a taste of liquor or a 
 glass of beer pass his lips amid constant 
 temptation. And never when it was 
 possible for him to attend a prayer- 
 meeting or a Sunday service was he 
 absent from his seat in the house of God. 
 
 His membership was in the Third Bap- 
 tist church, and of his devotion and dis- 
 charge of duty amid his onerous work, 
 Dr. George Lofton, then pastor of the 
 church, on hearing of his passing away, 
 wrote : 
 
 " The notice of Rochester Ford's death 
 brings profound sorrow to my heart as I 
 remember him in his youth and have 
 known something of his manhood years. 
 Trained up in the way he should go, 
 early professing the religion of Jesus 
 Christ, combining brilliant talents with 
 the highest culture, nothing could have 
 robbed him of eminent success in his pro- 
 fession, nor of extended influence for 
 
22 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 good, but premature affliction and an 
 untimely grave. From the start he gave 
 great promise of high place in his calling 
 and of usefulness in the church of God ; 
 and all who knew him and took interest 
 in his future, will greatly grieve over the 
 fate that cut him off from his hopes and 
 deprived the world of his service. 
 
 " But the will of God be done. We do 
 not understand the mysteries of that 
 providence which so often subserves its 
 purpose in the young life and the short 
 career. Rochester Ford nobly fulfilled 
 the divine purpose which gave him birth 
 and took him away ; and though com- 
 paratively young he leaves behind him 
 the rich inheritance of a splendid charac- 
 ter and of a well-ended, though hardly 
 begun, life. 
 
 ' ' To the aged Father andMother and to 
 the younger brother and sister, I extend 
 my tenderest love and sympathy in this 
 dark hour of bereavement ; and likewise 
 to the old church of which he was a mem- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 23 
 
 her and in which I was once his pastor, 
 I breathe my condolence. Parent and 
 church have done well in helping to 
 mould a character which honored the day 
 and the world in which he lived and 
 which adds another trophy to the grace 
 of Christ and the glory of heaven. 
 
 "Peace to his ashes and all honor to his 
 memory. 
 
 " Fraternally yours, 
 GEO. A. LOFTON, 
 Nashville, Tenn." 
 
 As has been said the work on the paper 
 proved very wearing. It was not long, 
 however, before he was sought out by Col. 
 Schaurte, superintendent of the United 
 States Secret Postal Service, and ten- 
 dered by him the position of confiden- 
 tial secretary at a salary of $100 a 
 month which as soon as the law would 
 allow was increased to the maximum of 
 $125. This change was a great blessing 
 
24: ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 to him and to his family. His ardent 
 love of home, his habit of reading, his 
 enjoyment of church services, could now 
 be gratified and a hundred dollars a month 
 at least could be placed in the savings 
 bank. 
 
 The family could gratefully say in its 
 worship : 
 
 11 In each event of life how clear 
 
 Thy ruling hand I see, 
 Each blessing to my soul more dear 
 
 Because conferred by Thee.*' 
 
 He had left Washington University 
 in the middle of his senior year to accept 
 the position on the Globe-Democrat. A 
 year had now passed, he was in a good 
 position and saving money. But his 
 cherished purpose and the strong desire 
 of his parents determined him to give up 
 his secretaryship with all of its prospects 
 and re-enter the senior class and graduate. 
 "An empty honor, " said many of his 
 friends. " No/' he replied, "but some- 
 thing to look back upon through life and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYEK. 25 
 
 a proof of purpose and perseverance." 
 He passed examination and graduated 
 with honor. 
 
 " What course shall I now pursue? ' : 
 was the important question with him. 
 He did not wish to make a mistake in 
 selecting his life work. 
 
 He was an expert stenographer, more 
 rapid and accurate than any in the city. 
 Should he make that his profession? For 
 the present it seemed for the best. But 
 no, he looked beyond that. "You know 
 Rochester's ability and attainments," the 
 mother said to the president, Dr. Elliott. 
 " He must now select his future course. 
 What would you advise?" "Let him 
 study law," was his reply. "He will 
 make a success in that line." He resolved 
 to follow Dr. Elliott's wise advice and 
 entered the Law School of Washington 
 University at once. That year he paid 
 his own tuition, clothed himself, and 
 made and saved five hundred dollars by 
 his shorthand reporting. Above this he 
 
26 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 passed the examination with first honors 
 and during that whole year missed but 
 few services in his church, taught in 
 Sunday-school and took part in the 
 prayer meetings. Busy redeeming the 
 time, with no idea of companionship, 
 doing with all his might what his hands 
 found to do. 
 
 He was calm, unobtrusive, reticent, 
 with a kind word for all, a cheerful read- 
 iness to help those in need ; his motto : 
 " Wherewith shall a young man cleanse 
 his way? By taking heed thereunto ac- 
 cording to thy word." 
 
 The second year of his law studies was 
 passed with similar results as the first. 
 He graduated with the honors of his 
 class. It is said he was the only student 
 ever connected with the Law School that 
 bore away the honors of both junior and 
 senior years. He now begun the regular 
 purchase of the best authors that resulted 
 in a fine library. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 27 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 WINTERING ON PRACTICE OF LAW. 
 
 And now commenced his profession of 
 law. The prospect was by no means in- 
 viting. But full of hope and energy he 
 took small cases before justices of the 
 peace. He called them " mother's 
 widow's cases," as several of them were 
 widows too poor to employ a lawyer, whom 
 his mother wished to see dealt justly by 
 and so brought them to him. And he 
 always gained his suit. 
 
 To encourage him and relieve the 
 monotony of the long summer days, his 
 mother wrote and sent to his office in St. 
 Louis these lines, which were found care- 
 fully put away with every leaf and flower 
 she had mailed him during his twelve 
 years' stay in Tucson : 
 
28 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 GREETING TO ROCHESTER. 
 
 Two decades and a half have gone 
 
 Since first with being full and free 
 Thou earnest on that summer morn 
 
 A gift of love, of joy, to me. 
 And who can paint the rapturous bliss 
 
 Tny presence woke within my soul, 
 Or tell the wealth of that blest kiss 
 
 When I thy form didst first enfold. 
 
 And 'mid the tenderness and joy 
 
 Of grateful motherhood could say, 
 " I thank Thee, Father, for my boy, 
 
 I bless Tbee for his natal day." 
 Each look, each fear, each winsome way, 
 
 Was fraught wilh interest grander far 
 Than centers in the monarch's sway, 
 
 Or wraps the serried hosts of war. 
 
 How sweet the task, how blest the boon, 
 
 To see unfold thy being rare. 
 Each morning brought a glorious noon 
 
 And gladness left no room for care. 
 And thus from tender infancy 
 
 With good, thy childhood e'er replete, 
 Thy life came up a melody 
 
 Each note of which was full and sweet. 
 
 As time went on each passing year 
 Fresh tokens gave of future joy, 
 
 We needed not the gifted seer 
 To paint the man we knew the boy. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 29 
 
 No words of ours could half express 
 Our growing faith and trust in thee 
 
 As years made plain thou didst possess, 
 From sordid tastes, a nature free. 
 
 And, too, we know no coward thought 
 
 Or purpose, lodgment e'er could find 
 Within thy hesrt. Thy soul is fraught 
 
 With outlook meted to thy mind ; 
 A rare, grand manhood waits on thee, 
 
 Of all thy friends thou art the peer. 
 " Excelsior " must thy motto be, 
 
 Then come the strife; thou needst not fear. 
 
 Unnumbered cycles are his span 
 
 Who knows himself and knows his God. 
 Beyond the angels is that man 
 
 Who walks the way the God-Man trod 
 With faith firm fixed and hope assured, 
 
 Though demons plot and earth's snares crowd, 
 His soul with heaven's own strength endued, 
 
 He stands erect and radiant-browed. 
 
 Success to thee, my noble son, 
 
 In all that's great, and pure, and grand; 
 True to thyself, the battle's won, 
 
 For in this truth, all truth doth stand. 
 And when men rise and call thee blest 
 
 And homage do thee in the gate, 
 Thou'lt know, though bard, for thee 'twas best 
 
 To learn " to labor and to wait." 
 
 He opened up a convenient centrally 
 located office down town. Steadily his 
 
30 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 business increased and soon he found 
 himself with a good practice. About 
 this time his parents removed to Fergu- 
 son, making it necessary for him to 
 select a boarding place in the city. In 
 the providence of God, John P. Greene, 
 now president of William Jewell College, 
 had recently become pastor of the Third 
 church, of which he was a member, a 
 man remarkable for singleness of purpose 
 and force of character. Like seeks like. 
 There is a subtle tendency drawing 
 harmonious and congenial spirits to each 
 other. These two young men felt it and 
 became at once personal, loving friends. 
 They selected rooms together in a build- 
 ing owned by a godly, venerable deacon 
 of the church. They studied together 
 prayed together, and were as David and 
 Jonathan, soul-friendship, moved by 
 like principles, and cheered by like hopes. 
 Differing in mental characteristics like 
 notes of music, a harmony marked their 
 thoughts and purposes. That loving com- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 31 
 
 panionship never knew a jar, but grew, 
 though separated, through life. 
 
 After he passed away Dr. Greene 
 wrote : 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER FORD : 
 
 I am sorry that I cannot attend Roch- 
 ester's memorial service. Be assured 
 that I would come if I could. I loved 
 Rochester. He and I were intimate 
 friends for years. One winter we roomed 
 together. He was a man of strong con - 
 victions and of tender charity. His 
 accomplishments were numerous, but his 
 strong, simple faith in Christ was the 
 richest adornment of his character. I 
 shall miss him as I go onward in the 
 journey of life, but every memory of 
 him will be sweet. How precious is the 
 fellowship of the people of God ! I 
 hope his friendship will make me a better 
 friend and a better Christian. 
 Sincerely, 
 
 J. P. GREENE. 
 
 Liberty, Mo. 
 
32 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 A young brother then entering on the 
 practice of law, but who gave it up to 
 preach the glad tidings of salvation, 
 visited St. Louis from the interior of the 
 State. He sought out Kochester Ford, 
 whose parents and his had been lifelong 
 friends. On hearing that his friend had 
 passed away he wrote the following 
 beautiful tribute to his memory: 
 
 Office of Administration, 
 William Jewell College, 
 
 Sept. llth, 1903. 
 
 " I became acquainted with Kochester 
 Ford in the early spring of 1877. Our 
 ancestors for two generations had been 
 Christian brethren and close friends. We 
 needed no letters of credit to one an- 
 other. We had many things in common 
 and a friendship frank and congenial 
 sprang up at once in our hearts. 
 
 " As a country lawyer, 1 came into oc- 
 casional contact with him, in a social 
 way. It was foreseen then that Roches- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 33 
 
 ter Ford was destined to be a great law- 
 yer and such he was, in native ablility, in 
 painstaking accuracy, in studious and 
 exhaustive research, in what is called the 
 judicial mind, and better than all in exact 
 and conscientious righteousness. 
 
 In 1885 when I began, under the di- 
 rection of the City Mission Board, the 
 resurrection of the old Park Avenue Mis- 
 sion, now the Lafayette Park Church, 
 and the founding of the Water Tower 
 Mission now Water Tower Church, 
 it is injustice to no member of that great 
 board to say that Rochester Ford was 
 not behind the very chiefest of them, in 
 interest in the work, in large liberality, 
 and in almost infallible discernment and 
 judgment. To my mind Rochester 
 Ford's greatness never was so lustrous 
 as on that day, when, broken in health, 
 he turned away from such a prospect in 
 St. Louis, as perhaps no man of his age 
 had ever had. There was not one sigh of 
 despair, there was not one groan of un- 
 
 3 
 
34 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 belief, there was not one note of rebellion. 
 God ruled in him and for him and it was 
 well with his soul. To have known one 
 such Christian as Rochester Ford, is to 
 be without excuse in the day of judg- 
 ment. He is evidence enough of Chris- 
 tianity. To be the parents of such a son, 
 is divine favor sufficient for a lifetime, 
 though all else should fail. 
 
 JOHN ERNEST COOK. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FIRST ENCOURAGING SUCCESSES. 
 
 The difficulties of a young professional 
 man in a large city are great, and many 
 an ambitious youth succumbs to the ob- 
 stacles, and, abandoning his cherished 
 hopes, turns his steps into another life 
 path. 
 
 There are the ex-judges, the experi- 
 enced and well-known practitioners, with 
 numerous adventurers from the country 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 35 
 
 towns bent on securing clients. Every- 
 where the competition is great, the strug- 
 gle fierce, often to terminate in failure. 
 Rochester realized all this, and for awhile 
 he felt he might be forced to turn his 
 attention to journalism. He did not 
 relish the thought, but in his seeming 
 darkest day a light broke on his path. 
 
 He at this time had an office adjoining 
 that of two prominent attorneys, Judge 
 Valliant, now of the Supreme Court of 
 Missouri, and ex- Judge Thoroughman. 
 These two friends turned small cases 
 over to him, most of which he gained. 
 Coming home one evening he asked his 
 father to walk with him. He was evi- 
 dently full of joy. Something pleasing 
 had occurred. " Father, what do you 
 think ! Col. Thoroughman has offered 
 me a partnership in his law practice. 
 Won't this please mother? ?: " Indeed it 
 will, and have you accepted." " No, 
 I am to give him an answer to-morrow 
 noon. I wanted to consult you and 
 
36 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 especially Judge Madill. I wish him to 
 tell me if he thinks it would be better for 
 me to build up a practice myself or go in 
 with an old practitioner? ' : He was 
 advised to accept, and did so. It was a 
 fine opening. But its chief joy was, " it 
 pleased mother." 
 
 Months of success passed, then the part- 
 nership was dissolved. He and the Col- 
 onel had different tastes and habits, but 
 they continued fast friends to the last. 
 
 He was for some time editor of the 
 weekly Bulletin of the "Greeley Burnham 
 Grocery Company," the largest whole- 
 sale grocery house in the city. After he 
 entered on the practice of law he had 
 their business until the house closed. 
 
 Just as the partnership with Judge 
 Thorough man ended an incident occurred 
 which added to his already high standing 
 as a young lawyer, and also gave him 
 handsome remuneration. 
 
 A lady well known to the family lost 
 her husband. She selected Rochester as 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 37 
 
 the administrator of her husband's large 
 estate, consisting of personal property in 
 St. Louis and several tracts of land in 
 Texas. To take charge of it, he must 
 give a large bond, $60,000. How was 
 he, a poor Baptist preacher's son, to do 
 this? It seemed impossible. He was 
 not twenty-four years of age. and had no 
 property. Meeting Judge Norton of the 
 Supreme Court at Dr. B. F. Blewett's 
 commencement, the father mentioned the 
 facts to the judge, but added u how can 
 he get that large amount of security?" 
 "He'll get it," replied the judge con- 
 fidently; "the business men who are his 
 friends know him and will go on his 
 bond." 
 
 Returning to the city that evening it 
 was found that the bond had been signed 
 and accepted and Rochester had charge 
 of the estate. Frank Ely, of the firm of 
 " Ely, Walker & Co." was the first 
 bondsman. He was worth a half million 
 dollars, but had no real estate in the city 
 
38 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 as the law required. He left his business 
 and went with Rochester to Mr. Col- 
 lins, President of Combined Insurance 
 Companies, and made out an indemnity 
 bond for the whole amount and got him 
 to sign the administrator's bond. But 
 this was not sufficient. A. D. Brown, 
 president of " Hamilton Brown Shoe 
 Co." added his name. This was followed 
 by Wm. M. Senter, president of the 
 " Cotton Exchange," arid then by Henry 
 Roach, a well-known architect. The 
 bond thus secured was accepted by the 
 Probate judge, giving the young lawyer 
 immediate standing in the court. 
 " Father, " said the grateful son, " had I 
 ever been once drunk had ever loafed 
 about a gambling den or saloon, or bet 
 once on a race, I could have not got- 
 ten that bond. Any such misdemeanor 
 would have leaked out, confidence in me 
 would have been destroyed, and failure, 
 instead of success, would now confront 
 me." 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 39 
 
 His unquestioned veracity, his legal 
 ability, his promptness, his dispatch, his 
 methodical habits, were known to these 
 men, who had been his friends and ad- 
 mirers from his earliest manhood. 
 
 " Godliness with contentment is great 
 gain having the promise of the life that 
 now is and of that which is to come." 
 
 The estate, though there were very 
 embarrassing difficulties, because of step- 
 sons, was settled satisfactorily to all 
 concerned, yielding him a helpful per- 
 centage as well as giving him legal 
 standing. 
 
 And now business flowed in upon him ; 
 he had no need to seek it. He refused 
 all criminal, and divorce cases. " I would 
 never make a reputation in that line, I am 
 sure." 
 
 During all this time he was assisting in 
 every way men of worth who applied to 
 him for advice or aid in securing a posi- 
 tion. And not a few men of eminence 
 can attest his friendship and help when 
 they sorely needed both. 
 
40 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 HIS PROFESSORSHIP. 
 
 The death of that eminent jurist, Judge 
 Todd, left the chair of Commercial Law 
 vacant in the law school of Washington 
 University. A new professor was to be 
 sought to fill his place. The law faculty 
 recommended Rochester Ford. He was 
 unanimously elected to this responsible 
 place, the youngest man that had ever 
 been chosen to fill so high a position. 
 
 Of the estimate of a consistent Chris- 
 tian life and its influence on irreligious 
 young men, here is an example. 
 
 The large law classes were to a great 
 extent made up of what are termed 
 "young bloods," sons of wealthy parents, 
 and proud and impassioned. This was 
 especially the character of Rochester's 
 class. 
 
 An unfortunate difficulty occurred be- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 41 
 
 tween two of the students. One of the 
 young men, afterwards a State senator, 
 felt himself insulted and demanded satis- 
 faction of his supposed offender. Feel- 
 ing ran high parties were formed 
 the whole school was embroiled in what 
 promised to be a most serious trouble, 
 should it be a duel or a " free fight." 
 
 Professor Ford was proposed as medi- 
 ator. He at once accepted the responsi- 
 bility, going quietly from one party to 
 the other; reasoning with them kindly, 
 he in a few days had all the antagonists 
 ready to come to terms. The affair was 
 honorably settled and the hitherto irate 
 principals shook hands in his presence. 
 
 A supper was arranged where all met 
 most amicably and what had at one time 
 foretokened disastrous results, ended in 
 renewing lasting friendship. His judi- 
 cious and righteous course was eulogized 
 by all. His Christian character recog- 
 nized by those wild young men, doubt- 
 less had a lasting effect on their after life. 
 
42 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 There is power even over the ungodly in 
 a faithful consistent walk. 
 
 About this time he was solicited to per- 
 mit his name to be persented to the cur- 
 ators of the State University who were to 
 elect a dean of the law faculty of that 
 institution. He declined. His practice 
 was steadily growing. His duties as pro- 
 fessor did not interfere with it, his lec- 
 tures being given in the afternoon three 
 times a week. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE BAPTIST SANITARIUM. 
 
 There was then along in the eight- 
 ies, not a hospital or any provision 
 whatever for the sick or the invalid among 
 Baptists in these United States. Our 
 afflicted ones had to go to Romanist insti- 
 tutions when an operation was necessary 
 or special diseases needed special medica- 
 tion. One man's heart became impressed 
 with this need of the denomination, and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 43 
 
 leaving Southwest Missouri he came to 
 St. Louis to establish a Sanitarium. 
 
 It was soon filled with patients. The 
 owners of the building offered it for sale. 
 It was bought for the denomination. 
 Rochester Ford was one who greatly as- 
 sisted in raising the money for the pur- 
 chase, giving of his comparatively small 
 means five hundred dollars towards it. 
 
 Interest in the institution rapidly in- 
 creased. The applicants for admission 
 could not be accommodated. The 
 churches through the State were aroused 
 to the need and benefits of the enter- 
 prise and many of them contributed to 
 its support. It was soon found neces- 
 sary to build a large addition. Money 
 was raised to justify a beginning and A. 
 D. Brown, Rochester Ford, and Henry 
 Roach, the architect, were delegated to 
 go east, examine hospital buildings, and 
 recommend a plan. The work was be- 
 gun and carried on to a successful finish. 
 With all his business and his professor- 
 
44 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ship he gave it his earnest attention. All 
 through this period he was secretary and 
 treasurer of the Third church, which had 
 recently built a church house on Grand 
 avenue near Washington avenue. That 
 noble institution, the Missouri Baptist 
 Sanitarium, with its scores of patients is 
 a monument to its founders, of whom 
 Rochester Ford, the active, successful 
 young lawyer, was one. Dr. W. H. 
 Mayfield, its founder, writes: 
 
 "St. Louis, Mo., 
 "Jan. 18, 1904. 
 
 " Rochester Ford I always held as one 
 of my best friends and brothers. In 
 1885 I went to the " Ely Walker Dry 
 Goods Co." to buy several white woolen 
 blankets to equip eleven sanitarium beds 
 for the first Baptist sanitarium known to 
 the world, which for a year I had been 
 constructing in my private residence, 
 1914 IS", llth. It was not known to 
 the world at that time. None of my 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 45 
 
 brethren in St. Louis having then taken 
 any part in it. Our brother, Frank Ely, 
 of whom I had bought goods for sev- 
 eral years, was much surprised at my 
 buying so many blankets, and spoke to 
 me about it. I told him what they were 
 for, and about my plans. He said : ' I 
 want some part in that myself ; ' his at- 
 torney, Rochester Ford, was standing by 
 his side. He was much pleased with the 
 idea, and said, ' I want a part in it also.' 
 So we three bought the blankets, and I 
 returned home with a light, joyful heart. 
 Brother Ely was made chairman of the 
 movement, and Brother Ford legal coun- 
 selor. In 1886, September, we leased 
 the whole Pausman property on Taylor 
 and West Belle at $100.00 per month. 
 Brother Ely remarked when we took the 
 building, that if I built up a sanitarium 
 in a year we might buy the property. 
 We had the building equipped and filled 
 within three months. Ever after, Brother 
 Ford remained my loving friend and 
 
46 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 helper and his kindness will be cherished 
 by me as long as I live." 
 
 At his death the Sunday afternoon ser- 
 vice was made a " memorial meeting, "in 
 which every man present took part. His 
 name will long live in that grand home 
 for the afflicted. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SUDDEN PROSTRATION LA GRIPPE. 
 
 His law practice had grown to be large 
 and lucrative. With every case placed 
 in his hands he made friends. He stood 
 high both as a law lecturer and as a legal 
 adviser. 
 
 But on the summit of success, with 
 youth's hopes realized, in the midst of 
 health, vigor, energy, and a grand out- 
 look for the future, he was stricken down 
 by that potent, mysterious epidemic 
 la grippe. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 47 
 
 On his way to Chicago to attend to some 
 important legal business, quietly resting 
 in the sleeper, nearing Springfield, Illi- 
 nois, he had a sudden hemorrhage from 
 the right lung. Of course this unex- 
 pected and untoward feature gave him 
 alarm and he had the conductor to im- 
 mediately telegraph to Springfield for a 
 physician to meet the train at the depot. 
 He said to his mother in after years: " I 
 recognized in a moment that my life work 
 was changed." The doctor was on hand 
 and advised him to leave the train, which 
 he did, giving up the trip. He returned 
 to St. Louis the next day. Entering the 
 home with a sad depressed air he told his 
 mother in a few words what had occur- 
 red. A physician was summoned imme- 
 diately. Dr. Hulburt regarded the at- 
 tack but transient and apprehended no 
 serious results. He went to his office for a 
 few days. Another hemorrhage on June 
 17, 1891, prostrated him, and for five 
 
48 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 weeks, he lay, as his physician, Dr. W. C. 
 Glasgow, a noted specialist in all pulmo- 
 nary diseases said, like a boat amid 
 rocks and breakers which might go down 
 at any moment. But with careful nurs- 
 ing day and night, and the constant 
 attention of his skillful physician, who for 
 some time called three times daily, he 
 rallied and again entered on life's duties. 
 But the grippe was on his lung never to 
 be removed. 
 
 By the advice of physicians he had to 
 resolve to leave St. Louis. During his 
 illness Dr. Glasgow said to him: "Mr. 
 Ford, when you get well you will have to 
 go to Arizona." It seemed providential 
 that as he would have to seek a milder 
 winter climate, Tucson was selected. He 
 had interest in a large ranch in Pima 
 County and was also the attorney for the 
 stockholders. It had been his purpose 
 to go in August to attend to business 
 connected with the ranch, but owing to 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 49 
 
 his feebleness after his recovery, he could 
 not make the trip until the last of 
 October. 
 
 To give up his practice professor- 
 ship his church, his friends, and, to 
 him, saddest of all, his family, was a 
 crisis that tried his strong soul, but he 
 bore it without one word of questioning. 
 God was leading. He would follow 
 without asking the why or wherefore. 
 Few men have ever exhibited a sublimer 
 faith than this young Christian lawyer, 
 when he bade adieu to all he had so 
 fondly loved to become an exile in the 
 far-off territory of Arizona. 
 
 Then let it fade, this dream of earth, 
 When I have done my life work here, 
 Or long or short as seemeth best 
 What matters so God's will appear? 
 
50 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SOME FEATURES OF HIS LIFE IN EXILE. 
 
 The trials of a stranger in a strange 
 land were greatly mitigated by the royal 
 kindness of a friend whom he had known 
 in St. Louis, Mr. Brewster Cameron. 
 This generous gentleman and his wife 
 insisted that he become one of their 
 household, receiving him not only to 
 their hospitality but to all the comforts 
 and amenities of their well-ordered home. 
 
 For the first year in Tucson, a stranger 
 and quite feeble, he did but little profes- 
 sionally. His work, however, followed 
 him. His life and position in St. Louis 
 became known. His management of the 
 cases intrusted to him gave him charac- 
 ter in his new sphere his scholarship 
 was manifested in the addresses he was 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 51 
 
 called upon to make, and was appreciated 
 by his new friends. There was a fairly- 
 well endowed territorial university in 
 Tucson. Its officers were appointed by 
 the Governor. The responsible office of 
 Chancellor became vacant. The Gover- 
 nor selected Rochester Ford who had 
 been recommended without his solicita- 
 tion, to fill the responsible position as 
 Chancellor. He had no teaching to do, 
 his duties being to preside at the open- 
 ing exercises and attend to the finances. 
 He discharged these functions most 
 satisfactorily till other requirements led 
 him to resign. He found in Tucson a 
 Methodist and Congregational church, 
 pretty strong organizations, each with a 
 good pastor. He attended the Metho- 
 dist services and taught in their Sunday- 
 school and took part in their meetings. 
 He made himself known as a Christian 
 and while true to his convictions as a 
 Baptist aided them in their work. 
 
 There were few Baptists in the town 
 
52 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 and those were scattered, holding no 
 regular service. The little adobe raeet- 
 ing-honse on Stone avenue, in a most 
 dilapidated condition, was at this time 
 rented by a party who hired it by the 
 evening for any kind of a show. It is 
 said it had been used on some occasions 
 as a dance hall. 
 
 As soon as it was possible for him to 
 do so Rochester Ford aided by the few 
 Baptists had the house repaired, carpeted, 
 seated and pulpit put in. The few mem- 
 bers were gathered together, reorganized, 
 and the feeble little band was led to 
 active service. He contributed freely of 
 his means, the only one then who could 
 render much financial aid. He led the 
 meetings superintended the Sunday- 
 school, and when occasion required it, 
 preached. 
 
 Through his influence and correspond- 
 ence a missionary pastor took charge of 
 the church. Souls were converted and 
 the Lord's name honored. 
 
BAPTIST CHURCH, TUCSON. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 53 
 
 When D wight Moody held a week's 
 meeting in Tucson he joined most earn- 
 estly in the work, taking part in every 
 service and liberally contributing his 
 means to meet expenses. 
 
 When Boston Smith visited Tucson 
 with his Chapel Car Rochester Ford was 
 with him in every service, following him 
 with touching addresses, pleading with 
 sinners to seek and find the Savior, who 
 died for them. Boston Smith, the effic- 
 ient superintendent of the chapel car serv- 
 ice of the American Baptist Publication 
 Society in an address to the Third Bap- 
 tist church of St. Louis mentioned with 
 pleasing acknowledgement, the aid he 
 had received when he held services in 
 Tucson from one reared in that church. 
 He told how he had helped him with his 
 voice in public and his purse in private. 
 After a pause he said, "that young man's 
 name isEochester Ford." The audience 
 broke the stillness with an outburst of 
 applause, a demonstration which never 
 occurred before or since. 
 
ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Mr. Crittenton, founder of the " Flor- 
 ence Crittenton Mission," with its rescue 
 homes in most of the large cities, visited 
 Tucson with his car and tent. Rochester 
 Ford was with him thirty nights and ren- 
 dered him every possible aid. He was 
 always deeply interested in the conversion 
 of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 Rev. Merton Smith, the evangelist 
 relied on him in his telling series of meet- 
 ings as he did on no other man. Indeed, 
 no general work for the Lord was ever 
 carried on in Tucson without his pres- 
 ence and prayerful and financial help, 
 and we feel it is not overstating the case 
 to say no man ever did more for the good 
 of Tucson in every way than he. He 
 was broad-minded, unselfish, a citizen 
 seeking not his own but the things of 
 others. 
 
 On a comparatively recent occasion, 
 the pastor being absent in California, 
 some members of the church consulted 
 him on Saturday to know what was best 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 55 
 
 to be done under the circumstances. An 
 important case in which he was leading 
 counsel would come before the court the 
 following Monday and he must be pre- 
 pared to argue it satisfactorily to himself. 
 
 "I will conduct the services," he 
 replied. The announcement that Hon. 
 Rochester Ford would preach at 11 
 o'clock in the Baptist Church appeared 
 in the Sunday morning paper. An emi- 
 nent lawyer, a friend of Eochester, who 
 had not been in Tucson very many 
 months, read the statement with surprise. 
 " I don't go to church," he said, " but 
 I'll go to-morrow and hear Ford. If he 
 can preach as well as he can plead it will 
 pay to hear him." 
 
 Sunday morning came. The lawyer, 
 together with other strangers, was present. 
 Sunday-school exercises over, Rochester 
 Ford took his stand in front of the pulpit, 
 and with no apology or word of explana- 
 tion, simply announcing that the pas- 
 tor, Brother Thomas, was providentially 
 
56 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 away, he gave out the hymns, read the 
 Scripture, prayed, and announced his 
 text, the prayer of Jabez " Oh, that 
 Thou wouldst bless me indeed and enlarge 
 my coast, and that thine hand might be 
 with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me 
 from evil that it may not grieve me." 1 
 Chron. 4-10. He preached a tender, 
 heartfelt, impressive sermon to a most 
 attentive audience. His mother was 
 present. Oh, how her heart was filled 
 with joy and her lips with thanksgiving, 
 that her son, eminent for his scholarship 
 and legal ability, with position that com- 
 manded the respect of all good citizens, 
 was also in the highest sense a wit- 
 ness for Christ. The lawyer friend 
 was an earnest listener. The blessed 
 results of that discourse from one whose 
 known life was in daily accord with his 
 words, eternity alone can disclose. 
 And the following day, after preaching 
 for forty minutes, he plead his important 
 case before the court and gained it. An 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 57 
 
 account of it reached his father through 
 the Tucson papers, and on a subsequent 
 Sunday, he being called upon to preach, 
 took his son's text and subject, and 
 manifest blessing followed. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 SURMOUNTING DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 He soon found his practice so heavy he 
 had to apply himself too closely to his of- 
 fice to admit much improvement in health. 
 Cases in the local courts, in the Supreme 
 Court of the Territory at Phoenix, 
 in the Land Claim Court, in the Supreme 
 Court in Washington, kept him not only 
 constantly engaged but much of the time 
 fearfully pressed. He never neglected 
 anything. In a case involving a large 
 area of land he found it necessary to 
 acquaint himself with Spanish that he 
 might study ancient records in the ar- 
 chives of old Mexico, and visited the city 
 
58 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 of Mexico for this purpose. He made 
 himself familiar with all technicalities 
 of Spanish law, their method of measure- 
 ment and designation of areas. But 
 whatever the demands of his profession 
 might be, he never for a day neglected to 
 write to his mother nor ever failed, when 
 it was possible to do so, to be at Sunday 
 school, morning and night worship and 
 prayer meeting. 
 
 Other evenings in the week he either 
 entertained his friends at home or read. 
 He made very few social evening visits. 
 
 During these years his Jungs were 
 slowly undergoing hepatization. He 
 coughed but little and only in the morn- 
 ing on awakening, had no fever, no night 
 sweats, no hectic flush only trouble 
 with his breathing and great feebleness, 
 the breathing at times being so oppres- 
 sive he could walk but a few blocks 
 without pausing to rest. He had gained 
 such control of his vocal powers that he 
 could speak for an hour in a clear distinct 
 voice without apparent effort. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 59 
 
 In a very difficult case connected with 
 Pima county bonds that was carried 
 to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, he and ex-Senator Carlisle, now 
 of New York, were counsel on the one 
 side, being opposed by one of the ablest 
 firms in JSTew York City. Mr. Carlisle 
 spoke first. Rochester Ford rose to fol- 
 low. His mother then in Washington 
 to be with him, at his solicitation was 
 present in the court room. He had that 
 morning mentioned to her his unusual 
 shortness of breath and general weak- 
 ness. She listened with the intensest 
 interest to her idolized son, fearing every 
 moment lest he break down. But he 
 spoke for an hour in a clear impressive 
 voice. Imagine her joy and thanksgiv- 
 ing when he took his seat calmly, and 
 did not appear greatly fatigued. It was 
 evident from the attention given him by 
 the judges as he spoke that he was mak- 
 ing an able presentation of his case. 
 
 On one occasion when the decision of a 
 
60 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 case had been already given adversely to 
 him by the Supreme Court of the Terri- 
 tory and he applied for a rehearing in 
 Washington, and the case was decided in 
 his favor, he wrote to his mother: " As 
 soon as I received the telegram, I went 
 in before the Lord with grateful thanks- 
 giving." He believed God's Word: "In 
 all thy ways acknowledge Him and He 
 shall direct thy paths." 
 
 Mysterious yes, to our finite minds, 
 mysterious, that such a man should be 
 taken away in the midst of such use- 
 fulness. This very thing was said to 
 him by his father a short time before 
 he passed away. " No, no," was his 
 calm reply, "It is all right, God has 
 a purpose in it. Look, father, at the 
 fate of John the Baptist, the forerunner 
 of our Lord, in his young manhood in the 
 rnidst of widespreading usefulness cut 
 down so suddenly and hurried to a bloody 
 grave. God permitted this for a pur- 
 pose and His purpose in dealing with me 
 may soon be unfolded to us all." 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 61 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 HTS POLITICAL POSITION IN TUCSON AND 
 ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 With decided convictions on all ques- 
 tions that interested him, he was an active 
 outspoken Democrat, and when he was 
 prevailed upon to take charge of the 
 political campaign it was said by repre- 
 sentatives of both parties: u Well, with 
 Rochester Ford at the head of affairs we 
 shall at least have a clean race." 
 
 The United States attorney for the 
 Territory, a Republican and eminent law- 
 yer, and differing from him in his relig- 
 ious convictions as well as in politics, 
 wrote for the Republican paper, The 
 Post, this candid and eloquent eulogy : 
 
62 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 (From Frederick S. Nave, United States Attorney, 
 Tucson, Arizona.) 
 
 Rochester Ford was a man in the 
 deep, virile sense of the word. When 
 we strew the flowers of eulogy over the 
 work and character of some departed 
 friends, we find embarrassment in the 
 common occurrence of strength and 
 weakness in the same heart and mind, 
 good and evil in the same man's deeds. 
 We eulogize, because we truly appreciate 
 and revere, our friend's achievements and 
 integrity as a public servant, and so place 
 among our flowers of eulogy a perfect 
 red rose and a laurel wreath ; but cannot 
 add the white rose. When my friend, a 
 metropolitan alderman, died, we recalled 
 his lovely devotion to, and consideration 
 of his old mother, and the loyalty and 
 worship he gave his wife and children 
 a family life of wonderful fidelity and 
 happiness ; but he had narrowly escaped 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 63 
 
 indictment because his aldermanic vote 
 was bribed. 
 
 I think of rny friend Eochester Ford 
 with no divided thought. I praise his 
 life with no half-praise, or three-quarter 
 praise. The bouquet and wreaths of 
 flowers I place to his memory is limited 
 in its varied beauty only by the inade- 
 quacy of the garden from which it comes. 
 I do not make the blind friend's mistake 
 of claiming for him perfection. In his 
 chosen leader's language he would re- 
 buke : "Why callest thou me good!" 
 But his life, and words and deeds, whether 
 public or private bring no hamper or drag 
 to my eulogy. 
 
 Rochester Ford was one of the ablest 
 lawyers of Arizona. He was not a law- 
 yer who claimed inerrancy. It was not 
 his character to assume that he could not 
 be wrong in a legal conclusion. Therein 
 lay a great portion of his strength. He 
 studied the law. When called upon to 
 pass a professional opinion, he did not 
 
64 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 have it ready till he had studied the 
 question ; had compared the views he 
 developed, with the decisions of the 
 courts. I had frequent opportunity, by 
 fortunate association with him, to see 
 and hear him work toward an opinion. 
 I believe he was not often wrong. The 
 records of his litigated cases are a just 
 pride of his friends. The lawyer who 
 never lost a case is a myth. A great 
 lawyer wins a majority of his cases. 
 Rochester Ford was a winner of litigated 
 cases. 
 
 , But Mr. Ford's greatest strength was 
 his uncompromising honesty. If he had 
 a fault, it was only in a marked stern- 
 ness toward or want of sympathy for 
 the man whose power led him to do 
 things not " honest in the sight of all 
 men." From the great things unto the 
 least things, Rochester Ford was scrupu- 
 lously, exactly, vigorously honest, and 
 he was a fighting apostle of honesty, the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 65 
 
 active, aggressive enemy of " graft " and 
 dishonesty wherever they appeared. 
 
 For years Mr. Ford lived under an op- 
 pression of ill-health which could have 
 put almost any other man out of the 
 fight. But this man had the courage 
 and unrelenting zeal of the crusader. 
 Though consistently preserving his 
 strength as far as possible, he was con- 
 stant and persevering in attention to his 
 business. He was the regularly retained 
 adviser of many important business inter- 
 ests and corporations. 
 
 Rochester Ford was a political parti- 
 san ; he was a Democrat of Democrats. 
 Most of us are Democrats or Republicans 
 because we are born that way. Too few 
 are the members of either party who 
 know that there are matters of govern- 
 mental policy concerning which men 
 honestly and sincerely differ which, how- 
 ever, may be obscured in every campaign 
 by " special issues," that really mark the 
 difference between the political tendencies 
 
66 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 when the Democratic and Republican 
 parties respectively are in power. Mr. 
 Ford was a Democrat from democratic 
 conviction, really of the Jeffersonian 
 type. His view of public policies was 
 always well considered ; he had substan- 
 tial bases for his positions. His tem- 
 perament was by nature aggressive. 
 Therefore as in all things else aggressive 
 he was an active strong Democratic par- 
 tisan ; seeking no political preferment for 
 himself, but seeking Democratic party 
 success because he believed in his party ; 
 ready to fight with the party to oppose 
 leadership of men whose leadership he 
 did not prize or deem wholesome for his 
 party, yet a Democrat always. 
 
 To complete his more public life, Mr. 
 Ford was of pure, clean private life. 
 Unmarried, his great devotion went to 
 his father and mother. At Nogales, 
 during court, one Sunday at the hotel a 
 friend looked up from a table when writ- 
 ing a letter and said: " Mr. Ford, I am 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 67 
 
 writing my father. I have not missed a 
 Sunday in writing my father for many 
 years." Mr. Ford held up a letter he 
 was about to post, and replied: " Well, 
 sir, my record is better than that. I write 
 my mother every day, and have never 
 missed a day ! ' Such was his filial duty 
 and consideration during the many years 
 he lived in Tucson, oppressed and ill 
 though he always was. He was an 
 austerely righteous man, an orthodox 
 Baptist, a tender son. 
 
 My Brother Ford, I appreciated you 
 while you were here. I appreciate your 
 memory now. On your u adventure 
 brave and new ' ' Farewell ! 
 
 Dear Lord, let me grow from day today, 
 Clinging and hopeful and bright, 
 Though planted in shade Thy window near 
 And my leaves may turn to the light. 
 
68 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 LIFE IN TUCSON. 
 
 Going from a large city with a wide 
 circle of activities, a host of devoted 
 friends, religious and intellectual advan- 
 tages not surpassed by those of any 
 other community, beloved by his family as 
 but few men have ever been, the natural 
 inference would be that he in his feeble 
 health would become despondent under 
 such changed circumstances. But this 
 was not so. 
 
 He had faith in God and while he could 
 not understand why this trial, he sub- 
 mitted without repining and entered upon 
 the duties that presented themselves with 
 purpose to be useful in his new home as 
 far as his strength would permit. 
 
 His professional duties, his loyalty to 
 
ROCHESTER FORD AND FRIENDS. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 69 
 
 the little church he so much loved, his 
 interest in the Good Government Club 
 he was so largely instrumental in estab- 
 lishing, and in the general affairs of his 
 city and territory, his varied and volu- 
 minous reading, the visits of his friends, 
 his trips to Washington and New York 
 and surrounding towns on legal business, 
 his annual summer visits to St. Louis, 
 the daily letter from his mother, which 
 he said was always the happiest event of 
 each day, made life as pleasant as it was 
 possible to be to him separated as he was 
 from his family. 
 
 During the earlier years of his resi- 
 dence in Tucson he made social calls, 
 attended receptions and weddings but 
 as business pressed upon him and he re- 
 alized the necessity of husbanding his 
 strength for his ever- increasing duties, he 
 gave up these enjoyments and went out 
 at night only to his church and when the 
 public good demanded his presence. 
 
 He was not an omnivorous reader, but 
 
70 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 a constant and careful one, making se- 
 lection of the best authors, ancient and 
 modern. His library was filled with the 
 choicest works. The best magazines of 
 the day were to be found on his tables. 
 He was in the habit of annotating and 
 making clippings from the dailies and 
 weeklies, which were carefully preserved 
 in well-arranged books convenient for 
 reference. 
 
 Ruskin he read with great delight and 
 often quoted from this author. One 
 sentiment deeply impressed him: u Oh, 
 why should we wear black for the guests 
 of God." So firmly was this thought 
 fixed in his mind that he several times 
 expressed the desire that " none of his 
 friends should ever mourn for him in out- 
 ward garb." He was particularly averse 
 to the long crepe veil, feeling it a wholly 
 unfitting demonstration for Christians. 
 
 He was particularly fond of that class 
 of literature that dwells on the enjoy- 
 ments and employments of heaven, and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 71 
 
 indorsed with deep appreciation these 
 thoughts of McFayden : 
 
 " The living we shall lose, but the dead 
 we have found, never to lose again. 
 Theirs is the peace unshaken, and the 
 world that standeth fast. In communion 
 with the blessed dead, we are lifted above 
 the cares and confusions of this world 
 into the realization of our citizenship in 
 the Eternal City. They redeem life from 
 its littleness by shedding upon it the sol- 
 emn glories of eternity. In their pres- 
 ence all passion dies ; in their silent fel- 
 lowship our hearts burn with holy yearn- 
 ings ; in that brief hour of unspeakable 
 communion the world passes, and we 
 feel what it is to stand within the halls 
 of our heavenly home." 
 
 While being the chief support of the 
 church, he was not what is known as a 
 " church-worker ; " he was a " living epis- 
 tle," ever bearing testimony, not so much 
 in words, as in Christly deeds. His 
 daily life testified to all who were admit- 
 
72 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ted to his confidence that the spirit of all 
 grace dwelt richly in that manly form. 
 During the revivals held in Tucson by 
 Moody, Boston Smith, Crittenton and 
 Merton Smith, he was a constant attend- 
 ant and aided in the services, and his ap- 
 peals fell with convincing power on his 
 fellow-citizens because they knew him. 
 
 His faith was firmly fixed on God. 
 He walked each day as seeing Him who 
 is invisible. To him God is a wise and 
 loving Father ordering everything for 
 the ultimate good of His children. He 
 believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as his 
 divine Savior and held unbroken fellow- 
 ship with Christ, humbly claiming in His 
 name the exceeding great and precious 
 promises the Father has given us in Him. 
 He rested his hope unwaveringly in their 
 fulfillment and thus he was kept calmly 
 resigned and comforted amid all his trials 
 and sufferings by the abiding presence of 
 the Holy Spirit. He never failed to hold 
 up truth the truth whenever and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 73 
 
 wherever it was his duty to do so. And 
 this fearless stand for what he believed 
 right won for him the admiration of those 
 who were opposed to his views. 
 
 An incident occurred during the dedi- 
 cation of the World's Fair in April last 
 that testified to his widespread influence. 
 
 Two gentlemen were eating sandwiches 
 side by side when in course of conversa- 
 tion the visitor to St. Louis remarked he 
 was from Arizona. The St. Louisan, a 
 friend of Rochester's family, anxious to 
 know just how he stood in the home of 
 his exile, asked" Do you live in Tucson? " 
 
 " No," said the gentleman, giving his 
 town, which was some distance from 
 Tucson. "Do you know any one in 
 Tucson?" "Yes, a few persons," men- 
 tioning some names, among them " Roch- 
 ester Ford." 
 
 The interrogator, wishing to ascertain 
 just what Rochester Ford's general rep- 
 utation was, remarked nonchalantly : 
 "I believe Mr. Ford once lived in St. 
 
74 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Louis. What is his standing in Ari- 
 zona?' 
 
 With great emphasis the stranger 
 answered : " Rochester Ford is the best 
 man God ever made?" 
 
 He was always doing good, never over- 
 looking the small duties in search of 
 what might seem to others of more mo- 
 ment. He bought the choicest selec- 
 tions of hymns and gave them to the 
 children of his Sunday-school with the 
 request that each should commit a good 
 hymn to memory during the week, to be 
 repeated the following Lord's day morn- 
 ing. He also designated verses of the 
 New Testament and Psalms for both 
 teachers and scholars to memorize. He 
 purchased out of his own means a very 
 select and complete Sunday-school 
 library, reading each book himself before 
 placing it on the shelves of the handsome 
 book cases he had presented to the 
 school. 
 
 Speaking of aiding a foreign mission- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 75 
 
 ary he writes : " He is a servant of God 
 and I take pleasure in helping him. I 
 am thankful the Lord blesses me in en- 
 abling me to aid others. Let me know 
 whenever there is a worthy cause and I 
 will do so as far as in my power lies. 
 I read with great pleasure the Missionary 
 Leaf you sent me. Thank God for such 
 brethren." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 CHARACTERISTICS. 
 
 To have gained the position and finan- 
 cial success Rochester Ford did under the 
 circumstances of his life bespeaks rare 
 characteristics. When it is remembered 
 that from his boyhood he had pursued a 
 course largely dependent on his own 
 judgment and oftentimes in the face of 
 what others might have regarded great 
 obstacles, he went steadily, uncomplain- 
 ingly and successfully forward, it is evi- 
 
76 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 dent he possessed force of mind combined 
 with just discernment and correct out- 
 look. 
 
 "Success," says Emerson, "is a con- 
 stitutional trait." The man who succeeds 
 doesn't have to look out for opportunities. 
 He looks within for them, and thus that 
 which to others would prove disastrous, 
 to him becomes opportunities for valu- 
 able achievements. Rochester Ford had 
 marked mental ability. This was realized 
 from his youth. Quick to grasp a thought, 
 ready to understand with comprehensive 
 view, and perseverance to follow to a con- 
 clusion, he mastered what he undertook. 
 
 He was trained to habits of neatness, 
 promptness method. " What is worth 
 doing at all is worth doing well," had 
 been axiomatic in his mother's family 
 since the days of his great-grandmother. 
 His manner from his boyhood was pleas- 
 ing combining, as it did, a marked 
 degree of self-respect, self-control and 
 kindly feeling that never failed to mani- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 77 
 
 fest itself in cheerful words and gracious 
 smile. 
 
 He was very prompt, never wasting his 
 own time nor that of another. He was 
 early taught the priceless value of time, 
 and the need of doing with his might 
 what his hands found to do. During 
 his six years' stay in Memphis, he usually 
 went North with his father on his vaca- 
 tion trips. On one occasion they made 
 the tour of Niagara Falls, Canada, and 
 the Eastern cities. He enjoyed the recre- 
 ation from the school-room greatly and 
 returned stronger and more buoyant.. 
 But the following summer he decided he 
 would rather remain with mother. The 
 question with her was a serious one. He 
 had formed an intimate school acquaint- 
 vance with some youths of wealthy and in- 
 fluential families whose rather unlimited 
 range of thought and action she did not 
 deem best for her son to indulge in. 
 
 How could he be kept from these in- 
 fluences without offense to the parents of 
 
78 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 these companions and without her boy 
 feeling he was unjustly restrained? He 
 must be kept at home under her special 
 care. But home must be made happy. 
 He had good books, but could not read 
 all the time; he demanded diversion. 
 
 The mother took the son into her con- 
 fidence as she always did and asked him 
 what he would like to have to amuse him 
 and employ his time. " A dog, a mock- 
 ing bird, and take music lessons." u Very 
 well." 
 
 The dog was purchased, seven mock- 
 ing birds, six of them dying one after 
 another, a melodeon bought, teacher en- 
 gaged, and the summer glided through 
 happily and usefully. 
 
 He was accurate, but not a " martinet." 
 He possessed rare perception and while 
 never neglecting details his mind was 
 actively going forward to the finality. 
 He saw the now and the future and 
 because of these endowments he was not 
 often mistaken in his judgment of men 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 79 
 
 and measures. He weighed questions 
 carefully before deciding, but once con- 
 vinced of the right he pursued it, not 
 dismayed by difficulties nor discouraged 
 by delays. When he had conscientiously 
 done his work he took the results quietly 
 and cheerfully although his purpose might 
 not have been met. When a case was 
 decided adversely in the Supreme Court 
 in Washington he accepted the ultima- 
 tum with a cheerful fortitude. 
 
 He w r as self-sacrificing to an almost 
 unwarranted point. He never neglected 
 necessary details, as unpleasant as they 
 might be to him, but always gave to every 
 demand, however small, the consideration 
 he deemed just. 
 
 He was always fastidious in his attire 
 believing with Shakespeare that the 
 habit should be as costly as the purse 
 would justify rich, not gaudy, for 
 the " apparel oft proclaims the man." 
 He did not, however, adopt the sentiment 
 of Pope " a saint in crepe, is twice a 
 
80 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 saint in lawn " but was more than half 
 inclined to believe that " through tattered 
 clothes small vices do appear." 
 
 A great admirer of Beethoven, he could 
 not but look with disgust on his " two-feet 
 beard" and "his hair so rank and thick 
 he could scarcely keep his hat on." The 
 picture of Sir Isaac Newton going to 
 dine at Trinity Hall " with shoes down 
 at the heels, stockings .untied, surplice 
 on, and hair unkempt " was thoroughly 
 repulsive to his refined taste. 
 
 He was fond of nature, taking expres- 
 sive delight in the joyous spring and gor- 
 geous autumn of the West. He read the 
 Scientific American from his early boy- 
 hood, and was always on the alert for 
 new discoveries in science. He kept 
 himself well informed with regard to 
 everything in this line of a practical 
 nature both in Europe and our own land. 
 He loved music and art, was a connois- 
 seur in both. 
 
 At the age of nineteen he escorted 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 81 
 
 seven ladies to the " Centennial," and 
 no visitor more fully appreciated and 
 enjoyed that wonderful exhibition of 
 painting, statuary and mechanics than 
 he. The Norwegian and Swedish marine 
 scenes with their deep rich coloring 
 particularly pleased him. He attended 
 "The World's Fair" in Chicago in 
 ninety-three, the exposition in ISTew Or- 
 leans, Omaha and Buffalo. He and his 
 sister May were just outside the " Temple 
 of Music " when President McKinley was 
 shot. This sad event so shocked them 
 they made immediate preparation to 
 return to St. Louis. He had known 
 "Major McKinley," having met him 
 several times in Washington, and had for 
 him a profound respect. He regarded 
 him a good man and in many particulars 
 a great one. 
 
 He was "given to hospitality." No 
 stranger was ever seen in the little church 
 that was not greeted by him with a 
 cordial hand-shake, followed by an invi- 
 
82 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 tation to dine. He never married, but 
 with a friend of his had a commodious, 
 richly-furnished house, with all modern im- 
 provements, on Alameda street, Tucson, 
 and a splendid Chinese cook. He knew 
 everything would be in order, and there- 
 fore never hesitated to ask friends to 
 luncheon or dinner. " Ben" was always 
 there. Ben was ever " up to time." 
 
 A gentleman of Chicago seeing in the 
 Standard the announcement of the forth- 
 coming biography, wrote the following 
 letter to his parents : 
 
 " Chicago, Jany. 14, 1904. 
 "DR. S. H. FORD: 
 
 " DEAR SIR AND BRO. Noting in the 
 ' Standard ' that you are to publish a 
 Biography of your son I am led to write 
 you of an instance of your son's hospi- 
 tality. In April, 1901, while making a 
 trip to the coast I stopped over two or 
 three days at Tucson and being a Bap- 
 tist hunted up a church of that denom- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 83 
 
 ination, where I met Mr. Rochester Ford, 
 and by him was invited to dine, an invi- 
 tation I very gladly accepted. 
 
 " We spent a very pleasant hour and 
 afterwards walked about the town. I 
 afterward met your son at his office. I 
 greatly appreciated being invited to your 
 son's home. ' I was a stranger and he 
 took me in.' Mr. Ford was acquainted 
 with Mr. P. T. Burtis, of Phoenix, who 
 has since died. Mr. Burtis, whom I 
 knew in Chicago, and visited in Phoenix, 
 spoke in high terms of your son. It is a 
 pleasure for me to write you of your son 
 whose memory I cherish. I shall be 
 pleased to purchase the Biography when 
 placed on sale. 
 
 " Respectfully yours, 
 
 "S. J. SHERER." 
 
 He was early in life a devout student 
 of God's Word a youth and man of 
 prayer. With him Christ commanded 
 the constant allegiance of both heart and 
 
84 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 mind. His service was his delight. He 
 memorized much of the New Testament 
 and many of the Psalms. He was par- 
 ticularly interested in Paul's epistles. 
 He knew scores of hymns, and could re- 
 peat them without the least inaccuracy. 
 
 Rochester Ford was both a speaker 
 and a writer, and was frequently called 
 upon by his fellow-citizens to publicly 
 give expression of his views on general 
 subjects. 
 
 A character which blended such esti- 
 mable and varied characteristics so gra- 
 ciously, must have exerted over those 
 with whom he mingled a potent and 
 lasting influence. Rochester Ford was 
 noted not only for his unyielding in- 
 tegrity, his comprehensive grasp of 
 principles, his knowledge of men, his 
 understanding of means and measures for 
 the accomplishment of just and benign 
 purposes, his business ability, his refined 
 scholarship, but for his courteous manner, 
 his genial wit and wisdom, his tender 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 85 
 
 sympathy with the needy and suffering, 
 who never appealed to him in vain. He 
 sought to recognize the good in all and, 
 never condoning wrong-doing, he was 
 forgiving and kind to the wrong-doer. 
 He united in an exalted degree the high- 
 est characteristics of a noble manhood 
 with the sublime graces of Christian hu- 
 mility and unwavering devotion to the 
 cause of Christ whose sacrifice had opened 
 up for him the way to eternal life. 
 
 " He taught us virtues first and last, 
 He taught us manhood more and more, 
 
 The simple courage that stands fast, 
 The patience of the poor, 
 
 Love for all creatures, great and small, 
 
 And trust iu Jesus over all." 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ROCHESTER FORD AS A SPEAKER EX- 
 TRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS BEFORE 
 TERRITORIAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. 
 
 It is a fact well known in history of 
 science and philosophy that men gifted 
 
86 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 by nature with a singular intelligence 
 have broached the grossest errors, and 
 even sought to undermine the grand 
 primitive truths on which human virtue, 
 dignity and hope depend ; and, on the 
 other hand, there are instances of men of 
 naturally moderate powers who, by a dis- 
 interested love of truth and their fellow- 
 creatures, have gradually risen to no small 
 force and enlargement of thought. 
 
 We are in the midst of influences which 
 menace the intellect and heart, and to be 
 free is to withstand and conquer these. 
 
 I call that mind free which jealously 
 guards its intellectual rights and powers, 
 which calls no man master, which does 
 not content itself with a passive or hered- 
 itary faith, which opens itself to light 
 whencesoever it may come, which re- 
 ceives new truth as an angel from heaven, 
 which, while consulting others, inquires 
 still more of the oracle within itself, and 
 uses instruction from abroad not to 
 supersede but to quicken and exalt its 
 own energies. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 87 
 
 I call that mind free which protects 
 itself against the usurpations of society, 
 which does not cower to human opinion, 
 which feels itself accountable to a higher 
 tribunal than man's, which respects a 
 higher law than fashion, which respects 
 itself too much to be the slave of the 
 many or the few. 
 
 I call that mind free which is jealous 
 of its own freedom, which guards itself 
 from being merged in others, which 
 guards its empire over itself as nobler 
 than the empire of the world. 
 
 In the history of human civilizations 
 there are, as has been pointed out by the 
 students and thinkers, whose words I 
 freely quote, two periods which so far 
 surpass others that the rest may be neg- 
 lected. " The earlier is that which men 
 for centuries have agreed to call the 
 classic age the age in which the indi- 
 vidual man seemed to attain his highest 
 development as a model and canon for all 
 after time. The latter period dawned 
 
88 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 upon the dark ages when from feudalism 
 as a stern father and the Christian 
 church as a cherishing mother, sprang 
 the modern State, which has made possi- 
 ble for us all the material prosperity of 
 the present day. The differences between 
 these two periods of civilization and the 
 distinguishing features of each are well 
 worthy of note and remembrance. On 
 the one hand, individual men reached 
 almost their highest development in 
 Greece and Rome ; on the other hand, 
 the nice adjustment of the reciprocal 
 rights and duties of men has been the 
 work of modern times. On the one 
 hand, we have the classic standard of the 
 individual which has never been attained 
 in modern times. " Plato," as those 
 write whose opinion is of value, " rises 
 grandly to overshadow modern thinkers. 
 The thunders of Demosthenes, even now 
 reverberating in the echoes of two thou- 
 sand years, drown the voice of every 
 modern orator. We look in vain now 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 89 
 
 for a figure as splendid as that of Peri- 
 cles and Alcibiades. Or, to crown all 
 with a single instance, study Julius 
 Caesar in all the details of his brief life as 
 calmly and as critically as you can the 
 politician, the man of pleasure, the 
 augur, the consul, the general, the con- 
 queror of Gaul, the moulder of the em- 
 pire, the reformer of the world's calen- 
 dar and of the Roman law, the orator, 
 the historian measure him as closely 
 as you can in all these characters, and 
 then, if you can, match him. The first 
 emperor of Rome and of the world, it 
 was his brilliant personality that con- 
 verted the common title of a military 
 commander into the proper designation 
 of the highest civil dominion over man 
 and kings, and to-day each European 
 monarch that claims to be a king of 
 kings, preeminent even among the rulers 
 of the earth, is proud to name himself 
 a Kaiser. 
 
 This individual development was, how- 
 
90 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ever, attained at the expense of the com- 
 munity. Vested rights, or the personal 
 freedom of its subjects, were hardly 
 known in Sparta or Athens, and, as has 
 been pointed out, " just as slavery bears 
 hard on the masses, while allowing the 
 favorites to become the companions, 
 equals, even masters of their owners, so 
 in this crude and arbitrary form of polity 
 the leading citizen, the rich man, the 
 popular orator or the favorite sophist, 
 had chances of individual development 
 that could never be shared by a whole 
 community of freemen." 
 
 After two whole generations it seems 
 as if some increase of genuine reasona- 
 bleness of thought and action in all 
 classes of the population ought to be 
 discernible. Many persons, however, fail 
 to see in the actual conduct of the vari- 
 ous classes of society the evidence of 
 increasing rationality. These skeptical 
 observers complain that people in 
 general, taken in masses with proper 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 91 
 
 exclusion of exceptional individuals, 
 are hardly more reasonable in the conduct 
 of life than they were before free schools, 
 popular colleges and the cheap printing 
 press existed. They point out that when 
 the vulgar want to read they read trivial 
 or degrading literature, such as the com- 
 mon newspapers and periodicals, which 
 are mainly devoted to accidents, crimes, 
 criminal trials, scandals, gossip, sports, 
 prize-fights, and low politics. Is it not 
 the common school and the art of cheap 
 illustration, they say, that have made 
 bad books, photographs, and pictures, 
 low morals and all the literature which 
 excites to vice and crime profitable, and 
 therefore abundant and dangerous to 
 society? They complain that in spite of 
 every effort to enlighten the whole body 
 of the people, all sorts of quacks and 
 impostors thrive, and that one popular 
 delusion or sophism succeeds another, the 
 best educated classes contributing their 
 full proportion of the deluded. Thus, 
 
92 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 the astrologer in the middle ages was a 
 rare personage, and usually a dependent 
 of princes ; but now he advertises in the 
 popular newspapers and flourishes as 
 never before. Men and women of all 
 classes, no matter what their education, 
 seek advice on grave matters from clair- 
 voyants, seers, Christian scientists, mind- 
 cure practitioners, fortune tellers, bone 
 setters and Indian doctors. The ship of 
 state barely escapes from one cyclone of 
 popular folly, like the fiat money delusion 
 or the granger legislation of the seven- 
 ties, when another blast of ill-informed 
 opinion comes down upon it like the 
 actual legislation which compels the buy- 
 ing and storing of silver, or the projected 
 legislation which would compel govern- 
 ment to buy cotton, wheat, or corn, and 
 issue paper money against the stock. 
 &&*&*#&.& 
 
 Observing accurately ; 
 Recording correctly ; 
 Comparing, grouping and inferring 
 justly, and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 93 
 
 Expressing cogently the results of 
 these mental operations. 
 
 The acquisition of the art of reading 
 is mostly a matter of memory. 
 
 As to English spelling, it is altogether 
 a matter of memory. 
 
 Geography, as commonly taught, 
 means committing to memory a mass of 
 curiously uninteresting and unimportant 
 facts. 
 
 Arithmetic does not train a single one 
 of the faculties which should be the 
 fundamental object of education, and is 
 the least remunerative subject in element- 
 ary education as now conducted. 
 
 No amount of memoritur study of 
 languages, or of the natural science, and 
 no attainments in arithmetic, will protect 
 a man or woman except imperfectly, 
 through a certain indirect cultivation of 
 general intelligence from succumbing 
 to the first plausible delusion or sophism 
 he or she may encounter. N"o amount 
 of such studies will protect one from 
 
94 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 believing in astrology, or theosophy, 
 or free silver, or strikes, or boycotts, or 
 in the persecution of Jews or Mormons, 
 or in the violent exclusion of non-union 
 men from employment or engaging in 
 land speculation. Books enable us to 
 learn from others who are wiser and 
 better than we are persons whom we 
 cannot hope to meet, but whose thoughts 
 we are pleased to know. 
 
 A book is more than a monument of 
 a preceding age. It is a voice coming 
 to us over the interval of centuries. 
 Language, when written, as truly con- 
 veys to us another's mind as when 
 spoken. It is a species of personal in- 
 tercourse. By it the wise of former 
 times give us their minds as really as if 
 by some miracle they were to rise from 
 the dead and communicate with us by 
 speech. It is chiefly through books that 
 we enjoy intercourse with superior minds, 
 and these invaluable means of communi- 
 cation are within the reach of all. In 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 95 
 
 the best books great men talk to us, give 
 us their most precious thoughts, and 
 pour their souls into ours. God be 
 thanked for books. They are the voices 
 of the distant and the dead, and make 
 us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages. 
 Books are the true levelers. They give 
 to all who will faithfully use them the 
 society, the spirit and presence of the 
 best and greatest of our race. ~No mat- 
 ter how poor I am. No matter though 
 the prosperous of my own time will not 
 enter my obscure dwelling. If the sa- 
 cred writers will come and take up their 
 abode under my roof ; if Milton .will cross 
 my threshold to sing to me of Paradise, 
 and Shakspere to open to me the world of 
 imagination and the workings of the 
 human heart, and Franklin to enrich me 
 with his practical wisdom, I shall not 
 pine for want of intellectual companion- 
 ship, and I may become a cultivated man, 
 though excluded from what is called the 
 best society in the place where I may be." 
 
96 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 " Progressive movements are not led by 
 majorities. The conception, the initia- 
 tive, the forward lead, must come from 
 an individual, or from a small minority. 
 This is as true in educational matters as 
 in any other sphere of life. 
 
 When one finds himself fairly settled 
 in company with a majority, it is time to 
 begin to look for a higher ideal." 
 
 He never permitted his addresses to be 
 taken down in shorthand. The above 
 was found among his papers in type. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 When the Chamber of Commerce 
 wished the advantages of Tucson written 
 up for public distribution they applied to 
 Mr. Ford to do this, to which he acceded 
 most cheerfully. We make some extracts 
 from this work. 
 
 " Tucson lays claim to being one of the 
 oldest settlements in the United States, 
 ranking as to age next after San Angus- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 97 
 
 tine, Florida, and SantaFe, New Mexico. 
 Its history can be traced back to 1649, 
 when a military station was established 
 by the Spaniards to protect the Mission 
 of San Xavier. The merits of this claim 
 of long descent have been called in ques- 
 tion, but the fact remains that it was 
 settled at a very early day, and its natural 
 advantages are such that it was always 
 an important trading point. 
 
 Before the advent of the railroad, 
 Tucson was almost as unknown and as 
 remote from civilization as the interior of 
 Africa. It was indeed a frontier town 
 in all that those words import. 
 
 But Tucson now is as different from 
 Tucson in its frontier stage as the day is 
 from night, or the gorgeous and be- 
 spangled butterfly from the chrysalis or 
 grub. That period of her history which 
 might be termed the dark ages has passed. 
 Warfare with the Apaches, and cruelties 
 surpassing any tales of fiction, are among 
 the experiences of the pioneers who are 
 
 7 
 
98 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 still living, but to the new-comers and 
 the younger generation all this seems as 
 far back in the past as the myths that are 
 preserved only in folk-lore. The "Wild 
 West" is to be seen now only on the stage 
 and in comic papers. The frontier has 
 disappeared with the buffalo, and Tucson 
 is one of the most modern, progressive, 
 prosperous and law- abiding cities to be 
 found in the length and breadth of the 
 land one which offers as many induce- 
 ments as could be expected, both to those 
 who wish to engage in active business for 
 the profit there is in it, and to those who 
 may wish to rest and regain strength 
 in a climate which is, without any excep- 
 tion, unequaled. When it is known that 
 Tucson not only possesses its matchless 
 climate, but is also one of the best busi- 
 ness points in the southwest, it is no 
 wonder that it has gone ahead by leaps 
 and bounds. 
 
 Just as sometimes in the large cities a 
 tract of ground, barren, repelling, cov- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 99 
 
 ered with hovels and surrounded by 
 squalor, is taken for public use, and in 
 an incredibly short time the houses are 
 removed, the streets broadened, graded 
 and paved, and, as though by a magi- 
 cian's wand, the land itself turned into 
 a park or boulevard of entrancing 
 beauty "a wilderness of harmony," 
 delighting the eye and quickening the 
 soul, so Tucson in the last few years has 
 been physically recreated and beautified. 
 Adobe houses have been pulled down to 
 give place to substantial brick buildings, 
 crooked streets have been made straight, 
 and narrow ones no matter what the 
 expense widened. Elegant residences 
 have been built ; trees have been planted 
 and grown, and private lawns and public 
 parks refresh the eye. 
 
 It is worthy of note that the improve- 
 ments seem due to the natural and perma- 
 nent advantages which Tucson possesses 
 as a business point. The city has not been 
 boomed by outsiders, nor is its progress 
 
100 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 due wholly to what is termed new blood. 
 Local capital has been sufficient for in- 
 creased demands, and the men who have 
 lived in Tucson from the early days are 
 fully imbued with the spirit of progress 
 and have been the most important fac- 
 tors in the march of improvement. It 
 is the citizens that have lived here for 
 years who have built the most beautiful 
 and costly residences, who conduct the 
 largest business enterprises and who have 
 been most prominent in the radical 
 changes that have come over the city. 
 
 Where business rests mainly on mining 
 operations, for instance, or on the success 
 of one product, or the water supply for 
 irrigation purposes, the shutting down of 
 the mines or the failure of the crop, or 
 the shortage of water in the canals will 
 result immediately in curtailed business 
 and hard times. But Tucson has so 
 many resources to draw from that its 
 volume of trade cannot in any reasonable 
 probability be seriously affected for any 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 101 
 
 great length of time. Among other 
 causes of advancement is the fact that it 
 is the headquarters of the important di- 
 vision of the Southern Pacific Company 
 from El Paso to Yuma. The company 
 now employs 600 men at Tucson and 
 these figures will be increased as soon as 
 the extensive enlargements and improve- 
 ments already decided on are completed. 
 The geographical position of the city is 
 such as to make it the headquarters for 
 the mining and cattle industry of Southern 
 Arizona. It is the great distributing 
 point not only for a large part of the Ter- 
 ritory, but for much of northern Sonora 
 as well, and the tides of business will keep 
 it what it has always been, the metropolis 
 of Arizona. 
 
 The population, according to the best 
 estimates, one of which is based on the 
 fact that there are 2,400 school children 
 in the district, is between 11,000 and 12,- 
 000. Of this number perhaps one-half are 
 Mexicans. It should be borne in mind, 
 
102 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 however, that Tucson is strictly an Ameri- 
 can city. By this is meant that our Mexi- 
 can friends do not hold themselves aloof, 
 but are as wide awake in the march of 
 progress as any citizens we have. No 
 race issues are raised, and the Americans 
 and Mexicans freely intermingle without 
 friction. 
 
 The first wealth is health, and a pure 
 water supply is of paramount importance. 
 This demand is met in the waterworks 
 system owned and operated by the mu- 
 nicipality. It is new and complete, com- 
 prising all necessary features of pumps, 
 water-tower or stand-pipe, mains, etc. 
 
 Hardly second in practical importance 
 to the well-being of a city is its drainage 
 and sewerage. In this, also, Tucson 
 meets all requirements. An improved 
 sewer system, planned by Eastern experts 
 who came to Tucson and thoroughly ex- 
 amined local conditions, has been in- 
 stalled. It, like the waterworks, is owned 
 and operated by the municipality, so that 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 103 
 
 the people have nothing to fear either 
 from the neglect or extortion of a private 
 corporation. 
 
 From a mention of the most prominent 
 business enterprises of Tucson it will be 
 at once apparent that it is characterized 
 by activity and prosperity. 
 
 There are two national banks having 
 deposits aggregating a million and a quar- 
 ter of dollars ; three building and loan 
 associations (one of them being on record 
 as the most successful in the United 
 States) which loaned $175,000 in 1901 ; 
 two daily newspapers receiving the Asso- 
 ciated Press dispatches ; two weeklies ; a 
 complete local and long distance tele- 
 phone service ; two modern ice works ; 
 the same number of excellent and com- 
 plete flouring mills ; a number of hotels, 
 one the new Williard, opened September 
 1, 1902, and another one, the Santa Kita, 
 a modern and elegant building to cost 
 $100,000, now in course of erection and 
 soon to be opened. A well-equipped 
 
104 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Carnegie library, six church houses, an 
 orphans' home, an Indian industrial train- 
 ing school and farm successfully managed 
 by the Presbyterian Board of Missions. 
 
 EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. 
 
 The chief feature of the educational 
 system of the Territory is the University 
 of Arizona, situated at Tucson. It is 
 located on a campus of forty acres, com- 
 manding at once a full view of the grand 
 mountain ranges and also of the city. 
 Its equipment comprises extensive build- 
 ings and all necessary apparatus, and its 
 courses of study are varied and such as 
 to meet the needs of any student. The 
 mining course is planned with special ref- 
 erence to the need of the mining engineer 
 in Arizona or Mexico. 
 
 The faculty is a strong one, consisting 
 of twenty members, including graduates 
 of all the leading universities. The 
 equipment of the shops and laboratories 
 is modern and complete, and the creden- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 105 
 
 tials of the university are accepted in 
 place of examinations at all the leading 
 universities and colleges. It is in all 
 respects the equal of similar institutions 
 in other territories or States. 
 
 The Territory has always followed a 
 large and liberal educational policy both 
 as to public schools and higher institutions 
 of learning, and Tucson may confidently 
 present her schools as being up to the 
 highest attainable standard. Even in the 
 comparatively early day, many years ago, 
 the public school building was the largest 
 and most expensive in the place, and the 
 new schoolhouses erected in the past 
 two years are, like all the late improve- 
 ments of the city, designed and finished 
 in accord with modern scientific require- 
 ments. The public schools are judi- 
 ciously located in different parts of the 
 city and are, in fact, of peculiar excel- 
 lence and models of what such buildings 
 should be. 
 
 An academy and a parochial school 
 
106 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 are maintained by the Roman Catholics, 
 who also conduct an Orphans' Home. 
 
 Tucson affords the means of gratify- 
 ing social, literary, religious and other 
 needs. The various secret orders and 
 benevolent societies have thirty-five 
 lodges. A large, new opera house af- 
 fords a suitable place for theatrical and 
 other entertainment. The Carnegie 
 library is a beautiful, well-constructed 
 building fully supplied with books, and 
 conducted by the city according to the 
 methods which have received the ap- 
 proval of library experts. The Elks 
 have a large brick clubhouse of their 
 own, the finest of its kind in the Terri- 
 tory, furnished with the most artistic 
 equipment possible to be secured. 
 
 JL, \k ^'. 4 .V. * Afr M* 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 Reference has been made to the match- 
 less climate of Tucson. The greater 
 part of the southwest, including western 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 107 
 
 Texas, New Mexico, northern Sonora 
 and Arizona, is a vast natural sanitarium, 
 but among the many excellent resorts in 
 this district, each having some features 
 of merit, none surpasses Tucson. The 
 word-artists have exhausted their skill 
 in delineations of western life, and so 
 many pen pictures have been drawn of 
 the mountains, the clouds, the skies and 
 the sunshine that the reading public is 
 familiar with such descriptions. But, 
 after all is said and written, the fact is 
 that descriptions fall short. The reality 
 surpasses the most ambitious portrayal. 
 The charm of the western life is too 
 elusive to be captured by words, and 
 the blue of the sky, the purple haze of 
 the mountains, the softness and kindness 
 and peacefulness of the air, and the 
 glories of dawn and sunset, remain inde- 
 scribable. 
 
 A very experienced traveler and im- 
 partial observer, Hon. Whitelaw Eeid, 
 wrote of Arizona as follows : 
 
108 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 "During a five months' residence in 
 southern Arizona in winter there was but 
 one day when the weather made it actu- 
 ally unpleasant for me to take exercise 
 in the open air at some time or other 
 during the day. Of course, there were a 
 good many days which a weather obser- 
 ver would describe as ' cloudy ' and some 
 that were ' showery ;' but during the 
 five months (from November, 1895, to 
 May, 1896) there were only four days 
 when we did not have brilliant sun- 
 shine at some time during the day." 
 The forces of the system are not used 
 up in fighting against cold and chill, 
 but are reserved for building up the im- 
 paired tissues, and the dry and balmy 
 air helps not only by enabling invalids 
 to keep out of doors, but also, as it is 
 thought, exerts a positive curative effect. 
 
 For these reasons the fame of Tucson's 
 climate for lung sufferers has been stead- 
 ily growing. Threatened or incipient 
 cases of tuberculosis may confidently 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 109 
 
 hope for improvement, but persons with 
 cases far advanced will not be benefited 
 here or elsewhere and it cannot be too 
 strongly urged that such persons should 
 not come. In common with all resorts 
 for pulmonary invalids, Tucson is awake 
 to the necessity of making reasonable 
 regulations to prevent the danger of in- 
 fection from consumptives. The belief 
 is prevalent that the disease may be com- 
 municated from one to another and for 
 the protection both of the invalids them- 
 selves and of our own citizens, strict 
 compliance with sanitary regulations is 
 imperative. 
 
 The Sisters of Mercy conduct a new 
 hospital exclusively for persons suffering 
 from lung troubles, and another large 
 and completely appointed sanatarium is 
 expected to be open by winter. 
 
 " I will not fear to launch my bark 
 Before the darkly rolling flood 
 
 'Tis but to pierce the mist and then 
 How beautiful to be with God." 
 
110 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 SERIOUS MONITIONS* 
 
 For more than a year Rochester Ford 
 was fully aware that he was losing 
 ground. He had purchased a pneumox- 
 eter when in New York, some months 
 previous to January, 1902, and when he 
 found his breathing capacity could not 
 be extended under its use, he felt con- 
 vinced the unfavorable condition of his 
 lung could not be improved. His breath- 
 ing was gradually growing more labored 
 and he found his strength slowly failing. 
 These unpromising features he fully 
 realized but he never complained. ISTot 
 a word of murmur or despondency, but 
 whatever his suffering he was always 
 cheerful, and ready with a pleasant word 
 and genial smile. Averse to calling 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. Ill 
 
 attention to himself, his most trusted 
 friends never knew the constant weari- 
 ness and oppression he bore from hour to 
 hour. 
 
 After a very trying trip and unpleasant 
 stay in Nogales of several days, whither 
 he had gone on important business, he 
 suffered on his return to Tucson in Jan- 
 uary, 1902, with a slight bleeding from 
 the right lung which confined him to his 
 room for a few days. As was his cus- 
 tom during all the years of his exile he 
 wrote to his mother every day. This 
 was his invariable rule and whether in 
 bed, or at his office, on the train or in 
 hotel, there was never an omission. 
 While in bed on this occasion he wrote : 
 "Results are in the hands of God and I 
 am resigned to His will. He has given 
 me ten years and may extend my life 
 longer. I am living as it were on bor- 
 rowed time. This is the right way to 
 view life whether we are sick or in health. 
 I try to keep my house in order." 
 
112 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 A few days later he says : " All things 
 work together for good to them who love 
 God, and sickness comes from him as 
 well as health. He has a purpose in 
 everything that befalls his children and 
 we are to rejoice in the Lord always. 
 My trust isin Him ; ' why should I fear.' " 
 
 On the first day of this New Year he 
 sent a beautiful greeting, and adds: 
 "Every day, however, is the beginning 
 of another year. The older I get the 
 less I care for particular days. Our lives 
 have been spared through another twelve 
 months, and we should devoutly praise 
 the Giver of all good. It seems almost 
 a miracle that despite great weakness I 
 have managed to get around for ten 
 years. I do not feel that I am growing 
 stronger but the Lord has kept me and 
 will keep me, and I can trust everything 
 to Him." This was written about nine- 
 teen months before his departure to 
 heaven. From this attack in January he 
 sufficiently recovered to make a trip to 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 113 
 
 Washington, leaving Tucson February 
 22d. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 HIS LAST TRIP TO WASHINGTON. 
 
 It was a matter of necessity that he 
 should be present in Washington in Feb- 
 ruary and March, 1902, to attend the 
 Supreme Court, in the noted Pima County 
 Bond Case. He did not care to expose 
 himself to the change of climate and the 
 usual unpleasant winter weather of the 
 Capital. But duty demanded it and un- 
 der difficulty and some degree of appre- 
 hension he prepared for the undertaking. 
 He selected the Southern route as involv- 
 ing the least exposure and discomfort. 
 
 After leaving El Paso, he wrote, Feb- 
 ruary 23d : 
 
 " My Dear Mother: 
 
 " Am speeding on my way, safe so far, 
 was quite feeble last night and this morn- 
 ing, but I am over this now (11 a. m.). 
 
 8 
 
114 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Lately I have something like a premoni- 
 tion of fainting but have not done so, 
 and I hope I shall not. It certainly re- 
 quires some resolution to make these trips 
 when I am so nearly completely helpless, 
 but at all times I am trusting in the Lord 
 and shall go on as long as it is His will. 
 I do not know what a day nor an hour 
 may bring forth. All my plans are sub- 
 ject to change. * * * 
 
 " There is no time when I am awake 
 that I am not thinking of you. 
 44 Your loving son, 
 
 " ROCHESTER." 
 
 During his two weeks' stay in Wash- 
 ington the weather was cold, damp and 
 sunless. It rained and snowed and 
 sleeted. The wind at times was fiercely 
 penetrating. This condition acted very 
 unfavorably and seriously increased the 
 difficulty of breathing. But, notwith- 
 standing his sufferings, of which he 
 never complained, he made a daily visit 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 115 
 
 to the Capitol and would sit with great 
 fortitude in the Supreme Court room 
 listening to the pleadings in the various 
 cases before the judges. 
 
 A friend of his from San Francisco, 
 Mr. F. J. Heney, was lying dangerously 
 ill at one of the hotels. It was not pru- 
 dent, but he took a carriage and called 
 to see if he could do anything for his 
 friend's comfort. His mother having 
 joined him in Washington in order to be 
 with him should he need her, accom- 
 panied him each day in his visits to the 
 Capitol and was present when Mr. Car- 
 lisle, followed by Rochester, made their 
 speeches in the noted bond case, When 
 the time came for him to leave Washing- 
 ton for the West, the weather having 
 somewhat improved, he decided to accom- 
 pany his mother to St. Louis. Not being 
 able to visit his family at their suburban 
 home, he had them come to the city and 
 take dinner with him at the hotel. 
 
 He had had many cases in the Supreme 
 
116 
 
 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Court of the U. S. and unfortunately 
 for his health he had been compelled to 
 visit the East on business most of the 
 winters of his stay in Tucson. One sea- 
 son he was necessitated to make two 
 trips during mid-winter. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS OF 1902. 
 
 " April 1 . As to the cause of the dis- 
 tress on my trip from St. Louis, I am 
 entirely ignorant. I did have a time of 
 it and the last day of the trip I was at a 
 standstill. I shall not soon forget it. lam 
 taking the buggy rides as I wrote you 
 eating and sleeping tolerably well. Do 
 not suffer nearly so much in the morn- 
 ing from shortness of breath in fact, 
 get on quite comfortably." 
 
 " April 10. I send you a paper contain- 
 ing an account of the H trial. The 
 evidence against him is most weighty 
 but perhaps by ; ways that are dark and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 117 
 
 tricks that are vain ' he may escape the 
 penalty. Justice is sometimes adminis- 
 tered, but when a criminal of any promi- 
 nence is tried, the associates gather from 
 near and far hoping to influence the 
 jury, or aid him in some way. The 
 cohesive power of public plunder binds 
 them into a homogeneous mass." 
 
 u April 14. Am always so encouraged 
 when I get your loving and sympathizing 
 letters. Am indeed doing all I can and 
 it would seem I should improve, but 
 some days I am so feeble as to be almost 
 incapable of moving. I slept well and 
 ate a hearty breakfast and the day is 
 bright and warm, but I am very weak. 
 What can all this mean? I certainly 
 would not write about myself but I have 
 promised you to let you know from time 
 to time just how I am. The Lord will 
 bring everything to pass according to the 
 counsel of His will." 
 
 " May 15. Why I was taken with la 
 grippe and compelled to live here, I do 
 
118 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 not know, but I am assured it is all right. 
 I had hoped I would improve and regain 
 strength but am now convinced that I 
 must not expect to be much stronger than 
 I am. The great thing is not to deceive 
 one's self in any respect. The pneu- 
 moxiter shows that at rny best estate I 
 have less than one -half of average breath- 
 ing capacity, and when I am tired and my 
 lungs do not work properly, I have 
 scarcely a third or a fourth. You can see 
 that it is hard work to attend to business. 
 Whatever I do is at least three times as 
 hard as for ordinary persons. But I have 
 been enabled to keep up and to accom- 
 plish something. I hoped that the 
 breathing exercises would have increased 
 my lung capacity but after faithful effort 
 there is no perceptible gain, and thus 
 conclude that what Dr. Fenner has told 
 me is the case that the lung has hard- 
 ened and there is no possibility of rem- 
 edying it. This is not pleasant but I 
 accept it and am not repining. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 119 
 
 "When we look at the other side I have 
 great reason to be thankful that my life 
 has been spared for almost eleven years, 
 and that I have been given strength to 
 do what lay before me in spite of weak- 
 ness. I shall keep on just as long as 
 possible but the time must come when 
 my breath will stop. I stood the effort 
 at church very well and believed my talk 
 did good. I am sure it was the truth as 
 revealed in the Word. Several spoke 
 with me about it. Speaking always bene- 
 fits me and I do not hesitate to use my 
 lungs in that way whenever I have oc- 
 casion. '' 
 
 " May 25. Safely through another week 
 God has brought me on my way. It is 
 His hand that guides me and upholds 
 me. I have long since come to know that 
 in myself I have literally no strength and 
 I look to Him from day to day. While I 
 am busy all the time it is with matters of 
 daily routine that are uninteresting ex- 
 cept to clients. I have the Sunday- 
 
]20 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 school library numbered and classified 
 and shall write the members of the other 
 churches to use the books." 
 
 "May 28. This morning I attended the 
 meeting of the Arizona Medical Asso- 
 ciation, and made the " Address of 
 Welcome," and then came to the office 
 to prepare a lecture to be delivered at the 
 University to-morrow afternoon on min- 
 ing law. To do this takes a good deal 
 of time, and I hesitate to undertake it, 
 but the professor represented that it was 
 an opportunity to do good to the pupils, 
 and on that representation I yielded." 
 
 " May 30. At the meeting of the Medi- 
 cal Association one physician said that 
 " exhaustion is the mother of most 
 diseases." He condensed volumes into 
 that one sentence. Am feeling tolerably 
 well. I read a lecture on mining law for 
 an hour, but got through without exces- 
 sive fatigue." 
 
 "June 5. I went out on night of 3d 
 inst., and acted as one of the judges of 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 121 
 
 the oratorical contest at the opera house. 
 It is the only night I have been out in a 
 long while. Generally it is out of my 
 power to get around at night, and this 
 makes traveling so unpleasant." 
 
 "June 8. Am once more at my office on 
 a Lord's Day morning, but it is only to 
 write to you. I do not attend to busi- 
 ness on Sunday or at night. I get to 
 church and Sunday-school in the morning 
 and occasionally to the Congregational 
 Church at night, as this is just across 
 the street from us. I find the walk to 
 our church too much for me at night. 
 Am feeling better to-day than yesterday. 
 My breathing apparatus seemed to be 
 on a strike, and I got around only with 
 the greatest difficulty. " 
 
 " June 20. With regard to burial my 
 views are as yours. When our remains 
 are committed to the earth we shall be 
 with the Lord and this body of our 
 humiliation will be raised so as to con- 
 form to the body of His glory. We can 
 
122 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 rest as well in one place as another. It 
 is my wish to be buried with the utmost 
 simplicity consistent with decency at 
 the place where I may die, and that rny 
 remains be left undisturbed and in no 
 event transported over the country. This 
 practice of shipping dead people back 
 and forth on railroad cars seems hideous 
 to me." 
 
 "I wrote you I went out to prayer-meet- 
 ing. Last night I called upon Dr. and 
 Mrs. Burton-, both much interested in the 
 proposed sanitarium. I am ready to give 
 time and advice but have not seen fit to 
 subscribe. There are many calls on me 
 for my money and I use it in lines where 
 others will not give, leaving such enter- 
 prises as the sanitarium for persons who 
 will give to it but would not give to 
 purely religious matters." 
 
 "June 21. Have been going out at 
 night this week. I wish to visit my 
 friends when I can." 
 
 July 8. Writing from Nogales he says : 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 123 
 
 " Am in the midst of the trial of a case. 
 Am getting on pretty well with it. It in- 
 volves a large amount and presents a 
 number of issues. Had a good rest last 
 night and am feeling as well as usual. 
 Am always thinking of you." Later he 
 writes: " Have gained the case. Client 
 much pleased." 
 
 " July 9. Am writing you from the 
 court-room in the intervals between cases. 
 Have had a number of matters here and 
 they have kept me busy but am feeling 
 as well as usual. I wrote you the weather 
 was cool and very pleasant but no rain. 
 The suffering and loss among the cattle 
 are very great and many men may be 
 bankrupted. Riches certainly take wings 
 and fly away. Our trust is in the living 
 God, the maker of heaven and earth." 
 
 " I know not where His islands lift 
 Their fronded palms in air, 
 I only know I cannot drift 
 Beyond His love and care." 
 
124 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 HIS SUMMER VISIT TO ST. LOUIS AND 
 RETURN TO TUCSON. 
 
 It became necessary in order to attend 
 to some business that he should return 
 through Santa Fe. Having been greatly 
 distressed by oppressivebreathing through 
 the spring and summer he was apprehen- 
 sive that this feature would be much 
 aggravated by the high altitude. But 
 with that sense of duty that ever char- 
 acterized him he put aside personal con- 
 siderations and decided upon that route. 
 As he feared his suffering was greatly in- 
 creased, and when he reached St. Louis 
 on August 8th he was unusually fatigued. 
 A few days rest benefited him very per- 
 ceptibly, but it was evident to his family 
 and friends that he had not gained 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 125 
 
 strength during the past year. Ever a 
 joy for him to be at home it was particu- 
 larly delightful when his physical condi- 
 tion demanded the thousand delicate at- 
 tentions which it was such a holy pleasure 
 for every member of the household to be- 
 stow. His interest in everything pertain- 
 ing to the happiness and comfort of those 
 he loved was beautiful and unceasing. 
 He was ever devising and providing 
 means to improve and beautify the home. 
 Always before leaving Tucson " he 
 set his house in order," arranging all 
 matters so he could leave them without 
 any anxiety. Thus his summers were 
 spent in a delightsome freedom from care. 
 He loved nature and was most apprecia- 
 tive of her varying moods. The great 
 stretches of landscape with their verdur- 
 ous covering, the stately trees, the shim- 
 mering light of noonday, the glories of 
 the setting sun, the trembling twilight, 
 the flowers, the birds, all appealed to his 
 sense of beauty and evoked expressions 
 
126 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 of grateful admiration. He saw God 
 in all. 
 
 Occasional visits to the city looking 
 up points in the Law Library bearing on 
 cases he had on hand for Missouri clients, 
 extensive correspondence, general read- 
 ing with visits from friends, made the two 
 months of his stay pass so swiftly that 
 when the time for return "West came, his 
 visit seemed all too short. He with his 
 family looked upon his stay as the marked 
 epoch of the year. 
 
 Leaving St. Louis October 1st, he had 
 varying experience on reaching Tucson. 
 The breathing was fitful, but at times 
 very painful. October 13th he writes: 
 " Slept last night without discomfort, for 
 which I devoutly thank our Heavenly 
 Father. Our lives are in His hands. 
 Am just about as I was at Woodland. 
 I should be so thankful if I had more 
 strength and freedom from the shortness 
 of breath. Do not cease to pray for me 
 that I may rejoice in the Lord and sub- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 127 
 
 mit myself to Him. If I can get around 
 I will try to honor Him by so doing and 
 if the time should come that I cannot en- 
 gage in the activities of life, this will be 
 all right also. Pray that I may have peace 
 and composure of mind. I wish I felt a 
 little mite of strength so that everything 
 would not seem a burden. I shall not give 
 up. The Lord knows what is best for 
 me. Pray for me that I may not be dis- 
 quieted or downcast. I am looking to the 
 Lord for support in every time of need. 
 God bless you all. Some time we shall 
 all be united where sorrow is no more." 
 Later he says : " My thoughts have 
 been constantly with you all. I always 
 think of you, but for the past few days 
 every moment has been filled with thought 
 of home. I know that you love me and 
 sympathize with me and this cheers me 
 in times of pain. My mind is at ease 
 and I have faith in God and have resigned 
 myself wholly to His righteous will and 
 will take without murmuring anything 
 
128 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 that comes from His hands. If He would 
 relieve me fr*om this distressed breathing 
 it would be a comfort to be devoutly 
 thankful for, but if His purposes are 
 otherwise it will work for my good. My 
 heart is not troubled. 
 
 " I thought last night how blessed it 
 would be if the Lord would come. To 
 think of being with Him and with each 
 other in a realm where there is no night 
 and no sickness is a blessed outlook. 
 When some of us have been taken above 
 the others can remember that we have 
 always been kind to each other. There 
 was not an unkind word spoken by any 
 one while I was with you, and it has been 
 thus at all times. This is something to 
 remember with great pleasure." 
 
 As we have before mentioned, his 
 friends in Tucson never realized his fee- 
 ble condition nor his painful suffering. 
 And when his party needed a leader they 
 called upon him. 
 
 On October 17th he wrote his mother : 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 129 
 
 " I send you a marked copy of the Cit- 
 izen, from which you will see that I have 
 been asked to take full charge of the 
 campaign, just as I did two years ago. 
 I belive I can do some good and will try 
 it. All the clerical work I will have others 
 do. I made an effort and got out to the 
 grand meeting to welcome Hon. Mark 
 Smith, and presided. I am thinking that 
 the time when I can get around at night 
 is fast drawing to a close and I may be 
 one of the < shut ins.' 26th. The ab- 
 solute control of the campaign is on my 
 hands, and I am called upon to decide 
 every question of policy and to superin- 
 tend a great deal of the detail. The 
 Democrats have put up good men, and I 
 wish to show them that I am always ready 
 to help them when they do. Unless the 
 citizens of Tucson help and aid good 
 candidates and work against poor ones we 
 should soon be under the reign of the 
 boodlers." December 15 he writes: 
 " Dr. Worrell's letter is a good one. I 
 
 9 
 
130 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 believe God's word and know His love and 
 power, but I do not feel that He has 
 promised to heal all sick people. I don't 
 want my faith in God to turn into fanat- 
 icism. I pray for His blessing and that 
 He will give me strength if it is His will 
 and if it is not that He will enable me to 
 go on in weakness and pain. He works 
 according to the counsel of His will, and 
 He is a faithful creator, and those who 
 suffer according to His will can commit 
 their souls unto Him. He has sustained 
 me thus far and will keep me to the end. 
 December 25, his last Christmas day, 
 he wrote : u My Dear Mother : I hope all 
 the dear ones at home are enjoying them- 
 selves. I shall pass the day very quietly. 
 Breathing not good. It wakes me in the 
 night and sometimes keeps me awake. 
 However, I get on better than one would 
 suppose. The capacity of the human 
 frame to stand suffering as I know by my 
 own case is great. People get used to 
 things and I go on and attend to busi- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 131 
 
 ness when I am so short of breath and 
 distressed that after it is over I wonder 
 how I got through. The Lord keeps 
 me and as the strain comes he will give 
 me needed strength. I am trusting in 
 Him fully and my heart is not fearful. 
 Am always thinking of all the dear ones 
 at home." 
 
 Oct. 29. " I am just through with a case 
 which I tried for two days. A wretched 
 husband was trying to impose upon his 
 wife; I defended her and gained the case 
 for which I am very glad. Sometimes I 
 get through without much discomfort 
 while at other times there is a good deal 
 of distress. If there were not a better 
 country than this and a house of God 
 eternal in the heaven, this would be a 
 poor world. But we can rejoice in the 
 Lord and in Him I do rejoice, and like 
 the apostle will rejoice. Nothing new to 
 write you. I go through much of a rou- 
 tine, working in my office through the 
 day and spending the nights at home, 
 
132 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 not going out at all. I am sorry I am shut 
 in at night, but it is all for the best." 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 HIS MOTHER'S VISIT TO HIM. 
 
 Through all the years of his stay in 
 Tucson his daily letters to his mother 
 gave her an accurate idea of his condi- 
 tion. To his friends and acquaintances 
 he never complained. No one in constant 
 contact with him ever heard a word with 
 regard to his sufferings. For the last 
 two years they feared from his physical 
 appearance and oppressed breathing that 
 he was not improving, but no words 
 were ever passed on the subject. 
 
 From the letters received by his mother 
 through January, 1903, it was evident to 
 her he was not so well as when he left St. 
 Louis the previous October. He was 
 troubled not only with increased difficulty 
 in breathing but with great pain in the 
 diaphragm. She felt he needed her pres- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYEE. 133 
 
 ence, and the following from Phoenix, 
 where he had gone in behalf of the in- 
 terests of Pima County, decided her to 
 make the visit: "Wish I could write you 
 that I am well, but cannot. This breath- 
 ing is bad, I stand it to a degree that I 
 hardly thought possible but cannot help 
 thinking if it gets much worse it will 
 show me that I must stop traveling. It 
 is all in His hands and the more I suffer 
 the more I can rejoice in Him. You love 
 me when I am feeble and certainly He 
 does. He is the joy of our salvation ; 
 ' What time I am afraid I will trust in 
 thee.' He had been contemplating a 
 trip to Charleston, S. C., to meet the 
 directors of a large ranch in which 
 he had an interest and for which he 
 had been legal adviser for years. This 
 he had to forego. It was inferred from 
 this that he was not so well, for noth- 
 ing but impossibility ever deterred him 
 from meeting an obligation. 
 
 The next day, February 11, he wrote : 
 
134: ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 " My Dear Mother: I returned from Phoe- 
 nix this morning having gone over one 
 night and coming back the next. In our 
 land case the Loan Commission made a 
 decision after I wrote you, which was 
 greatly to our advantage. As matters 
 now stand the interest charge will now 
 be $9,500 a year as against $20,000 which 
 the bondholders were demanding. My 
 efforts have thus resulted in cutting the 
 charge in half and the friends here whom 
 I have told of the matter are greatly 
 pleased." 
 
 His mother left St. Louis for Tucson 
 about the middle of February, and under 
 her care and cheering presence he was 
 temporarily better. It was a joyous 
 occasion for both, and now the son has 
 gone above, it is a holy memory to be 
 cherished through the passing years that 
 intervene until their reunion in heaven. 
 
 Never, perhaps, were there ever found 
 two more congenial souls than the 
 mother and her son. There appeared to 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 135 
 
 exist an uninterrupted telepathic com- 
 munication between them. They seemed 
 ever to understand each other perfectly 
 and their mutual love was unbounded. 
 
 During her stay he was strong enough 
 to walk to church, having, however, to 
 make several pauses for breath. He 
 taught the Bible class and aided when 
 necessary in the services. He could not 
 get out at night, but such was his interest 
 in the little church, that when Mr. Pavey, 
 the evangelist, held a two weeks' meet- 
 ing, he would invariably keep awake that 
 he might hear his mother's report, and 
 it gave him joy to know that sinners 
 were finding the Savior. 
 
 He ever exercised a solid, deliberate 
 faith in Christ which he realized had to 
 grow day by day through exercise. 
 There was depth in the soil and so the 
 good seed sprung up and produced an 
 hundredfold. 
 
 Each day before the morning meal 
 " faithful Ben," his Chinese cook, was 
 
136 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 called to the dining-room, the Scriptures 
 were read, and Jesus who died for the 
 sins of the world and for his sins, ex- 
 plained to him, and then the three knelt 
 while he offered up earnest prayer for 
 strength and wisdom for the day that 
 God's will might be done. 
 
 He refused all invitations to go out but 
 was in his office every day, always under 
 some degree of suffering. His life, al- 
 though one of routine, was by no means 
 a monotone. Business, often pressing, 
 through the day, and books in the even- 
 ing, kept his mind ever active and 
 expanding. 
 
 He was called the " generous lawyer 
 of Tucson." 
 
 One morning while at breakfast, Ben 
 announced that a man wished to see Mr. 
 Ford. " Ask him to the door." The poor 
 man presented himself and after bidding 
 " Good morning" with a low bow, 
 said: 
 
 " Mr. Ford, I am a stranger in the city 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 137 
 
 and I am expecting some important let- 
 ters, will you let me have them put in 
 your box? ' 
 
 " Certainly, sir," was the pleasant 
 reply. 
 
 The mother laughed and asked : " Son, 
 why did he come to you? " 
 
 " Oh, I don't know, unless it be I am 
 considered public property." 
 
 He helped everybody who applied to 
 him and his character being known he had 
 many and varied demands. "I wish to 
 serve my generation," he often said to his 
 mother, " The coming generation will 
 take care of itself." 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 HIS LAST RETURN TO ST. LOUIS. 
 
 For twelve years it had been his cus- 
 tom as the burning months approached, 
 to leave his exile with all his professional 
 business and revisit his parents in their 
 suburban home. Here in the bosom of 
 
138 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 his family, every member of which was 
 devoted to him, he passed the summer 
 months in quiet rest. It was a joy to 
 them and to him which daily manifested 
 itself in his affectionate tenderness and 
 his thoughtful care. He was ever seek- 
 ing opportunity to add to their comfort 
 and enjoyment. These visits were an 
 untold happiness to him a ray of blessed 
 sunshine. His surroundings in Tucson 
 were beautiful and luxurious. Every- 
 thing that could be desired in the way 
 of elegant comfort he was able to com- 
 mand and his many friends loved and 
 clung to him, thus bestowing a happiness 
 not often found among strangers. But 
 to be at home with father, mother, sister 
 and brother was the height of earthly 
 bliss to his affectionate nature. 
 
 He did not improve after his mother's 
 visit to Tucson in April, and realizing 
 the fact that he might not return again 
 to Tucson, he scheduled his property, 
 moneys and unfinished cases, placing the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 139 
 
 document in the hands of a trusted 
 friend. 
 
 On June 12th : "I write from the court 
 room. Have for two days been trying ,a 
 case of Barnes & Martin against Santa 
 Cruz County, wherein they are claiming 
 an outrageous fee. I hope in the course 
 of justice that we can defeat them. 
 
 " This breathing is very bad at times, so 
 much so it seems I could not stand much 
 more. Pray for me that I may have 
 grace at all times." The next day, 13th : 
 " I wrote you yesterday from the court 
 room during the trial of the case of Barnes 
 & Martin against Santa Cruz County. 
 They were suing for some $9,600 balance 
 of a fee and got a verdict of only $2,000 
 which we regard as a signal victory for 
 our side. The representatives of Santa 
 Cruz County are greatly pleased with the 
 result. The short breathing keeps me 
 in a great deal of distress, but the Lord 
 is with me. Dr. Rubens will come this 
 afternoon and give me a massage treat- 
 ment. Hope it will relieve me. Dr. 
 
140 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Fenner's strong medicine will give tem- 
 porary relief, but I dislike to take it. 
 Let your prayers ascend to the throne of 
 grace that I may have strength to endure 
 whatever the Lord sends." 
 
 July 2. " Have decided to leave here 
 on Monday morning. Would be glad to 
 go away a day sooner but my conscience 
 would not be at ease if I traveled on 
 Sunday, and although I am fully ready 
 to leave, I will wait over another day and 
 set out on Monday;" which he did, 
 arriving at Union Station Thursday 
 morning. He was met at the midway 
 gate by his sister, who, seeing his ex- 
 haustion from his long trip, attended to 
 his trunks, etc., and the two reached 
 Woodland at 11 o'clock. A friend, 
 Mr. M. A. Seed, president of the " Seed 
 Dry Plate Company," met them with an 
 automobile, and after a little ride through 
 the immediate neighborhood, he reached 
 his home, where he was welcomed with 
 every manifestation of joy. He gave 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 141 
 
 evidences of slight improvement in some 
 points but his strength did not return. 
 He wrote to Dr. Julian P. Thomas, of 
 ~New York, for his treatment, which he 
 tried, but he was not benefited. It was 
 his purpose to meet the directors of the 
 San Kafael Ranch at the Fifth Avenue 
 hotel, New York, on August 6, but 
 when the time came to do so, he found 
 he had not strength for the trip; so, 
 instructing his mother with regard to his 
 wishes, he sent her to represent him. 
 
 Just five weeks to the day he reached his 
 home he passed to his home above. His 
 testimony was clear and beautiful. One 
 day after he and his father had prayed 
 together he said : " Father, I don't wish 
 you to have any doubt with regard to my 
 acceptance with Christ. I have trusted 
 Him through life and my trust is firmer 
 now than ever." 
 
 To his sister he said : " May, were it not 
 for parting with father and mother and 
 you and Sam, I would gladly lie down on 
 this pillow and pass away, oh, I would go 
 
142 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 so cheerfully." At one time his father 
 seeing his distress and feeling the end 
 must come, said : " It seems sad, my son, 
 that you in the very prime of years and 
 usefulness should be thus stricken 
 down." "Oh, no, father," was the in- 
 stant reply ; " look at John the Baptist, 
 cut off in the midst of his usefulness. 
 God has a purpose which He is working 
 out according to the counsel of His will 
 and it is all right." Such a deep, well- 
 grounded, vital and all-transmuting faith is 
 rarely manifested. His mother returned 
 from New York Thursday morning, a 
 few hours before he passed above. She 
 learned from the nurse on entering the 
 house that he was no better. Hastening 
 to his room she leaned over him and 
 kissed him." Precious mother, precious 
 mother," he said in a clear, strong voice. 
 u How is it with you, my dear son," she 
 asked in loving tones. " Clear, mother, 
 perfectly clear." He had ascended to 
 his room Tuesday night as usual with no 
 more difficulty of breathing than before. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 143 
 
 Wednesday he was too feeble to rise from 
 his bed. Up to Thursday morning his 
 breathing had been very distressing. 
 From the early daylight it had become 
 easy and natural and at 12 : 45, as one 
 falling to sweet sleep, he went away rest- 
 ing in his mother's loving arms. 
 
 No struggle, no pang as a warning was 
 given. Death bended his bow and the 
 saint was in heaven. Lovely in life, 
 lovely in death, how much lovelier must 
 he be in that home above where all is 
 life and light and joy. 
 
 Absent from the body, present with the 
 Lord. Oh, how dark the cloud, but the 
 bow of assured hope spanned it. Gone, 
 yes, gone but leaving light even in 
 death's dark gloom, for 
 
 There was peace in the last loving words he breathed ; 
 There was peace in the smile that his lips enwreathed; 
 There was peace in his calm and confident air, 
 For his last thoughts were God's and his last breath a 
 prayer. 
 
 A life which amid the temptations of 
 youth the conflict of the legal profes- 
 sion, the excitement of party politics, 
 
144 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 and the strain of constant business, was 
 unspotted by the world, filled with good 
 deeds rewarded with success, and 
 crowned with the victory of faith, 
 must have its ever-widening influence 
 drawing many into the kingdom of our 
 Lord and Savior. 
 
 "And I heard a voice from heaven, 
 saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who 
 die in the Lord from henceforth : yea, 
 saith the Spirit, that they may rest from 
 their labors ; for their works follow with 
 them." 
 
 In consonance with his oft-repeated 
 wish there were no evidences of mourn- 
 ing in the home where his body lay in 
 sweet repose. No crepe on the door- 
 knob, no crepe on the family. Sunshine 
 in the room where his stilled form rested 
 quietly "asleep in Jesus/' Friends 
 came with flowers and words of sympathy 
 and trust, looked into the calm face and 
 turned away with the expression " how 
 beautiful." It was a funeral wheie faith 
 triumphed over tears. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAYWER. 145 
 
 After religious services at the house 
 conducted by J. C. Armstrong, the body 
 followed by the family and loving friends, 
 was borne and laid in " Beautiful Belle- 
 fontaine," there to rest until that morn- 
 ing when the Lord Himself shall descend 
 from heaven with the voice of the arch- 
 angel and the trumpet of God, and the 
 dead in Christ shall rise. Come, Lord 
 Jesus, come quickly. We shall miss him 
 evermore. 
 
 And yet, dear one, remembering thee, 
 Am I not richer than of old? 
 Safe in thy immortality 
 What change can mar the wealth I hold? 
 What chance can mar the pearl and gold 
 Thy love hath left in trust with me? 
 And while in life's late afternoon 
 When cool and long the shadows grow, 
 I walk to meet the night, which soon 
 Shall shape and shadow overflow, 
 I cannot feel that thou art far 
 Since near, at need, the angels are; 
 And when the sunset gates unbar 
 Shall I not see thee waiting stand, 
 And white against the evening star 
 The welcome of thy beckoning hand? 
 
 10 
 
146 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 MEMORIAL SERVICES. 
 
 We read in God's word of the Lord's 
 servant : " Even the Lord God of hosts ; 
 the Lord is his memorial ; " And yet it is 
 declared of the men of God who led the 
 returning Israelites : " And the crowns 
 shall be to them for a memorial in the 
 temple of the Lord." "The memory of 
 the wicked shall be cut off," " but the 
 memory of the just is blessed." " A good 
 name is rather to be chosen than great 
 riches and loving favor rather than silver 
 and gold." 
 
 Rochester Ford had been severed from 
 the Third Baptist Church of St. Louis 
 for twelve years, but his memory was 
 cherished, and his name was the synonym 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 147 
 
 for uprightness, piety and zeal. And 
 when he passed away it was promptly 
 arranged that a general " Memorial Ser- 
 vice " should be held by the Third 
 Church. It was Wednesday evening, 
 September 9th. The house was filled 
 and a deep solemnity rested on all. The 
 pastor, Rev. W. J. Williamson, presided. 
 He had but slight personal acquaintance 
 with the departed, but he knew him well 
 by reputation. 
 
 He introduced the services with tender 
 words and reading letters from pastors 
 of other churches who had personally 
 known Rochester. He then introduced 
 those who were expected to speak. 
 
 "Mr. Rochester Ford I well knew, hav- 
 ing had at one time a desk in one of his law- 
 offices," said Hon. Breckenridge Jones, 
 now vice-president of the Mississippi 
 Valley Trust Co., St. Louis, " a calm, 
 dignified gentleman, firm in his integrity 
 and candor, yet fearless in speech, prompt 
 in action and ever correct in conduct. 
 
148 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 His clients could rely on him. His word 
 had weight with the courts. The judges 
 knew he was presenting facts without 
 the shade of equivocation. His noble 
 character was evident in all he did. He 
 was truly a successful Christian lawyer." 
 * * * His bosom friend, while he was 
 a member of the Third Church, Paul 
 Jones, a leading real estate agent of the 
 city, said : " I never knew a man to love 
 his home as Rochester Ford did. When 
 we walked out together he would allude 
 in tenderest sympathy to his parents, 
 sister and brother. He would refuse any 
 invitation that would keep him out late 
 and thus deprive him of their society. 
 He honored his father with something 
 akin to devotion." 
 
 Hon. A. Mackay, a friend and brother 
 lawyer, said : 
 
 "I heartily indorse all that has been 
 said and so well said by the other 
 speakers who have preceded me, as to the 
 noble and manly qualities possessed, in 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 149 
 
 so marked a manner, by our dear friend, 
 who has passed out from us. Possibly I 
 have known the family of our dear friend 
 for a longer period of time than any one 
 present. Almost fifty years ago, when 
 I was a small boy, down in the old town 
 of Henderson, Kentucky, the parents of 
 .Rochester came to my father's, spend- 
 ing some time with us. I have known 
 the family from that date to the present 
 time. My acquaintance with Rochester 
 extends back to his childhood days and 
 I can truthfully say that I have never 
 known a more manly and upright man 
 in all the walks of life than was our 
 friend. 
 
 " I have known, from experience, the 
 difficulties and trials of a young man 
 starting in the noble profession of the 
 law, so ably followed by our friend, and 
 yet he met with marked success early in 
 life, in his practice in St. Louis, and was 
 known and recognized as one of the lead- 
 ing young lawyers in this community, 
 
150 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 with a large and paying practice, at the 
 time ill-health overtook him. He was 
 one of the youngest men, if not the 
 youngest, who has filled one of the 
 chairs, as a professor and instructor of 
 law, in the Law School of Washington 
 University ; the duties of which he per- 
 formed with signal ability during his 
 time of the occupancy of his chair. His 
 prospects were indeed bright for the 
 future when he was compelled to give it 
 all up, on account of sudden prostration 
 by la grippe, and upon the advice of his 
 physician and friends he left St. Louis 
 and set out for the great Southwest. 
 He located in Tucson, Arizona. When 
 he reached that section of the country, 
 he did not sit down quietly as a dis- 
 couraged man, as most of men under 
 like circumstances would have done, 
 but by force of will and ability, he began 
 life again among strangers in a strange 
 land, to build up and practice his pro- 
 fession, and succeeded in a marked 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 151 
 
 degree. He held important positions in 
 Tucson ; he soon became known as a 
 safe and able lawyer and enjoyed a large 
 and lucrative practice in that Territory, 
 being employed in cases involving large 
 interests, in the prosecution and defense 
 of which he met with deserved success. 
 He was also engaged in the argument 
 of cases in the United States Supreme 
 Court at Washington. Now, then, to do 
 and accomplish this required ability of a 
 high and commanding nature. 
 
 " He was also a devoted and pious 
 Christian . He took hold of the small Bap- 
 tist church in Tucson, gathered around 
 him the few scattered members, en- 
 couraged them by his kindly advice ; he 
 repaired the church building and when 
 they had no pastor, he ministered unto 
 them in sacred things. ISTo ordinary 
 man could or would have done this, and 
 it speaks wonders for him. His loss will 
 be greatly felt by those dear people who 
 
152 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 loved him and admired him and he will 
 be greatly missed by all who knew him. 
 
 " He was a dutiful son, kind brother, 
 faithful and true in all the walks of life 
 and a Christian gentleman. What more 
 and better could be said of any man? 
 As compared with these noble qualities, 
 the possession of wealth, with its silver 
 and gold vanishes away and disappears 
 from view, like mists before the sunlight 
 of the early morning. 
 
 " Finally, it is a consoling thought, to 
 his family and many friends, that when 
 his spirit left the weak body, it passed up 
 beyond the clouds and sorrows of this 
 life, and still upward in its flight, beyond 
 the stars, and now rests very near the 
 feet of the Blessed Master." 
 
 4 ' While not extensively acquainted with 
 Mr. Ford," testified Mr. M. P. Moody," 
 of the American Baptist Publication 
 Society, " I knew his character from the 
 books he ordered through his years of 
 residence in Arizona. A man can always 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 153 
 
 be judged by the literature he seeks. In 
 this respect I have never had a customer 
 who so invariably made choice of the 
 best authors, ancient and modern. His 
 knowledge of general literature was very 
 comprehensive. I had often to order 
 books for him from other houses." 
 A. W. Payne, of the Central Baptist: 
 "I met Rochester Ford about twenty 
 years ago, and was somewhat intimately 
 associated with him in a business way, 
 socially, and in the work of the Third 
 Baptist Church. He was sympathetic 
 but not gushing. He was true to his 
 friends and did injustice to no one. He 
 was as conscientious and painstaking as 
 a lawyer as he was as a Christian man. 
 He had the confidence of rich and poor 
 alike, and at a very early age found him- 
 self placed in positions of great responsi- 
 bility by wealthy business men who saw 
 in him a competent and safe adviser. 
 He gave the same careful thought to 
 matters seemingly small as to those in- 
 
154 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 volving large amounts of money. What- 
 ever he did, he did well. 
 
 " He was regular in his attendance upon 
 church services, and was as thoroughly 
 alive to the interests of his church and 
 denomination as to the business interests 
 of his clients. He was a teacher, not a 
 magnetic speaker, but as he spoke his 
 hearers were convinced that back of it 
 all beat a true heart, a firm purpose and 
 a strong conviction of the righteousness 
 of his cause and correctness of his state- 
 ments. When he spoke in prayer meet- 
 ing or in the Sunday-school class, he 
 was listened to with earnest attention, 
 and everyone felt helped by what he had 
 to say. 
 
 " As a scholar he took high rank in 
 whatever field of investigation or learn- 
 ing he might be called upon to work. 
 
 " He had a good reputation among 
 those who were not of his own religious 
 faith, as is evidenced by the words of ap- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 155 
 
 preciation and commendation spoken and 
 written by those who were not in har- 
 mony with him in his peculiar Baptist 
 views. 
 
 " One of the most beautiful traits of his 
 character was his loyalty to his friends, 
 his readiness to sympathize with them, 
 help them, and stand by them. Not one 
 of them lacked when he knew their 
 wants. 
 
 "I have seldom seen a young man more 
 devoted to his parents. On one occasion 
 I had an opportunity to say something 
 specially commendatory of his distin- 
 guished father. .Rochester's face lighted 
 up and he was full of enthusiasm in his 
 eagerness to hear the whole story, and 
 his expression of gratitude to me for 
 telling it to him made an impression 
 which I shall never forget. 
 
 " Rochester Ford was an exemplary 
 young man, an ideal Christian character, 
 one who ripened early for heaven." 
 
156 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Mr. A. D. Brown, President of the 
 Hamilton-Brown Shoe Co., who had 
 known Rochester since he was a boy, bore 
 tender testimony to his grand character 
 and consistent Christian life and to his 
 ability as a scholar and business man of 
 unflinching integrity, in these words : 
 
 I had the pleasure of knowing Roches- 
 ter Ford a quarter of a century. 
 
 He worked in his boyhood days as 
 a reporter on a daily paper. After 
 getting a foothold he went to Washing- 
 ton University in St. Louis where he 
 graduated. 
 
 His father and mother believed in Jesus 
 Christ the Son of God, and he soon gave 
 his heart to the Lord and joined the Third 
 Baptist Churchin St. Louis. He prac- 
 ticed law and was always ready at Sunday- 
 school and prayer-meeting to stand up for 
 Jesus, and to do his part in the way of 
 meeting any financial bills to be paid. 
 
 In 1892 we commenced the erection of 
 the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium, a prop- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 157 
 
 erty that cost nearly $100,000. He at 
 once subscribed five hundred dollars. 
 
 He was a living example of a follower 
 of Jesus, and always was a help and an 
 inspiration to me. 
 
 He was followed by Mr. W. C. Brey, 
 Jas. H. Campbell, Charles P. Senter, 
 and others. 
 
 There was not a profession nor voca- 
 tion unrepresented in that meeting, and 
 one of the deacons of the church who had 
 not personally known Mr. Ford, having 
 united with the church during his resi- 
 dence in Arizona, said to his companion 
 as the two walked home together : " I did 
 not know a man could be so perfect." 
 " He was all they represented him," was 
 the reply. 
 
 The service was closed by the aged 
 father thanking on the part of the fam- 
 ily, the friends for their sympathy in this 
 public remembrance of their honored 
 son. 
 
158 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 The feeling throughout the house was 
 deeply sympathetic and appreciative of 
 the occasion. The following Sunday 
 similar Memorial Exercises were held at 
 the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium, every 
 brother present speaking words of ap- 
 probatory love and esteem. And at the 
 meeting of the Missouri General Asso- 
 ciation held in Marshall, the following 
 October, resolutions of respect and love 
 were passed by that body and a strong 
 and tender statement of his character and 
 usefulness was made by the moderator, E. 
 W. Stephens. 
 
 His youth was spotless, his riper age, 
 Marked with some act of goodness every day. 
 
 And, watched by eyes that loved him calm and sage, 
 Faded his late declining years away. 
 
 Cheerful he gave his being up and went 
 To share a holy rest that waits a life well spent. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 159 
 
 CHAPTER XXIY. 
 
 SOME TESTIMONIALS FROM THE MANY 
 LETTERS RECEIVED. 
 
 One who had known him from youth 
 thus writes : 
 
 His was a great and noble heart, work- 
 ing for the enlightenment and uplifting 
 of the human family. 
 
 Rochester Ford in his youth created 
 an ideal Christian character of the most 
 exalted type and held to it with the life- 
 long purpose of making it the quicken- 
 ing spirit of his real life in business and 
 friendship. His real life thus became 
 idealized in truth, honor, and all noble 
 Christian virtues. Thus he lived and 
 died, and lives again in the hearts of all 
 who knew him. 
 
160 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 The true value of a life can only be 
 measured by its influence upon other 
 lives the power for good one person 
 by living example exercises over others. 
 From youth he was a most remarkable 
 character, impressing his finer qualities 
 indelibly upon all with whom he came 
 in contact. 
 
 His noble face and commanding figure 
 first attracted attention, but an intimate 
 acquaintance with him showed these to 
 be but an index to his character which 
 was unique in its many varied beauties. 
 He combined the pure and tender quali- 
 ties of a woman with the brave, strong 
 nature of heroic manhood. He was a 
 devoted son and brother, a staunch and 
 noble friend. His was indeed such a life 
 as strengthens our faith in immortality, 
 for such men never die. They live on 
 in others whose lives gained a new inspi- 
 ration or impulse for good from his exam- 
 ple and friendship, and no one who knew 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 161 
 
 and loved him can ever think of him as 
 dead. 
 
 He found this world rich in the means 
 of knowledge and happiness, but it was 
 not difficult for him even in youth and 
 early manhood, to believe there is a more 
 glorious home, a wider and more fruitful 
 field for the activities of man, and better 
 conditions for the exercise of his thoughts 
 and affections. Therefore it is natural 
 for those who knew him and were im- 
 pressed with his reverence for the Word 
 of God to feel assured that this change 
 is but a continuation of a noble life, his 
 death but a resurrection from the material 
 body, which is only a temporary vesture, 
 but essential to the beginning of his ex- 
 istence. Death to him was only a tran- 
 sition of the real man from one world to 
 another of an entirely distinct nature, 
 effected simply by divesting the spirit of 
 the material body, where his spiritual 
 senses are opened and he comes into dis- 
 tinct conscious relations to the spiritual 
 n 
 
162 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 world and to spiritual beings like him- 
 self. Who of his friends who knew and 
 loved him can think of Eochester Ford as 
 being in the grave? One could as easily 
 look to earth for a star. The mention 
 of his very name lifts our thoughts to 
 heaven where we feel sure he is. 
 
 He believed with all his soul in the 
 Sacred Scriptures which teach us both by 
 logical inference and positive precept that 
 heaven is a better world than this. Its 
 joys and sources of happiness so great 
 and abundant as that they surpass human 
 imagination. Thus we think of him as 
 having entered into that home prepared 
 for him where his joys are multiplied and 
 his inmost being filled with peace ; as 
 being more clearly and intimately in the 
 presence of the Lord and the Angels than 
 his most ardent prayers, while in the body 
 could possibly lift him. 
 
 He has escaped from a world of material 
 limitation and physical imperfections and 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 163 
 
 gained entrance to one in which all the 
 conditions of his life are perfect. 
 
 The purpose of the Lord's love to us 
 could not be carried out without natural 
 death. Our Lord says: 
 
 "Verily, verily I say unto you except 
 a corn of wheat fall into the ground and 
 die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it 
 bringeth forth much fruit." It is thus, 
 according to the same law, and for the 
 same end, the material body dies and its 
 death is just as necessary to the full de- 
 velopment and perfection of man's life 
 as the death of the leaf and blossom is to 
 the grain ; as the death of the corn of 
 wheat is to the reproduction and perpet- 
 uity of the plant. We know that 
 Rochester Ford believed this, and that 
 when a man's best uses were performed 
 in this world he passed on to a higher 
 and nobler activity. Thus we most 
 firmly believe that he has realized the 
 promises in which he trusted and upon 
 which he based his life work to the last, 
 
164 EOCHESTER FORD. 
 
 desiring only " to serve his generation 
 and then fall asleep," to " awaken in His 
 likeness." 
 
 Parting with friends is temporary death, 
 As all death is. We see no mor their faces, 
 Nor hear their voices, save in memory: 
 But messages of love give us assurance 
 That we are not forgotten. Who shall say 
 That from the world of spirits comes no greeting, 
 No message of remembrance? It may be 
 The thoughts that visit us, we know not whence, 
 Sudden as inspiration, are the whispers 
 Of disembodied spirits, speaking to us 
 As friends, who wait outside a prison wall, 
 Through the barred windows speak to those within? 
 
 Michael Angela. 
 
 MRS. C. E. REIFSNIDER. 
 
 DR. T. T. EATON, EDITOR WESTERN 
 RECORDER, LOUISVILLE, KY. 
 
 My DEAR DR. FORD : 
 
 We were greatly shocked and pained 
 to hear of the death of your gifted and 
 noble son, and we most deeply sympa- 
 thize with you and Mrs. Ford in your 
 sore bereavement. I speak of it in this 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 165 
 
 week's Recorder. While my personal 
 acquaintance with him was slight, I ad- 
 mired him greatly, and deeply lament 
 his death. The comfort from God's 
 promises yon and Mrs. Ford have so 
 often ministered to others, comes now to 
 your hearts in all itn richness and power. 
 We never read God's promises aright till 
 we read them through our tears. 
 
 Mrs. Eaton wishes to be especially re- 
 membered to you and Mrs. Ford, and 
 joins me in sympathizing with your 
 sorrow. 
 
 Fraternally yours, 
 
 T. T. EATON. 
 
 REV. AND MRS. QEO. KLINE, PASADENA, 
 CAL. 
 
 82 S. MARENQA AVE., 
 
 Sept. 2, 1903. 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD : 
 
 VERY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER 
 The Central Baptist presenting the 
 
166 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 fine face of your son Rochester, and an- 
 nouncing 1 his death, came to us a few 
 days ago. What a splendid specimen 
 of Christian manhood he was ! And on 
 how many lives he must have made an 
 an abiding impression of the transform- 
 ing value of the Christian religion. Like 
 Enoch he walked with God. Though 
 departed to be with Christ, his influence 
 still is present in the world. 
 
 I want to assure you of our deepest 
 sympathy with you in your sense of loss. 
 But his perfect Comforter is yours. I 
 wish you might give to the world by 
 your pens, such phases of his beautiful 
 life as interest you, and will be sure to 
 stimulate young men in general and 
 bright Baptist young men in particular, 
 who wish to work to make their lives 
 tell for the highest interests of their fel- 
 low-men as well as the glory of Grod. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 167 
 
 REV. G. P. BOSTICK, PO CHOW AN HEVEI, 
 CHINA. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE 
 
 LORD: 
 
 I have just a few minutes ago read in 
 Central Baptist of the 20th of August, 
 the account of the death of your dear son, 
 Eochester, and I wish to extend to you 
 all the deep and sincere sympathy of my 
 own still bleeding heart in this hour of 
 bereavement. What an honor to you 
 dear parents to have by God's grace, 
 trained such a son ! Surely his life, 
 though cut off so early, was not in vain. 
 I remember only a brief meeting with him 
 while on a visit to your home in 1897, and 
 how very kind he was as kind as an own 
 brother could have been. In two deep 
 sorrows through which God has called me 
 to pass duringmy fourteen years in China, 
 such marvelous passages as 2 Cor. 1 : 3-7 
 have been greatly blessed to me. 
 
 How rapidly our home over yonder is 
 
168 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 filling up with those whom we " have 
 loved and lost awhile." How numerous 
 will be the host to greet you two who 
 have been so faithful through such a long 
 life! 
 
 REV. J. B. THOMAS (HIS FORMER PAS- 
 TOR), FALLBROOK, CAL. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 We have just received a letter from 
 Mr. Walker, of Tucson, and he tells us 
 that our friend we loved so much has 
 given up his long struggle with pain and 
 bodily weakness. We are shocked, 
 though that has come which we often 
 feared would happen. What a combina- 
 tion of weak body and strong soul he 
 was ! How he took hold of us ! I think 
 I have admired no other man as I did him. 
 But he not only made us admire him, but 
 love him. 
 
 The best thing about my four years' 
 stay in Tucson is that I learned so much 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 169 
 
 from Kochester Ford. We never expect 
 to find another just such friend as he was 
 to us. His interest in that little Baptist 
 church in Tucson must create an inspira- 
 tion to its every member. I look upon 
 the four years of intimate association with 
 him as one of the important events of my 
 life ; the whole of the four years is like 
 the memory of a delightful fragrance. 
 
 REV. LEWIS HALSEY, D. D., PHOENIX, 
 ARIZONA. 
 
 MRS. S. E. FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND May our heavenly 
 Father sustain and comfort you ! Your 
 noble son was one who so impressed his 
 character upon me that it seems as if I 
 could see him and hear him speak. I 
 shall miss Mr. Ford, as we all will, and 
 the work will miss him. I saw him last 
 in the Hotel Adams here, and had a long 
 talk with him. He was always so helpful. 
 
170 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 A. M. FULFORD, ESQ., BEL AIR, MARY- 
 LAND. 
 
 MRS. S. E. FORD, 
 
 Jennings, Mo. : 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD Although in 
 a measure prepared for it, it was with 
 considerable surprise and great regret I 
 learned of the death of your noble son. 
 Such events seem always to come upon 
 us suddenly, even when anticipated. 
 
 Rochester had many fine traits of 
 character and I feel sure was one of the 
 very best of sons to you. As our ties 
 loosen here they strengthen on the other 
 side and make us more ready to go when 
 our time comes. 
 
 MR. SYDNEY K. SMITH, LOUISVILLE, 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR: 
 
 I did not learn till this morning of 
 Rochester's death. Though I knew he 
 had been in feeble health for some time, 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 171 
 
 I was not aware that he was in any im- 
 mediate danger, and the suddenness of 
 his death came as a shock to me. I 
 could scarcely have felt it more if he had 
 been my own brother, such were our re- 
 lations, and such my love and admira- 
 tion for him as a man. Above his 
 splendid abilities and attainments, shone 
 the great purity of his life, and his beau- 
 tiful Christian character, to be valued 
 more by far, in my estimation, than all 
 earthly possessions. As I watched with 
 interest his career, and rejoiced with you 
 in his success, so now I mourn with 
 you his loss. For such it was (though 
 his gain) not only to his family and 
 friends, but to the church and to the 
 community. 
 
 MRS. BEN MAY LEE, KENT, LONDON. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS : 
 
 I have just learned of your great sor- 
 row in the loss of your great and good 
 
172 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 son Rochester. 1 know what he was, 
 and what a stay and comfort he was to 
 you. My heart goes out to you in sym- 
 pathy which I have not words to express. 
 
 JAMES L. APPLEGATE, KBYTES VILLE, MO. 
 
 I am glad to bear tribute to the mem- 
 ory of one whom I esteemed so highly 
 and loved so dearly. I became ac- 
 quainted with Rochester soon after I 
 united with the Third Church in Febru- 
 ary, 1876, and although there was so 
 much difference in our ages, our friend- 
 ship and intimacy grew as the years passed 
 and I felt honored in having his love and 
 confidence as he certainly had mine in a 
 large degree. He was one of the most 
 remarkable young men I ever met, so 
 genial and friendly and so pious and 
 sensible in all of the walks of life. He 
 was a charming companion and always a 
 welcome guest at my house. His Chris- 
 tian life was beautiful and I thank God 
 for having known him so long and inti- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 173 
 
 mately and expect to meet him on that 
 beautiful shore when the final call comes. 
 
 MBS. T. J. CRAWFORD, TAI-AN-FU, CHINA. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER : 
 
 When I saw in the Central Baptist a 
 notice of the death of your beloved son 
 Rochester my heart went out in deepest 
 sympathy. I knew how you loved your 
 precious son and how worthy he wa&of 
 the highest love and admiration. Your 
 son was a model of all that is admirable, 
 good, estimable, both as a man and as a 
 Christian. I know that you and dear 
 Dr. Ford can say " all is well" and 
 Rochester gone before can see as we can 
 not see " all is well." 
 
 PROF. F. M. WALKER, SUPERINTENDENT 
 OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TUCSON, ARIZ. 
 
 DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 Yesterday I received the sad intelli- 
 
174 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 gence of the death of your loving son 
 and my very dear friend. Although 
 none of us were greatly surprised we 
 were nevertheless very greatly shocked, 
 as the last word that we had before his 
 death said that he was feeling better 
 and gaining in weight. 
 
 Mr. Ford was one of the first men that 
 I met when coming to Tucson three and 
 a half years ago. I knew him intimately 
 from then until his death, and I can say 
 truthfully that I never knew any man 
 with a nobler mind and a purer heart 
 than he. In my relations with him in 
 the church he was the perfect embodi- 
 ment of a Christian gentleman. Broad- 
 minded, deeply spiritual, charitable, zeal- 
 ous and with an abiding and unfaltering 
 faith in Christ, few men ever walked 
 more closely and more faithfully by the 
 Master's side than he. 
 
 The church asks me as its clerk to 
 convey to the sorrowing ones of his 
 family, their sincerest and deepest eym- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 175 
 
 pathy in this your greatest affliction. 
 Your loss is also our loss. We all loved 
 him as a brother and as a friend, and we 
 feel more deeply than we have words to 
 express the great loss which we have 
 suffered. His place among us can never 
 be filled. He was our leader, our coun- 
 sellor, our helper and our guide and 
 though his life and influence shall always 
 remain a guiding star to our spiritual and 
 mental uplifting in Christ, our loss is irre- 
 parable and our only consolation is that 
 his sufferings are no more ; he now dwells 
 with Christ in the house not made with 
 hands and through God's mercy we shall 
 know him there. 
 
 Very sincerely, 
 
 F. M. WALKER. 
 
 REV. LANSING BURROWS, D. B., LL.D., 
 
 NASHVILLE, TENN. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 I had been on the point of writing you 
 
176 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 for several days when your letter, telling 
 me of Rochester's death, came. 
 
 My own heart wound has not even be- 
 gun to heal and I am so selfish that when 
 I hear of the distress of another I find 
 myself moaning over my own bereave- 
 ment and awake to chide myself for my 
 self-concern. Perhaps it is because in 
 advanced years we have lost the resili- 
 ency of younger days and cannot recover. 
 It must be so with you and the Doctor, 
 to both of whom the loss is simply irre- 
 parable, and there will be no day without 
 its shadow eclipsing the blessed sunlight. 
 I find myself homesick for heaven, and 
 yet I go on trying at this late day to find 
 " the patience and comfort of the Scrip- 
 tures " by which Paul says I am to obtain 
 hope. 
 
 REV. I. J. VAN NESS, SEO'Y 8. S. BOARD, 
 
 NASHVILLE, TENN. 
 
 DEAR BRO. AND SISTER FORD : 
 
 I do sincerely sympathize with you in 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 177 
 
 your great affliction. I was greatly in- 
 terested in the sketch of your son in the 
 Central Baptist, and I am sure he must 
 have been an exceptional young man. I 
 do not need to offer you any words of 
 comfort more than to say to you that you 
 have been in my mind and have had my 
 sympathy during these days. 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 ISAAC J. VAN NESS. 
 
 MR. HERNDON ELY, CASHIER OF CAR- 
 ROLLTON EXCHANGE BANK, CARROLL- 
 TON, MO. 
 
 DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 A letter from Mr. B re water Cameron, 
 and the Central, received on the morn- 
 ing of the 20th was the first informa- 
 tion I had of the death of Mr. Ford. 
 I cannot tell you how deepl} 7 grieved I 
 am at this death. I esteemed Mr. Ford 
 very highly, and was proud to call him 
 my friend. He has not lived in vain. 
 
 12 
 
178 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 His influence in Tucson will be long-lived. 
 He was beyond question the most influ- 
 ential and most highly respected citizen 
 of Tucson. I have often said of 
 Rochester Ford, that if his physique 
 were equal to his heart and brain, there 
 would be nothing out of his reach. 
 
 COL. O'BRIEN MOORE, EDITOR " THE CITI- 
 ZEN," TUCSON, ARIZONA. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 The death of your son was an awful 
 shock to me. I had grown not only to 
 admire but to love him. Although of 
 different temperaments and habits, we 
 were almost as one in political beliefs ; 
 and in all matters pertaining to local 
 government we never had a difference. 
 He was the only man in Tucson whose 
 advice I frequently sought and whose 
 opinion I always respected. His death 
 deprived me of my nearest friend here, 
 and I can sincerely condole with you 
 and his father in your great sorrow. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 179 
 
 E. W. STEPHENS, EDITOR OF THE CO- 
 LUMBIA HERALD, COLUMBIA, MO. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD: 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS On my way home 
 from California I heard of your great 
 bereavement and I hasten upon my return 
 to tender you my sincere sympathy. You 
 have the great consolation of knowing 
 your son was a noble and successful man 
 and best of all that he died in the hope 
 and with the assurance of eternal life. 
 
 MRS. E. C. MAYFIELD, MAYFIELD SANI- 
 TARIUM, ST. LOUIS. 
 
 DEAR BRO. AND SISTER FORD: 
 
 How our hearts go out to you both in 
 this great sorrow. We know just what 
 you have given up. Oh, how he loved 
 you ! He was truly all that a dear noble 
 son could have been to a father and 
 mother. His love and devotion to you 
 was like unto that of our own precious 
 boy, and we know what all this means ; 
 
180 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 and while we love them so dearly, God 
 loved thorn even more than we, and has 
 seen fit to take them unto Himself. I 
 have been thinking* this morning of what 
 heaven is to Rochester. It is your loss 
 and his great gain. Heaven is so much 
 nearer and dearer to us now. Dr. May- 
 field left the city Thursday evening to 
 spend a day or two at Sweet Springs. I 
 am so sorry that we could not have been 
 with you to-day. May God graciously 
 bless and comfort you, as He alone can. 
 The entire household join me in love and 
 sympathy for you all. 
 
 DR. WALTER G. TYZZER, MAYFIELD SANI- 
 TARIUM, ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 REV. AND MRS. S. H. FORD: 
 
 I wish to express my sincerest regret 
 that I could not be with you and sing at 
 dear Rochester's funeral, but as I was at 
 the bedside of a dying man, I found it 
 impossible to make the eleven o'clock 
 train. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 181 
 
 I wish to express for Mrs. Tyzzer 
 and myself our profoundest sympathy in 
 this great sorrow. Few men accomplish 
 more in life than did your dear son, the 
 sweet influence of which shall be felt in 
 the lives of others to the end of time. 
 May the Holy Spirit comfort your be- 
 reaved hearts is my earnest prayer. 
 
 REV. B. F. LAWLER, TRINIDAD, COL. 
 
 DEAR BRO. AND SISTER FORD : 
 
 It is with hesitancy I venture into the 
 sacredness of your recent great sorrow 
 in the death of your son, the late Roches- 
 ter Ford of Tucson, Arizona. 
 
 The last time I remember to have seen 
 him was at Liberty, Mo., sitting at a 
 stenographer's table reporting Dr. Broad- 
 us' great sermon to ministerial students, 
 I think in 1881. I was pleased to read 
 his accurate and full report. I was 
 never familiarly acquainted with him, but 
 to know of him and to have great and 
 special regard for his piety and talent. 
 
182 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 I think I am in some degree capable of 
 knowing your feelings, for indeed my 
 own first-born son sleeps 'neath a great 
 willow I planted by his grave many years 
 ago. 
 
 I know you have already the comfort 
 of Him who comforts as one whom his 
 mother cornforteth, and can but offer this 
 word of consolation the Lord loveth 
 whom He chasteneth. 
 
 REV. J. M. FROST, D. D., COR. SEC. OF 
 S. S. BOARD OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST 
 CONVENTION, NASHVILLE, TENN. 
 
 DEAR DR. FORD: 
 
 I understand that you are to issue a 
 memorial volume in honor of your noble 
 son, Eochester. I am glad you are to do 
 this. My heart has been greatly with 
 you and your family in the deep grief 
 and sorrow through which you have 
 passed in the sad affliction which has 
 come to you. It is truly a praiseworthy 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 183 
 
 thing to set out before the world a career 
 such as your son wrought out during 
 his young manhood. Certainly it is a 
 great comfort to his parents that he 
 should have attained a station so high 
 and altogether honorable. There is no 
 greater joy that can come to parents 
 than the riches and ripeness of the char- 
 acter of their children. It was not my 
 privilege to have acquaintance with your 
 son. I have always connected him with 
 a little incident related to me by Dr. 
 John A. Broadus. You will recall per- 
 haps the time that Dr. Broadus preached 
 his great sermon at the Southern Bap- 
 tist Convention on the Inspiration of the 
 Scriptures. As his custom was he had 
 brought simply notes and did not have 
 the manuscript of the sermon. In com- 
 ing to write it out for the press, he 
 found it difficult to reproduce it but in 
 conversation with me he told how the 
 stenographic report which your son had 
 made rendered him the greatest of service 
 
184 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 as he had made his report with remarka- 
 ble precision, and so far as possible had 
 caught his very spirit. He counted it 
 one of the finest reports he had ever 
 seen of a public address. I have often 
 thought of this and connected it with 
 your son, and thought perhaps it might 
 be a source of gratification to you and 
 the family to know of it. 
 
 DR. W. S. RYLAND, RUSSELLVILLE, KY. 
 
 REV. S. H. FORD, D.D.: 
 
 MY VENERABLE AND DEAR BROTHER 
 I am tardy in writing, partly because I 
 have been away, and partly because I felt 
 quite unequal to the task of attempting to 
 comfort you in your great sorrow. You 
 know better, I am sure, both to seek and 
 give solace to wounded spirits. " God 
 doeth wondrous things," always and is in 
 no haste to explain Himself. But He 
 can sustain and solace as wondrously as 
 He afflicts. 
 
 Such a son as yours it is hard indeed 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 185 
 
 to surrender. So precious to you, his 
 parents. So dear to many. So promis- 
 ing. Worth already so much to the 
 world. So fit for work in the Master's 
 cause, where such men are so much 
 needed. Why could he not be spared? 
 
 But you will know better reasons than 
 you could give, when, after going a 
 little further you meet him and rejoice 
 that you are there, not here. 
 
 May the Holy Spirit be your Comforter 
 and the Word of God your light in the 
 darkness, and many sweet hopes and 
 tender memories come to cheer your lone- 
 liness. 
 
 Your brother in Christ, 
 
 W. S. EYLAND. 
 
 MR. C. A. CALDWELL, ALTON NATIONAL 
 BANK. 
 
 DEAR MRS, FORD : 
 
 I must take this opportunity to express 
 to you and your husband, rny sympathy 
 
186 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 for you in the great bereavement and 
 loss which has come to you. The notice 
 came as a great surprise to me, as I had 
 not heard that your son was unusually 
 ill, 
 
 I shall always remember his kindness 
 to Mrs. Caldwell and myself when we 
 were in Tucson. It was there that I 
 came to learn his sterling character and 
 worth. I rejoice in the comfort and hope 
 which the Divine promises afford they 
 are more real and precious under test, 
 than otherwise, and you know so well 
 how to appropriate them to your own 
 support and comfort. 
 
 Truly, 
 
 C. A. CALDWELL. 
 
 MRS. J. W. TEASDALE, ALTASONA, CHAR- 
 LEVOIX, MICHIGAN. 
 
 DEAR SISTER FORD : 
 
 I feel I wish to say a few words to you, 
 yet my mother's heart aches so for you, 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 187 
 
 I feel my utter inability to say anything 
 to help you in your great sorrow. 
 
 To me your son Rochester was always 
 one of the most exemplary young men I 
 ever knew, an Israelite in whom was no 
 guile, a disciple whom Jesus loved, and 
 so bright and promising, I not only loved 
 him and admired him, and often wished 
 there were many like him to be a joy to 
 their parents, to be pillars in the church 
 of God, that the world might see in our 
 religion something to be desired, some- 
 thing to manifest in life as well as to be 
 enjoyed in heaven. 
 
 Your dear son's life was not long, but 
 I doubt not he did more for Christ than 
 very, very many Christians do in a long 
 life. 
 
 Now he has heard the welcome words, 
 " well done, good and faithful servant, 
 enter thou into the joy of our Lord." 
 What joy, what glory, what peace, what 
 companionship are his ! Who could wish 
 him back to this world of sorrow and 
 
188 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 suffering, this sea of unrest ; not even 
 you, and yet your mother heart must 
 be lonely and breaking. I know it, I 
 feel it, and the tears will come, but not 
 for him, but for you and the doctor 
 my heart aches. 
 
 MRS. T. J. AKINS, HUMANSVILLE, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSEST : 
 
 For want of words, I have forborne to 
 telegraph condolence on the death of 
 your loved son. While looking over the 
 paper Sunday morning the notice of his 
 departure met my eye. My impulse was 
 to go to you immediately. While we 
 knew cousin Rochester was in delicate 
 health we hoped yes, believed that God 
 would spare this noble man to his family, 
 his friends, the world. I wish I might 
 say something to comfort you. Zoe and 
 Marie thought "Cousin Rochester " so 
 exalted so superior to most people, 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 189 
 
 especially in intellect. They send love. 
 I feel I should be so pleased to do some- 
 thing for you. God be with and 
 strengthen you. 
 
 S. L. KING AN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, TUC- 
 SON, ARIZONA. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 Your telegram of this date, telling me 
 of the death of your son, is at hand. 
 
 I knew Mr. Ford for only a year and 
 a half, but in that time I learned to love 
 the man. He was the noblest man I ever 
 knew ; true, upright, always for the right, 
 always against the wrong, and with it all, 
 he possessed a fine intellect. 
 
 I only hope that when my time comes 
 to go, that I shall be as well prepared as 
 Rochester Ford. 
 
 A good and an able man has gone to 
 his reward. God bless him. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 S. L. KlNGAN. 
 
190 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 MR. BREWSTER CAMERON, WHITEHALL 
 
 BLDG., BATTERY PLACE, N. Y. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD: 
 
 I am so overcome with the sad news 
 of Rochester's death that I cannot write 
 you to-day, but I will write you very 
 soon. O! I am so sorry. Repossessed, 
 in such a great degree, all the noblest 
 attributes of human character. It was 
 my cherished hope, when we parted at 
 Tucson, that he might have been at the 
 meeting at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, for 
 I was so anxious, when he told me he 
 had been losing ground for a year and 
 was rapidly failing then. 
 
 There is no consolation to relieve fully 
 a sorrow like you have now to bear, 
 but you have the consciousness that he 
 has come into the glorious reward of a 
 life filled with noble deeds well done. 
 
 MR. LIONEL JACOBS, TUCSON, ARIZONA. 
 
 DR. S. H. FORD: 
 
 MY DEAR SIR I beg to tender you 
 my assurance of sympathy on the occa- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 191 
 
 sion of the death of your son Rochester, 
 of which I was advised today. 
 
 Long and intimate association with 
 your son had enabled me to know him 
 well, to admire him for his many excel- 
 lencies, and to be proud of his friend- 
 ship. His devotion to the good, his 
 courage for the right, his charity for the 
 suffering and the oppressed, added to 
 his high sense of morality and honor, 
 made him indeed a man whom to know 
 was to appreciate. 
 
 MRS. JOE E. PECK (" WESTERN RE- 
 CORDER"), LOUISVILLE, KY. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS : 
 
 I must spare a little of my scanty eye- 
 sight this morning to write you a few 
 words of sympathy. And yet ought they 
 not to be words of congratulation as to 
 the parents of a victor? 
 
 To have had such a son a man of 
 such brilliant intellect and conservative 
 
192 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 wisdom ; of such true piety, of such love 
 of reverence for his parents such a 
 blessing has been yours, and God could 
 not have given you a greater, except 
 your own salvation, and yet knowing all 
 this and being grateful to God for it 
 your heart cries out for the sound of the 
 loving voice and the sight of the hand- 
 some face. God will comfort you. 
 
 MRS. HENDIE G. CALDWELL, LOUIS- 
 
 VILLE, KY. 
 
 MY DEAREST COUSIN SALLIE : 
 
 We have just received the Central 
 Baptist announcing the going home 
 of your dear son Rochester. Oh, my 
 dear cousin, how my heart aches for you. 
 I know that he was everything to you. 
 that a good, noble, gifted, devoted son 
 could be how your heart was bound up 
 in him, what a tender pride you felt in 
 him. I know too all about the desola- 
 tion you must feel in being bereft of the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 193 
 
 idol of your heart. We cannot fathom 
 the great mystery ! We only know that 
 our ways are in the hands of Him who 
 cannot err, and that when our work here 
 is done, " He giveth his beloved sleep." 
 Thank God we do not sorrow as those 
 who have no hope. What more could 
 you ask than his last testimony: "My 
 trust in Jesus Christ is without a cloud ; " 
 " Death has to me no fear." Blessed 
 assurance. 
 
 REV. J. B. MOODY, PEWEE VALLEY, KY. 
 
 DR. S. H. FORD, MY DEAR BROTHER : 
 
 I would express my condolence in your 
 sad bereavement. I have lost a mother 
 and father and brother and three chil- 
 dren out of five, and my dear wife, and I 
 am sure my experience makes it easy for 
 me to sympathize, especially for parents 
 of your ages when you begin to feel that 
 you must lean on others for help and 
 support. Your loss is great and I pray 
 
 13 
 
194 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 God to help you both to bear it with 
 fortitude and with the good cheer of 
 those who are " almost home." 
 
 MRS. LIZZIE HALDEMAN, LOUISVILLE, KY. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 How my thoughts have been with you 
 in your deep trial for I know what the 
 loss of your dear son must be to you. I 
 thank God for his faith and triumphant 
 death and for your faith which bears tes- 
 timony to the sustaining power of God's 
 grace as nothing else can do. 
 
 MRS. LIZZIE WOODBURY, LOUISVILLE, KY. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS Many hearts 
 have been broken by your sorrow. Here 
 in Louisville where your dear son was 
 born there are hundreds who love you 
 and your loss is theirs. 
 
 There never was any other mother, any 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 195 
 
 other baby boy, so Mary-like and Christ- 
 like to me as my dear Sunday-school 
 teacher and her beautiful child. I loved 
 Rochester from the first time I ever saw 
 him. He was magnetic a study to me 
 with his luminous eyes and glorious head. 
 I listened to his first words and he was 
 always a marvelous being to me. I knew 
 how he grew to be the light of your home 
 and then the pride and strength of your 
 hearts. I know what a bright, successful 
 career he achieved, and how he wrote his 
 name upon the highest line he could reach 
 while his feet were planted upon the earth. 
 You know better than I do how God deals 
 with those He loves. Your thoughts can 
 reach farther than mine can into the deep 
 philosophies of this labyrinth of life. 
 But I can come up and stand with you 
 in the realization that to carry forward 
 the great purposes of the eternities God 
 must take from our arms the great work- 
 ers he needs on the other side. Nothing 
 can comfort your hearts as the thought 
 
196 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 that those strong, tender hands which 
 would have lifted you over every trial of 
 life are now filling with beauty the home 
 you and your dear ones will have in that 
 land where the many 'mansions be. 
 
 DR. B. RUBENS, TUCSON, ARIZONA. 
 
 MRS. S. K. FORD: 
 
 MY DEAR MADAM AND FRIEND 
 Please accept my deepest sympathy in 
 you affliction for your dear son, Rochester 
 Ford. 
 
 I am so deeply grieved ; I have lost a 
 dear and true friend. But it is the will 
 of Him who gives us life and takes it 
 away. The sad news was a shock to all 
 Tucson. We have lost a dear and good 
 man who did many commendable things 
 for the city. He did for Tucson what no 
 other man has ever done. He fought 
 evil always. He was ever honorable and 
 just. Though physically dead, spiritually 
 he will forever live in our hearts and mem- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 197 
 
 ones. I loved him like a brother. He 
 never failed to help those in want. 
 
 KEY. J. T. COOK, LL.D., LA GRANGE, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER FORD : 
 My heart goes out to you in this your 
 great sorrow. What a grand, noble son 
 Rochester was, and how thankful you 
 should be that God loaned him to you 
 forty-six years. 
 
 What can I sa} r to you that you do not 
 know? You two ripe cultured Christians 
 know more of God, His word and prom- 
 ises than I can know on earth. I quote no 
 promises, you know them. I pass no 
 eulogy on Rochester, for I can say noth- 
 ing worthy of such a noble character. 
 
 REV. J. M. BILLINGSLEY, EWING, ILLS. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER FORD : 
 
 I notice ;in a paper just to hand the 
 death of your son Rochester. How 
 
198 ROCHESTER FODR. 
 
 vividly it brought to mind the death of 
 my son only son who went from us 
 thirty-six years ago. I know how inade- 
 quate language is to express the sorrow 
 of a bereaved parent. But amid our 
 deepest sorrow this glorious consolation 
 comes that through the atonement of 
 Christ Jesus, our Lord, your son rests 
 with Him in the Paradise of God. So by 
 the grace of God we sorrow not as those 
 who have no hope. The delightful 
 thought to me among others is that of 
 the usefulness of your son while here 
 with us. His ability the constant good 
 he did, his devotion to the cause of Christ 
 and the example left by him, must ever 
 be cherished memories. I have heard 
 eulogies passed upon him as professor of 
 law as well as the wide influence he ex- 
 erted for good. God bless you ! 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 199 
 
 MRS. LELIA HERNDON HALE, CHICAGO, 
 ILLS. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 Words fail me to express to you my 
 deep sympathy, for no one knew better 
 than I what you had in your son and how 
 deep and tender was your devotion to 
 him and how well merited it was. From 
 the moment I first met him I admired 
 him more than any young man I ever 
 knew, for I recognized in a glance the 
 noble manhood and Christian character 
 he so pre-eminently possessed. 
 
 I honored and looked up to him in 
 every way, both intellectually and mor- 
 ally. I grieve with you and wish I could 
 put my arms around your neck and tell 
 you all my heart feels. But oh, what a 
 comfort to have left behind him such a 
 noble record. So young, but a rounded 
 and Christian life superior to many far 
 older. It seems to me the Doctor and 
 
200 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 yourself and May should find great com- 
 fort in the thought of the complete suc- 
 cess he made of the short life given him. 
 But I need not write all this, you know 
 better than I the Comforter for all. 
 
 MISS MART M' CALEB ROCHESTER, NASH- 
 VILLE, TENN. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 I have just read in the Western 
 Recorder of your great bereavement in 
 the passing away of your dear son, 
 Cousin Rochester. I realize what a loss 
 you have sustained in giving up such a 
 son so good, so gifted. All who knew 
 him had only words of praise for him. 
 It has been many years since we met, 
 but I shall always remember his carrying 
 my (now sainted) sister, Mrs. Burrows, 
 so tenderly and yet so bravely in his 
 arms. He was then so young. 
 
 You had everything to be thankful for 
 in him a gifted, consecrated son, al- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 201 
 
 ways doing good as opportunity offered, 
 dutiful and kind always. 
 
 ME. ST. E. PLUMER, PRESDT. SOUTHERN 
 ARIZONA BANK & TRUST CO., TUCSON, 
 ARIZONA. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 Your son was one of our most beloved 
 citizens, a very dear friend and business 
 associate of mine, and we all have sus- 
 tained a great loss. So far as is in my 
 power I will be very glad to render you 
 every assistance in settling up his affairs. 
 
 Assuring you of my deepest sympa- 
 thy in this, your hour of bereavement, 
 I am yours truly. 
 
 REV. T. C. CARLETON, PASTOR OF LA- 
 FAYETTE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, ST. 
 LOUIS. 
 
 DOCTOR AND MRS. S. H. FORD: 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER 
 You have both been much in my thought 
 
202 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 the last few days. I wanted very much 
 to be present last Saturday at the funeral 
 services of your dear son, Rochester. 
 Your loss is great : no human estimate 
 can tell how great, but that means, also, 
 that your gain has been great in the 
 grand, noble life which Rochester has 
 given to you and to the world, so that 
 while your hearts are broken over the loss 
 you have sustained, your lives have been 
 made rich in the heritage of his splendid 
 life. I regret very much that I never 
 knew him personally, and yet I feel as if 
 I had known him all my life, because I 
 have heard so much that is good and 
 noble about him. To have given such a 
 son to the world and to God surely an- 
 swers the question : " Is life worth liv- 
 ing," and his own true, noble life is a 
 brilliant and conclusive answer to that 
 same question. Though he was taken 
 away in middle life, what a blessing it 
 was that he did not wait till middle life 
 or old age to give God his heart and his 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 203 
 
 services, and what a blessing it was to 
 have woven his virtues into the warp and 
 woof of the home life, parents, brothers 
 and sister, and in the life of the churches 
 where he has lived. His deeds and words 
 and exalted life will be a fragrant mem- 
 ory, making bright and sweet all the 
 coming years, and making the home- 
 coming more delightful because he has 
 gone before. Earth has been richer and 
 better because of his life, and now he has 
 been promoted to a higher service and 
 a more unalloyed pleasure. While you 
 shall miss his loving attentions and prac- 
 tical service, you will be comforted in 
 the thought that your own dear boy has 
 been called to a higher service for the 
 dear Savior Himself, through whose 
 precious blood we are made fit for life on 
 earth and reigning in heaven. Heaven 
 is not far away, and Jesus is nearer still. 
 God is good, and His grace is sufficient 
 for us. What a sweet and blessed thing 
 it is to be a Christian ! 
 
204 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 REV. AND MRS. RAY C. PALMER, 
 CHILLICOTHE, MO. 
 
 MY BELOVED BROTHER AND SISTER: 
 
 How dreadfully pained we were to see 
 the account of the death of your dearly 
 beloved son, Rochester Ford. How 
 strange sometimes seem the providences 
 of God. What a great and good son 
 you had ! Every such dispensation of 
 providence speaks of that blessed life be- 
 yond where a mind so brilliant, a soul so 
 grand, may have the fullest possible op- 
 portunity for endless development. 
 
 Surely our prayers shall be that you 
 
 may realize the eternal God is thy refuge 
 
 and underneath are the everlasting arms. 
 
 God grant we all may attain that 
 
 purest heaven, to be to other souls 
 
 " The cup of strength in some great agony, 
 Then shall we join the choir invisible, 
 Where music is the gladness of the world." 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 205 
 
 MRS. W. F. ELLIOT, MOBERLY, MO. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER I 
 have just read in the Central Baptist 
 the news of the home-going of your son 
 Eochester, and I write to assure yon of 
 my sympathy. What a blessed thing to 
 be the parents of so noble a son, and 
 what a blessed memory you have to 
 alleviate your grief at his loss. I did 
 not know your son except as a passing 
 acquaintance, but I never heard a word 
 spoken of him except in commendation 
 and praise of his talents and attainments 
 and his pure devoted Christian life. My 
 dear husband admired him greatly. 
 
 In the blessed hope of the coming of 
 our Lord when the dead in Him shall 
 rise to meet Him in immortal strength 
 and beauty, I am, with loving sympathy, 
 your friend and sister. 
 
206 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. SKILLMAN, COLUMBIA, MO. 
 
 DEAR DR. FORD: 
 
 We have just read of the death of 
 your son, Rochester; we wish to express 
 our heartfelt sympathy for yourself and 
 family in this hour of bereavement. I am 
 glad that your son was a noble Christian 
 man and that the good life he lived is 
 a great source of comfort to you now. 
 We are glad that you know the source 
 of all comfort in the times of sorrow, 
 we are glad that you had him with you 
 and that you could nurse him in his last 
 sickness. It will not be very long until 
 you will see him again in a clearer light 
 than this poor befogged earth affords. 
 May the blessing of the Lord be upon you 
 and yours. Most affectionately yours. 
 
 MRS. DOCTOR ROBARTS, MAPLEWOOD, MO. 
 
 I see in the evening paper that your 
 dear son Rochester has passed over the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 207 
 
 river. I am shocked. I did not know 
 he was so ill. Rochester was such an 
 exemplary young man we would think of 
 him as only at rest free from his long 
 suffering. You know where you can 
 find comfort. 
 
 You feel assured that he is with the 
 Lord. 
 
 MRS. L. B. STEVENS, NORTHBRIDGE 
 CENTRE, MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 OUR DEAR FRIENDS How beautiful 
 is the home-going of the Christian. As 
 you dwell upon your son Rochester's 
 beautiful life and bright unshaken faith, 
 I am sure much of the sting of death 
 the trial of parting must be taken 
 away. 
 
 God's way is sure to be best, and we 
 want our will swallowed up in His. To 
 see a son leave this world without a doubt 
 or a fear must call forth songs of thanks- 
 
208 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 giving, and it seems to me instead of 
 weeping with you I should rejoice with 
 you that your dear son is at home. 
 
 LOCKSLEY HALL, CHAIN O'LAKES, WAU- 
 POCA, WISCONSIN. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 DEAR FRIENDS The sad news of 
 your son's death has reached me away up 
 here in Wisconsin. It is needless to say 
 that it was a great shock, as I had sup- 
 posed he was in comparative good health, 
 especially as long as he remained in Ari- 
 zona. 
 
 It is impossible for me to say more, 
 than to convey to you and your family 
 our sincere sympathy and love, in this 
 time of your sorrow over the present sep- 
 aration from your loved one. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 EMMA JOHNSON FORBES, 
 4319 Delniar Av., St. Louis. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 209 
 
 REV. R. M. INLOW, FIELD SECRETARY 
 
 S. S. BOARD, NEVADA, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR DR. FORD: 
 
 I cannot refrain from writing 1 you this 
 line to assure you of my sympathy for 
 yourself and your dear wife in these hours 
 of sorrow. I earnestly unite my prayers 
 with the thousands of others who love 
 you, that the Comforter may indeed fill 
 your hearts with His fullness. God re- 
 member to be gracious unto you. 
 
 MRS. JENNIE ANDREWS, A. B. P. SOCIETY, 
 ST. LOUIS. 
 
 Miss MAY FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR MAY I read with surprise 
 this morning of your brother Rochester's 
 death. Convey my deepest sympathy 
 to your father and mother, 
 u 
 
210 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 MISS FANNY MoHATTON LATTIMORE, 
 ST. LOUIS. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : I do most fully 
 sympathize with each one of you in this 
 separation from the one so very dear to 
 your hearts, but it is only for a little 
 time, my dear friend. May our heavenly 
 Father give you sweet peace. 
 
 REV. W. P. HARVEY, D. D., PRESIDENT OF 
 BAPTIST BOOK CONCERN, LOUISVILLE, 
 KY. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER 
 I deeply sympathize with you in your 
 bereavement. I know what it is to be 
 separated from loved ones. How con- 
 soling to believe our loss is their infinite 
 gain. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 211 
 
 MRS. J. D. MURPHY, FREDERICKTOWN, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER : 
 
 I have read of the going away of your 
 noble son. My heart feels for you in your 
 great trouble. The Lord bless and com- 
 fort you and his dear father. Oh, what 
 a great loss ! Words of consolation are as 
 empty sound to you. Each day our dear 
 ones go over to the beautiful land of 
 rest. We have so many loved ones there 
 waiting for us. 
 
 MR. CHARLES BLENMAN, ATTORNEY 
 
 AT LAW, TUCSON, ARIZ. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 I have just returned from my vacation 
 in California where I learned of the death 
 of your son Rochester. Be assured of 
 my heartfelt sympathy in this dark, dark 
 hour of trial. I had been so intimate 
 with him ever since my arrival in Tuc- 
 son, now nine years ago, that I feel his 
 
212 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 death like that of a near relative. He 
 will be sadly missed in Tucson and no 
 one will miss him more than I. He was 
 my esteemed friend. 
 
 MRS. M. E. HOUSTON, ST. LOUIS. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND : 
 
 What a beautiful testimony to Koches- 
 ter's grand noble character that in The 
 Citizen of Tucson. It must be a comfort 
 to you to know that he was so lovingly 
 appreciated in the home of his adoption. 
 Think, my dear friend, of the bright light 
 that shines all along his earthly pathway 
 and lets its rays penetrate the darkness 
 that now enshouds you. You have been 
 greatly blest and honored in having such 
 a son. I am glad that I knew Eochester. 
 
 REV. Q. W. HYDE, LEXINGTON, MO. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS The Central 
 Baptist brought us the mournful tidings 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 213 
 
 of the death of your noble son, Roches- 
 ter Ford. My heart bleeds with yours 
 over this unutterable loss. How inscru- 
 table are the ways of Providence ! Jesus 
 once said, " What! do thou knowest not 
 now, but thou shalt know hereafter." 
 
 " All things work together for good to 
 them that love God, to them who are 
 called according to His purpose." 
 
 Please don't grieve unduly "the 
 time is short." Your son grandly filled 
 up the measure of his years, and is now 
 with his Lord. You will very soon meet 
 him in glory. God help us to live right ; 
 and then " to die will be gain." 
 
 MRS. E. W. BEEAY, CHABLEVOIX, 
 MICHIGAN. 
 
 DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 I have just heard from Mrs. Teasdale 
 of the passing away of your noble, gifted 
 son Rochester. I am greatly shocked 
 and grieved. He is with his Lord far 
 
214 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 happier than when with us. But how 
 you must miss him. May the blessed 
 Lord comfort you and yours. You have 
 my sincerest sympathy. 
 
 MRS. ELIZA D. CLINE, NEVADA, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 I have just heard of the death of your 
 grand and gifted son Eochester. I knew 
 him well. Pie was as near perfect, I 
 think, as a human being could be. I 
 deeply sympathize with you in your un- 
 speakable loss. May God in His mercy 
 help you to bear up under this sad 
 affliction. 
 
 MRS. J. B. SCHOFIELD, RIVERSIDE, ILLS. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. FORD: 
 
 MYDEARFRIENDS I have just learned 
 of the death of your noble son. I extend 
 to you my deepest sympathy. I know 
 what it is to lose an only boy and since my 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 215 
 
 last great sorrow, the going away of my 
 dear husband, I have grieved for my son 
 more than ever. You lost yours in ripe 
 manhood, but oh, what blessed assurance 
 is yours of his present and eternal glory. 
 Dr. Ford spoke such comforting words 
 in prayer meeting just after the death of 
 Dr. Schofield. JL must now express my 
 heartfelt appreciation and that of my 
 family. They were such a solace to our 
 wounded hearts. 
 
 MR. WILEY E. TUSSING, LOS ANGELES, 
 CAL. 
 
 DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 I am just in receipt of a letter from 
 my brother in Tucson, announcing the 
 death of your son Rochester. While I 
 knew Mr. Ford had not been so strong 
 lately as usual I was greatly shocked and 
 grieved to learn of his death. 
 
 By the death of Mr. Ford the world 
 loses one of its best men, and my brother 
 
216 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 and myself one of our very best friends. 
 He was a friend to us both when we 
 needed a friend, not alone in a worldly, 
 but also in a spiritual sense. He helped 
 us both get a start in this world, mate- 
 rially and by kind and wise advice, and 
 we shall long remember him as a kind 
 and loving brother. 
 
 I can hardly bring Ayself to utter 
 words of consolation as I know he has 
 gone to the reward for a work, which, 
 were we all to do as well as he, would 
 leave the world far, far better both mor- 
 ally and spiritually. Tucson will long 
 remember his work there. May the God 
 of all Grace sustain you. Mrs. Tussing 
 joins me in heartfelt sympathy. 
 
 MRS. W. H. WILLIAMS, LOUISVILLE, KEN- 
 TUCKY. 
 
 MY VERY DEAR FRIEND : 
 
 "When the news reached me of the 
 going home of your beloved son, my 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 217 
 
 first feeling was one of tender sym- 
 pathy for the desolate, sorely smit- 
 ten parents and of prayer that God 
 would be pleased to uphold and comfort 
 them in this time of bitter sorrow. From 
 many hearts I am sure that prayer has 
 been offered up oftentimes since. I 
 cannot express to you how much I feel 
 for you. Although I knew your son 
 only a little while, his frank, truthful 
 and conscientious spirit left a deep im- 
 pression on my mind, and Mr. Williams 
 had such implicit confidence ; always said 
 Rochester had such a decided grand 
 character. I remember one day Mr. 
 Williams said to me, " if I should be taken 
 away and you need a friend and adviser, 
 go to Rochester Ford ; I would trust him 
 with everything I own." But when I 
 needed him he was away from us, had 
 been compelled to go to Tucson for his 
 health. God bless you both and may you 
 feel the everlasting arms around about 
 and underneath you. 
 
218 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 REV. W. A. JARREL, D. D., DALLAS, TEX. 
 
 DEAR BRO. AND SISTER FORD. 
 
 While we would not be like Jesus if we 
 were not to weep, yet, we would not be 
 like Him were we not to say, " Even so, 
 Father; for thus itseemeth good in thy 
 sight." Wading the deep waters has 
 taught me, that, on the death of the 
 Christians of our families, to thank the 
 Lord for the honor of angels' special 
 visit to our home in taking our loved 
 ones above and to thank the Lord for 
 their promotion from the present to a 
 higher position in the kingdom of God. 
 Remember, the parting is like to a loved 
 one having gone before us to some earthly 
 paradisical home, whom we are soon 
 to follow. I am sure, dear ones, God will 
 give you the sweet grace to look at it 
 thus, and bask in the sunshine of 1 
 Thess. 4:18-18. In my heart I weep 
 and rejoice with you, and pray, God bless 
 you, and keep you. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 219 
 
 DR. J. F. CHRISTIAN, D. D., CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER FORD : 
 
 Allow me to extend to you my tender- 
 est sympathy on the loss of your dear 
 son. 
 
 REV. S. Y. PITTS, WEST PLAINS, MO. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H, FORD : 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN There are some 
 fires on the hearthstone, when they have 
 burned down, still leave cheer, warmth 
 and comfort. I have seen sparks on 
 my own, brighten, brighten, as they 
 went out. So it must have been in the 
 death of your noble son. Certainly your 
 fondest hopes as Christians were realized 
 in him ; he has left you a garland of 
 memories to treasure in your heart's 
 casket. 
 
 Then he was so admired, trusted and 
 loved by his brethren. His Savior, and 
 the good gone on before, waited in fond 
 
220 ^ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 expectation of his coming. Don't you 
 think Bros. Senter and Ely were glad! 
 He made a brave fight for life and 
 righteousness. His record is good. 
 Amen. My tender love to Sam and 
 May. The noble brother they loved so 
 well is still a light and inspiration. 
 Truly we all can say : The Lord gave, 
 the Lord hath taken away, blessed be 
 the name of the Lord. 
 
 MRS. ANNA M. PITTS, WEST PLAINS, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN SALLIE : 
 
 It was with surprise and sorrow that 
 I saw the picture and read of the un- 
 timely death of your noble son, in the 
 Central. Not only is your loss irrepara- 
 ble, but the cause of Christ has lost a 
 valiant soldier, for wherever his home 
 was, his work for his Master went on in 
 loving devotion. There were few young 
 men of my acquaintance, whose rise and 
 progress I had watched with so much 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 221 
 
 interest as I had cousin Rochester's. 
 Though I did not see him often I have 
 never lost sight of him. I grieve with 
 you and his father, his sister and brother 
 in this heart-breaking bereavement, but 
 yet, I know, too, that there is One who 
 sticketh closer than a brother who will 
 abide with and comfort you. 
 
 REV. S. E- EWING, PASTOR OF EUCLID 
 AV. BAPTIST CHURCH, ST. LOUIS. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. FORD: 
 
 DEAR FRIENDS It was with deep 
 sorrow that I have just heard of the death 
 of your son Rochester. I know God will 
 comfort your hearts. Many of us have 
 looked upon him as an ideal man for 
 years, and his memory will be sweet to us 
 who were permitted to have some associa- 
 tion with him. 
 
222 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 REV. J. T. HERGET, SUPERINTENDENT OF 
 MISSIONS, ST. LOUIS BAPTIST ASSOCIA- 
 TION. 
 
 MY DEAR DR. FORD : 
 
 On returning from my vacation yester- 
 day I learned of the recent death of your 
 son Rochester. My heart immediately 
 went out in sympathy to you and Mrs. 
 Ford and to the other members of your 
 family. What a great comfort to you in 
 this hour to lean upon the arm of Him 
 who has said, " I will never leave thee 
 nor forsake thee." May our Father fill 
 your soul with His own unspeakable 
 peace and grace. Not lost, only gone 
 before. 
 
 MRS. IDA E. HOWELL, TUCSON, ARIZONA. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 I feel I must write you just a few lines, 
 not that I think I could say anything to 
 lessen your sorrow in the loss of your 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 223 
 
 dear son, but just to tell you how dear he 
 had grown to us, in the little church in 
 Tucson. I feel his life of suffering and 
 faithfulness was not in vain, that it will 
 always be an inspiration to us, to hold 
 out faithfully unto the end, and truly the 
 good he has done will live after him. 
 Our hearts are bowed in grief. 
 
 Verily you are indeed " Blessed among 
 women " to have given to the world such 
 a son. And may the " Sun of Righteous- 
 ness' 1 arise to you with "healing 7 ' in 
 his wings. 
 
 MRS. BETTY McHATTON, FRANKLIN, TENN. 
 
 MY DEAR SARAH : 
 
 I have just finished reading the eulogies 
 on dear Rochester, and try to set about 
 writing you. 
 
 My dear, I feel dumb, before such a 
 loss as this is to you and think of offering 
 consolation, when I realize your supreme 
 faith. You are my oldest and best loved 
 
224 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 friend. I have always felt great pride in 
 Rochester's career, however, aside from 
 that tender tie. Few mothers are blest 
 with such a son. Rare are there such 
 well-rounded characters met. Great is 
 the loss to church and State in such a use- 
 ful man. I feel sure you will appreciate 
 my sympathy, which is deep as if we were 
 bound by the tie of blood, instead of 
 association and congeniality. 
 
 MRS. LOUISE O. RAMSEY, SHELBTVILLE, 
 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 MY DEAR, DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 That you should be called to suffer 
 this ; my heart is torn for you. For no one, 
 dear, feels more deeply my dear Cousin 
 Rochester's death, than I do other 
 than yourself. Words cannot tell you 
 just what I feel. His life has always 
 been one of the pure uplifting constant 
 influences of my life. Never for any 
 length of time have we lost sight of each 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 225 
 
 other. He, dear, has finished his course 
 in the lessons of life and has been taken 
 to the higher consciousness of perfect joy 
 before us, but oh, how glad it will make 
 us to follow. There is no death. The 
 dear one has passed through the shadow 
 to find the perfect life. Oh, the sweet- 
 ness and purity of his earthly life. I 
 bow my head to its benediction. I thank 
 the Father that you all abide in the secret 
 place of the most High and this great 
 trial, and seeming sorrow, will no wise 
 touch your real or inner life, but be the 
 door opening to a fuller, completer life 
 beyond. God keep you. 
 
 MRS. FANNY ROTHWELL, LIBERTY, MO. 
 
 i 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 I learned from the Central last even- 
 ing of your unspeakable loss. My heart 
 is deeply grieved for you. None but 
 those who have had such good and 
 noble loved ones to leave them can fully 
 
 15 
 
226 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 enter into that heart sympathy which is 
 mine to share with you in your present 
 grief. What could we do in such hours 
 were not the strong arms of our loving 
 Savior beneath us? 
 
 Mr. Rothwell spoke so often in his 
 lifetime of your noble son and held 
 him in such high esteem and affection. 
 The first thing I thought of when I 
 looked at his picture was their meeting 
 in heaven. 
 
 TUCSON, ARIZONA, AUGUST 19, 1903. 
 
 DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 It is with the most heartfelt sympathy 
 that I write you these lines in fond re- 
 membrance of one of my dearest friends, 
 your son, who has departed this life. 
 
 "When the sad news of Mr. Ford's 
 death reached me, it seemed to me that 
 it could not be true, as it appeared to me 
 that it was but a short time that I bade 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 227 
 
 him good-bye wishing him a pleasant 
 and helpful vacation at home. 
 
 It grieves me now as I write, to think 
 that I have lost such a religious, good 
 and helpful friend as I found Mr. Ford 
 to be. He was always kind and pleasant 
 with me, and always pointed out to me 
 the road to eternal life, teaching me how 
 to serve and honor the Lord. How 
 sweet it is to me now to know that he is 
 at his journey's end, having traveled the 
 road to eternal life which he so plainly 
 pointed out to me. It is now plain to 
 me that all the suggestions Mr. Ford 
 made to me were for my immediate good 
 and future happiness. 
 
 No one in need ever asked Mr. Ford 
 for assistance who did not receive aid 
 from him. In his business life honesty 
 was always his chief aim. In his pro- 
 fession he stood with the first. How 
 noble were his endeavors in behalf of the 
 poor crippled orphan boy, Ruby Hopkins. 
 When hisphysical condition was such that 
 
228 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 he should not have been working he 
 would climb the court house stairs to see 
 that justice was done this orphan boy. 
 Compensation he did not think of, for 
 he charged nothing for his services. His 
 sense of Christian duty and justice was 
 compensation enough to his generous, 
 sympathetic soul. 
 
 How happy I am to know that I have 
 had the pleasure of working for a man 
 with such a pure heart and unapproach- 
 able character. How sweet to review 
 his character, so noble, so pure and so 
 kind. 
 
 He was a close friend of my brother 
 and helped him in many ways. 
 
 My brother and I had quite a long 
 conversation with him before he left for 
 his home, and we both loved and honored 
 him, as did all that knew him. 
 
 I have been to his room a number of 
 times when I knew he was suffering, but 
 never have I heard him complain. 
 
 How the church will miss him ! Never 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 229 
 
 a Sabbath day passed but that he was 
 at church and Sunday-school, and always 
 took a most helpful part in all church 
 work. The church realizes that there is 
 a vacancy that can never be filled. 
 
 Tucson has lost her first citizen, a man 
 that never feared to commend the right 
 and to oppose the wrong. 
 
 Mr. Ford has not left us^ but simply 
 gone before, and ere long through the 
 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall 
 meet again. 
 
 MRS. JENNIE O'DONNELL, HOUSTON, 
 
 TEXAS. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 The magazine reached me in which 
 I found the tribute paid my beloved 
 cousin Rochester, whose death was 
 certainly an unexpected blow to me. 
 Surely a great and noble man has fallen. 
 I have always considered it a privilege to 
 have known my cousin, for we find so 
 
230 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 few as honorable, just and good. I feel 
 assured he is in heaven with our blessed 
 Savior, whom he loved so well and served 
 so faithfully. What a comfort to have 
 had your precious son with you in the 
 last weeks of his life a life so dear to 
 us all. The separation will not be long. 
 To the Christian the years pass so rapidly. 
 We daily and hourly long to be with 
 our Heavenly Father. Our dear Roches- 
 ter is another one added to the white- 
 robed throng who are shouting glad 
 hosannas around the throne of God. 
 
 Blanche and James will be so grieved 
 that they could not see him before he went 
 above. They loved and admired him and 
 were always so fond of his society. 
 
 MRS. EARL D. SIMS, BAKER CITY, 
 OREGON. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 I have just received the sad news of 
 Mr. Rochester Ford's death. JM~o words 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 231 
 
 can express to you our sorrow. How well 
 we know and fully appreciate the pure 
 manly life, not ended but transplanted 
 into that glorious world, where, in the 
 presence of our Redeemer, it will go on 
 from glory to glory eternally. The hearts 
 of his loved ones are sad to-day because 
 of his going away, but I believe the re- 
 deemed in heaven are rejoicing that a 
 pure consecrated life has cast aside the 
 burden and pain of this world and entered 
 into everlasting joy. This world has lost 
 a noble example for good, but the good 
 he did will never die the world has been 
 made better for his having lived in it, 
 and the crown of reward that Rochester 
 Ford receives at the hands of his Savior 
 will be set with bright jewels won for his 
 Lord. 
 
 QOV. JAMES P. EAGLE, LITTLE ROCK, 
 ARKANSAS. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER FORD : 
 
 I have just received your letter bring- 
 
232 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ing the sad news of the death of your 
 noble Christian son, Rochester. I am 
 deeply grieved. With a crushed heart I 
 enter into deepest sympathy with you 
 and brother Ford in this the greatest be- 
 reavement that could come to father and 
 mother. You have my prayers, God's 
 grace will be sufficient, trust Him as you 
 have done for so many years. 
 
 MISS. A. B. HALL, TUCSON, ARIZONA. 
 
 I cannot express to you my regret at 
 the death of dear Mr. Ford. Having 
 just heard the sad news, I cannot refrain 
 from intruding on the sacredness of your 
 grief, my dear Mrs. Ford. I felt I was 
 saying, " good-bye " when I parted with 
 him. Latterly he has been so lovely to 
 me because I have been more thrown 
 with him having to seek his wise counsel. 
 We cannot see why one so needed here 
 should have been taken., I am so grate- 
 ful to think God sent him to. your arms 
 before taking Him to Himself. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 233 
 
 MRS. A. C. VEST, TUCSON, ARIZONA. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 It is with a very sad heart I write 
 these lines to you. I did not think when 
 Mr. Ford left us I should never again 
 see him on earth. My dear Mrs. Ford, 
 my heart goes out in sincere sympathy 
 to you for I know what you have lost. 
 But what consolation you have in the as- 
 surance he is in heaven ! 
 
 His last words to his father were beau- 
 tiful. Everybody speaks of him as be- 
 ing grand and good. Our little church 
 has lost its main stay. He was a true 
 and noble man ; we will miss him so. I 
 do so truly sympathize with you. 
 
 MISS JENNIE A. WELCH, PHOENIX, 
 ARIZONA. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 With grief I have just read of your 
 dear son's death. It comes to me that a 
 
234 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 word to show you how he was appreciated 
 in his far-away home might be a drop of 
 comfort in your cup of sorrow. The 
 Baptists of Arizona will miss one of our 
 most valiant soldiers. A true gentleman 
 and a soldier for Christ was Mr. Roches- 
 ter Ford, and we with you deeply mourn 
 his loss. I grieve for you and with you, 
 yet I also rejoice even more. You have 
 had such comfort and joy in your son and 
 now you can rejoice for him, while for his 
 loss you sorrow for yourself. 
 
 MRS ANNIE R. M'ALLESTER, PLEASANT 
 HILL, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR COUSIN : 
 
 The Central Baptist informs me of 
 the passing away of your dear son Roch- 
 ester. How consoling to know that 
 your precious boy has gone before you 
 to the glorious Beyond. My dear heart- 
 broken cousin, you have my heartfelt 
 sympathy. We were proud of dear 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 235 
 
 Rochester and numbers outside his fam- 
 ily connection appreciated his great worth. 
 " A good name is rather to be chosen 
 than great riches, and loving favor rather 
 than silver and gold." We would not 
 rebel, for does not God know what is best 
 for us? And surely we have more to be 
 thankful for than we merit. 
 
 S. W. ANDERSON, OWENSBORO, KY. 
 
 MY DEAR DR. FORD : 
 
 Among all the sad things to hear on 
 my return home the painful intelligence 
 of your great bereavement was the sad- 
 dest of all. 
 
 No words can express the deep sym- 
 pathy of my heart that goes out to you 
 and dear Mrs. Ford and family. 
 
 What a consolation it must be, too, to 
 recall the grandeur of a life that made 
 the world brighter and humanity better 
 and happier, because he lived among 
 men. For I suppose there are few men 
 
236 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 who in their short lives reflected greater 
 honor upon father and mother and the 
 Master's cause than did Rochester Ford. 
 My family join in love and sympathy 
 to you. 
 
 MRS. LOU CARLTON ROCHELLE, REACHI, 
 LA. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD: 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS I have just 
 read the sad news of your precious son's 
 death, and I come, with your many 
 friends, to express my affectionate sym- 
 pathy for you under so severe tin afflic- 
 tion. Only those who have passed 
 through such sorrow can know what it 
 is to give up their dear children. You 
 have the blessed assurance that he is now 
 among the redeemed. 
 
 MRS. L. L. M. CARUTH, WASHINGTON, ARK. 
 
 DEAR DR. FORD : 
 
 How kind and loving the Savior was 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 237 
 
 and 80 like Him to let you and Sister Ford 
 have the sweet pleasure of nursing your 
 loved son in his last illness. I know it 
 added to his joy to have father and mother 
 near him even to the very entrance of the 
 pearly gates of heaven. Such an exit 
 from earth crowned with the peace and 
 glory that were his, is enough to make us 
 rejoice rather than weep, and yet we 
 weep, even under the promise of Jesus' 
 sweet voice, whispering, " Let not your 
 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 
 I have chosen you, so shall I comfort 
 thee." 
 
 DR. J. T. DOUGLAS, FERGUSON, MO. 
 
 DEAR DR. AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 You and your family have the heartfelt 
 sympathy of Mrs. Douglas and myself in 
 your great bereavement. 
 
 God's grace will be sufficient for you. 
 
 Fraternally yours. 
 
238 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 DR. AND MRS. HOWARD FORD, GILLIAM, 
 MO. 
 
 MY DEAR FATHER : 
 
 No one living had a greater admiration 
 for Rochester's good character than had 
 I, and my love for him as a brother was 
 deeper than he knew. It seems strange 
 to me that I should miss him so much 
 when I saw so little of him and heard so 
 infrequently from him direct, but the 
 hope that I could visit him at Tucson 
 where he was so greatly loved, was 
 always a cheering thought to me. 
 
 MRS. M. E. UNDERWOOD, OWENSBORO, 
 KENTUCKY. 
 
 MY DEAR DR. AND MRS. S. H. FORD: 
 I must write a word to express my 
 deep sympathy in this your dark hour of 
 bereavement. Remember me. I need 
 your prayers and consolation. A tele- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 239 
 
 gram just received tells me of the depart- 
 ure of my dear daughter yesterday of 
 typhoid fever at Natchitoches, La., where 
 her husband was president of State Nor- 
 mal College. My heart bleeds for my 
 great loss and yours. 
 
 REV. BEN COX, LITTLE ROCK, ARK. 
 
 MY DEAR BRO. AND SISTER FORD : 
 
 It was with deep regret that I read of 
 the death of your dear son. My wife 
 and I hasten to join your many friends 
 in extending sympathy. I trust that 
 you may find great comfort in the word 
 of the Lord, especially where He says : 
 " Call upon me in the day of trouble and 
 I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify 
 
 me." 
 
 Praying His gracious care and keeping 
 upon you and yours, and craving an in- 
 terest in your prayers, I am, 
 
 Yours in Christ. 
 
240 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 MRS. METCALFE AND MRS. CLARKE, WAR- 
 RENSBURG, MO. 
 
 MY DEAR DOCTOR AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 We see from our St. Louis paper that 
 your good and noble son Eochester has 
 gone from you. Our hearts go out to 
 you, for we know sorrow. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. ROBERT R. BRUCE, 4572 
 BELL AVE., ST. LOUIS. 
 
 DOCTOR AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 DEAR FRIENDS The tidings of the 
 death of Rochester Ford came as a sud- 
 den shock for we were hoping he would 
 find relief whilst here and then go to 
 some more favorable climate for another 
 winter. But God knows best and dis- 
 poses matters not according to our long- 
 ings, and so the City Beautiful has 
 another glorified inhabitant freed from 
 all fear of cold and sickness and rejoicing 
 in a state of being, far beyond our ken. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 241 
 
 Your loss is but for a moment and then 
 he will be there to welcome you home. 
 God has certainly been wonderfully 
 kind in giving you such a splendidly en- 
 dowed and noble-hearted son and in 
 sparing his life these many years. I 
 regard it as a great privilege to have 
 known as a friend such a lion-hearted, 
 earnest Christian and courteous gentle- 
 man who always left an impress for good, 
 and knew how to counsel wisely. Truly 
 he gave forth no uncertain sound nor 
 did his light burn dim, but his bright 
 cheerful disposition and faithful Christly 
 walk day by day made him beloved and 
 esteemed by all who knew him. Thank 
 God for Rochester Ford's life and 
 character. 
 
 MRS. SOPHIE BUSS, 7742 PARNELL AVE., 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 MY DEAR MRS. AND Miss FORD : 
 
 A letter yesterday brought me the 
 news of the sad bereavement which came 
 
 16 
 
242 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 to you in the going before of dear Mr. 
 Rochester Ford, and I will not hesitate 
 to send yon a word of sympathy even 
 from a distance. Perhaps you expected 
 his going home and were in a measure 
 prepared for what was to come ; but the 
 pain of separation is the same, the silver 
 cord is loosed, and the spirit has departed. 
 Dear Mrs. Ford, may the Lord strengthen 
 you and dear Dr. Ford in the hour of 
 laying aside the precious casket in which 
 his spirit dwelt while here. Remember 
 it is only for a little while, and then the 
 reunion will be forever. 
 
 A believer's hope is a precious hope 
 and cannot be marred in any way be- 
 cause it rests on the living God whose 
 words are yea and amen. 
 
 MRS. HAZELTON ELLIOT, 4350 BERLIN 
 
 AYE., ST. LOUIS. 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 I have thought of you and yours so 
 much since I heard of your great sorrow. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 243 
 
 I am sure you have no friends that sym- 
 pathize with you more truly than we. 
 We would have heen with you in the 
 last service for your dear son, but it was 
 impossible for us to do so. All join in 
 love and sympathy. 
 
 REV. GEO. A. LOFTON, D. D., NASHVILLE, 
 
 TENN. 
 
 MY DEAR BRO. : 
 
 The notice of Rochester Ford's death 
 brings profound sorrow to my heart as I 
 remember him in his youth, and have 
 known something of his manhood years. 
 Trained up in the way he should go, 
 early professing the religion of Jesus 
 Christ, combining brilliant talents with 
 the highest culture, nothing could have 
 robbed him of eminent success in his 
 profession, nor of extended influence for 
 good, but premature affliction and an un- 
 timely grave. From the start he gave 
 great promise of high position in his 
 
244 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 profession and of usefulness in the church 
 of God, and all who knew him took 
 interest in his future, will greatly grieve 
 over the fate which cut him off from his 
 hopes and deprived the world of his 
 service. 
 
 But the will of God be done. We do 
 not understand the mysteries of that 
 providence which so often subserves its 
 purpose in the young life and the short 
 career. Rochester Ford nobly fulfilled 
 the divine purpose which gave him birth 
 and took him away ; although compara- 
 tively young he leaves behind him the 
 rich inheritance of a splendid character 
 and of a well-ended, though hardly be- 
 gun life. 
 
 To you, his dear parents, I extend my 
 ten de rest love and sympathy in this dark 
 hour of bereavement, likewise to the old 
 church of which he was a member, and 
 in which I was once his pastor. Parents 
 and church have done well in helping to 
 mould a character which honored the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 245 
 
 day and the world in which he lived and 
 which adds another trophy to the grace 
 of Christ and the glory of heaven. 
 
 PRESIDENT J. P. GREENE (WRITTEN A FEW 
 DAYS BEFORE MR. FORD PASSED AWAY). 
 
 MY DEAR EOCHESTER : 
 
 I have just heard you are at home and 
 not well. Have been away five weeks, 
 and lost the run of things did not know 
 you were in Missouri. I should be so 
 glad to see you. I love you just as I 
 used to, in the time gone by, when we 
 used to have such pleasant hours together. 
 It has been a cross to me to be so far 
 from you, and see you so seldom. May 
 God bless you. But He will, for He 
 has blessed you all these years, and has 
 given you strong faith in Him. I wish I 
 could have you in our house. Mrs. Greene 
 joins me in expressing genuine sympathy 
 with you. I pray God that He will be 
 very near to you. 
 
246 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 MR. AND MRS. A. J. BARNES, 5736 CLEM- 
 ENS AVENUE, ST. LOUIS. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 You have both been often in our 
 thoughts. Our hearts have sympathized 
 with you in your affliction and we have 
 remembered you in our prayers. You 
 know as few do how to find comfort in 
 1 Thess. 4 : 13-18. We have often spoken 
 of writing you for we do love you and 
 sympathize with you. May God, who 
 alone can comfort, hold you very ten- 
 derly. 
 
 PRESIDENT J. P. GREENE, AFTER MR. 
 FORD'S DEPARTURE. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR AND MRS. FORD : 
 
 I heard Rochester was sick and wrote 
 him last week. Saturday I saw notice in 
 paper, while in St. Joe, that he died on 
 Thursday. Do hope he got my letter. 
 But if he did not, he knew that I loved 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 247 
 
 him as a brother. He was a noble man. 
 How I admired and loved him. My 
 heart aches for you and May and Sam. 
 He was more to you than to his friends. 
 May God comfort your hearts. The 
 world will never be the same to you, but 
 Heaven will be nearer to you. 
 
 Mrs. Greene joins me in sympathy. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXV. 
 
 SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. 
 
 DEATH OF ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Central Baptist. 
 
 On last Thursday, Aug. 13th, Roches- 
 ter Ford passed away at the age of forty- 
 six. He died at the home of his parents, 
 Dr. S. H. and Mrs. Sallie Eochester 
 Ford, near this city. He was born in 
 Louisville, Ky., but came with his 
 parents to this city, where his educa- 
 tion was completed. About twelve 
 years ago he suffered an attack of 
 
248 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 grippe, which left him diseased and he 
 was compelled to spend the remainder 
 of his days in Arizona, an exile from 
 home and the friends of his youth. 
 Few young men ever started out in life 
 with as fair prospects as greeted him. 
 He had to turn away from a fine law 
 practice which he had built up, resign 
 his professorship in the St. Louis Law 
 School and abandon the plans which he 
 had laid out for himself. In Arizona 
 he at once took a prominent place at 
 the bar and in educational interests. He 
 was made Chancellor of the State Uni- 
 versity, and Chairman of the Board of Cur- 
 ators. But his religious life was quite 
 as remarkable as his business career. 
 He was converted at the age of twelve 
 and all through his life was known as an 
 humble, devout Christian. In St. Louis 
 he was made Treasurer and also Clerk 
 of the Third Baptist Church, where he 
 held membership and where his judg- 
 ment and piety commanded the confi- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 249 
 
 dence of his brethren. He was also As- 
 sistant Moderator of the Missouri Baptist 
 General Association and a Trustee of 
 William Jewell College, being perhaps 
 the youngest man ever on the latter 
 Board. When compelled to sever all 
 these relations and take up his struggle 
 for life in the new country, he maintained 
 his Christian fidelity and identified him- 
 self at once with the struggling church 
 where he lived. By his liberal gifts, his 
 sound advice and his even piety he be- 
 came the main support of the church. 
 In the absence of a pastor he preached 
 with acceptance to the congregation. 
 
 Such are some of the surface facts 
 concerning the life of a good man who 
 has been taken away. It would take a 
 long while to recount all his virtues or 
 to tell the grief of those who knew him 
 and mourn his death. The first feeling 
 is one of disappointment that a young 
 man of such abilities and attainments and 
 prospects should be cut down in the 
 
250 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 midst of life. We want to make for him 
 a brilliant career and crown it with a 
 ripened, honored old age. But the plans 
 that he had to leave unfinished were the 
 earthly, lower plans. On the upper side 
 of the web where the weaver sits and 
 controls the colors there are forms and 
 figures of beauty which we cannot see 
 from where we stand. We must not 
 mourn that he was not allowed to erect 
 an ample and attractive scaffolding ; 
 better than to have done that, he com- 
 pleted a magnificent structure which is 
 enduring. In the little while that 
 Rochester Ford lived, lived under the 
 depressions of disease and uncertainty, he 
 accomplished the largest tasks committed 
 to men. He found God as his Father 
 and Savior and Friend. He made a 
 complete surrender of his heart and 
 faculties to Jesus Christ as his Master. 
 He demonstrated that an humble faith is 
 no barrier to the acquisition of learning 
 or the attainment of professional stand- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 251 
 
 ing. He illustrated how faith can grow 
 confident while this tabernacle of the 
 flesh is perishing day by day. In singu- 
 lar beauty he illustrated the sanctification 
 of family ties by the influences of relig- 
 ion, for till the last he was never too busy 
 nor too weak nor too far away to send 
 the ever daily message to father and 
 mother. There was appropriate fitness 
 in the providence which permitted him to 
 come home a few weeks ago and he was 
 nursed in his last hours by those who 
 would not have craved a higher privilege 
 than to render him this service in the last 
 stages of his earthly journey. A little 
 while before his death he said to his 
 father : " If I should pass, remember 
 that my trust in Jesus Christ is without 
 a cloud. I have trusted in Him and 
 tried to follow Him closely through life 
 and He is with me now and death has to 
 me no fear." 
 
 Funeral services were held at the home 
 on Saturday last at one o'clock, con- 
 
252 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ducted by Rev. J. C, Armstrong. Many 
 of his friends and friends of the family 
 attended the brief service in expression 
 of their very deep and genuine sympathy. 
 At the grave Dr. B. T. Blewett, a 
 neighbor and friend of the family, made 
 appropriate remarks. The burial was in 
 beautiful Belief ontaine. 
 
 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 The Tucson Citizen. 
 
 Rochester Ford, who died at St. Louis 
 last Thursday, was for a dozen years one 
 of the most conspicuous figures in the 
 professional and political life of Tucson. 
 Of commanding presence, he possessed a 
 charm of manner and a degree of per- 
 sonal magnetism which, coupled with his 
 rare abilities and broad culture, fitted him 
 to shine in any circle, however exalted 
 or brilliant. He lacked only physical 
 strength. During the period of his entire 
 residence in Arizona he was an invalid, 
 and fought a stubborn contest with the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 253 
 
 grim destroyer. Had he been possessed 
 of health and strength he would have 
 been one of the most influential and dom- 
 inant figures in the public life of Arizona. 
 He was liberally educated and was a 
 profound student. A close and discrim- 
 inating observer, he looked beneath the 
 surface of things, and few men were 
 better equipped with general information 
 or more capable of applying the logic of 
 reason to current events. 
 
 Mr. Ford was a convinced and logical 
 Democrat. He was a profound believer 
 in the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, 
 and held them to be applicable to any 
 problem of government which might 
 arise. Like his great master he was a 
 man of the most refined and simple tastes. 
 His instincts were democratic to the core, 
 he trusted the people, he hated privilege, 
 caste, oppression and monopoly, and he 
 never for a moment lost faith in the su- 
 periority of a democratic government 
 over every other system. He always 
 
254 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 had the courage of his convictions. His 
 mental processes were singularly rapid 
 and direct. He formed his opinions 
 quickly, uttered them frankly and stood 
 by them manfully. 
 
 He felt deeply great public wrongs 
 and the evils of government and society, 
 and when it was a question of assailing 
 these abuses and uprooting them, and 
 securing for the people their own, he 
 could not tolerate anything that looked 
 like hesitation or timidity, nor did he 
 take any stock in the philosophy which 
 teaches the wisdom of bearing known 
 ills in preference to hazarding unknown 
 ones. 
 
 It follows from all this that Mr. Ford, 
 able, honest, courageous as he was, was 
 not always regarded as a safe party 
 leader. The radicals in this world per- 
 form invaluable services to mankind. 
 They are John the Baptists crying in 
 the wilderness and heralding the dawn of 
 a better day. They are Moseses who 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 255 
 
 show, but do not enter, the promised 
 land. They agitate, they educate, they 
 inspire, they point the way ; it is seldom 
 their fortune to marshal their fellows in 
 the crucial struggle ; to lead them out of 
 the valleys to the mountain tops, where 
 victory dwells. Of such was Rochester 
 Ford. 
 
 An able and successful lawyer, an 
 accomplished scholar, a chivalrous knight 
 errant in politics, a reader of many books 
 and a thinker of real power ; such was 
 Rochester Ford to the community at 
 large. To those who knew him intimately 
 he was more than all this : he was a man 
 of great heart, of noble impulses, of deep 
 affections, of profound religious convic- 
 tions. He loved the beautiful things of 
 nature and art, books, pictures, music, 
 children, the sea, the desert, the moun- 
 tains. Vigorous, scathing, aggressive 
 with his pen ; a born fighter, a hard 
 hitter, he was withal the most amiable, 
 the kindest, the most lovable of men. 
 
256 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 He loved his friends, and though he 
 sometimes tried to hate his enemies, there 
 was so much of the milk of human kind- 
 ness in his sweet and gentle nature that 
 he was always ready to forgive them with- 
 out the asking, and as ready to serve 
 them as though he had never massed his 
 vengeance to smite them. 
 
 Truly a splendid, knightly figure is 
 gone; a high-minded gentleman has 
 passed away ; a robust mentality, a noble 
 character has vanished ; a great soul has 
 faded into the infinite azure of the eternal. 
 After his long and manful struggle with 
 disease, he sleeps well. He leaves a 
 name which will always be honored in 
 Arizona and a memory which will be 
 cherished by all who knew the true 
 nobility of the man. 
 
 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 From the Tucson Star. 
 
 In the death of Eochester Ford, Tuc- 
 son has lost one of its best citizens, a 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 257 
 
 good lawyer and a Christian gentleman. 
 Mr. Ford lived in Tucson twelve years. 
 He came here an invalid and soon re- 
 gained sufficient strength to practice his 
 profession of law, in which he acquired a 
 profitable clientage. He was accepted as 
 a good lawyer and enjoyed the confidence 
 of the court and the community. He was 
 identified with all movements in the in- 
 terest of good government. He was a 
 member of the Baptist church, in which 
 he was a diligent worker and a large con- 
 tributor to its support. In fact, he was 
 a liberal supporter of all the churches and 
 all movements which had for their pur- 
 pose the betterment of the community as 
 he viewed it. 
 
 Mr. Ford enjoyed a cultured mind. 
 He had been a professor of law in the 
 Washington University at St. Louis. He 
 was appointed Chancellor of the University 
 of Arizona by Governor Hughes, which 
 office he filled most acceptably for two 
 years. He was afterward identified with 
 
258 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 the citizens Good Government Club of 
 Tucson, which reformed, in a measure, 
 the county government, Mr. Ford repre- 
 senting the club in the courts. He was 
 for two years city attorney, which office 
 he filled with much credit to himself and 
 benefit to the city. 
 
 Mr. Ford was a strong character, of 
 strong convictions and a moral courage 
 which led him to stand for the right 
 without regard to consequences. This 
 was his strong trait of character. Now 
 that he has passed away, it can be truly 
 said that his life was not in vain. He did 
 much good for the community in which 
 he lived. He was always the exemplary 
 gentleman reflecting a good light, pure, 
 moral and religious influences. The de- 
 ceased was a striking example of good 
 fruits which come from early Christian 
 training. His presence and his influence 
 will be missed in this community, where 
 many will grieve to learn of his death. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 259 
 
 DEATH OF ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 Word and Way, Kansas City, Mo. 
 
 Our brother, Rochester Ford, was one 
 of the brightest sons of Missouri. He 
 was a great lawyer and only 46 years of 
 age. The condition of his health com- 
 pelled him to give up one of the most 
 lucrative law practices in St. Louis some 
 twelve years ago, and to reside in Ari- 
 zona, from whence he came home to die 
 some five weeks before his decease. I 
 have no words sufficient to express my 
 sympathy for, and admiration of the aged 
 father. Dr. Ford is bearing the affliction 
 with that fortitude which becomes a man 
 of his great grace and gifts. For more 
 than fifty years Dr. Ford and his gifted 
 wife, Mrs. Sallie Rochester Ford, have 
 been among the most conspicuous persons 
 in the Baptist ranks in the Mississippi 
 Valley. 
 
 Western Recorder. 
 
 Rev. Dr. S. H. and Mrs. Sally Roch- 
 ester Ford, of St. Louis, have the sym- 
 
260 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 pathy of their many friends, both South 
 and North, in the loss of their son Roch- 
 ester Ford, a man of brilliant intellect, 
 of fervent Christian spirit, who had won 
 a high place by his ability and integrity, 
 before he was stricken with grip, some 
 twelve years ago, and entered upon the 
 decline which ended in his death on the 
 13th inst., at the age of forty -six years. 
 As we go to press we hear of the death 
 of Rochester Ford, son of Dr. and Mrs. 
 S. H. Ford. It is a great loss to the 
 world as well as to his devoted parents. 
 He was a man of brilliant intellect and 
 true piety. 
 
 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 Tucson Post. 
 
 News reached Tucson to-day of the 
 death of Rochester Ford at the home of 
 his parents in St. Louis County, Missouri, 
 on Thursday evening. Mr. Ford left 
 Tucson about six weeks ago to make his 
 annual visit to his old home and enjoy 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 261 
 
 his usual summer vacation. He was a 
 victim of hepatization of the lungs, and 
 had fought the disease with system and 
 more or less success for more than a 
 dozen years. 
 
 He was 46 years old, a native of Ken- 
 tucky and a graduate of Washington 
 University at St. Louis, in which insti- 
 tution he was for a time professor of law. 
 He came to live in Tucson in 1891 and 
 resided here ever since, having succeeded 
 in reaching honorable distinction in the 
 profession of law as well as accumulating 
 considerable property. He was city at- 
 torney of Tucson for two years, and had 
 been engaged in much important litiga- 
 tion affecting the city and county. He 
 was special counsel in the " wedge" suits 
 and was also employed by Pima County 
 to carry the narrow gauge bonds case 
 to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States. 
 
 Mr. Ford took an active interest in 
 public affairs and was an uncompromis- 
 
262 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ing Democrat in politics. He was a man 
 of austere life and of a deep religious 
 temperament. His father who survives 
 him is a minister of the Baptist church, 
 and his mother, who visited Tucson last 
 winter, is the author of some successful 
 books. Mr. Ford, like his parents, was 
 a devout Baptist, but he was not narrow 
 in religious matters and all who revered 
 God were his brethren. 
 
 Mr. Ford stood very high in his profes- 
 sion and was regarded as one of the ablest 
 lawyers in Arizona. He had an exten- 
 sive practice, but of late years did not 
 care to exert himself overmuch as he felt 
 the constant necessity of nursing his 
 health. While the condition of his 
 health prevented him from participating 
 in the social life of the community, he 
 had many friends and keenly enjoyed 
 good company. He had a keen sense of 
 humor and a kindly wit. He was agree- 
 able, generous and charitable and never 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 263 
 
 turned a deaf ear to the needy or refused 
 a call for assistance. 
 
 Mr. Ford never forgot the responsi- 
 bility of his citizenship and never evaded 
 a public duty. He was a true patriot 
 and a good honest partisan. He was 
 a thorough believer in the ultimate wis- 
 dom and common sense of the people, 
 and was a profound student of govern- 
 ment and an accurate observer of pass- 
 ing events. 
 
 " CUT SHORT " DEATH ENDS WORK 
 OP THE HON. ROCHESTER FORD 
 WAS BORN IN LOUISVILLE MEM- 
 BER OF WIDELY KNOWN BAPTIST 
 FAMILY HIS SUCCESS IN THE LAW. 
 Louisville " Courier Journal." 
 
 The many friends here of the Hon. 
 Rochester Ford will learn with regret 
 that he died recently at his home near 
 St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Ford was the son 
 of Dr. S. H. Ford and Mrs. Sallie Roch- 
 ester Ford, who were once well-known 
 
264 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 in this city and in Kentucky. Mrs. 
 Ford was for many years the corre- 
 spondent for the old Louisville Cou- 
 rier. Both she and Dr. Ford were 
 leading Baptists here. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXVI. 
 
 HON. ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 (Words of Sympathy by Mrs. Sarah S. Dodge.) 
 
 Folded the tent, that thro' life's march, 
 
 Camped closest by your side! 
 Thro' victory grand, or dark defeat, 
 
 That pennant waved, your eye to greet, 
 Whatever might betide! 
 
 Thro' desert waste, or sunless glade, 
 Thro' sunshine struggling with the shade 
 
 Thro' life's oases, bright as brief, 
 That cheered you in your hours of grief, 
 
 Now casts a shadow wide! 
 
 No more with you, the tf onward march " 
 
 The impetus of life, 
 The loyal heart, lit by love's ray, 
 
 That braved your danger, day by day 
 That ministered in joy, or grief, 
 
 Heaven sent the signal, gave relief, 
 Ended for one the strife ! 
 
 The feet that journeyed with you long, 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 265 
 
 How strangely quiet grown! 
 
 Foot sore, and weary of life's march, 
 Left you bereft alone. 
 
 I mingle with your tears of grief, 
 
 With you I sad bewail, 
 I clasp your hand in friendship true, 
 
 The darkened cloud that hangs o'er you, 
 To me doth bring its shadow too, 
 
 Its chilling icy gale, 
 But I, who dwell in lowly vale, 
 
 While you the mountains climb 
 Can one stray note of sympathy, 
 
 Reach up to heights sublime? 
 Can I essay my simple lay? 
 Beyond majestic clouds of light 
 
 That pile the wending slope 
 I catch the occidental glow 
 
 That speaks of brighest hope 
 And by those radiant golden beams 
 
 That light the veil of even 
 I wistful watch their lines portray 
 
 The blessedness of heaven, 
 
 For, far beyond life's narrow scope 
 Where drifting clouds pellucid slope 
 
 I greet the inspired Word ; 
 I see it in the dazzling light 
 
 It's wafted o'er the mountain height 
 u Forever with the Lord." 
 
266 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 LINES IN MEMORY OF HON. ROCHESTER FORD, 
 
 At the dawn of a beautiful morning 
 
 The clouds were lifted away, 
 
 And a chariot and concourse of angels 
 
 Relieved from its casement of clay 
 
 The spirit so true, of our loved one, 
 
 And tenderly wafted it o'er 
 
 The dark surging billows of Jordan 
 
 To its rest on the heavenly shore. 
 
 Now free from all suffering and sorrow, 
 
 In bliss he shall dwell evermore. 
 
 And 'mid the bright hosts of glad angels 
 
 Only rapturous praise shall he know, 
 
 Clasping hands with God's pure ransomed children, 
 
 In worship of Father and Son ; 
 
 He'll wait at the opening portals 
 
 For his loved ones to come, one by one. 
 
 MRS. M. J. CLEMSON. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 267 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 11 LIVINGSTON PARK, 
 ROCHESTER, N". Y. 
 Jany. 9, 1904. 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 For fifty years I have been led beside 
 the death beds and the graves of 
 my own children, sisters, father and 
 mother the father and mother of my 
 wife, and her sisters and brothers, and 
 last of all, my wife, whose life was a 
 daily walk with the Savior who loved 
 her and bought her with His blood, 
 passed away in an instant on Thanksgiv- 
 ing morning five years ago. Besides 
 these, two servants, Christian women, 
 who had lived with us near forty years, 
 passed away before Mrs. Osgood. Thus, 
 with the longing that comes to every 
 
268 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 heart crushed by the departure of the 
 dearest of earth, I have wrestled with 
 the questions you put to me, and have 
 never found an answer in any part of the 
 Bible. But I have found unshaken rest 
 and peace in the certainty that those 
 whom Jesus bought with His precious 
 blood and taught to love and serve Him 
 here, are with Him forever, John 12 : 
 26,17:24. 
 
 They are made like Him. Phil. 3 : 21 ; 
 Kom.8:29. And serve Him. Rev. 7:15, 
 22 : 3. Where there is no tears nor death 
 nor mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any 
 more. Rev. 21 : 4. God does for them 
 far above all we can ask or think. It is 
 the joy of my heart and the thanksgiving 
 of my tongue, that the gentle, tender 
 woman who blessed my life shall never 
 again know sorrow and pain, but lives 
 forevermore in joy unspeakable and full 
 of glory. 
 
 About the intermediate state I know 
 nothing. I do not even know what a 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 269 
 
 spirit is. I cannot define a spirit, except 
 by negations. It is not this or that, but 
 what a spirit is we are nowhere told. So 
 I must let that alone. I see that when 
 the inhabitants (redeemed) of heaven 
 appear to men on earth, they have bodies 
 like ours. Matt. 17 : 3, 4. And when the 
 angels appear to men they also have bod- 
 ies like ours. Math. 28 : 24. And speak 
 in the languages of earth. But whether 
 these forms are permanent I do not know. 
 And yet when heaven was opened to John 
 he saw Christ plainly, and he distin- 
 guished the forms of angels, elders, 
 saints, and could distinguish what each 
 did and said. 
 
 That Jesus our God and Savior is now 
 in heaven yea higher than the heav- 
 ens Eph. 4 : 10, 6 : 9 ; Phil. 3 : 90 ; Col. 
 4:1; Heb. 14, 7 : 26, 18 : 1. Sitting now 
 on the throne of God. Matt. 26 : 64 ; Acts 
 7:56; Mark 16:19; Acts 2: 33; Eom. 
 8 : 34 ; Eph. 1 : 20 ; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1 : 3, 
 10:12, 12:2; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 5:7. 
 
270 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 And is now worshiped by all created be- 
 ings in heaven. Eph. 1 : 10 and 20 : 21 ; 
 Phil. 2:9-11; Eev. 5:9-14. For He 
 created them all. John 11:3-10; Cor. 
 8:6; Col. 1 : 15-17 ; Heb. 1 : 2-10. And 
 to worship Him is to glorify the Father. 
 Phil. 2:10-11. This is the constant 
 repetition of the New Testament. Paul's 
 paradise is in the third (highest) heaven. 
 2 Cor. 12 : 2, 4. And Christ's paradise. 
 (Luke 23: 43), is where the golden city 
 is and the river from the throne of God 
 and the Lamb and the tree of life. Eev. 
 2 : 7 ; 22 : 2-14-19. 
 
 When we are absent from the body we 
 are at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5 : 8) 
 (Am. Standard Revision), who is in 
 heaven at the right hand of God on 
 His throne. Paul refused to answer the 
 question : " With what manner of body 
 do they come?" except by analogy 
 which teaches us nothing beyond the 
 fact that it will be a body as pleases 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 271 
 
 God and our own body a spiritual 
 body. 
 
 Had it been for our good, God would 
 have made known to us more on this sub- 
 ject, but as we can only understand heav- 
 enly things by earthly images which are 
 copies and shadows of heavenly things 
 not the very image of things, and show 
 to us as the God-appointed tabernacle 
 of old that the way into these mysteries 
 of what shall be hereafter hath not yet 
 been made manifest. But God has given 
 us something better then sight through 
 a glass darkly the sure hope of 
 " Things which eye hath not seen, nor 
 ear heard and which entered not into 
 the heart of man the things God hath 
 prepared for them that love Him." 
 
 There I pillow my head and rest in 
 faith and hope. 
 
 I do not know, my dear Mrs. Ford, that 
 I have answered your question at all to 
 your satisfaction, but it has been a great 
 
272 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 pleasure to me at least to make the at- 
 tempt. 
 
 I remain, with great respect, 
 
 HOWARD OSGOOD. 
 
 CROZER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 
 
 CHESTER, PA., Jan. 14, 1904. 
 MY DEAR MRS. FORD : 
 
 With all my heart I wish I could give 
 you light on the subject on which you 
 ask my opinion. I cannot tell how many 
 times the question has been asked me and 
 almost always by sorrowing hearts whose 
 grief I would give a great deal to be able 
 to heal. 
 
 I am always compelled to give the same 
 answer to the question the confession 
 of my utter ignorance. " But you must 
 have some opinion," said my own child 
 to me after her mother's death. No; I 
 have none. I have studied and thought 
 and read no one but God can give me 
 any information and I cannot find the 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 273 
 
 slightest answer from Him to my anxious 
 questioning. 
 
 And this fact shows me that any in- 
 formation could do us no good. I am 
 sure that He loves us so much that if a 
 knowledge of the unseen would be of any 
 benefit to us or increase our happiness 
 He would impart it. I trust His love for 
 everything else. I must trust Him for 
 that. I know that those who are asleep 
 are sleeping in Jesus; that those who 
 have departed are with Him, in that I 
 rest and wait for the revelation of the 
 future. 
 
 My dear sister, I sympathize deeply 
 with you. Out of this cloud of deep 
 darkness some day will come God's own 
 light. Wait patiently for it and remem- 
 ber you are one of those for whom Christ 
 has prayed that your faith fail not. 
 
 Jan. 17. I have thought a great deal 
 of you since I read your sorrowful letter, 
 and wished that I could say some word 
 of comfort. Several of my very dear 
 
 18 
 
274 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 friends have drunk the bitter cup which 
 has been put to your lips and have seen 
 their brightest hopes blasted. Death is 
 always an enemy, but the death of our 
 children is so unnatural ! We, their 
 parents, expect to die, and to be borne 
 to our graves by our loving and weeping 
 children. We leave our children to carry 
 on the work for which it has been the 
 joy of our lives to prepare them ; but 
 when one dies in the very fullness of life's 
 promise, as did your son, the sorrow at 
 his grave is only beating the first steps 
 of that funeral march by which we must 
 walk to the end of our lives. 
 
 Yet what a blessing to have such a son 
 to lose. He, who has given him and has 
 taken him, loves you infinitely more than 
 you could love your boy. Trust your 
 Father, as it was your highest joy and 
 honor to have your son trust you. 
 
 It has occurred to me that perhaps you 
 might derive some consolation from a 
 page or two of a sermon by Dr. J. R. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 275 
 
 Miller, whose views of the question you 
 ask me, differ from mine. I have taken 
 the liberty of sending you a copy of 
 "Our New Edens ; " on page 107 you 
 will find the beginning of the portion of 
 the sermon to which I refer. May God 
 be with you more and more. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 HENRY G. WESTON. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXVIII. 
 
 CONCERNING THEM WHO ARE ASLEEP IN 
 JESUS. 
 
 While all dead may be said to sleep in 
 their graves, it is said only of believers, 
 44 Blessed are the dead who die in the 
 Lord " they fall on sleep. Of David, 
 of Stephen and of those who die in the 
 Lord it is written, " They sleep in 
 Jesus." 
 
 How are they blessed ! 
 
 They sleep in safety. They are in 
 the hands of the mighty Shepherd from 
 
276 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 which none can ever pluck them. They 
 die to live to wake in new life and 
 light. They do not rest in unconscious- 
 ness. Our natural sleep is suspended 
 consciousness of the soul. But the im- 
 mortal spirit, that breath of God in man, 
 and more especially that new, that ever- 
 lasting life imparted to the believer 
 Christ formed in him the hope of glory ; 
 can never sleep. It lives as Christ lives. 
 Annihilation, or soul -sleeping, is as con- 
 trary to the teachings of nature as it is 
 to the Word of God. Every human be- 
 ing bears in his own spirit the stamp of 
 eternity. His aspirations for future 
 existence are inborn and quenchless. 
 
 " Deep in eternity's dread veil 
 Ages shall on ages roll; 
 But none shall cast a withering look 
 On man's immortal soul." 
 
 Their death is not darkness. It is 
 light in Christ Jesus. Their death is not 
 defeat. " Thanks be to God who giveth 
 us the victory through our Lord Jesus 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 277 
 
 Christ." Through the gloom of the 
 valley shines the light of His smile, and 
 when death lifts his dart and the clay 
 tenement trembles, the justified soul can 
 exclaim: "I know if our earthly house 
 of this tabernacle be dissolved we have a 
 building of God, an house not made with 
 hands eternal in the heavens.'' 
 
 When this frail body is dissolved we 
 have a place with God. To be absent 
 from the body is to be present with the 
 Lord. " I desire," said the inspired 
 apostle, "to depart and be with Christ." 
 The image in the original is to haave 
 anchor and be upon the other shore with 
 the Captain of my salvation. No soul- 
 sleeping here no purgatory no ob- 
 scure, unnamed place of departed spirits. 
 It is to be with Christ. It is to enter 
 into eternal habitations. It is to have 
 ministered unto us abundant entrance 
 into life and light and joy where Christ is. 
 Toil ceases. The last battle has been 
 fought ; the last storm endured ; the last 
 
278 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 pain and the last doubt felt; the last 
 sigh heaved ; the last prayer uttered ; but 
 no such thought as is expressed in the 
 sentiment of that hymn uttered with re- 
 gret, "Farewell, sweet hour of prayer." 
 Prayer is the cry of the needy. At death 
 prayer is changed to praise ; the sigh of 
 sorrow and of woe into the triumphant 
 song of joyous victory. 
 
 They rest in sweet employ. They re- 
 pose in the full fruition of all that God's 
 wisdom can devise, God's love impart, 
 God's force protect and God's treas- 
 ures supply. They rest in all the rap- 
 ture redeemed spirits made perfect can 
 enjoy. And yet they wait in joyful an- 
 ticipation when still added capacities shall 
 be theirs and their renewed bodies, made 
 like unto His glorious body, shall be 
 reunited to their spirits. 
 
 They are in eternal unity with Christ, 
 eternal glory with Him. It is forever 
 life, forever light, forever love, forever 
 peace, forever rest, forever youth, for- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 279 
 
 ever joy, and these seven " f orevers " 
 make the seven notes in the celestial 
 song, " To Him who is worthy to receive 
 glory and honor and power and riches 
 and wisdom and strength and blessing." 
 
 "Their works do follow them." Their 
 unfaltering faith and sublime devotion 
 are their accepted works and follow 
 them. These tell on their own genera- 
 tion and on all succeeding ages shed 
 sunbursts on the darkness of earth's 
 gloom. They clearly point the way of 
 eternal life. Nobly they manifested their 
 steadfastness, nobly they met each crisis, 
 seized opportunities, exemplified the 
 power of sovereign grace and ever stood 
 as bold champions for the truth amid all 
 opposition. They fell asleep in Jesus, 
 and blessed, thrice blessed, was their 
 death, and is their memory, and is their 
 influence. "Their works do follow 
 them." 
 
 Wondrous words are these, "Asleep 
 in Jesus," They are in Christ Jesus, 
 
280 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 no condemnation to them. They are 
 Christ's purchased possession, a sharer 
 in His merits, in His achievements, His 
 claims, His righteousness, His glory. 
 Language fails to express the sublime 
 thought identified with Christ in all His 
 rewards, His joys, His triumph, His 
 reign. When this transient life ends, 
 when the toil ceases, they fall asleep in 
 Jesus, repose in Him, waiting for the 
 blissful, waking morn, when they will 
 come with Him to enter upon fresh joys, 
 new employments and superadded glory. 
 
 The view that some entertain that the 
 soul remains in an unconscious state 
 either in the body or some " middle 
 state" is absurd and contradictory of 
 revelation . 
 
 The parable of the rich man and 
 Lazarus teaches beyond all question the 
 full consciousness of the spirit after 
 death, both of the saved and the lost. 
 The inspired Paul who was caught up, 
 " whether in the body or out of the body he 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 281 
 
 could not tell " up to the third heaven 
 and heard unspeakable words which it is 
 not lawful for a man to utter, must have 
 been conscious. If, however, the spirit 
 enters a state of unconsciousness when 
 it departs from the body, he could not 
 have told anything his sleeping sense 
 could not have seen the " third heaven " 
 or heard unspeakable words. His testi- 
 mony proves positively that a man out 
 of the body can enter heaven, can see 
 and hear and remember. 
 
 But in addition to this, he affirms the 
 full and desirable consciousness of the 
 spirit after death of his own and of 
 all believers. He assures the Philippians 
 that for him " to live is Christ" but 
 " to die is gain." How could it be gain 
 if at death he lost all consciousness all 
 the joys of a life in Christ? He adds : 
 " But if I live in the flesh, this is the 
 fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose 
 I wot not, for I am in a strait betwixt 
 two, having a desire to depart and to be 
 
282 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 with Christ, which is far better." 
 Christ was with him then, " to live was 
 Christ," but to depart was to be with 
 Christ in a higher, a holier nearness. It 
 was " far better." Was it better to be 
 in unconscious sleep till the body 
 awakened? Again he declares this 
 "gain" by departing, of all believers. 
 To the church at Corinth he wrote : 
 " For we know that if our earthly house 
 of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have 
 a building of God, a house not made 
 with hands, eternal in the heavens. For 
 in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be 
 clothed upon with our house which is from 
 heaven. If so be that being clothed, 
 we shall not be found naked. For we 
 that are in this tabernacle do groan, 
 being burdened, not that we would be 
 unclothed but clothed upon, that mor- 
 tality might be swallowed up of life. Now 
 he that hath wrought us for the self-same 
 thing is God who also hath given unto 
 us the earnest of the Spirit, Therefore, 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 283 
 
 we are always confident, knowing that 
 while we are at home in the body we are 
 absent from the Lord (for we walk by 
 faith, not by sight). We are confident, 
 I say, and willing rather to be absent 
 from the body and to be present with 
 the Lord. Wherefore we labor that 
 whether present or absent, we may be 
 accepted of Him." 
 
 Absent here, present there ; Heaven 
 dawns, seraphic melodies fall on the rapt 
 soul. Supernal visions break on the 
 ravished sight, and the blood-bought 
 spirit is " present with the Lord." 
 
 This same apostle declares that the de- 
 parted spirit is " clothed upon with our 
 house which is from heaven, if so being 
 clothed we shall not be found naked." 
 The " sealed ones" seen in glory by 
 John, " a great multitude which no man 
 could number, stood before the throne 
 and before the Lamb CLOTHED with white 
 robes;" robes of light, and we believe 
 the spirits of the just made perfect - 
 
284: ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 those who sleep in Jesus are robed in 
 light as with a garment what Adam 
 lost in the fall restored by the blood of 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 WAS ADAM NAKED BEFORE HIS FALL? 
 
 He had no material clothing but he 
 did not know it, or feel it. Why V 
 
 God made man in His own image, in 
 the image of God created He him, male 
 and female created He them. u For I 
 have created him for my glory." How, 
 we may reverently ask, could man made 
 of the dust of the earth be in God's 
 image? God is light, " Thou art clothed 
 with power and majesty, Thou coverest 
 Thyself withLiGHT AS WITH A GARMENT." 
 Daniel beheld "The Ancient of Days" 
 whose garment was white as snow, 
 white as the light. When Jesus, who 
 took upon Him the " likeness of sinful 
 flesh," was transfigured into the form of 
 perfect humanity, " His raiment was 
 white as the light," In that bright 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 285 
 
 image were Adam and Eve before they 
 sinned and fell, and lost their robe of 
 perfect righteousness. A divine beauty 
 must have circled their God-like forms 
 as they trod the walks of Eden and nature 
 did them reverence, " for Thou hast made 
 him a little lower than the angels and 
 hast crowned him with glory and honor. 
 Thou madest Him to have dominion over 
 the works of Thy hand. Thou hast put 
 all things under his feet. But the apostle 
 in Hebrews declares the fact : " But NOW 
 we see not all things put under his feet. 
 The image of his Maker, the glory and 
 majesty that crowned and clothed 
 him were lost when he sinned and 
 fell believing Satan rather than God. 
 Then their eyes were opened that is 
 
 THEY SAW THE CHANGE. The light 
 
 which had robed them in the image of 
 their Maker was gone. They were not 
 naked until then, but now, trembling, 
 fearful, guilty, they saw their nakedness 
 and hid themselves from God. 
 
286 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 When the blood-washed spirit loses 
 this tenement of flesh it is reclothed with 
 that light. It is not, as Paul declares, 
 found naked, but clothed upon with a 
 house, a covering-, a garment " from 
 heaven." And when Jesus comes and 
 those who sleep with Jesus come with 
 Him it will be in those " garments of 
 light." 
 
 With Him will be the unnumbered 
 host of the redeemed clad in light 
 and the dead in Christ shall rise first 
 these robed spirits will be united to the 
 raised bodies of the dead and that light 
 with which they are clothed, that house 
 from heaven, will wrap in celestial spirit- 
 ual incorruptible beauty, the naked form 
 of the awakened dead. That which was 
 sown a natural body naked and sin- 
 cursed as was Adam's and Eve's after 
 they had fallen shall rise a spiritual, a 
 glorious body robed in the spotlessness of 
 righteousness wrought out by the suffer- 
 ing of Christ. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 287 
 
 Paul writing to the Philippians tells us 
 that " our citizenship is in heaven from 
 whence we also wait for the Savior, the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our 
 vile bodies " (R. V. fashion anew the 
 body of our humiliation) that it may be 
 fashioned (R. V. conformed) " like unto 
 His glorious body." Its " humiliation " 
 was the withdrawal the loss of the 
 light-garment which belonged to the 
 sinless body before man fell. That 
 humiliation is removed from the spirits 
 made perfect who "sleep in Jesus." 
 This humiliation will be removed from 
 the body of the dead who have died in 
 the Lord, at the resurrection morning. 
 
 Must we not believe that ransomed 
 spirits those who have fallen asleep in 
 Jesus, on leaving the body are invested 
 with a clothing, wonderfully clothed in, 
 or supplied with a medium of vision, of 
 expression, of communication, fitting 
 them for the enjoyments and employ- 
 ments of heaven in a way and of a kind 
 
288 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 far beyond our conceptions ; furnished 
 as to fulfill their joy, and pass from one 
 degree of glory to another with ever 
 expanding scenes of beatific vision, until 
 they shall come into the possession of the 
 added glory and completeness of their 
 resurrection life? 
 
 "Now we see through a glass dimly 
 but then face to face. " 
 
 Do you mourn when another star 
 Shines out from the glittering sky? 
 Do you weep when the raging voice of war 
 And the storm of conflict die? 
 
 Then why should your tears run down 
 And your heart be sorely riven 
 For another gem in the Savior's crown 
 And another soul in Heaven? 
 
 CHAPTEK XXIX. 
 
 HEAVEN " MY FATHER'S HOUSE " 
 MANY MANSIONS. 
 
 In His last loving address to the dear 
 disciples, so sad, yet so consoling, our 
 blessed Lord said : " In my Father's 
 House are many mansions, if not I would 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 289 
 
 have told you. I go to prepare a place 
 for you. And if I go and prepare a place 
 for you, I will come again and receive 
 you unto myself, that where I am there 
 ye may be also. 
 
 My Father's house ! Is not this vast 
 universe the house of my Father, and 
 where He is there the very homestead of 
 heaven no matter where if He be there : 
 But that is not the thought that Jesus 
 here suggests or intimates, nor that the 
 form of truth that here He teaches to the 
 faith of His disciples for their joy and 
 consolation. There is delightful defin- 
 iteness here. It is not the dim incompre- 
 hensible universality of omnipresence 
 merely, but a place for our abode, as de- 
 terminate as place is for us now, and 
 with as intimate home relation as the 
 dearest fireside on this earth can have, 
 nay, incomparably more intimate and 
 personal and definitely local, in our 
 Father's house in heaven. 
 
 It is that "building of God," that 
 
 19 
 
290 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 "house not made with hands," eternal 
 in the heavens to which the thoughts are 
 here carried. Let us then examine some 
 of the glorious characteristics of that 
 heavenly building which is there our 
 home. 
 
 In the first place it is a building of God, 
 God made it, with neither creature nor 
 created agency intervening. It is God's 
 own immediate work. It is His work, 
 as a different kind of work and in a very 
 different sense from anything material. 
 It is a building not merely of God, but 
 as the expression may allow, a building 
 proceeding forth from God, rather as an 
 affluence from His own essence than an 
 ordinary exercise or result of creative 
 power. It is said that God is light, also 
 that God dwelleth in light. Also that 
 we, as the children of God, dwell in God ; 
 we are also called " children of light." 
 If we know the immateriality of light we 
 might find in that something more than 
 a mere type of our Father's house in 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 291 
 
 heaven. This "building of God" may 
 be as different from all material construc- 
 tions or creations of which we have either 
 knowledge or conception, as the light 
 itself is different from the forms of ma- 
 terial substance which we see around us. 
 In the second place it is a house not 
 made with hands not capable of being 
 so made. It is not constructed piece by 
 piece as all buildings in the world are, 
 but is one and indivisible as if an orb in 
 the heavens were constructed of one per- 
 fect diamond. Moreover it is possessed 
 and inspired with the attributes of a spir- 
 itual glory, so that we can get no more 
 idea of it from anything of material 
 growth or construction than we could get 
 an idea of the nature or appearance of the 
 crystal atmosphere of heaven from con- 
 sidering the doors of our houses, or the 
 iron hinges on which they swing. Hu- 
 man hands out of material substances can 
 produce structures of vast magnificence 
 and splendor. But life and light cannot 
 
292 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 be handled, cannot be put together, nor 
 anything like them be made with hands. 
 So this "building of God" not made 
 with hands is presented as inconceivably 
 superior in essence and glory to anything 
 suggested by the frame of this material 
 universe. 
 
 It is an eternal building. In this re- 
 spect also it differs from anything in this 
 world, anything in the visible universe. 
 These spheres and orbs of glory con- 
 structed with such infinite skill and gran- 
 deur, and each in its own bosom creat- 
 ively germinating by laws of such infinite 
 complication and harmony, by principles 
 of such divine wisdom and benevolence, 
 are yet to be laid aside. This earth 
 and these heavens are to be rolled 
 together as a scroll though so divinely 
 glorious. These elements shall meet 
 w r ith fervent heat and all nature be dis- 
 solved in the chaos of a final conflagra- 
 tion. But "Thou art the same from 
 everlasting to everlasting," "and so is 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 293 
 
 this building of God "not made with 
 hands, immutable, imperishable like His 
 own eternity, the same forever and ever 
 indestructible, everlasting. 
 
 It is eternal "in the heavens." It is 
 where God resides in light inaccessible 
 and full of glory. It is where God man- 
 ifests the brightness of His attributes in 
 a display peculiar and endearing, intimate 
 and local. My Father's house signified 
 ever to our Savior a divine, beloved and 
 heavenly abode from which for a season 
 He had departed. 
 
 It is peculiarly the dwelling place of 
 God. That city of which we read in 
 the Revelation to John that holy city, 
 New Jerusalem coming down from God 
 out of heaven, and called the taber- 
 nacle of God with men, having the glory 
 of God, presents the most distinct and 
 definite image which it has pleased 
 the Divine Spirit to shadow forth the 
 place and nature of our house which is 
 from heaven. There are many mansions 
 
294 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 there. There is room for all the re- 
 deemed ones and all who are there be- 
 long there and the house belongs to 
 them, for they are heirs of God and 
 joint heirs with Christ. As the sons of 
 God the dwellers in these mansions have 
 received that building as their inheritance 
 in Christ. For them He has fitted it 
 up and placed it at their disposal. They 
 have their mansions in fee simple. 
 They are not tenants but heirs, joint heirs 
 with Christ, who as a Son with them as 
 sons, abideth in the house forever. There 
 is no debt upon it never was never 
 can be, for the debts of the children in it, 
 to whom it is freely given of God, were 
 all paid by their suffering, dying Re- 
 deemer, and to them it is given free, 
 full, the title in Christ unquestioned, 
 unincurnbered, perpetual. 
 
 HEAVEN'S INHABITANTS. 
 
 If there are "many mansions" in 
 ' 4 our Father's House," and divinely 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 295 
 
 glorious, there are to be glorious inhabit- 
 ants also, and a great multitude of them 
 whom no man can number. u Ye are 
 come," says Paul, "to an innumerable 
 company of angels, to the general 
 assembly and church of the first born 
 which are written in heaven and to the 
 spirits of just men made perfect, 
 
 " There will be the good and the 
 blessed, from all ages and nations, the 
 crowned and the glorified, all, whose 
 robes have been washed and made white 
 in the blood of the Lamb. There will 
 be Paul and Peter and John, and all the 
 beloved apostles and disciples, who 
 walked with Christ on earth, and shared 
 His personal sufferings. And there will 
 be all those whom they were instrumen- 
 tal in bringing to glory. There will be 
 the Bphesian, Philippian, Corinthian and 
 Athenian converts. Joseph of Arima- 
 thea, and Nicodemus, and Dionysius the 
 Areopagite, and Lydia the seller of 
 purple, and Barnabas and Timotheus 
 
296 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 and Apollos, and multitudes of others 
 from the Apostolic age, will be there to- 
 gether. There will be Philip, and his 
 interesting convert the Ethiopian, seen 
 last on earth sitting together in the 
 chariot, reading of their Savior's suf- 
 ferings, now beheld in heaven, gazing 
 together on their Savior's infinite glory. 
 There will be Enoch and Abel, and 
 Adam and Noah, and hosts of shining 
 witnesses of oldest time. There will be 
 Moses and Elias as on the Mount of 
 Transfiguration. There will be Abra- 
 ham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom 
 of Heaven, with David and Job, Isaiah, 
 Daniel, Jeremiah, and all the Prophets, 
 and all who with them or through them 
 died in faith, having embraced the prom- 
 ises. There will be the family of Beth- 
 any, and those dear ones who followed 
 Christ with their hearts, and ministered 
 to Him of their substance. There will 
 be that saint who washed His feet with 
 her tears, and wiped them with the hairs 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 297 
 
 of her head ; and she, too, who 'broke 
 for Him her box of alabaster, and stood 
 behind Him weeping; and those who 
 followed Him to the cross, and watched 
 Him at the sepulcher. There, too, will 
 be that poor widow whom Jesus beheld 
 as she stole trembling to God's treasury, 
 and threw in all the living that she had. 
 There will be the earliest noble army of 
 confessors and martyrs. There will be 
 the great companies of witnesses slain in 
 the many persecutions of the saints. 
 There will be the glorified forms of those 
 Christian heroes, whose bones lie bleach- 
 ing in the mountain snows, and those 
 whose life wore out in dungeons, or who 
 by racking tortures rode to heaven in 
 fire. "What a congregation of the good 
 from every clime, and every nation! 
 What spirits of the just made perfect, in 
 assembled hosts, of men whose memory 
 is sweet on earth, and around any one of 
 whom, if seen again on earth in person, 
 men would crowd in homage and admira- 
 
298 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 tion ! Think of meeting them together ! 
 Think of being made worthy to meet 
 them ! Think of the only condition on 
 which we can meet them, by a participa- 
 tion in the life and likeness of one com- 
 mon Savior." 
 
 No doubt there will be many families 
 in heaven, many whole households trans- 
 planted entire, not one left out or miss- 
 ing. There will be children gathered by 
 the piety of parents and parents gath- 
 ered by the piety of children. Whole 
 families saved by the faith and prayers 
 of one. There are children in heaven ; 
 there are babes in heaven, and there 
 must be an infants' heavenly discipline 
 there. " Of such," said our blessed 
 Lord, "is the kingdom of heaven," and 
 we may suppose He had in view not only 
 the child-like temper and disposition of a 
 new-born soul in His kingdom here, but 
 the fact that the kingdom of the unre- 
 deemed there is made up in so great a 
 degree of little children. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 299 
 
 LIFE IN HEAVEN. 
 
 Life in heaven is a perfect life. They 
 who enter upon it are without fault be- 
 fore the throne of God. 
 
 There is no sin, no defilement, no im- 
 perfection, no spot, no wrinkle, " nor any 
 such thing," not only no imperfection 
 but, on the contrary, a purity and per- 
 fection so infinite that it is just a partici- 
 pation of God's own holiness, a trans- 
 formation and transfiguration into the 
 righteousness of the Lord of Life and 
 Glory. The glory and the bliss of such 
 perfect, absolute, unspotted holiness are 
 beyond the possibility of our conception 
 in this mortal state ; and therefore the 
 inspired apostle himself is compelled to 
 say that it doth not yet appear what we 
 shall be, only this, we know that we 
 shall be like Christ. And this perfec- 
 tion in His likeness will be of body, as 
 well as spirit, because He will change 
 even the body of our humiliation that it 
 
300 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 may be fashioned according to His glo- 
 rious body. We cannot, in our mortal 
 state, have any adequate idea of the infi- 
 nite glory and blissfulness even of a per- 
 fect freedom from sin ; but as to the posi- 
 tive glory of appearing in Christ's likeness 
 neither the heart nor imagination of man 
 ever yet began the most distant concep- 
 tion of it, except as God deigns an other- 
 wise incommunicable revelation, by His 
 Spirit. 
 
 It is a social life in which all the com- 
 munication and companionable tenden- 
 cies of our natures and powers of our 
 being will be exercised in an enjoyment 
 ten thousandfold intensified by beng re- 
 flected from, and shared with the beatific 
 experience of others. It is remarkable, 
 as an indication of the glory of the social 
 life of heaven, and the activity and bliss- 
 fulness of mutual thought and affection 
 interchanged and ardent there, that Paul 
 introduces us to the innumerable com- 
 pany of angels and the general assembly 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 301 
 
 and church of the first born whose names 
 are written in heaven, and to the spirits 
 of the just made perfect. We are to come 
 to such vast and glorious assemblages, to 
 scenes and objects so transporting, even 
 to be looked at and admired, but how 
 much more enrapturing to go in and out 
 among them, holding communion with 
 them. The very sight of others in glory 
 will be infinite joy, a study of salvation, 
 a rapture of delight. There will be so 
 much to love and admire in every crea- 
 ture every creature will be so full of 
 glory, so ravishing a reflection of the 
 glory of the Savior that eternity might 
 be occupied in silently gazing and 
 adoring. And even so the Lord Jesus 
 at His coming with His saints will be 
 admired in all who believe. 
 
 There will be INFINITE SOCIABLENESS in 
 heaven. That life will be the perfection 
 of a social life as truly as it will be a life 
 filled with all the fullness of God. There 
 will be the good and the glorious of all 
 
302 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ages, and all worlds to love and rejoice 
 with. There will be communion among 
 angels and saints sweeter than the con- 
 versation on the way to Emmaus. More 
 frank and loving than ever could have 
 been imagined in ten thousand infinite di- 
 rections and disclosures of mutual history 
 and character, in the suggestion, in- 
 vestigation and comparison of thought 
 amidst the providence, works, attributes 
 and revelations of the Infinite God. 
 
 It is a life of blissful activity. There 
 will be employment enough in heaven 
 and they need no rest day nor night nor 
 ever experience any exhaustion of their 
 energies. Every intellectual capacity 
 will be carried to the highest possible 
 exercise in studying the divine attributes 
 and accomplishing the Divine will. 
 
 The individual will, being in every 
 respect one with God's, and the whole 
 soul filled with His love, the activity of 
 heaven in doing His will must be spon- 
 taneous and infinitely delightful, perpet- 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 303 
 
 ual and unchangeable. God's will is the 
 happiness of the redeemed soul and 
 activity in doing it would be the irre- 
 pressible expression of such happiness. 
 It is a progressive life. What might not 
 be accomplished in a thousand years on 
 earth with energies unfettered and untired, 
 a heart filled with God's love and all the 
 powers of the whole being employed and 
 absorbed with inexhaustible spontaneous 
 delight and zeal in His service. But a 
 thousand years are as but one day in the 
 conception and incomputable arithmetic 
 of an endless life. Our plans on earth 
 are contracted, fragmentary, broken, in- 
 complete, but in the security and infini- 
 tude of an endless life there may be plans 
 even by finite minds encompassing ages 
 and worlds. And there will be nothing 
 to prevent the execution of them, no fear 
 of interruption by death, no doubt or in- 
 decision of mind, no inward conflict, no 
 external foes, no enfeebling of the 
 energies by sickness or unwillingness 
 
304 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 nor distracting of mind by temptation 
 nor crippling of them by want of 
 means, nor any dividing of them as in 
 this world, between present, and fu- 
 ture, temporal and eternal, earthly 
 and divine. The understanding will be 
 divinely illuminated, the mental vision 
 seeing no more as through a glass darkly 
 but face to face, and the memory no 
 longer treacherous and feeble but capa- 
 cious and retentive beyond all bounds. 
 There will be no haste, no anxiety, but 
 a divine and holy leisure and serenity of 
 mind, even in the swiftest, grandest, 
 onward excitement and progress. It is 
 only in the power and triumph of an end- 
 less life that any creature of this restless 
 world can ever be at leisure. But there 
 we shall have eternity at our disposal 
 and all our work, glorious and unem- 
 barrassed, may move on forever and ever. 
 There will be progression in holiness. 
 There can, indeed, be no addition made 
 to the righteousness of Christ, and that 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER. 305 
 
 is what the believer is clothed with from 
 the outset, and that is what every re- 
 deemed soul will reflect in glory ever- 
 lasting. The glory, the brightness, the 
 worth of that holiness will continually be 
 increasing in the creature, because it is 
 infinite in the Creator, and the soul will 
 forever be coming into nearer and nearer 
 resemblance to God in Christ. 
 
 There will be progression in the power 
 of holy habit. How glorious is this 
 certainty ! It shall be a power of life 
 that all the opposing powers in the uni- 
 verse might be let loose upon with safety, 
 might war against it and should not 
 overcome, should not start one impulse 
 in the soul, or one thought or motive 
 from its foundation in holiness and its 
 confirmed, immutable fastening to the 
 throne and being of God and its direc- 
 tion in His love and glory. 
 
 There will also be progression in knowl- 
 edge. There will be boundless room for 
 this throughout eternity, and in this par- 
 
306 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 ticular easier that in any other. The in- 
 comprehensible infinitude of God is before 
 you and what you do know though it 
 may after the lapse of countless ages 
 seem as an absolute infinitude already con- 
 quered, is yet as nothing in comparison 
 with what you do not know. Oh, the in- 
 comprehensibility, and the eternity and 
 the infinitude of God ! 
 
 Again, that life is eternally progres- 
 sive in enjoyment, in delight, in happi- 
 ness, inconceivable, unutterable. Forever 
 increasing with the increase of the 
 knowledge of God in Christ. Ages on 
 ages shall witness an undiminished fresh- 
 ness and novelty in the glory still to be 
 revealed, a capacity of bliss ever enlarg- 
 ing, and a reality of bliss forever accu- 
 mulating. The bliss arising from the 
 knowledge and the love of God not only 
 never can have any limit, but in the 
 nature of things must be positively and 
 infinitely progressive. What raptures 
 are produced even now, even in this 
 
A SUCCESSFUL LAWYEK. 307 
 
 world, even in the midst of suffering and 
 torture by the manifestation of God to 
 the soul. It is a power and a mystery 
 of bliss beyond the reach of mortal natu- 
 ral philosophy. Let reason and natu- 
 ralism and rationalism do the utmost with 
 their forces, they can produce nothing 
 like this. It is God's own mystery, 
 God's own glory, God's own gift, God's 
 sole almighty power. Who shall set 
 any limits to the happiness of the soul 
 in Him, in a world triumphant over all 
 evil where there is no more sin, doubt, 
 darkness, unbelief, pain or suffering, but 
 pure, clear, celestial light within and with- 
 out, the region of the Paradise of God 
 to dwell in and the peace of God which 
 passeth all understanding, filling the soul 
 and expanding it through the eternal 
 ages." Rev. GeorgeB. Ckeever, D.D. 
 
 * AND THERE SHALL BE NO NIGHT THERE AND 
 THEY NEED NO CANDLE, NEITHER LIGHT OF 
 THE SUN, FOR THE LORD GOD GIVETH THEM 
 
308 ROCHESTER FORD. 
 
 LIGHT AND THEY SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND 
 EVER. 
 
 ' ' AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE CURSE BUT 
 THE THRONE OF GOD AND THE LAMB SHALL 
 BE IN IT AND HlS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HlM, 
 AND THEY SHALL SEE HlS FACE AND HlS 
 NAME SHALL BE IN THEIR FOREHEADS." 
 
 "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP 
 IN VICTORY." 
 
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