Chattanooga Daily Times, November 19, 1882, front page center above the fold

Death of an Old Journalist

Col. John W. Ford, who many years ago occupied a prominent position in this city, died at Bentonville, Ark., on the 7th Inst. at the ripe old age of 85 years. Col. Ford was one of the pioneer journalists of Tennessee, having established the first paper published at McMinnville, entitled the Warren Register, many years before the state capital was permanently located at Nashville. He advocated the claims of McMinnville to the location of the seat of government, on the ground of its central position, and about this time changed the name of his paper to the Central Gazette, under which title he published it until 1849 or 1850, when he came to this city and started the Advertiser, which some of our present inhabitants will remember as a substantial democratic journal. During his long and eventful life he occupied many positions of honor and usefulness, and always performed his duty faithfully. He led a very active life until a few years ago.