From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (PIONEERS & PATRIOTS: Anderson County Military Servicemen, Revolutionary War - WWI)

Ford was born about 1844 in Anderson County to Lydia Ford, a slave. He also was certainly a slave owned by Benjamin Hardison, who filed a claim for lost property when Frank ran away to join the Union Army during the Civil War.

In 1864, the federal government initiated a new policy to enroll regiments of colored soldiers for service in the war. As a result thousands of slaves and former slaves flocked to recruiting stations to volunteer. Among these was Frank Ford, who made his way from Lawrenceburg to Camp Nelson, where on September 9, 1864 he was mustered into federal service as a private in Company E of the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment.

His enlistment record describes him as a 20-year old farmer who lived in Anderson County, was 5'9" tall, and of dark complexion with dark hair and eyes.

Although the 5th Colored Cavalry Regiment had not reached its full complement of men, those who were enrolled by the end of September were assigned to General Stephen Burbridge on his campaign into southwest Virginia. On that expedition, the 5th was active at the First Battle of Saltville on October 2, 1864, where after a fierce engagement the federals were driven back with heavy losses.

In December another attempt was made to destroy the salt works, and the 5th Cavalry was part of Stoneman's Raid. On December 17 and 18, 1864, the federals attacked and captured Confederate lead mines near Marion, Virginia, then on the 20th and 21st they captured and destroyed the salt works at Saltville.

In January 1865 Company E of the 5th Regiment were detailed to escort a herd of cattle from Camp Nelson to Louisville. As this column passed through Mercer and Anderson Counties, its progress was closely monitored by Confederate partisans operating in the area. On January 25, 1865, just outside Simpsonville in Shelby County, a band of Confederate guerrillas under Captain Isaiah "Zay" Coalter caught the Union soldiers completely off guard, and after a fifteen minute action, all 35 men of the rear guard were down, either dead or left for dead, resulting in a complete massacre.

Local citizens gathered up the dead troopers and buried them in a mass grave, while the wounded were taken to Louisville. The roll call of Company E of the 5th Colored Cavalry Regiment for February 1865 shows Frank Ford listed as MIA since January 25, 1865 following the action near Simpsonville. His name remained on the roster of Company E as MIA throughout the regiment's continued service.

Years later, his mother Lydia Ford applied for a survivor's pension, and after an investigation, his record was amended on August 8, 1898 to say that on or about January 25, 1865, Frank Ford died of wounds received in an action near Simpsonville.