Richard was the son of Ann Sisson Ledford. Some family trees give his father as James Ledford; his death certificate gives his father as Salmon (Solomon?) Ledford. He married 1) Larrina Viana "Vina" Ellis and 2) Mary A Walker

The 1850 census states that he was born in North Carolina, but by this time his family has already moved to Gilmer County, Georgia. We see him living with the following family.
-Richard Sisson, 59 (maternal grandfather)
-Lucy Sisson, 53 (maternal grandmother)
-Richard Sisson, 23
-William H Sisson, 21
-David P Sisson, 19
-James W Sisson, 15
-Rachel A Sisson, 12
-Lucy E Sisson, 9
-James F Ledford, 10
-Richard C Ledford, 8 <--(This is him)
-John E Ledford, 6
-William H Ledford, 3
-Ann Ledford, 33 (his mother)

In 1860, Richard is still living in Gilmer County, with his extended family.
-William H Sisson, 30
-Rebecca Sisson, 35
-Jane S Sisson, 6
-George W Sisson, 4
-David P Sisson, 2
-Mary A Sisson, 2 months
-Lucy Sisson, 60
-Emeline L Sisson, 18
-James Ledford, 19
-Richard Ledford, 16 <--(This is him)
-Paetin Ledford, 15
-John Ledford, 14
-William Ledford, 12
-Perline Sisson, 15
-Sarah A Sisson, 13
-Lucy Sisson, 12
-Sarah Sisson, 11
-Francis Sisson, 6
-Richard Sisson, 5
-Mary S Sisson, 4

According to the American Civil War Soldiers Database at Ancestry.com, Richard fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He enlisted in Company C, 16th Battn St Gd Cavalry Regiment of GA as a private.

According to the Georgia Marriages database at ancestry.com, Richard married Vina Ellis on 17 Mar 1867.

By the 1870 census, Richard is married and living in Fannin County, Georgia.
-Richard Ledford, 27
-Viana Ledford, 27
-William Ledford, 2
-Ann Ledford, 10 months

In 1880, he is living in Toccoah, Fannin County, Georgia.
-R.C. Ledford, 36
-Vina E. Ledford, 35
-William C. Ledford, 12
-Richard F. Ledford, 9
-Laura Ledford, 7
-Charles Ledford, 4
-Dora Ledford, 1
-E.G. Weaver, 38 (a boarder)

In the 1900 census, he is remarried and living in Boardtown, Gilmer County, Georgia. His marriage date is given as 1896, indicating that some of the children listed here belong to his first wife, Viana. (Namely, James, Albert, and possibly Mary)
-Richard Ledford, 57
-Mary A Ledford, 5
-James M Ledford, 12
-Albert S Ledford, 9
-David S Ledford, 2
-Mercia Ledford, 0

In the 1910 census, he is living in Boardtown with the following family members:
-Richard Ledford, 67
-Mary A Ledford, 47
-David S Ledford, 12
-Michel Ledford, 9
-Bessie L Ledford, 5

In 1913, he filed an application for a Confederate pension. At this time, he is living in Floyd County, Georgia. His enlistment date is given as 15 Jul 1863 in Gilmer County, Georgia, in B.M. Ledford's regiment of the GA militia cavalry, Captain Sprigg's company.

In the 1920 census, he appears in Lindale, Floyd County, Georgia.
-Richard C Ledford, 76
-Mary A Ledford, 56
-David S Ledford, 22
-Bessie L Ledford, 14

The Georgia Deaths database at ancestry.com gives his date of death as 2 Jul 1926 in Floyd County, Georgia.