Career
Lord was born in Killingworth, Connecticut. He was the first son of Benjamin and Antoinette Case Lord. He completed his education at the Normal School in New Britain, Connecticut.
Lord began teaching in 1871 as the principal of the Terryville, Connecticut high school.
The couple moved to Minnesota in 1874 where Lord taught for 24 years. He served as the first president of the Normal School at Moorhead, Minnesota during this time.