The Ford Families of Linn County, Iowa

OSCAR P. FORD.

This enterprising and progressive farmer residing on section 27, is one of the leading citizens of Jackson township, where he has spent his entire life, having been born here on the 19th of June, 1859. His parents were Enos P. and Mary Ann (Halsted) Ford, the former a native of Werniont, the latter of New York state. About 1850 the father came to Linn county, Iowa, and was one of the first to locate in Jackson township. He purchased a tract of land on section 27, which he at once commenced to clear and improve, and to the development and cultivation of that place he devoted his time and energies throughout the remainder of his life, dying there August 30, 1900. The mother of our subject passed away April 9, 1870, and for his second wife the father married Catherine Bowser, of Jackson tkj\vnship, who is now deceased. By his first marMage he had'five children: Oscar P., the subject of this sketch; Ransom M., who died April 18, 1901, was a farmer and resided near Spring Grove, Iowa; Cealer W., who married Ella Stout and lives on a farm in Aiken, Harrison county, JNIissouri; Ervin, who married Ida Sawyer aiul makes his home un a farm in Harrison county, Missouri; and George, who married Maud Reed, and resides on a farm on section 27, Jackson township, this county. There was one child by the second union, Orrin N., who lives with relatives in this county. The children have been well educated in the public schools of Jackson township, and Orrin finished his studies in Central City.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

namely: Sadie May, Leafie I., George E., Charles Mason and Iva Marie.

After his marriage Mr. Ford located upon his present farm on section 27, Jackson township, known as the old Beebe place, which he has mostly cleared, and has made all the improvements thereon. It is now a very desirable farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres, and in connection with its operation Mr. Ford is successfully engaged in stock raising. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man, of known reliability, and has steadily prospered in his undertakings. As one of the leading and influential citizens of the southern part of the township he has been elected to several minor offices, the duties of which he has ably discharged. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious belief both he and his wife are Baptists, belonging to the church of Central City.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES II. FORD, an honored resident of Franklin Township, is a native of the Empire State, born in Schenectady County, four miles from the city of New York. Aug. LS, 1843. His father, Elias Ford, was a native of Hawley, Franklin Co., Mass., and first opened his eyes to the light July 20, 1807. His grandfather, Elias Ford, was also a native of the Bay State, and his great-grandfather, Andrew Ford, was born in Massachusetts about the time that the independence of the colonies was declared.

Elias Ford, the father of our subject, continued to live in his native State until he was sixteen years of age. He then removed to New York State, and was married in Hillsdale to Miss Ann T. Snyder, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Snyder. They remained in Hillsdale" a short time after marriage, then went to Albany, where the husband engaged in mercantile pursuits. They removed thence to Rotterdam, in Schenectady County, where they purchased a farm, upon which they remained until 1867. Then, desiring to establish a home beyond the Mississippi, they sold out and emigrated to Iowa. Their first location was made in Nit. Vernon, and he soon afterward purchased village property, and the following year opened a store and engaged in trade. He operated thus for two years, and then traded his stock of goods for a farm in Franklin Township on section 4. This he improved and cultivated, and remained upon it until his death, which occurred Sept. 6, 1879. His widow still survives, and lives with her son on the old homestead. She became the mother of two children: Benjamin, who lives in Marion Township, and James H., our subject.

James H. Ford was reared in his native county, and spent his earlier years in attendance at the district school and assisting in the work of the farm. He made his home with his parents until 1867, came to Mt. Vernon with them, and the following year went into partnership with his father and engaged in trade under the linn name of Ford & Son. They operated thus for four years, and then traded for the farm which the son now owns and occupies. They were associated together in farming until 1876, at which time the father retired from active labor and his son managed the place alone. He has made great improvements within the last few years, has remodeled the dwelling, placed a stone basement under the barn, and erected other necessary out-buildings, lie has also planted fruit trees of various choice varieties, and all the surroundings are indicative of the good taste and judgment of the proprietor.

The marriage of James II. Ford and Miss Alida Crounse took place in March, 1864. Mrs. Ford is a native of Gilderland, Albany Co.. X. v., and a daughter of Frederick C. and Alida (Shaver) Crounse. Their union has been best by the birth of three children: Minnie, Charlie and Jennie L.;

Pi lis the latter died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ford are highly esteemed in their neighborhood and township, and are entitled to be classed among the first citizens. They are the friends of good order and system, and are contributing their portion toward the building up of the community, morally, socially and intellectually.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES B. FORD.

James B. Ford, residing at No. 221 First avenue west, is a well-known contractor and builder of Cedar Rapids, where he has success fully- carried on Inisiness along that line for the past ten years. He was born in Greensburg, Decatur county, Indiana, December 6, 1 86 1, a son of Charles M. and Mary Jane (McCoy) Ford, also natives of that state. The father followed farming in Decatur county for some years, and there seven of his children were born. About 1854 he came to Iowa and took up a homestead in Buchanan county, which he commenced to improve, but later sold the place and returned to Indiana. In 1864 he again came to this state and this time located in Benton county, where he followed farming until his removal to Cedar Rapids in 1879. He spent his last days in this city, where he died in February, 1890. His wife still survives him and now makes her home with our subject, a hale and hearty old lady of seventy-six years.

James B. Ford grew to manhood in Iowa, and in Cedar Rapids commenced to learn the mason's trade, at which he worked for two or three years. He then went to Nebraska, and was employed at his trade in several places in that state, and later in Kansas, where his brother took up land. After placing it under cultivation they ])wanted wheat, Init the drouth destroyed their croy). Leaving his brother the farm, our subject returned to Cedar Rapids, and from here went to Xewton, Illinois, where he worked at his trade for a year and a half, at the end of which time he again came to Cedar Rapids. Subsequently he learned the printer's trade in Tama county, where he spent over a year, and then returned home on a visit, and while here his printing office burned down, so that he did not return to Tama county. The following year was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and ai the end of that time he again turned 'his attention to the mason's trade.

On the 6th of August, 1882, in Benton county, Iowa, 'Sir. Ford led to the marriage altar Miss Hester Ann Hall, a native of that county, of which her father, Eli Hall, was a prominent farmer. He was born and reared in Cattaraugus county, New York, and when a young man came to Rock Island, Illinois, where he married Miss Malinda Miller. IMr, and Mrs. Ford are the parents of four children, namely; Goldie M., who is attending the Cedar Rapids high school; Carl, who died in the spring of 1890, at the age of eleven years; Ray R.; and an infant son.

After his marriage Mr. Ford made his home in Benton county for some years, working at his trade and also farming to some extent. In April, 1891, he became a permanent resident of Cedar Rapids, and has since engaged in contracting and building with good success. He has had charge of the masonry on many of the best residences in the city, and during the busy season furnish'hes employment to from ten to twenty-five men. He purchased a lot on First avenu2 west, and erected thereon a nice residence, where he now resides.

At national elections Mr. Ford always supports the Repuljiican ])arty, and cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine.

He takes a commendable interest in public affairs, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is widely known in Cedar Rapids as an upright, reliable business man, and is very popular among his friends and acquaintances.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.