James B. Ford

As printed in 1901

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 Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.