FORD FAMILY HISTORY
Henry James Ford 1831-1917
Born December 16, 1831, to James Ford and Mary Burchell. His obituary states that he was born in Reading, England, but I have not been able to confirm that.
I have confirmed that he married Caroline Collier on November 22, 1852 in the Parish of St. Georges, Bloomsbury, England.
I have confirmed that he married Caroline Collier on November 22, 1852 in the Parish of St. Georges, Bloomsbury, England.
The marriage registration lists his profession as being a carpenter, which is consistent the details of his obituary. The date of his arrival in the U.S. are not clearly documented. The many census records suggest that he came to the U.S. sometime in the 1850's.
This obituary, dated 1917 from the Detroit Free Press has some fascinating details of his life.
This obituary, dated 1917 from the Detroit Free Press has some fascinating details of his life.
This would mean that Henry Ford Sr. was in Chicago before the end of the civil war in 1865. Henry Ford Jr.'s death certificate, which was signed by his wife, Achie, indicates that he was born in England in 1867.
NOTE: In 2024, I retained a professional genealogist in Chicago to look into the life of Henry James Ford, Sr. to determine if he really was a police officer with the Chicago Police Department. She found the following: This shows us the Chicago City Directory for 1856 and 1857. We see that "Ford Henry J." is a carpenter, that he is from England and has lived in Chicago for 2 years. NOTE - The "Ford Michl, policeman" is a different person. As we can see, Michl was from Ireland and had lived in Chicago for 5 years. Henry James Ford, Sr. did not have any siblings named Michl or Michael.
The 1858 directory shows us: Ford H. G., police h (house) S.W. W Plank Rd. Despite the typo on the initials, this address will show as being occupied by Henry J. Ford, Carpenter in 1861 and 1862.
An 1860 Census record from Chicago shows us a Henry and Caroline Ford as being residents. Henry's profession is listed as Carpenter.
The 1859 Directory shows us a Henry Ford, carpenter living in a house at S.W. Congress about at Robey. I believe this to be another Henry Ford.
The 1860 city directory has no listing for Henry J. Ford. The genealogist I hired advised that some directory companies relied on citizens self reporting their residence, occupation ect.
the 1861 director does show us; Ford, Henry J. twice. Both listings have him in a house on S.W. Plank Road, near W. Polk. This is the same address as in the 1859 directory, which listed Henry as being a Policeman. I have been unable to find any records of A.H. Weielhoff anywhere.
the 1861 director does show us; Ford, Henry J. twice. Both listings have him in a house on S.W. Plank Road, near W. Polk. This is the same address as in the 1859 directory, which listed Henry as being a Policeman. I have been unable to find any records of A.H. Weielhoff anywhere.
The 1862 directory now shows Henry as being and Undertaker.
The 1864 directory now shows Henry as both a carpenter and undertaker at a new location,
The 1865 directory lists Henry J. Ford as being an undertaker with C.H. Jordan. Several Chicago newspaper articles would list C.H. Jordan as being the "City's Undertaker."
The city directories after 1865 do not list Henry J. Ford.
The city directories after 1865 do not list Henry J. Ford.
This 1865 Chicago City directory also lists Henry J. Ford as being an undertaker, working with C. H. Jordan. The Chicago Collections (Chicago's historical library and archive) document the C. H. Jordan & Company Funeral as being in business from 1866 to 1924. History tells us that, during the war, embalming became a quickly growing business, owing to the desire of families to see the remains of lost soldiers returned for burial in a less, deteriorated condition. The practice was further promoted by Abraham Lincoln's use of an embalmer on his son Willie, who had died while he was in office. History also tells us that carpenters, kept very busy by the need for caskets, often times took on the additional role of embalmer, often with little or no actual training.
The 1917 obituary for Henry James Ford also tells us that he was the "first police lieutenant in Chicago when that office was created." The obituary goes on to explain that he was appointed during the time of "Long John Wentworth."
"Long John" Wentworth was first elected Chicago's mayor in 1857 on a platform of reform. He served until 1861. The March 20, 1857 edition of the Chicago Tribune ran an article naming a large group of newly appointed Policemen:
"Long John" Wentworth was first elected Chicago's mayor in 1857 on a platform of reform. He served until 1861. The March 20, 1857 edition of the Chicago Tribune ran an article naming a large group of newly appointed Policemen:
The History of Chicago Police from Settlement to 1886, published in 1887, despite being an exhaustive history of the department, does not include any mention of Henry Ford. It also suggests that the rank of lieutenant was in existence before 1857. I have submitted a freedom of information act request to Chicago Police Department, requesting any records they have on Henry Ford as a police officer from 1857. They finally did respond saying no record could be found.
Other than the listing in the city directory, which would have been generated by Henry Ford, the only documentation we have to substantiate his having been a police officer is a "Recorders Court" record from September, 1857. This is a two page document. While the small photos are hard to read, it lists across the top columns for; No; Case: Charge; Magistrate; Complainant; Bailed by; Witness; Residence; Grand Jury Summoned By; Bill; No Bill; Court Subpoenaed By; Remarks.
In September, 1857, it appears that Henry J Ford, "Police," age 27, was listed as a witness in a larceny case against someone whose name I can't make out, which involved a watch, worth $60.
John Wentworth's tenure as Mayor of Chicago saw many changes in the police department, including the hiring and firing of many police officers. It appears that we do have proof of Henry James Ford being, albeit for a short time, a police officer for the Chicago Policee Department. It also appears that the accused was found not guilty and the case discharged.
Other than the listing in the city directory, which would have been generated by Henry Ford, the only documentation we have to substantiate his having been a police officer is a "Recorders Court" record from September, 1857. This is a two page document. While the small photos are hard to read, it lists across the top columns for; No; Case: Charge; Magistrate; Complainant; Bailed by; Witness; Residence; Grand Jury Summoned By; Bill; No Bill; Court Subpoenaed By; Remarks.
In September, 1857, it appears that Henry J Ford, "Police," age 27, was listed as a witness in a larceny case against someone whose name I can't make out, which involved a watch, worth $60.
John Wentworth's tenure as Mayor of Chicago saw many changes in the police department, including the hiring and firing of many police officers. It appears that we do have proof of Henry James Ford being, albeit for a short time, a police officer for the Chicago Policee Department. It also appears that the accused was found not guilty and the case discharged.
The June 3, 1937 Funeral announcement for Henry Jr. specified that he was born in Chicago. I have not found any documentation as to the birth places of his siblings.
In 1900, the Census form lists the Ford families (Henry Sr. and Henry Jr. living adjacent to each other in Detroit. That document lists the birth place of Henry Sr. and Caroline as being England; Henry Jr. as being Illinois and Carry's as being Michigan. This census also lists my Grandmother, Beatrice Burchell Ford who you will read more about below.
In 1900, the Census form lists the Ford families (Henry Sr. and Henry Jr. living adjacent to each other in Detroit. That document lists the birth place of Henry Sr. and Caroline as being England; Henry Jr. as being Illinois and Carry's as being Michigan. This census also lists my Grandmother, Beatrice Burchell Ford who you will read more about below.
Henry James Ford, Jr. 1867-1937
Henry Jr. (My great-grandfather) was born on or about August 2, 1867. We just don't know exactly where. We do know that by the 1880 census, the Fords were living at 782 12th Street in Detroit. The family at that time consisted of Henry Sr. Caroline, Henry, age 13; Elizabeth, 12; Carrie, 10, and Albert, 8. Interestingly, living at 790 12th Street, another fellow by the name of Henry Ford resided. He was, apparently a farmer, from Ireland, married with five children. There does not seem to be any blood relationship between the two families.
It is likely that around 1882 Henry Jr. join the D.M. Ferry Seed company. Henry went to work for the D.M. Ferry Seed Company. The Detroit City Directories published each year, listed Henry as either "Foreman," "Travel Agent," or "Salesman" for the DM Ferry Company. Henry worked for the Ferry Seed Company for 50 years. in 1932, the Detroit Free Press wrote an article about a meeting of Ferry Seed Company employees who had worked for the company for over fifty years. Henry is standing, second from the right.
This box has been in our family as long as I can remember. It is a display box for seed packets use by the salesmen. My father remembers having these around his house all the time and giving them away as gifts.
As a Master Mason myself, it was with great pleasure that I found that Henry Jr., was, himself, a Master Mason. In his obituary I noticed that the Zion Lodge of Detroit, was assisting with the services. I contacted the lodge and was amazed at what I found.
The protocol as Masonic Lodges is that each brother will sign in when attending a Masonic function. Lodges keep these book....like forever. The Secretary of Zion Lodge was kind enough to take a picture of the book and of the page signed by Henry Ford Jr. It's fourth from the bottom.
D.M. Ferry & Co.
In 1856, Milo T. Gardner, Dexter M. Ferry, and Eber F. Church organized a small seed-growing company, M.T. Gardner & Company(also known as Gardner, Ferry, and Church) in Detroit, Michigan. The first year the company did $6,000 in business. Its profits continued to be stable until 1865, when Ferry bought out Gardner's share and took over the company.[4] Ferry changed the company name to Ferry, Church & Co, and two years later, when Church retired,[5] Ferry changed the name again, this time to D.M. Ferry & Co.
The business grew steadily and, in 1879, was incorporated under the name D.M. Ferry & Co with $750,000 in capital. Business continued to grow and sales eventually exceed two million dollars per year. In 1930, The Ferry Company merged with another successful seed company and became the Ferry Morris Seed Company.
In 1981, Ferry-Morse became part of France's Groupe Limagrain, the largest seed producer in the world. In 2005, Groupe Limagrain sold Ferry-Morse to Jiffy International where it remains to this day.
The business grew steadily and, in 1879, was incorporated under the name D.M. Ferry & Co with $750,000 in capital. Business continued to grow and sales eventually exceed two million dollars per year. In 1930, The Ferry Company merged with another successful seed company and became the Ferry Morris Seed Company.
In 1981, Ferry-Morse became part of France's Groupe Limagrain, the largest seed producer in the world. In 2005, Groupe Limagrain sold Ferry-Morse to Jiffy International where it remains to this day.
We don't know exactly when Henry retired from the company. He indicated that he was still working for the company in the 1930 Federal census. He did leave us with a D.M. Ferry Seed Company box.
We do know that Henry married Achsie Daniels on January 30th, 1890 in Detroit. His brother Albert was one of the witnesses.
Marriage to Achsie Daniels
This is the marriage registry, theirs is fifth from the top.
Beatrice Burchell Ford (1896-1990)
Beatrice Burchell Ford was born December 16, 1896 in Detroit, Michigan to Henry J. Ford, Jr. and Achsie Daniels.
The 1900 Federal Census finds the Beatrice and her mother and father living on 12th Street near Calumet Street. It appears that Beatrice's grand parents, Henry Jr's father, Henry Senior and his wife Caroline Collier, lived next door at 293 Calumet Street.
This census tells us that in, approximately 1850 Henry and Caroline immigrated from England, and in 1866 they had a son, Henry Jr. and in 1874 they had a daughter, Carrie. Henry Sr. was a builder, and most likely built the house on 12th and Calumet streets where the family lived.
In 1900 Henry Jr. was already selling seeds, a vocation that he would pursue his entire life.
Life
Beatrice lived her life in Detroit until 1924 when she meets Arthur Elmo Pond at a theater group. Their marraige lasted 66 years until her death in 1990 at age 94.
Beatrice lived her life in Detroit until 1924 when she meets Arthur Elmo Pond at a theater group. Their marraige lasted 66 years until her death in 1990 at age 94.
July 30, 1924, Beatrice weds Arthur Elmer Pond. The register lists Arthur's occupation as "Newspaper man."
My Grandfather, Arthur Elmer Pond, told us that he met Beatrice in a local theater group in Detroit. What we didn't know was that Grannie was very active as a performer, writer and director. There are numerous mentions of her in the Detroit Free Press regarding her participation in productions in the city. Thats a picture of her on the right. Her nose is unmistakable.