St. Thomas Times Journal
31 July
1926
Page 5
c1
Article -
Ford Family Anniversary 108th year in Elgin
Chairman
was Norman W. Ford of Toronto, the eldest living grandson of Thomas Ford and
his wife Altha who settle on lot B., South of Talbot Rd in Aldborough; Thomas
Ford was bn near Edinburgh, Scotland in 1774, married a Scottish girl when he
was 26 years old and had 2 sons with her then she died. He married again 2 years later and one year
after that sailed across the Atlantic and settled in Vermont in 1808; he gained
the acquaintance of Gregor McGregor with whom he maintained a lifelong
friendship; in Vermont his second wife died leaving him with 3 sons; 2 years
later he married Altha Sheppard who was born in Vermont in 1792 and they moved
to New York. He fought at the battle of Lundy's Lane and soon after left for
Canada and located at York (now Toronto) and in 1816 returned to New York State
for his family. In 1818 he received word
from his friend McGregor in Aldborough township and decided to locate there in
Colonel Thomas Talbot settlement; in all he had 8 sons and 1 daughter, the
latter died when quit young in 1823 and was the first buried in the cemetery on
his farm which bears his name on Talbot St.
The 3 eldest sons were bn in Scotland, the next 2 in New York State and
the 3 youngest in Aldborough; Thomas Ford died July 30 1844 aged 70 years and
Altha Ford, his wife died Dec 9 1869 at the age of 78 years.
John the
eldest son lived at home until he was 21 and then took the west half of the
homestead and in 1826 he married Miss Margaret Gillies; they had 2 sons and 8
daughters. Four of the daughters died
quite young and his eldest son, Thomas died in 1852. Mary Ann was married in 1861 to Joseph McCollum.
Altha married Thomas Peets in 1856 and lived in Duart with her family for many
years. Sarah married George Thompson who
with her sister Bell still survive. John
married Sarah Robinson in 1868 and lived on the old homestead a number of
years, moving to Rodney where he died in 1925 leaving one daughter Mrs John
Milton of Rodney.
Thomas,
the second son owned and lived on lot 2 S. M. R. Orford and married Christena
Campbell in 1832. they had 3 sons and 2
daughters, their eldest son Thomas lived in Blenheim for many years and his
second son, Archibald died in 1873, and
Daniel lived in Michigan until 1872 when he came to live with his son at
Blenheim where he died in 1876 age 72 years.
James,
the third son was a bachelor. He moved
to Minnesota in 1856 where he died.
William,
the fourth son was born in York State in 1812 and he settled on lot 3 N. M. R.
Orford. He married in 1834 to Jane
Carswell and in 1847 he built the house now owned by Mr Thompson; he died in
1859 at the age of 47 years and his wife died in 1875 age 65 years. They had 4 sons and 4 daughters - Altha the
eldest married John McIntyre who died and she married Neil Walker; Christina
married C. Bobier of Oakeville, Jennie married George Dickson of St Thomas;
Maggie died some years ago; Thomas married Ellen McIntosh; Neil married Mary
McLarty and they had 4 sons and 4 daughters; William married in Missouri and
his wife died leaving him one little daughter; Norman married Miss Hattie Dyke
of Ingersoll and they have 2 daughters; Marjory and Dr Norman Ford a lecturer
at Toronto University.
Robert,
the 5th son was born in York State in 1816.
He purchased lot 6, N. M. R. in
1838 and in 1844 he married Nancy Leitch and by this union raised a large
family; Robert Ford died in Duart May 4 1874 age 58 years.
David,
the 6th son was the first one of the name born in Aldborough on May 8
1820. In 1842 he married Nancy McIntosh
and moved to Missouri and then Michigan.
He died at Cass City in 1893 at age 73 years. By the first marriage
there was 7 daughters and 1 son - Isabella married David Miller of Illinois and
had 4 sons; Altha married H. D. Cunningham of Duart on Feb 5 1863 and had 5
sons and 3 daughters; J. D. was in a wholesale at Kansas City, Mo; J. W. in
Winnipeg in the grain business; A. R. was an operator and died in Omaha,
Nebraska Nov 8 1892 and was brought home and buried in Greenwood Cemetery,
Ridgetown; James was killed in the Watson Mill disaster at Ridgetown; Mary Ann
married Peter Sweitzer of Hamilton Missouri, the President of the National
Bank; Maggie married John Sigman; Hannah married Robert Sweitzer; Jennie
married John Cox; Ellen married John Hogsit all of Hamilton, Missouri.
Henry
Ford was the 7th son and was born in 1822; when he was 15 years old the
rebellion broke out and he was drafted and sent as a guard to Colonel Talbot's
division; In 1841 he married Miss Mary McPhail, he was 21 years old and she 16
years old.
Norman,
the 8th son was born in 1827 and always lived on the homestead; when he was 19
he married and had 2 sons and 2 daughters - his oldest son, Thomas married Miss
Laura Buchan in 1876 and they had one son Norman Ford who married Miss Cynthia
Lee and they lived in the old homestead and have one son - Norman at home;
James married Mary Jane McGugan and died in 1885; Mary Ann married John Buchan
and still lives on the Talbot St Farm where they have 2 sons and 1 daughter -
John Blake, Norman and Agnes Bell; Mr Buchan died a few years ago, John Blake
lives on the homestead with his mother, Norman married Miss Gladys Kelly and
has a little son and daughter, Agnes Bell is married to Edwin McMillan and
lives at Kintyre with her family of 3 children.
Altha
married Thomas Havens of Port Glasgow who still survives her. They had 3 daughters - Agnes married Alfred
Green and lives at Rodney with their 2 children Alice and George; Janett is
married to Mr Campbell at West Lorne and they have 1 son and twin daughters.
Mary is
married to Joseph Gray and lives on Con 14 Aldborough, and they have 4 sons and
1 daughter - Bruce, Donald, Kenneth, Catharine and Thomas.
Agnes
died in 1877 and Mr Ford died in 1882.
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