Untitled Document

Hon. Milton M. Ford , real-estate dealer and formerly a merchant, residing at Galva, was born Jan. 13, 1823 , in Milo , Yates, N. Y. His grandfather Ford was a native of Connecticut , where he married, spent an active life and died. Of his children, Dyer Ford, the father of our subject, was born at Hampton, Windham Co., Conn. , May 8, 1798 . He was a school teacher during his early life, but in 1818 he removed to Western New York , where he became a prominent merchant. He removed from West Dresden, Yates Co., to Pultney, Steuben Co., N. Y., and subsequently moved to Painted Post, and in 1844 he came West and located in McHenry Co., Ill. Some three years later he removed to Galesburg , that his children might enjoy better educational advantages. In that city he was also engaged in the mercantile business. In 1856 he removed to Viola, Mercer County , where he remained in active mercantile life until 1865, when he returned to Knox County , locating at Oneida , where, on the 30 th day of December, 1884, he died at the age of nearly 87 years, standing at the time of his death the representative head of five living generations. He was twice married, the first time in 1819, to Louisa Morris, who died ten years later. She was the daughter of Stephen Morris and the mother of four children who reached the age of maturity, viz.: Mrs. Esther Miller, deceased, the subject of this sketch, Mrs. Chloe C. Barnett, and James Be. Ford, deceased. He was again married in 1831 to Sophia Wollage, of New York . She died at Oneida , Ill. , Jan. 5, 1881 .

He united with the Presbyterian Church in the State of New York in 1835, and lived an humble, consistent Christian life. In his day he was an active business man and a useful and highly respected and honored citizen.

Milton M. Ford, whose name heads this sketch, was educated principally in the common-schools of the State of his nativity, and attended one winter the Academy at Penn Yan, New York . However, with these limited advantages, he devoted much of his time while engaged at work to reading and studying, until he acquired an excellent general education. During his early life he clerked for his father until the age of 16 years, when his parents went to Painted Post and he to Penn Yan, and there engaged as a clerk for Charles C. Sheppard, one of the leading and most successful merchants in the county of Yates. At the age of 23 years he became partner, under the firm name of Sheppard & Ford, Mr. Sheppard withdrawing from active business, throwing the responsibility and active duties of the establishment upon his partner, the management of which proved successful and satisfactory. In 1851 he visited his father at Galesburg , Ill. , and became owner of his first real estate by location of some of the Government land then subject to entry in Henry County . This being a profitable investment, he again returned to the State in 1856 on an exploring tour and purchased on joint account for Mr. Sheppard and himself a large quantity of land in Lee and Mercer and for himself in Knox and Henry Counties. In 1858 he sold out his mercantile interests in New York, and in 1860 removed with his family to Galva, that he might be near his lands, and again entered into active mercantile business, to which he added the lending of money, and has successfully handled large amounts of Eastern capital as investment for others. Since that time he has resided there, and has always been identified with the business interest and whatever contributed most to the strength, prosperity and upbuilding of the town and her citizens. When a lad and clerk in New York, he studied law and was admitted to the Bar in Illinois in 1868, but has never made the practice of this profession a business, using it only as a means to assist him in conducting his real-estate enterprises. Mr. Ford, since his residence in this county, has taken an active part in political matters and has had conferred upon him by the citizens of his county and his party political honors and offices. For years he was Chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee, and has been otherwise instrumental in serving the party whose cause he advocates. In 1864 he was elected to the Legislature from the 46 th District. He was Chairman and member of important committees. In 1878 he was again elected to the General Assembly, this time to represent the 21 st Senatorial District, and during the session served as Chairman of the Committee on Finance and a member of the Committees on the Judicial Department, Revenue Appropriations, Insurance, State Charitable Institutions, Miscellany and on Congressional and Senatorial Appointments. During this session he took an active part in furthering the interests of the temperance petition presented to the Senate by the members of the W. C. T. U.

Mr. Ford was married at Bath , N. Y., Jan. 13, 1846 , to Miss Laura Spencer, a native of Columbia Co., N. Y. She is the mother of three children, who have reached maturity, namely: Florence , now the wife of D. B. S. Peck, of Strausburg , Neb. ; Dyer Ford resides at the same place and is engaged in the mercantile business with Dr. Peck. He married Mary E. Mitchell, daughter of Col. A. L. Mitchell, of Davenport , Iowa . Jennie S., their youngest child, now resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Ford and all their children are members of the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Ford has been a Trustee ever since he came to Galva. He is an active, enterprising man, and takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare.

Portrait & Biographical Album of Henry Co., Illinois page 585

Transcribed by Jan Roggy

Illinois Ancestors