Ford, Thomas D., M.D.

INGALLS, TAYLOR, SHUMWAY, ELLIS, STEEL, LEWIS

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/17/2010 at 11:46:47

A thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the underlying principles of medicine, long experience and unuaual ability have made Dr. Thomas D. Ford one of the leading physicians and surgeons in Bremer county and have gained him a large clientage in Plainfield, where, since 1883, he has been in active and successful practice. During that time his interests have extended also to the field of public life and he has served creditably in various positions of trust and responsibility, his work in citizenship being accounted a valuable municipal asset. He is, moreover, entitled to representation in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war.

Dr. Ford was born in Antioch, Lake county, Illinois, February 6, 1848, and is a son of Eben and Maria M.(Ingalls) Ford, natives of Massachusetts, the former born in Boston and the latter in Manchester. The Ford family is one of the oldest in America and a complete genealogical record exists, tracing the descent from the first Ford, who came to America in the next ship after the Mayflower. On the maternal side Dr. Ford is a grandson of Daniel Ingalls, who was the sixth in descent from the first ancestor in America. Represntatives of both the Ford and Ingalls families fought in the American Revolution. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this review was drowned in Boston harbor, and after his death his widow and family moved west, some locating in Lake county, Illinois and others a few miles away in Wisconsin. The grandmother made her home with her children until her death, which occurred when she was eighty-five years of age. One of her sons, Eben Ford, father of the subject of this review, occupied the original homestead and engaged in farming there until 1851. At that time he joined his uncle, a member of the Ingalls family, and crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in mining near Placerville, meeting with excellent success. In 1853 he commenced the journey home and since that time all trace of him has been lost. It is thought that he either died of cholera in San Francisco or was drowned at sea. The widow and her family continued to reside in Illinois for many years.

Dr. Thomas D. Ford acquired his early education in the district schools and in Waukegan Academy. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Chicago under Colonel McChesney and Captain Porter. His regiment was sent to Columbus, Kentucky, and was engaged in skirmishing in that vicinity for some time. It afterward went through Missouri, following General Price, and at one time it was thought that he had captured this famous general. In December, 1865, Dr. Ford was honorably discharged from service and returned to the homestead, where he pursued his interrupted education. He afterward read medicine with Dr. D.B. Taylor, of Millburn, Illinois, and in 1869 entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he was graduated with honors on the 1st of February, 1871. He began the practice of his profession in Elba, Winona county, Minnesota, and after one year moved to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, practicing at Liberty Corners. After five years he moved to Wilmot, four miles away, and there opened a drug store, conducting this in connection with the general practice of medicine for six years. In March, 1883, he moved to Plainfield and since that time has secured a large and representative patronage, each year bringing him increased professional prominence and a higher standing in the confidence of the local public. Dr. Ford has always remained a close and earnest student of his profession, keeping in touch with its most advanced thought through constant reading and research, and his powers have continually developed. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the Bremer County Medical Society, and has a high standing in professional circles. His property interests are extensive and important. He owns ten acres near the city limits of Corpus Christi, Texas, which has doubled in value since it came into his possession. Upon this is a comfortable cottage and Dr. and Mrs. Ford spend a great deal of time there. Mrs. Ford owns one hundred acres at Sinton, the county seat of San Patricio county, and this is now in a high state of cultivation. Dr. Ford owns also five bay front lots at Corpus Christi and has property interests in Plainfield.

On the 9th of March, 1871, Dr. Ford was united in marriage to Miss Helen E. Shumway, a native of Lake county, Illinois, and a daughter of Franklin Shumway, who was born in Vermont. The mother died when her daughter was twelve years of age and Mrs. Ford afterward managed the home and took charge of seven younger children. She acquired he education in Waukegan and is recognized today as a woman of refinement, culture and ability. She is a leader in social circles of Plainfield and for the past seventeen years has been president of the Women's Relief Corps. Dr. and Mrs. Ford have become the parents of two sons. The elder, Guy Stanton, acquired his elementary education in the public schools of this county, where he took a first grade teacher's certificate at the age of thirteen. He afterward attended Fayette University and at the end of three years entered the University of Wisconsin, graduating with the degree of B.L. in 1895. He then became city superintendent of schools at Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, but after holding this position for three years went to Germany, where he entered Marburg University. He studied afterward in Berlin and Hanover preparing himself for his doctor's degree, which he received from Columbia University, New York, upon his return. From 1901 to 1906 he occupied the position of assistant professor of history at Yale, and in the latter year assumed the chair of modern European history at the University of Minnesota, and is now dean of the post-graduate school and occupies the chair of modern history. He is a well known scholar and educator and his record is an added credit to an honored name. On the 6th of September, 1907, he married Miss Grace Ellis, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of two children - Eliza Jane and Tom Kingwell. Dr. and Mrs. Ford's second son, Frank Leland, acquired his early education in the local schools and afterward attended the University of Wisconsin. His eyes, however, failed and he was not able to complete the course. Since leaving school he has interested himself in the real estate business and has now valuable holdings, particularly in Texas. He has been twice married, his first union having been with Miss Edith Steel, of New York, who died, leaving a daughter, Ellen Edith. Mr. Ford afterward married Miss Dorothy Lewis, of Greenville, Texas, and they have two daughters.

Fraternally Dr. Ford is connected with the Masonic order and is amember of the local post of the Grand Army of the Rpublic. During the period of his residence in Plainfield he has been an active factor in public affairs, cooperating heartily in all progressive public movements and supplementing this by creditable service in public office. He was elected county coroner on the republican ticket and served for one term. He was also a member of the United States pension board for sixteen years, and was the first mayor of Plainfield, giving to the city an able, businesslike and straightforward administration. He and his wife are well and favorably known as people of exemplary qualities of mind and character, and they hold the esteem and confidence of all who come in contact with them.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914