Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah August 20, 2020

Jacob Wesley Ford, who is one of the most industrious and reliable citizens of Glidden where he has made his home for thirty-three years, is a native of the Buckeye state. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 14, 1841, a son of Michael and Rebecca (Van Houten) Ford, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the former in 1805 and the latter in 1808.

The father removed with his parents to Ohio in 1812, the family locating in Wayne county. Many years afterward his father enlisted in the Mexican war and lost his life while in Mexico. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ford were three children: Jacob, Michael and Esther. The mother of these children lived with her son Michael until her death, which occurred in 1853. She was the youngest child and only daughter of John and Mary Van Houten, natives of Pennsylvania, who also had one son, John Van Houten. The father of these children having died, the mother was married to Jacob Snyder and to this union four children were born: Michael, Jeremiah, Mary and Levina. Michael Ford was married and in his family were eleven children, namely: John V., Rachel, William A., Katherine, Alfred, Philip, Jacob, Mary Jane, Jeremiah, Levina and Hester Ann. Five of these children are still living.

Jacob Wesley Ford came with his parents to Washington county, Iowa, in 1851, at the age of ten years. He was educated in the district schools of Washington and Greene counties and continued on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age. He then rented fifty acres of land on which he lived for ten years, when he went to Kansas and spent three years in the Sunflower state. At the end of the time named he returned to Carroll county and took up his residence at Glidden where he has since lived. He began in the wagon-making and blacksmithing business at Glidden thirty three years ago and continued in both lines without interruption until 1909, when his son Luther took charge of the blacksmith shop, the father carrying on the wagon-making establishment. He possesses good mechanical skill and has been recognized for many years as one of the most capable mechanics in the county.

March 19, 1865, Mr. Ford was married to Miss Rebecca E. Short, who was born March 19, 1850, a daughter of William and Jemima (Dillavou) Short, the former of whom was born in 1807 and the latter in 1812. Mr. Short was a native of Virginia and his wife was born in Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: John D., William R., George W., Susannah, James, Luther and Rebecca. Four of these children are still living. Mrs. Short died in 1854 and Mr. Short was again married. By this union he had two children: Clara E. and Robert B. The death of Mr. Short occurred in 1875.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, namely: Ermina E., who is deceased; Armilda A., now Mrs. F. W. Boswell, and who has two sons, Guy and Harry; Addie A., who married C. E. Grey and is the mother of six children, Frank E., Byron W., Goldie, deceased, Hazel E., Harold C. and George A.; Lavina E., the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, is the wife of T. M. Johnson and the mother of one child, Frederick W.; John C. is married and has four children, Wilber L., Adelbert, Gladys and Ira; Luther is now in charge of the blacksmith shop long conducted by his father; Herbert P. is married and in his family were two children, Elva, and one who died in infancy; Susannah M., the youngest of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, is the wife of F. M. Chandler.

Mr. Ford is not a member of any religious denomination but his wife is connected with the Church of God. He gives his adherence to the republican party, being a firm believer in its principles as conducive to the best interest of the state and nation. He and his wife are highly esteemed and their home is a welcome gathering place for friends and acquaintances. Mr. Ford has through life been controlled by a worthy ambition to make himself a worthy member of the community and his ambition has in a large measure been realized. At the age of three score and ten years he is still actively employed and his friends trust that he may continue for many years in the enjoyment of health and prosperity.

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