William Ford (businessman)

William Ford (December 10, 1826 – March 8, 1905) was an Irish-American businessman and was the father of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford.

William Ford
BornDecember 10, 1826
Ballinascarthy, County Cork, Ireland
DiedMarch 8, 1905 (aged 78)
Detroit, Michigan, US
NationalityIrish
Other namesWilliam "Bill" Ford
Billy Ford
Bill Ford
OccupationBusiness
ChildrenHenry Ford inter alia

Life and career

William was born in Ballinascarthy near Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland and was the son of Thomasine (née Smith) and Jonathan "John" Ford.[1] Ford's ancestors were originally from Somerset, England,[2] and migrated to Ireland as part of the Plantations of Ulster.

William attended St. Joseph's High School, had six siblings, and emigrated to the United States in 1846.[3] The family arrived in Quebec in 1847 and then onto the United States.[4]

On April 21, 1861, William married Mary Litogot in Wayne County, Michigan, daughter of Belgian immigrants. He and Mary had eight children, six of whom survived into adulthood. They moved to Detroit, Michigan.

William retired in 1879. He died of natural causes on March 8, 1905, in his home[5] and was buried in the Ford Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan, USA, Plot: St. Martha's Episcopal Churchyard.

Family

William married Belgian-American Mary Litogot, together they had six children:

Name Birth/Death Information
Henry Ford 1863–1947 Henry was the first child of William and Mary Ford. He is the founder of the Ford Motor Company
John Robert Ford 1865–1927 John was the second child of William and Mary Ford.
Margaret Ford 1867–1960 Margaret was the third child of William and Mary Ford.
Jane Ford 1869–1906 Jane was the fourth child of William and Mary Ford.
William Ford Jr. 1871–1917 William was the fifth child of William and Mary Ford.
Robert Ford 1873–1934 Robert was the sixth and last child of William and Mary Ford

William had 6 siblings – 4 sisters, and 2 brothers:

Name Birth/Death
Rebecca Ford 1824–1895
Jane Ford 1829–1851
Mary Ford ca. 1832–1882
Nancy Ford 1834–1920
Henry Ford Sr. 1840–1901
Samuel Ford 1837–1884[6][7]

See also
  • Ford family tree

References
  1. "Ford Family Tree". Answers.com. Retrieved 28 March 2000. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. "The history of Ford in Ireland Family Crest and Name History".
  3. United States Census, 1900, Detroit city, Wayne, Michigan, page 6A
  4. "Corporate Information". ford.ie. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  5. "William Ford". GENi. July 30, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  6. Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867–1995
  7. Michigan, Death Records, 1867–1950
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