Fernando A. Ford Biography


	This biography appears on pages 233-234 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FERNANDO A. FORD. 

	Fernando A. Ford is the owner of a farm of five hundred acres 
situated principally on sections 28 and 33, Mellette township, Spink 
county. In the spring of 1884 he came to South Dakota and in the 
intervening period to the present time has borne an active and helpful 
part in the work of general improvement and progress. He is a native of 
Chautauqua county, New York, born on the 26th of July, 1858, and is a 
son of Alvin and Caroline (Balcom) Ford. In the paternal line he comes 
of English ancestry, the family, however, being founded in America long 
prior to the Revolutionary war. The Balcom family was established in 
Massachusetts at an early day, many generations having resided on this 
side the Atlantic, and a great-uncle of Mr. Ford was one of the 
officers with the Continental army in the war for independence. His 
father, Alvin Ford, devoted the greater part of his life to 
merchandising and died in 1872, at the age of forty-three years, his 
remains being interred in Chautauqua county, New York. His widow 
survives at the advanced age of eighty-four years and makes her home 
with her son, Fernando A. 

	F. A. Ford, having attended the public schools to the age of 
seventeen years, then started out in business life, for it was 
necessary that he aid in the support of the family. He continued his 
residence in his native county until twenty-six years of age, when, in 
1884, he left the Empire state and made his way to the northwest, which 
was being opened for settlement. South Dakota was his destination and 
following his arrival he took up land from the government in Potter 
county, which he began to improve and develop. Later, however, he sold 
that property and invested in three hundred and twenty acres. To this 
he has since added as his financial resources have increased until he 
is now the owner of five hundred acres of rich and arable land Icing 
mainly on sections 28 and 33, Mellette township. As soon as he could 
transform the wild prairie by breaking the sod he would put in a crop 
and for a considerable period gave his attention almost exclusively to 
the raising of grain, but during the past ten or twelve years he has 
been extensively engaged in stock-raising, handling horses and hogs. 
This branch of his business is proving profitable and he is today one 
of the substantial farmers of the state, which has more wealth per 
capita than any other state in the Union. 

	On the 28th of February, 1893, Mr. Ford was united in marriage to 
Miss Bertha Schulz, a daughter of Henry and Augusta Schulz, natives of 
Germany, who emigrated to this country and settled in McPherson county, 
South Dakota. Later they removed to Oregon but in 1892 located in Spink 
county, South Dakota. However, after a few years they again removed to 
Oregon and now reside at Medford, Jackson county, that state. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ford have become the parents of ten children: Hugo, who is living 
at home but has begun his independent career by renting five hundred 
and fifteen acres of land; Freda, the wife of Joseph E. Kingsley, who 
is farming in Mellette township, Spink county; Martha and Juna, who are 
attending the Normal School at Aberdeen; Bertha, Florence, Henry, 
Matthew and Theodore, all attending the district school; and Eugene, a 
little lad of three summers, who completes the family. 

	Mr. Ford is a stalwart advocate of republican principles and, 
although not an office seeker, he is ever ready to encourage and assist 
worthy enterprises, cooperating with many movements which have been of 
material benefit and value to the community He belongs to the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and has many friends in that organization. He 
has erected upon his place a fine residence, a substantial barn, two 
silos and a number of other buildings, making the place one of the 
finely modern properties of Spink county, giving every evidence of the 
care and labor and the progressive spirit of the owner. Mr. Ford is 
today numbered among the prosperous citizens of his county and well 
merits the rich return that has come to him, for it is the logical 
result and direct outcome of his efforts.