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- Marriage of William and Mary Ford (Henry Ford's Parents) Recorded in a Family Bible, 1861 - Many 19th-century Americans recorded births, deaths and marriages in family bibles. Subsequent generations sometimes add and update entries. The Ford family bible originally belonged to Margaret Ahern (or O'hern), Henry Ford's foster grandmother. It was passed down to Henry's sister, Margaret. Margaret later gave the bible to Henry. This page records the marriage of William and Mary Ford, Henry's parents.
- April 25, 1861
- Collections - Artifact
Marriage of William and Mary Ford (Henry Ford's Parents) Recorded in a Family Bible, 1861
Many 19th-century Americans recorded births, deaths and marriages in family bibles. Subsequent generations sometimes add and update entries. The Ford family bible originally belonged to Margaret Ahern (or O'hern), Henry Ford's foster grandmother. It was passed down to Henry's sister, Margaret. Margaret later gave the bible to Henry. This page records the marriage of William and Mary Ford, Henry's parents.
- Henry Ford as a Small Child Being Shown a Bird's Nest by his Family, by Irving Bacon, 1936 - Henry Ford, a four-year-old boy in his mother's arms, looks on as his parents show him and his brother, John, a sparrow's nest in a fallen tree. It was Ford's earliest memory, and he had the scene recreated in this painting by favorite artist Irving Bacon.
- circa 1866
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford as a Small Child Being Shown a Bird's Nest by his Family, by Irving Bacon, 1936
Henry Ford, a four-year-old boy in his mother's arms, looks on as his parents show him and his brother, John, a sparrow's nest in a fallen tree. It was Ford's earliest memory, and he had the scene recreated in this painting by favorite artist Irving Bacon.
- Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Wayne, Michigan, 1876 - In the 19th century, publishers produced atlases for counties all over the United States. One of the illustrations in this atlas is an aerial view of the William Ford Farm in Springwells Township -- now Dearborn, Michigan. Industrialist Henry Ford, William and Mary Ford's eldest son, was born in the farmhouse on July 30, 1863, and he grew up on this farm.
- 1876
- Collections - Artifact
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Wayne, Michigan, 1876
In the 19th century, publishers produced atlases for counties all over the United States. One of the illustrations in this atlas is an aerial view of the William Ford Farm in Springwells Township -- now Dearborn, Michigan. Industrialist Henry Ford, William and Mary Ford's eldest son, was born in the farmhouse on July 30, 1863, and he grew up on this farm.
- Farm Residence of William Ford, from an 1876 Atlas of Wayne County, Michigan - In the 19th century, publishers produced atlases for counties all over the United States. One of the illustrations in this atlas is an aerial view of the William Ford Farm in Springwells Township -- now Dearborn, Michigan. Industrialist Henry Ford, William and Mary Ford's eldest son, was born in the farmhouse on July 30, 1863, and he grew up on this farm.
- November 20, 1939
- Collections - Artifact
Farm Residence of William Ford, from an 1876 Atlas of Wayne County, Michigan
In the 19th century, publishers produced atlases for counties all over the United States. One of the illustrations in this atlas is an aerial view of the William Ford Farm in Springwells Township -- now Dearborn, Michigan. Industrialist Henry Ford, William and Mary Ford's eldest son, was born in the farmhouse on July 30, 1863, and he grew up on this farm.
- Receipt for Property Taxes Paid by William Ford (Henry Ford's Father) on February 17, 1896 - When William Ford, Henry Ford's father, emigrated from Ireland in 1847 at the age of twenty he had little wealth. William settled near family in southeast Michigan and eventually purchased a tract of land. By the late 19th century, William was a prosperous farmer. In 1896, the date of this receipt, he owned over two hundred acres of farmland in Wayne County.
- February 17, 1895
- Collections - Artifact
Receipt for Property Taxes Paid by William Ford (Henry Ford's Father) on February 17, 1896
When William Ford, Henry Ford's father, emigrated from Ireland in 1847 at the age of twenty he had little wealth. William settled near family in southeast Michigan and eventually purchased a tract of land. By the late 19th century, William was a prosperous farmer. In 1896, the date of this receipt, he owned over two hundred acres of farmland in Wayne County.
- Receipts for Insurance Payments Made by William Ford (Henry Ford's Father), Springwells Township, Michigan, 1895 - When William Ford, Henry Ford's father, emigrated from Ireland in 1847 at the age of twenty he had little wealth. William settled near family in southeast Michigan and eventually purchased a tract of land. By the late 19th century, William was a prosperous farmer and secure enough to protect his property with insurance.
- 1895
- Collections - Artifact
Receipts for Insurance Payments Made by William Ford (Henry Ford's Father), Springwells Township, Michigan, 1895
When William Ford, Henry Ford's father, emigrated from Ireland in 1847 at the age of twenty he had little wealth. William settled near family in southeast Michigan and eventually purchased a tract of land. By the late 19th century, William was a prosperous farmer and secure enough to protect his property with insurance.
- Deaths of Henry Ford's Brother, Robert and Father, William, Recorded in a Family Bible, 1877-1905 - Many 19th-century Americans recorded births, deaths and marriages in family bibles. Subsequent generations sometimes add and update entries. The Ford family bible originally belonged to Margaret Ahern (or O'hern), Henry Ford's foster grandmother. It was passed down to Henry's sister, Margaret. Margaret later gave the bible to Henry. This page records the deaths of Henry's younger brother Robert and his father William.
- 1877-1905
- Collections - Artifact
Deaths of Henry Ford's Brother, Robert and Father, William, Recorded in a Family Bible, 1877-1905
Many 19th-century Americans recorded births, deaths and marriages in family bibles. Subsequent generations sometimes add and update entries. The Ford family bible originally belonged to Margaret Ahern (or O'hern), Henry Ford's foster grandmother. It was passed down to Henry's sister, Margaret. Margaret later gave the bible to Henry. This page records the deaths of Henry's younger brother Robert and his father William.
- Corn Knife Given to Harry Callahan by William Ford, Made 1850-1860 - Before late nineteenth century agricultural mechanization, sharp-bladed knives were used to harvest corn. Farmers would swing these blades to cut the cornstalk near its base. The stalks then were bundled into shocks to dry. Later, the ears would be harvested and the stalks made into cattle fodder. Different regions of the U. S. produced stylistic variations of these corn harvesting blades.
- 1850-1860
- Collections - Artifact
Corn Knife Given to Harry Callahan by William Ford, Made 1850-1860
Before late nineteenth century agricultural mechanization, sharp-bladed knives were used to harvest corn. Farmers would swing these blades to cut the cornstalk near its base. The stalks then were bundled into shocks to dry. Later, the ears would be harvested and the stalks made into cattle fodder. Different regions of the U. S. produced stylistic variations of these corn harvesting blades.
- William Ford Barn - William Ford built this barn near present-day Dearborn, Michigan, in 1863 -- the same year his son Henry was born. Ford mainly used it to store grain and hay, though livestock and tools were occasionally housed in the structure. The barn was moved to The Henry Ford in 1934. Today it's used by Greenfield Village's horses.
- 1863
- Collections - Artifact
William Ford Barn
William Ford built this barn near present-day Dearborn, Michigan, in 1863 -- the same year his son Henry was born. Ford mainly used it to store grain and hay, though livestock and tools were occasionally housed in the structure. The barn was moved to The Henry Ford in 1934. Today it's used by Greenfield Village's horses.
- The Reminiscences of Fred Gleason - Historian Owen Bombard was hired by Ford Motor Company in 1950 to head an oral history project for the company's archives. Bombard interviewed more than 300 people who had known or worked with Henry Ford and Edsel Ford. Fred Gleason, interviewed in 1953, was a close friend of Henry's. His reminiscences provided details about Henry Ford's early years.
- May 28, 1953
- Collections - Artifact
The Reminiscences of Fred Gleason
Historian Owen Bombard was hired by Ford Motor Company in 1950 to head an oral history project for the company's archives. Bombard interviewed more than 300 people who had known or worked with Henry Ford and Edsel Ford. Fred Gleason, interviewed in 1953, was a close friend of Henry's. His reminiscences provided details about Henry Ford's early years.