Edwin Holton Ford was the youngest of the seven children born at home to Dr. James and America (Holton) Ford of Wabash, Indiana (now the Dr. James Ford Historic Home). He graduated from Wabash High School in 1878 and attended Butler (Northwest Christian) University in Indianapolis, 1878-1879. He also attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
In 1881 he located to Blackford County, Indiana where he managed two hundred acres of choice land owned by his father. He engaged in general farming, and also made a specialty of raising the better grades of horses and cattle. A fine gas well had been drilled on his farm, yielding an abundance of that fluid. By 1888, Edwin was one of the prominent young farmers of Harrison Township. He served eight years as Assistant Hartford City Postmaster and was the first superintendent of the Hartford City Waterworks. Edwin organized and founded the Ford Meter Box Company in Hartford City in 1898, after inventing this device. Upon moving to Wabash in 1911 the company was incorporated and Edwin served as president.
In politics Edwin was a Republican and in 1883 he was elected Blackford County Justice of Peace, a position he was well qualified to fill. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Society, and also the Knights of Pythias, Blackford Lodge No. 135.
Edwin was married in a quiet home ceremony on October 13, 1891 in LaFontaine, Indiana to Miss Elizabeth Neff, daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Bloomer) Neff of rural LaFontaine. They had five sons born during their 20-year residence in Hartford City: Holton Neff (1893), Wilbur Edwin (1895), John Lawrence (1897), Richard Van Dyke (1900) and Frederick (1904-1910) Ford; twelve grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Edwin was described by his father as "six foot one inch high, and weighed 170 pounds; complexion fair and ruddy, hair auburn, eyes dark hazel, temperament very active, and has a large amount of 'pluck' in his make-up. He is not a member of any church; is polite and agreeable, and is honorable in all his transactions."
Died at age 72 years, 7 months, 22 days.
In 1881 he located to Blackford County, Indiana where he managed two hundred acres of choice land owned by his father. He engaged in general farming, and also made a specialty of raising the better grades of horses and cattle. A fine gas well had been drilled on his farm, yielding an abundance of that fluid. By 1888, Edwin was one of the prominent young farmers of Harrison Township. He served eight years as Assistant Hartford City Postmaster and was the first superintendent of the Hartford City Waterworks. Edwin organized and founded the Ford Meter Box Company in Hartford City in 1898, after inventing this device. Upon moving to Wabash in 1911 the company was incorporated and Edwin served as president.
In politics Edwin was a Republican and in 1883 he was elected Blackford County Justice of Peace, a position he was well qualified to fill. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Society, and also the Knights of Pythias, Blackford Lodge No. 135.
Edwin was married in a quiet home ceremony on October 13, 1891 in LaFontaine, Indiana to Miss Elizabeth Neff, daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Bloomer) Neff of rural LaFontaine. They had five sons born during their 20-year residence in Hartford City: Holton Neff (1893), Wilbur Edwin (1895), John Lawrence (1897), Richard Van Dyke (1900) and Frederick (1904-1910) Ford; twelve grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Edwin was described by his father as "six foot one inch high, and weighed 170 pounds; complexion fair and ruddy, hair auburn, eyes dark hazel, temperament very active, and has a large amount of 'pluck' in his make-up. He is not a member of any church; is polite and agreeable, and is honorable in all his transactions."
Died at age 72 years, 7 months, 22 days.
Edwin Holton Ford was the youngest of the seven children born at home to Dr. James and America (Holton) Ford of Wabash, Indiana (now the Dr. James Ford Historic Home). He graduated from Wabash High School in 1878 and attended Butler (Northwest Christian) University in Indianapolis, 1878-1879. He also attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
In 1881 he located to Blackford County, Indiana where he managed two hundred acres of choice land owned by his father. He engaged in general farming, and also made a specialty of raising the better grades of horses and cattle. A fine gas well had been drilled on his farm, yielding an abundance of that fluid. By 1888, Edwin was one of the prominent young farmers of Harrison Township. He served eight years as Assistant Hartford City Postmaster and was the first superintendent of the Hartford City Waterworks. Edwin organized and founded the Ford Meter Box Company in Hartford City in 1898, after inventing this device. Upon moving to Wabash in 1911 the company was incorporated and Edwin served as president.
In politics Edwin was a Republican and in 1883 he was elected Blackford County Justice of Peace, a position he was well qualified to fill. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Society, and also the Knights of Pythias, Blackford Lodge No. 135.
Edwin was married in a quiet home ceremony on October 13, 1891 in LaFontaine, Indiana to Miss Elizabeth Neff, daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Bloomer) Neff of rural LaFontaine. They had five sons born during their 20-year residence in Hartford City: Holton Neff (1893), Wilbur Edwin (1895), John Lawrence (1897), Richard Van Dyke (1900) and Frederick (1904-1910) Ford; twelve grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Edwin was described by his father as "six foot one inch high, and weighed 170 pounds; complexion fair and ruddy, hair auburn, eyes dark hazel, temperament very active, and has a large amount of 'pluck' in his make-up. He is not a member of any church; is polite and agreeable, and is honorable in all his transactions."
Died at age 72 years, 7 months, 22 days.
In 1881 he located to Blackford County, Indiana where he managed two hundred acres of choice land owned by his father. He engaged in general farming, and also made a specialty of raising the better grades of horses and cattle. A fine gas well had been drilled on his farm, yielding an abundance of that fluid. By 1888, Edwin was one of the prominent young farmers of Harrison Township. He served eight years as Assistant Hartford City Postmaster and was the first superintendent of the Hartford City Waterworks. Edwin organized and founded the Ford Meter Box Company in Hartford City in 1898, after inventing this device. Upon moving to Wabash in 1911 the company was incorporated and Edwin served as president.
In politics Edwin was a Republican and in 1883 he was elected Blackford County Justice of Peace, a position he was well qualified to fill. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Society, and also the Knights of Pythias, Blackford Lodge No. 135.
Edwin was married in a quiet home ceremony on October 13, 1891 in LaFontaine, Indiana to Miss Elizabeth Neff, daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Bloomer) Neff of rural LaFontaine. They had five sons born during their 20-year residence in Hartford City: Holton Neff (1893), Wilbur Edwin (1895), John Lawrence (1897), Richard Van Dyke (1900) and Frederick (1904-1910) Ford; twelve grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
Edwin was described by his father as "six foot one inch high, and weighed 170 pounds; complexion fair and ruddy, hair auburn, eyes dark hazel, temperament very active, and has a large amount of 'pluck' in his make-up. He is not a member of any church; is polite and agreeable, and is honorable in all his transactions."
Died at age 72 years, 7 months, 22 days.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
