Biography of John W. Ford
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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Ford, John W., was born in the town of Edinburgh, Saratoga county, N. Y., May 15, 1848, and he obtained, his
education in the public schools and also by private tutor. His early days were spent on the farm. In the year 1868
he began a professional life, and studied civil engineering with D. A. Van Auken, of Cohoes, N. Y. He followed
this, his chosen profession, in the employ of the Cohoes Water Co., until 1882, when he came to Waterford and embarked
in the knit goods business, in cornpany with a Mr. Pynes, under the firm name of Ford & Pynes, which was dissolved
by mutual consent, Mr. Ford selling his interest to his late partner in the year 1892. Shortly afterward the Ford
Manufacturing Co. was organized in the same line of goods. a joint stock concern, with John W. Ford as president
and treasurer. They employ250 operators, with an output of $250,000. In the year 1873 Mr. Ford married Minnie S.
Peverly, of Waterford, N. Y., and they had two children, Helen and Peverly. Mr. Ford’s father, John, was born in
Fulton county, N. Y., in the year 1809, and was educated in the schools of that early day. He married Vilda M.
Wheeler, of Saratoga county, and they had eleven children. Mrs. Vilda M. Ford died in 1890, her husband surviving
her at this date, 1898. Mrs. John W. Ford’s father, Lidell Peverly, was born in New Castle, England. He married
Margaret Smith of his native place. and they had seven children, the eldest being born in England. They came to
the United States and located in Waterford. Mr. Ford is a member of Clinton Lodge No. 140, F. & A. M., of Waterford,
N. Y. He is president of the Board of Education, of which he has been a member for the past ten years. Mr. and
Mrs. Ford are members of the Presbyterian church of this place. Ancestry of the family is English on both sides.
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