Irish ForeFathers
T
he Ford family had its roots in
Ireland though they had traces of English and Scottish blood in them. Its main occupation
was agriculture. During a great agricultural depression, the ancestors of Ford family had
migrated from their Cork Country homes to America. The district in which the Fords built
their cabins were first called Springwells Township. It began at the Detroit River and
expanded along the city’s western outskirts. About the time of the Fords’
arrival, the northern half was separated from the lower and given the name of Greenfield
Township.
In 1862, a young couple moved a house
located at some distance to the south of the other Ford families. They were William
and Mary Ford. One year later, on a pleasant morning of July 30, 1863,
the pages of the Detroit Gazette were filled with war news. Five full companies of militia
gathered at Dearborn. At that time, in the little farmhouse of Fords, there was much
excitement and scurrying between the kitchen and the bedroom. One of the older neighbor
women, ‘Grandma’ Holmes, was directing affairs and it was with her help, that
this male child was born into the household. The infant was named Henry
after his uncle. Henry was one of the eight children.
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