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biography
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Ford, Honorable Henry P., the Mayor of Pittsburg,
was born at Hudson, N.Y., October 15, 1837, son of John and Susan (Carpenter) Ford. During their residence in Hudson the family resided
on the John Phoenix place. They removed in 1838 to Clarion, Forest County, Pa., where the father was a lumberman for a time. He came to
Pittsburg, and died there about 1852, leaving his son Henry an orphan.
Henry P. Ford received a good education in Pittsburg, and attended different mercantile colleges. At the age of sixteen he found employment
with a large book concern as bookkeeper. By close attention to business he made for himself a wide reputation as an accountant of ability,
careful and exact. His next position was with the Associated Firemen's Insurance Company, which he filled with credit to himself and to the
satisfaction of all, until the company closed up its affairs. He was next the head book-keeper of the Eureka Insurance Company till 1861,
when he went with Singer, Nimick & Co., with whom he remained for ten years. In 1871 he severed his connection with this firm to embark
in business for himself. On this occasion he formed a partnership with Mr. Emerson for the manufacture of saws at Beaver Falls. He was actively
engaged in this enterprise until 1876, when he sold his interest, and became book-keeper for the Crescent Tube Company, in which capacity he
served until he was elected secretary and treasurer of the company. In 1881 the firm became the Pennsylvania Tube Company, with whom he remained
as book-keeper for about a year. Then illness obliged him to give up business entirely. Owing to the death of a relative he became connected with an
extensive lumber business. A disagreement of partners before Mr. Ford entered the firm resulted in one of the most remarkable lawsuits ever tried in
Pennsylvania, in which many interesting law points were settled. After three years of litigation the suit was brought to a successful termination,
and Mr. Ford sold his interest to other parties. He has not been in business since 1885.
Since he was seventeen years old Mayor Ford has been interested in politics. He was the youngest man who has ever served on a School Board in Pittsburg, having
been secretary of the old Seventh Ward Board when but nineteen. Afterward he held a position on the Board for several years. In 1881 he was elected to the Councils
from the Eleventh Ward, and successively reelected at the end of each term until he was elected Mayor, in which capacity he took his seat in the city government
on April 6, 1896. Beginning on April 2, 1888, he was President of the Select Council until he vacated that office for his present one. He has been a trustee
of the Carnegie Library for some time, and is serving on some of its most important committees. By virtue of his office as Mayor he is now a trustee of the
Western Pennsylvania University and a member of the Allegheny County Prison Board. Early in his career he was the vice-chairman of the Allegheny County Republican
Committee. He has been a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 221, F. & A. M., since 1870, and he was secretary of the lodge until his business took him to Beaver Falls .
He is also a member of Duquesne Chapter, No. 193; of Tancred Commandery, No. 48; Syria Temple of the Mystic Shrine; and of several other secret organizations.
In June, 1870, Mr. Ford married Miss Rebecca Gillespie, daughter of John Gillespie, of Philadelphia, an old and well-known business man there. They have three
children: Sarah, now Mrs. Joseph H. Hunter; Mary G.; and Catherine G. No man in the city is more intimately acquainted with its needs and resources than Mayor Ford,
and his long experience in public affairs has qualified him amply to meet every exigency that may arise in the course of his administration.
Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburg and the vicinity, Pennsylvania. Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1897, Author: Anonymous, Submitted by Christina Anthony.
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