- O. B. FORD was born in Bennington, Vt., Jan. 19, 1814. His
father moved to Lewiston, N.Y.,
- when Oliver was still in infancy; lived there until 1817,
or 1818, then removed to LeRoy, Genesee Co., N.Y.; remained there
until he was 12 years of age; then removed to Byron in the same
county, where his father died. In 1830, Oliver was employed as
a clerk in Bergen, where he remained about two years; then he
went to Phelps, Ontario Co., N.Y., and was engaged in like capacity
there until 1840, when he commenced mercantile business for himself
for about one year, under the firm name of FORD & GILBERT;
afterward, for a few years, the firm was HORTON, FORD & Co.;
he was also largely engaged in real-estate operations in Western
New York, for several years. In 1847, he came to Beloit, Wis.,
and for eighteen months he was interested in land speculations,
and was the owner of an undivided quarter-interest in the water-power
at Beloit, which he sold to a gentleman of the name of GORDON,
from Bangor, Me.; remaining but a year and a half at Beloit,
he then returned to Phelps, N.Y., and resumed his mercantile
pursuits, the firm for about three years being FORD & HORTON;
afterward he was associated with Geo. W. SWIFT and A. BRINKERHOFF,
in the same business, for a few years, and also alone for some
time. In 1854, he came to Janesville, purchased the New England
House, and conducted it for about nine months; he then build
the FORD House, least it most of the time, but sometimes carried
it on himself for a year or two at a time; at the same time,
he was also carrying on a saw-mill, where FORD's mill now stands
(Mr. FORD had acquired an interest in the water-power before
his removal to Janesville). In 1859, commenced building FORD's
flouring-mill; it was completed and started the following year;
prior to this time, Mr. FORD had run the Excelsior mill, this
being the beginning of his milling business. In 1863, he went
to Aurora and carried on the Black Hawk and Montgomery mills
for one year. About six years ago, he purchased the water-power
and site of the Big Mill, and erected thereon the present improvements,
consisting of a mill, post-office building, etc.; he disposed
of a portion of the water-power to the Janesville Cotton Manufactory,
of which company he was President for about two years. In 1873
or 1874, he purchased at United States' sale, at Milwaukee, the
interests of A. Hyatt SMITH and wife in the water-power here.
Mr. FORD's first wife was Lucretia SHECKEL; she died in Phelps,
N.Y., leaving two children, only one now living - Mary N., who
was born in Byron, Genesee Co., N.Y., and is the wife of B. F.
CROSSITT, of Janesville. Mr. FORD's present wife was Marietta
F. DRAKE, a native of Rochester, N.Y. Two children by this marriage,
both residents of Janesville; Oliver C., born in Beloit, Wis.,
and William F., born in Janesville, Wis.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, p. 706.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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