Francis John Ford (1892 - abt. 1957)

Born 2 Oct 1892 in Mackellar, Ontario, Canada

Husband of Matilda (Schneider) Ford — married 16 Oct 1916 in Alberta, Canada

Descendants

Died about 18 Jan 1957 at about age 64 in Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joan Lichtmann [send private message]

Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. Ford-3725 was created by Joan Lappenbush through the import of Joan_Lichtmann's_Family_Tree.ged on Feb 8, 2014.

From "Schneider Family History" soon to be published by Myrtle Schneider MacDonald

FRANCIS JOHN "FRANK" FORD was born 2 October 1892 at McKellar Ontario, son of James Ford Jr., born 23 April 1865 in Scotland and Hannah nee Reid, born June 4, 1872 at . His father, James Ford Sr., died in 1894 and Catherine MacGowan Ford died in 1885. James Sr. had immigrated from Scotland and Catherine from Ireland. In 1902 James and Hannah came west and homesteaded in the Good Hope area, Beaverhills NWT, 30 miles east of Strathcona. With them came three sons; James, Francis (Frank) and Alex Robert. An older son, Isaac, was deceased in Ontario in 1901 or 1902, and James died in Alberta between 1906 and 1911. Hannah was related to other Reid families who settled in the area, one of them Robert. [Did any sisters come in 1892?]

The Good Hope area was a bit south of the Mansfied area where the grandparents of his wife Tillie (Johann and Justine Schneider) homesteaded.

The large, interesting historical book, "South of the North Saskatchewan River", contains a great deal of information about the people who lived in the Good Hope area. The first post office was opened in 1906 and operated until 1945 when rural route postal service began. The first school district was formed in 1901, named Good Hope School Division #660, with Robert Reid as a trustee. The school was built and opened in 1902, and the first teacher was Mrs. Ida Reid, who came from Calgary. Many historic highlights and pictures are given of this school on pages 177-181.

The first settlers were from the Parry Sound area of Ontario, including both Methodists, previously from New England, and ethnic Germans, from Austria. Robert Reid said, "When I die I would like to be buried on the highest hill on my farm." He was buried there 23 May 1909, and many other pioneers were later laid to rest at this spot. On page 96 there is an account of Good Hope Cemetery Co. which was formed to protect this site. Some 20 unmarked graves were given small cement markers.

The Methodists held Camp Meetings in a large tent in the summer, and services in homes and the schoolhouse in the winter. These meetings became known as the Holiness Movement. The Church of Good Hope was built in 1911. Instrumental accompaniment was not used, but their gospel singing was heard for miles from the camp meetings, that were held annually until the 1940's. [Did Frank or Tillie mention any of these things?] The name was later changed to Standard Church.

In 1916, the year Frank and Tillie married, his parents and brother Alex moved a few miles south to Ross Creek on what is now Highway #16. Frank and Tillie lived in the Good Hope area for two years and in 1918 moved to Ross Creek, where they lived until 1927.

1 . . . . . . 7 Harvey Ford was born 1917 2 . . . . . . 7 Ruby Gertrude Ford born 1918 3 . . . . . . 7 Jim Ford born 1920? 1921? 4 . . . . . . 7 Norma Ford born 1923 5 . . . . . . 7 Donna Ford 1926?

Tillie's brother Arnold bought land 1 1/2 miles east of Alex Ford (adjoining Elk Island Park at the south east corner). Frank liked horses and he and Arnold always had a fun feud going, as to who was the best horse trader. Frank was proud of his fancy harnesses and sleigh bells.

In 1919 Frank had a severe bout of the Spanish Flu, and was very ill for months. He survived when many people died, but he was left with a weakness that remained for the rest of his life.

In 1927 Frank, Tillie and the children moved to a farm between Vegreville and Lavoy. Tillie's Uncle Chris and Rennetta Schneider had lived about 6 miles north since 1918, and Aunt Luise (Schneider) and Uncle Adolf Schmidt had lived at Imperial since 1917, 6 miles south of the Fords, so they were not alone.

By this time there were model T Fords with curtains, that enabled families to visit more often. There were party line telephones. Times were very hard for the Ford family. They survived because Tillie grew a huge garden, dried saskatoons (similar to blueberries) and mushrooms, made soap, carded and spun wool, made many quilts and rugs, knitted mittens, gloves and socks and sewed nearly all their clothes. She spoke of her mother having all these skills; apparently she inherited Anna's homemaking skills.

Somehow Tillie made time to visit sick neighbors, and often made clothing for the needy in the neighborhood. Frank kept up his horseman skills and managed the farm.

The family clearly had an appreciation for arts and literature, which was passed down to their children. Frank played the mouth organ and Jew's Harp. Tillie played the organ. They loved reading, and Zane Gray was Frank's favorite author. The family subscribed to The Family Herald, Winnipeg Free Press, Country Guide, Farm and Ranch Review and other papers.

Tillie had her first cancer operation in 1938, and though she suffered greatly, she carried on with her needlework. She never complained, and after a long and courageous battle with cancer, died in Sept 1943. She is buried in the Lavoy Cemetery.

After her death, Frank moved to British Columbia (in 1946) and remarried, to a lady named Catherine Anne Sawchuk. They farmed in the Murrayville area (20184 Anderson Road, RR4, Langley) until 1953, when Frank became ill with lung cancer. He died 19 Jan 1957 and is buried in the Murrayville Cemetery.

Census

Frank Frod in the 1906 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta Name: Frank Frod [Frank Ford ] Gender: Male Marital status: Single Age: 15 Birthplace: Ontario Relation to Head of House: Son Father's name: James Ford Mother's name: Hannah Frod Province: Alberta District: Edmonton Sub-District Description: Townships 54, 55 in ranges 20, 21 and that part of township 56 in range 21 lying south-east of the North Saskatchewan river, all west of the 4th M Sub-District: 14 Household Members: Name Age James Ford 46 Hannah Frod 44 James Frod 17 Frank Frod 15 Robert Frod 13

Frank Ford in the 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta Name: Frank Ford Gender: Male Racial or Tribal Origin: English Nationality: Canadian Age: 25 Marital status: Single Birth Year: 1891 Birth Place: Ontario Home in 1916: Victoria, Alberta, Canada Address: 54, 20, 4, Ljd 5174 Relation to Head of Household: Son Father: James Ford Mother: Hannah Ford Sub-District: 27 Sub District Description: Townships 53 and 54, ranges 19 and 20, and Township 54, range 18, W. 4. M., including the Village of Chipman Enumeration District: 43 Enumerator's Name: W H Pike Dwelling House: 188 Religion: Methodist Can Speak English: Yes Can Speak French: No Mother Tongue: None Can Read: Yes Can Write: Yes Occupation: Farmer Employment status: Working on Own Account Employer: On Farm Household Members: Name Age James Ford 55 Hannah Ford 53 Frank Ford 25 Alex Ford 23

Death

Francis John Ford in the British Columbia, Canada, Death Index, 1872-1990

Name: Francis John Ford

Gender: Male

Birth Year: abt 1893

Death Age: 64

Death Date: 19 Jan 1957

Death Location: Murrayville

Registration Number: 1957-09-002013 BCA Number: B13231 GSU Number: 2033147

Burial

Date: 1957

Place: Murrayville, Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Sources

"South of the North Saskatchewan"

"Schneider Family History" soon to be published by Myrtle Schneider MacDonald

Library and Archives Canada. Census of the Northwest Provinces, 1906. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2008. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1906/index-e.html. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels: T-18353 to T-18363.

British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. British Columbia, Canada. British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency: P.O. Box 9657, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9P3.