San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 622
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/14/2009
MRS. MARGARET FORD
An energetic, experienced and highly progressive American woman who has demonstrated her ability as a successful California agriculturist, is Mrs. Margaret Ford, whose maiden name was Margaret Ferguson. She was born on Fairchild Lane, about eight miles out of Stockton, on May 4, 1858, the daughter of William Ferguson, who had married Miss Mary Ray. Her father was a native of Ireland, and came from County Armagh in the province of Ulster, and her mother was a native of New York. They were married at Little Falls, N.Y., and came in the pioneer days, in 1854, to California, settling in San Joaquin County, on Fairchild Lane. Mr. Ferguson was a farmer, who for years leased ranches, but toward the latter part of his life bought a farm of ninety-nine acres on Fairchild Lane, which he continued to cultivate until his death. He passed away at the age of seventy-six, in 1904; and Mrs. Ferguson breathed her last in 1908, at the age of eighty-three. They had five children. Mary, the eldest, married H.A. Miller, a highly esteemed citizen of Clements; Margaret is the subject of our interesting story; James, whose life was valued by those who knew him, is deceased; Isabel has become Mrs. Wm. Hines, of Stockton; and Laura is Mrs. W.J. Herson, of the same city.
Margaret Ferguson attended the Greenwood school. On the 31st of May, 1874, she was married at Lockeford, in the old red-brick church, to Charles Ford, born in Ireland, but who came to the United States with his parents at the age of eight. The Fergusons and the Fords started for California about the same time, but Charles Ford's father died before he reached the Golden State. Mrs. Ford, Charles' mother, owned a fine ranch of 182½ acres on Fairchild Lane; and when our subject married, she and her husband moved onto the place. At the death of his mother, Charles Ford inherited the ranch, and on Mr. Ford's lamented demise, in 1905, she took charge, and now owns the entire acreage intact. The death of Mrs. Ford, Sr., occurred only six weeks previous to that of Charles Ford; hence the transfers of the estate were made in rapid succession. Mrs. Ford is a Republican, and exerts her best influence in the use of the franchise and in endorsing approved political movements, to favor such legislation as will assure the best interests of the community and state.
Five children and seven grandchildren have added to Mrs. Ford's earthly joys. Clara is Mrs. G.W. Gordon, and resides on the Jack Tone road. Mamie has become Mrs. Charles Farthing of Stockton. Thomas and William are at home, and make themselves invaluable there. Nettie is Mrs. James Atkins of Linden. Mrs. Gordon is the mother of four children—Blanche, Arthur, George and Robert, and Mrs. Farthing has one child, Charles Llewellyn. Mrs. Atkins had two daughters: Margaret Alice, now deceased, and Irma May.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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