John Dye Ford, a prosperous farmer and public-spirited citizen
of Hightstown, is a prominent representative of a numerous family, which has
been seated in Mercer county from a date prior to the Revolutionary war,
descended from John Ford, from England, the immigrant ancestor. The family
has always taken a leading part in the affairs of the county, and their
loyalty and uprightness of character have never been questioned. Many tales
of adventure encountered and hardships endured during the struggle for
independence have passed down from generation to generation. On one occasion
a member of the family was pursued by a party of drunken Hessian soldiers as
far as his home, and the marauders ransacked the dwelling, appropriating
everything that was of value, and rode away with the best horses in the
stable.
Robert Ford, father of John Dye Ford, was born June 5, 1792, and died May 31,
1874. He married, February 11, 1813, Margaret, born February 27, 1793,
daughter of John and Sarah (Perrine) Dye, the Dyes being an old and well
known family of the county. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Ford: Rebecca, March 5, 1814. Elizabeth, October 18, 1815. Mary, May 6, 1817.
Caroline, October 21, 1818. Enoch, February 11, 1820. John Dye, October 16,
1821. Robert, January 6, 1823. Steven, February 15, 1826. Theodore, July 21,
1828. Margaret, February 1, 1831. Joseph, June 28, 1832. The mother of these
children died January 12, 1833. Mr. Ford married (secondly), Sarah Dye, a
sister of his first wife, and to them were born children: Amanda, February
18, 1835, died December 30, 1872. Evelyn, March 31, 1836, died August, 1837.
William Henry Harrison, February 29, 1840, died January 9, 1873.
[In his will John Dey/Dye, the son of Joseph and Margaret Dey of Cranbury, named Robert Ford, his son-in-law, as one of the executor's of his will. John married Rebecca Perrine, daughter of Captain Peter and Sarah Scanlon Perrine. The paragraph above notes that John's wife was Sarah. Rebecca's sister Sarah married John Rue. The original author appears to have made a mistake.]
John Dye Ford, sixth child and second son of Robert and Margaret (Dye) Ford,
was born in Allentown, and until the age of eighteen attended the common
schools of his native place. He then became his father's assistant on the
farm which had been the abode of three generations of his ancestors, and
thereafter spent his life in the management of his extensive estate, raising
large crops of corn, rye and other produce for the market. Although often
called upon to serve his town in important official positions, he always
declined, preferring to devote his entire attention to his personal affairs.
He has ever been a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and in its
work he has ever taken an active part, and contributed freely of his means to
its support and to the aid of its various benevolences. He has always adhered
to the Republican party. He has ever enjoyed the esteem of the community, in
which he is held in high regard for his nobility of character and genial
personality.
Mr. Ford married, September 14, 1848, Elizabeth A., daughter of Henry and
Rebecca (Jewell) Applegate. Her father was born July 15, 1787, and died
February 24, 1850, and her mother was born May 7, 1795, and died December 13,
1886. The children of Henry and Rebecca (Jewell) Applegate were: 1. Sallie
Ann, born September 4, 1819. 2. William D. J., born April 3, 1823, died
young. 3. Elizabeth, born March 12, 1829, became the wife of John Dye Ford.
4. Emily, born February 6, 1832. 5. Rebecca, born December 2, 1835. 6.
Charles Henry, born June 17, 1838. John Dye and Elizabeth A. (Applegate) Ford
were the parents of two sons: Henry Applegate Ford, see forward. George
Titus, see forward.
George Titus Ford, youngest son of John Dye and Elizabeth A. (Applegate)
Ford, was born near Allentown, Washington township, Mercer county, New
Jersey, June 21, 1859. He acquired his education in the public schools of his
native town, and at the age of sixteen became associated with his father in
the management and cultivation of the homestead farm. On this historic old
estate he has thus far passed his life, and, like his forefathers, is
recognized among the leading farmers of the county. As a citizen he has been
prominently identified with every movement tending to advance the progress
and wellbeing of the community. He has served on the board of registrars, and
as a member of the town committee, and has held the office of commissioner of
appeals. He is a member of the Grange, is recognized as a local leader in the
councils of the Republican party, and is an active member of the Presbyterian
church.
Mr. Ford married, December 20, 1881, Rachel M., daughter of George C. and
Matilda Bergen, of Princeton Junction, and they are the parents of two sons.
The elder, George Bergen Ford, was born February 20, 1883, and received his
preparatory education in the schools of Allentown, from which he graduated,
then entering Rutgers College, from which he also graduated, and with high
honors. He is now living in South Amboy, New Jersey. He married Mae V.
Kuthau. William Dye Jewell Ford, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, was born
July 2, 1886, and is now a student at the Drexel Institute, Philadelphia.
Henry A. Ford, eldest son of John Dye and Elizabeth A. (Applegate) Ford, was
born near Dutch Neck, West Windsor township, Mercer county, New Jersey,
December 7, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of East Windsor
township, whither he removed with has parents while in his fourth year. His
early years were spent on the farm and he was trained to follow agricultural
pursuits. He was thus occupied until 1889, when he abandoned farming and
removed to Allentown, and lived retired from business occupations for a
period of six years. He then, in 1895, purchased the mill formerly owned by
Abel Cafferty, and was successful in placing this upon a substantial
financial basis, The mill is now fitted up with all modern improvements and
furnishes all the finest and most desirable grades of flour, meal and general
mill products. Mr. Ford has very practical ideas in the management of the
mill and has raised it to a high standard. He is a director in the Farmers'
National Bank of Allentown. He is a Republican in politics.
He married, December 17, 1873, Elizabeth Hulse, daughter of William C. and
Lydia (Robins) Hulse, and they have one son: Evans Hulse, born March 26,
1875. He was educated in the public schools of Allentown, and at the Peddie
Institute at Hightstown, and for three years following his graduation from
the latter institution he served in the capacity of clerk in the Farmers'
National Bank of Allentown, and since that date has been connected with the
business of his father. He married, November 4, 1897, Eliza R. Savage,
daughter of Daniel L. and Abbie Savage, and they have one child, Elizabeth
H., born November 28, 1902. Mr. Ford and his family attend the Methodist
Episcopal church.
Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey under the
editorial supervision of Francis Bazley Lee
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