My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS FORD, a well-known farmer and market gardener of Hadley, was born in Chewmagna, England, December 25, 1840, son of Thomas and Charlotte (Godfrey) Ford. The father of Mr. Ford was a native of Chewmagna, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith and practised as veterinary surgeon. He died in his native town in 1847. His wife, who was born in Long Ashton, England, became the mother of four sons, as follows: Thomas, the subject of this sketch; William, who resides in Chewmagna; Charles, also in England; and James, who died in 1851. She died June 1, 1887.

Thomas Ford resided with his mother, and after the death of his father assisted in her support. He worked as a farm laborer until 1870, when, on April 14 of that year, he, in company with his wife and child, emigrated to America, and settled in Hadley. After working here for twenty months as a farm laborer he moved to North Hadley, where he continued in the same occupation until 1884, and then purchased his present farm. The property contains fifty acres and is receiving constant improvement. Mr. Ford makes a specialty of raising vegetables for the markets of Hadley and Northampton. He is very prosperous and highly respected, and entitled to the credit of having earned for himself both the property and reputation he at present enjoys.

Mr. Ford was married June 10, 1867, to Sarah Tovey, of Manchester, England, who was born June 2, 1838, daughter of Moses and Mary (Keating) Tovey. Her father was of English and her mother of Irish ancestry, and both died in England. Mrs. Ford has been the mother of four children, namely: Edgar Joseph, who died September 24, 1883; Charles W., who resides in Springfield; Robert John; and Alexander Thomas. Mr. Ford is a Republican in politics.