Finding aid for the David K. Ford Family Photographs

Biography of the David K. Ford Family

The David K. Ford Family Papers contain material relating to the Ford family, whose members played major roles in the development of Cleveland, Ohio, commencing in the 1850s. As part of the influx of New England families into the Western Reserve, the ancestors of David Knight Ford and his wife, Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks Ford, were influential in the establishment of retail, banking, and real estate enterprises. Materials contained in this collection reflect the history of Cleveland, Ohio, from the mid-nineteenth century to the last decade of the twentieth century through diaries, family and business correspondence, legal documents, and memorabilia of family members who settled there.

Horatio Clark Ford

Horatio Clark Ford (1853-1915), known as H. Clark Ford, was the son of Horatio Cyrus Ford (1825-1875) and Martha Cordelia Cozad (1825-1916). H. Clark Ford was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 25, 1853. He attended grade school in East Cleveland and graduated from Central High School. After attending Oberlin College for two years, Ford transferred to the University of Michigan, graduating in 1875. H. Clark Ford was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1878 and began practicing law. At his death in 1915 in Cleveland he was senior partner in the firm of Ford, Snyder and Tilden. Active throughout his life in the Cleveland business community, H. Clark Ford was instrumental in the development of the Garfield Savings Bank, Western Reserve Trust Company, Metropolitan National Savings Bank, and the East End Savings and Trust Company. When these institutions merged with the Cleveland Trust Company, Ford became a charter director in 1894. In real estate, Ford was responsible for the construction of the Williamson Building on Public Square. He was also involved in the development of several street railway companies, including the Cleveland and Eastern Traction Company.

H. Clark Ford's philanthropic activities centered around his membership in the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church where he established an endowment fund. Ford was active in the church's missionary work which included the founding of Schauffler Missionary Training School in 1886. He also served as president of the Cleveland Congregational City Missionary Society. Horatio Clark Ford married Ida Mae Thorp (1855-1935), daughter of John Henry Thorp (1834-1891) and Lucy Lauretta Moulton (1835-1911) of Alexander, New York, in 1877. They had six children, Mildred Elm (Cobb), Horatio, Lauretta, Cyrus Clark, David Knight, and Baldwin Whitmarsh.

Horatio Ford

Horatio Ford (1881-1952) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 23, 1881, the eldest son of Horatio Clark Ford and Ida Mae Thorp. He attended Yale University, graduating in 1904, and returned to Cleveland where he attended Western Reserve Law School. Horatio Ford was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1907, the year after he entered the banking industry as a clerk. He rose from cashier to attorney and director during his tenure. In 1923 he joined the law firm of Snyder, Henry, Thomsen, Ford and Seagrave. Ford left the firm in 1926 and returned to banking. In 1940, he returned to law practice with Ford and Reece, later Ford, Reece, Baskins, and Howland.

After the death of H. Clark Ford in 1915, Horatio Ford continued the family's commitment to philanthropic work, particularly with the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church and its missionary work through Schauffler College. In 1910 he helped found the Cleveland Area Boy Scout Council, serving on the Executive Committee from 1910 until 1920. Active in forestry management, Horatio Ford dedicated 1,500 acres of family owned land in Middlefield, Geauga County, as one of the first tree farms in Ohio. He served as President of the Ohio Forestry Association from 1950 until his death in 1952. Horatio Ford married Ella Almira White (1883-1952), daughter of Cleveland industrialist Thomas H. White (1836-1914) and Almira Greenleaf (1838-1900), on May 7, 1908. They had six children, Horatio Clark II, Andrew Windsor, Thomas, Jonathan, Baldwin and Almira.

David Knight Ford

David Knight Ford (1894-1993), the fourth child of Horatio Clark Ford and Ida Mae Thorp was born February 10, 1894, in Cleveland, Ohio. Educated in the Cleveland Public Schools, he graduated in 1911 from East High School. Ford attended Yale University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1915. Upon returning to Cleveland he enrolled at Western Reserve University Law School. David Knight Ford postponed his studies by enlisting in the Ohio National Guard in 1916. He served with Troop A in Texas patrolling the border during the dispute with Mexico. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the Ohio National Guard was mobilized and sent to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. David Ford served as a captain in the 8893 Pioneer Infantry.

Returning to Cleveland in 1919, David Knight Ford resumed his law studies and received his degree in 1921. He then joined his father's old law firm of Snyder, Henry, Thomsen, Ford and Seagrave. During his career he was affiliated with several Cleveland law firms as a senior partner. At the time of his death in 1993, he was of counsel with Spieth, Bell, McCurdy and Newell. Ford was instrumental in the formation of the Lubrizol Corporation, serving as general counsel from 1934 through 1963, and as a director from 1935 until 1963. He also served on the board of the Lubrizol Foundation from its inception in 1928 until his death.

As a lifelong member and major benefactor of the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, David Knight Ford was intimately involved with its operations, serving as moderator, treasurer, and trustee. He also served as moderator of the Cleveland Congregational Union and president of Goodwill Industries. He was active in the Western Reserve Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution the American Legion, Western Reserve Early Settlers Association, and the Women's Philanthropic Union. As a graduate of Yale University, David Knight Ford held a lifelong interest in his alma mater and served as class secretary in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Continuing a family tradition Ford served on the Board of Trustees of Schauffler College of Religious and Social Work. During World War II, David Knight Ford acted as counsel for local draft boards, worked with the American Field Service to recruit ambulance drivers, and volunteered at University Hospitals. On June 12, 1920, David Knight Ford married Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks (1896-1990), daughter of Cleveland businessman Oliver Kingsley Brooks (1845-1914) and Harriet (Hattie) Ellen Gill (1855-1944) of Meadville, Pennsylvania. David and Elizabeth Brooks Ford had four children, Amasa Brooks, David Kingsley, Allen Huntington, and Oliver Mallory.

Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks Ford

Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 20, 1896. She was a graduate of Laurel School and the Westover School, Westover, Massachusetts. Community service was the hallmark of her life, beginning with volunteer work with the American Red Cross during World War I. After her marriage to David Knight Ford in 1920, her interest in community service continued, including involvement with the Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland for more than fifty years; the Maternal Health Association, forerunner of Planned Parenthood; the Welfare Federation; and the Cleveland Area League for Nursing. She also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Laurel School, receiving its distinguished alumna award in 1979. Elizabeth Ford was also active at University Hospitals, particularly the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and was a long time member of Trinity Cathedral. Oliver Kingsley Brooks

For a complete biographical sketch of Oliver Kingsley Brooks, see the finding aid for MS 4741 Oliver Kingsley Brooks Sketches.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for David Knight Ford

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Horatio Ford

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Horatio Clark Ford

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Lubrizol Corporation

Scope and Content

The David K. Ford Family Photographs, 1868-1992 and undated, consist of individual and group portraits of Ford and allied families, including the Brooks, Gill, Reynolds, and Shyrock families. Individuals pictured include Oliver Kingsley Brooks, Horatio Clark Ford, David K. Ford, Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks Ford, and other family members and associates. Also included are photographs of Frederick Goff, Charles Lindbergh, and Richard Nixon. Views contained in the collection include buildings, churches, and residences associated with the family, such as the Cuyahoga and Williamson Buildings and the New Amsterdam Hotel in Cleveland, and Schauffler Hall at Defiance College. Other views include events, monuments, ships, statuary, and trips. Of special interest is a photograph taken ca. 1900 at the completion of the Cleveland and Eastern Traction Company's line through to Chardon, Ohio. The collection includes approximately 460 black and white and color photographs of varying sizes.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of the ford and Brooks families of Cleveland, Ohio, and their business, civic, social, and philanthropic activities.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 4730 David K. Ford Family Papers; MS 2797 Railroad Records, Horatio Ford, Collector; MS 3666 The Ford and White Family Papers; MS 4741 Oliver Kingsley Brooks Sketches; MS 4000 Ralph Hayes Papers; and MS 3577 and MS 4615 Euclid Avenue Congregational Church Records.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 477 David K. Ford Family Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

These photographs were removed from MS 4730 David K. Ford Family Papers. Gifts of Amasa Brooks Ford, David Kingsley Ford, Allen Huntington Ford, and Oliver Mallory Ford in 1994 and 1995.

Processing Information

Processed by Marilyn M. Lelli in 1997.

Detailed Description of The Collection