My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN FORD, inspector of steam boilers, post office Green Tree, was born in Worcestershire, England, in 1832, son of John and Mary (Jenkins) Ford. About 1843 John Ford, with his wife and four children, came to America, and at once located in Allegheny City. John was a practical mechanic, and was for ten years employed at Bailey & Brown’s rolling-mills as engineer. Haying by industry and economy secured sufficient means, he purchased a property in Allegheny City, where he remained for a number of years, happily surrounded by his family. Eager to embark again in active life, he went to Wheeling, W. Va., and was for some time employed in the Belmont nail works of that city; his family had gone to Wheeling, intending to make a home there, when he was seized with cholera and died; his son also died of the same disease.

Benjamin Ford was educated at the public schools in Allegheny county, and was also a student at the night schools in the city of Allegheny; at eighteen years of age he was engaged with his father at engineering, and remained in that line of work till the death of the latter. In 1855 he went on the river as an engineer, where he remained for fifteen years; was employed in the city as assistant boiler-inspector for four years, and was then appointed by Gov. Hartranft as chief boiler-inspector, which position he held for two terms of two years each. He then identified himself with the American Steam Boiler Insurance company, being their chief inspector for Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and part of Ohio, which position he now holds. Mr. Ford was married, in 1857, to Miss McGinnis, daughter of Samuel McGinnis, who was a prominent lumber merchant of Allegheny City. Seven children were born to them, of whom the following six are living: Mary R., John D., Maggie V., William J., Bessie M., Sadie E. The family of children are all at home. Mr. Ford is a republican, and has been a member of the school board and town council; the family are members of the Presbyterian Church.