(At present there's some debate if Francis served during the Civil War. A memorial page on the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War website for a Frank R. Ford, served in the 33rd Illinios Infantry, Co. K, buried at Riverside Cemetery in Denver sparked the controvery. There appears to be only one Francis R. Ford buried at Riverside and with his marker denoting a military rank assumptions may have been made. I'm unable to explain his rank and it may result in a title given due to a lodge membership. Personal bios published make no mention of his service. I'm actively trying to get to the bottom of this. R.Ford).
He was a Colorado 59er, and Colorado Pioneer, Francis was born in Sumner, Maine. He was the son of Joshua Ford, (a Revolutionary War Veteran) and his 2nd wife Sarah Ripley Cushman was from Sumner, Oxford Co. Maine. He grew up on their farm and attended public school. Later he attended Hartford Academy, in Hartford, Maine. He traveled to Ovington, Mass. in 1839 and worked there as a clerk in a shoe store about five years. He then returned to Maine, to a town Mechanic Falls, where until about 1846 he was engaged in manufacturing boots and shoes. While there he married Henrietta E. Bearce of Yarmouth, Maine on May 11, 1844, five days after his 25th birthday, she was 22 years old. In 1851 he traveled on the Isthmus Route to California. (From NY to San Francisco, CA on ship around the horn.) He was involved in mining there for about five years in El Dorado and Sierra Counties. He then traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas where he had hotel-keeping interests for about two years. In 1859 he came to Colorado in pursuit of gold interests in Nevadaville, Gilpin County. Later he purchased a ranch on the Platte River, just six miles south of Denver, and began farming and other agricultural pursuits. In 1864, he built a quartz-mill in Russell Gulch, Gilpin County, which he operated for about two years. In 1866 he traveled back east again and bought a residence in Chelsea, Mass., where he resided until 1871. He then returned to Colorado, and during the succeeding three years kept the Gilpin House, in Denver. In 1874, he built the Monument House, at Monument, El Paso County, which he has since conducted. Later he engaged in mining operations at Leadville and Montezuma. He had two children, a son and a daughter. He was 63 years old.
Source: El Paso County, Colorado Biographies
Another as yet undetermined source says he was survived by a widow and a son.
Listed on tombstone as COL. F. R. Ford
He was a Colorado 59er, and Colorado Pioneer, Francis was born in Sumner, Maine. He was the son of Joshua Ford, (a Revolutionary War Veteran) and his 2nd wife Sarah Ripley Cushman was from Sumner, Oxford Co. Maine. He grew up on their farm and attended public school. Later he attended Hartford Academy, in Hartford, Maine. He traveled to Ovington, Mass. in 1839 and worked there as a clerk in a shoe store about five years. He then returned to Maine, to a town Mechanic Falls, where until about 1846 he was engaged in manufacturing boots and shoes. While there he married Henrietta E. Bearce of Yarmouth, Maine on May 11, 1844, five days after his 25th birthday, she was 22 years old. In 1851 he traveled on the Isthmus Route to California. (From NY to San Francisco, CA on ship around the horn.) He was involved in mining there for about five years in El Dorado and Sierra Counties. He then traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas where he had hotel-keeping interests for about two years. In 1859 he came to Colorado in pursuit of gold interests in Nevadaville, Gilpin County. Later he purchased a ranch on the Platte River, just six miles south of Denver, and began farming and other agricultural pursuits. In 1864, he built a quartz-mill in Russell Gulch, Gilpin County, which he operated for about two years. In 1866 he traveled back east again and bought a residence in Chelsea, Mass., where he resided until 1871. He then returned to Colorado, and during the succeeding three years kept the Gilpin House, in Denver. In 1874, he built the Monument House, at Monument, El Paso County, which he has since conducted. Later he engaged in mining operations at Leadville and Montezuma. He had two children, a son and a daughter. He was 63 years old.
Source: El Paso County, Colorado Biographies
Another as yet undetermined source says he was survived by a widow and a son.
Listed on tombstone as COL. F. R. Ford
(At present there's some debate if Francis served during the Civil War. A memorial page on the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War website for a Frank R. Ford, served in the 33rd Illinios Infantry, Co. K, buried at Riverside Cemetery in Denver sparked the controvery. There appears to be only one Francis R. Ford buried at Riverside and with his marker denoting a military rank assumptions may have been made. I'm unable to explain his rank and it may result in a title given due to a lodge membership. Personal bios published make no mention of his service. I'm actively trying to get to the bottom of this. R.Ford).
He was a Colorado 59er, and Colorado Pioneer, Francis was born in Sumner, Maine. He was the son of Joshua Ford, (a Revolutionary War Veteran) and his 2nd wife Sarah Ripley Cushman was from Sumner, Oxford Co. Maine. He grew up on their farm and attended public school. Later he attended Hartford Academy, in Hartford, Maine. He traveled to Ovington, Mass. in 1839 and worked there as a clerk in a shoe store about five years. He then returned to Maine, to a town Mechanic Falls, where until about 1846 he was engaged in manufacturing boots and shoes. While there he married Henrietta E. Bearce of Yarmouth, Maine on May 11, 1844, five days after his 25th birthday, she was 22 years old. In 1851 he traveled on the Isthmus Route to California. (From NY to San Francisco, CA on ship around the horn.) He was involved in mining there for about five years in El Dorado and Sierra Counties. He then traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas where he had hotel-keeping interests for about two years. In 1859 he came to Colorado in pursuit of gold interests in Nevadaville, Gilpin County. Later he purchased a ranch on the Platte River, just six miles south of Denver, and began farming and other agricultural pursuits. In 1864, he built a quartz-mill in Russell Gulch, Gilpin County, which he operated for about two years. In 1866 he traveled back east again and bought a residence in Chelsea, Mass., where he resided until 1871. He then returned to Colorado, and during the succeeding three years kept the Gilpin House, in Denver. In 1874, he built the Monument House, at Monument, El Paso County, which he has since conducted. Later he engaged in mining operations at Leadville and Montezuma. He had two children, a son and a daughter. He was 63 years old.
Source: El Paso County, Colorado Biographies
Another as yet undetermined source says he was survived by a widow and a son.
Listed on tombstone as COL. F. R. Ford
He was a Colorado 59er, and Colorado Pioneer, Francis was born in Sumner, Maine. He was the son of Joshua Ford, (a Revolutionary War Veteran) and his 2nd wife Sarah Ripley Cushman was from Sumner, Oxford Co. Maine. He grew up on their farm and attended public school. Later he attended Hartford Academy, in Hartford, Maine. He traveled to Ovington, Mass. in 1839 and worked there as a clerk in a shoe store about five years. He then returned to Maine, to a town Mechanic Falls, where until about 1846 he was engaged in manufacturing boots and shoes. While there he married Henrietta E. Bearce of Yarmouth, Maine on May 11, 1844, five days after his 25th birthday, she was 22 years old. In 1851 he traveled on the Isthmus Route to California. (From NY to San Francisco, CA on ship around the horn.) He was involved in mining there for about five years in El Dorado and Sierra Counties. He then traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas where he had hotel-keeping interests for about two years. In 1859 he came to Colorado in pursuit of gold interests in Nevadaville, Gilpin County. Later he purchased a ranch on the Platte River, just six miles south of Denver, and began farming and other agricultural pursuits. In 1864, he built a quartz-mill in Russell Gulch, Gilpin County, which he operated for about two years. In 1866 he traveled back east again and bought a residence in Chelsea, Mass., where he resided until 1871. He then returned to Colorado, and during the succeeding three years kept the Gilpin House, in Denver. In 1874, he built the Monument House, at Monument, El Paso County, which he has since conducted. Later he engaged in mining operations at Leadville and Montezuma. He had two children, a son and a daughter. He was 63 years old.
Source: El Paso County, Colorado Biographies
Another as yet undetermined source says he was survived by a widow and a son.
Listed on tombstone as COL. F. R. Ford
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COL. F. R. Ford
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