Willie H. Ford

Dave F. Ford
1858 - 1912

Willie H. Ford
1884 - 1908

Margaret Hill
1851 -1901

At rest
FORD

Willie H. Ford Headstone

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

Biography

William H. Ford is the son of David Francis Ford and Josephine Hill who were married in April of 1882 (Nueces County Marriage Records, vol. E p. 182). The Fords were members of the African-American community and lived in a home they owned mortgage free at 1217 Oso Street (see documentation in file on David Francis Ford). Willie’s dad was born in Texas in the late 1850s just before the Civil War. David Ford’s parents were from Virginia and Tennessee. Dave worked as a hack driver for Benyon’s livery and feed stable among other jobs. Willie’s mother Josephine was a laundress. She was born in June of 1861 in Texas, with her parents from Alabama. The Fords made a good enough income that David could afford a young hired man to serve as hack driver and do delivery work (probably for Josephine’s customers). Willie preceded his parents in death. The 1900 census of Nueces County notes that he was born in February of 1884 (ED 130, page 5B or 125B by printed numbering) so he was only about 24 years old when he died in 1908.

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell