FAMILY GROUP RECORD


Husband: Herbert Clifford Ford  Page _____of _____
Birth: 10 JUN 1875

Marriage: DEC 1892

Death: 05:40 AM 22 MAY 1935

Buried: 25 MAY 1935, at 2 PM at the Ford Funeral Home, 231 E. Chestnut St, Coatesville, Chester Co., PA.

 Place: Coatsville, Chester Co., PA.

Place: Coatsville, Chester Co., PA.

Place: 231 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, Chester Co., PA. 

Place:  Fairview Cemetery, Coatesville, Chester Co., PA. 
Father: Rufus Downing Ford Mother: Lousia Trueman (Valentine)
Wife: 1st Wife Sarah "Sallie" Wanora [M.?] , 2nd Wife Clara Maiden Name:1st Wife (Heffner), 2nd Wife (Eachus)
Birth: 1st 10 MAY 1875, 2nd 18 APR 1894

Marriage: 1st 26 DEC 1893, 2nd 12 OCT 1917

Death: 1st 24 APR 1910, 2nd 23 JAN 1989

Buried: 1st 27 APR 1910, 2nd 18 APR 1894

Place: 1st Valley Twp. Chester City, PA., 2nd (?) PA.

Place: 1st Camden, NJ, 2nd New York City, NY

Place: 1st Coatesville, Chester Co., PA., 2nd (?) PA.

Place: Both  Fairview Cemetery, Coatesville, Chester Co., PA. 

Father: 1st John D. Heffner, 2nd (?) Mother: 1st Caroline (Krick), 2nd (?)

Family Ancestry Notes:

Coatesville Record [Coatesville, Chester County, PA], May 22, 1935:
   "Herbert C. Ford, well known funeral director and former coroner of Chester County, died at his home, 231 East Chestnut street, Coatesville, at 5.40 o'clock this morning from an attack of heart trouble from which he had suffered for several years. News of his demise came as a distinct shock to his wide circle of friends and acquaintances.  Seized with a heart attack shortly after five o'clock, his condition rapidly grew worse. A nurse in attendance administered treatment, after which his physician was summoned.  Death came five minutes after the arrival of the doctor.
   The funeral of Mr. Ford, who would have observed his sixtieth birthday anniversary June 10th next, will be held Saturday afternoon at two o'clock at this Funeral Home at the Chestnut street address. Friends may call Friday evening.
   Besides his widow, he is survived by five children, Dorothy G.Ford, John D. Ford, and Donald C. Ford; and two by a former marriage, Mrs. Carolyn F. MacDonald and Herbert H. Ford.  He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Charles Pierson and Miss Myrtle Ford, this city.
   For the past year Mr. Ford had been ill, much of the time bedfast, and in fact his health had not been good for several years. Recently, however, his condition reflected marked improvement. On Sunday and again on Monday of this week he was able to enjoy motor trips into the country with Mrs. Ford.  He talked yesterday as he sat at the window of his second floor apartment facing Chestnut street of being able to indulge shortly in his favorite sport--fishing.
   Herbert C. Ford was a member of a family whose name has been associated with the undertaking business in Coatesville since 1800. His grandfather, William Ford, opened an undertaking establishment in Youngsburg, and fifteen years later came to Coatesville.The first establishment was located at Second and Lincoln highway. Later the business was moved to Chestnut street, near Third avenue.  In 1865 the Ford establishment was located near the Opera House on Chestnut street. At that time it was operated by Herbert Ford's father, William, and an uncle, Thomas Ford [sic! these relationships are incorrect].
   Herbert C. Ford was born in Coatesville and attended public school here. During summer vacation periods he worked around his father's establishment.It was in those days that undertakers made their own caskets.As a boy of seventeen he assisted his father in the business. Later he attended Massachusetts College of Embalming, graduating in 1899.Upon the demise of his father he took over the business which continued to grow. Several years ago he moved to the present location where he built a modern Funeral Home. He was a member of several fraternal organizations, including the Rotary Club, Elks lodge, Moose lodge, Masonic lodge, as well as the Chamber of Commerce.  He was a past president of the Chester County Funeral Directors' Association and was active in the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association.
   During his term of four years as coroner of Chester County he rendered efficient service by giving painstaking attention to the work of the office.  He was elected secretary of the Pennsylvania Coroners' Association which he helped to organize.
   In politics he was a Republican and it was generally understood that had his health not failed he would have been elected to another county office at the conclusion of his term as coroner.  He was named a deputy coroner here, but resigned a few months ago.Of most affable disposition Mr. Ford numbered his friends by the score and it was with extreme regret that they learned of his demise.
   During his four year term as coroner of Chester County, Mr. Ford presided over investigations into many sensational cases, one of the last of which was the killing by gangsters of two Philadelphia women whose bodies were found buried in a cornfield near Brandywine Manor. It was also during his term that the Devon fireworks explosion occurred and cost a toll of several lives.  He gave his personal attention to investigations into fatalities and his work was conducted upon a high plane of good service.His handling of witnesses at inquests was on a par with that of the finest trained lawyer and this coupled with his efficient and courteous treatment won for him the reputation of being the best coroner in eastern  
Pennsylvania." Information given by "Sara MacDonald" -- vze29dwy@verizon.net, also information gathered from "Chester County Historical Society" in West Chester PA.
M/F Name of Children (in order of birth) Name of Spouse
 M Child's Name: Raymond Heffner Ford (?) Listed by Douglas Allen at RootsWeb.com
Birth: 26 SEP 1893   Place: 
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 F Child's Name: Carolyn Heffner Ford
Birth: 20 MAY 1899 Place: Valley Twp., Chester City, PA.
Marriage: 18 SEP 1924 Place: Newark, NJ
Death: 20 NOV 1974 in Coatesville Hosp. Place: Coatesville, PA.
Buried:Place: Fairview Cemetery, Coatesville, Chester Co., PA.		 Spouse's Name: John Francis MacDonald 
Birth: 1896 Place: Philadelphia, PA.
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Death: 07 FEB 1929 Place: Newark, NJ.
Buried: 09 FEB 1929 Place: Fairview Cemetery, Coatesville, Chester Co., PA.
 M Child's Name: Herbert Heffner Ford
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 F Child's Name: Dorothy G. Ford 
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 M Child's Name: John D. Ford
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 M Child's Name: Donald C. Ford
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