# Ford family (Michigan)

The Ford family is an American family from the U.S. state of Michigan. They are best known for their control of the Ford Motor Company automobile manufacturer which was originally founded by Henry Ford in the early twentieth century. Henry's grandson William Clay Ford Sr. and his family have controlled the Detroit Lions franchise of the National Football League since late 1963. The Ford family are also members of the Episcopal Church.
Although the Ford family's ownership stake in the automaker had declined to less than 50% of the company's equity as of 2010, the family retained operational control through a special class of stock that was established early in the company's history and retained when the company made its initial public offering in 1956. The family owns all of the company's Class B shares, which are collectively entitled to elect 40% of the company's board of directors, with the remaining 60% elected by the holders of the company's publicly traded common stock.

## Family tree

| | | | | Isaac Ford (1749—?) | Isaac Ford (1749—?) | Isaac Ford (1749—?) | Isaac Ford (1749—?) | Isaac Ford (1749—?) | Isaac Ford (1749—?) |
| | | | | William Ford (1775—1818?) | William Ford (1775—1818?) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rebecca Jennings (1776—1851) | Rebecca Jennings (1776—1851) | Rebecca Jennings (1776—1851) | Rebecca Jennings (1776—1851) | Rebecca Jennings (1776—1851) | Rebecca Jennings (1776—1851) | | | | |
| | | Samuel Ford (c. 1792—1842) | Samuel Ford (c. 1792—1842) | Samuel Ford (c. 1792—1842) | Samuel Ford (c. 1792—1842) | Samuel Ford (c. 1792—1842) | Samuel Ford (c. 1792—1842) | | | Jonathan "John" Ford (c. 1799—1864) | Jonathan "John" Ford (c. 1799—1864) | Jonathan "John" Ford (c. 1799—1864) | Jonathan "John" Ford (c. 1799—1864) | Jonathan "John" Ford (c. 1799—1864) | Jonathan "John" Ford (c. 1799—1864) | | | Thomasine Smith (1803—1847) | Thomasine Smith (1803—1847) | Thomasine Smith (1803—1847) | Thomasine Smith (1803—1847) | Thomasine Smith (1803—1847) | Thomasine Smith (1803—1847) | | | George Ford (c. 1811—1864) | George Ford (c. 1811—1864) | George Ford (c. 1811—1864) | George Ford (c. 1811—1864) | George Ford (c. 1811—1864) | George Ford (c. 1811—1864) | | | Henry Ford (c. 1813—?) | Henry Ford (c. 1813—?) | Henry Ford (c. 1813—?) | Henry Ford (c. 1813—?) | Henry Ford (c. 1813—?) | Henry Ford (c. 1813—?) | | | Stephen Ford (1815—?) | Stephen Ford (1815—?) | Stephen Ford (1815—?) | Stephen Ford (1815—?) | Stephen Ford (1815—?) | Stephen Ford (1815—?) |
| Rebecca Ford [Flaherty] (1825—1895) | Rebecca Ford [Flaherty] (1825—1895) | Rebecca Ford [Flaherty] (1825—1895) | Rebecca Ford [Flaherty] (1825—1895) | Rebecca Ford [Flaherty] (1825—1895) | Rebecca Ford [Flaherty] (1825—1895) | | | William Ford (1826—1905) | William Ford (1826—1905) | William Ford (1826—1905) | William Ford (1826—1905) | William Ford (1826—1905) | William Ford (1826—1905) | | | Mary Litogot O'Hern (c. 1839—1876) | Mary Litogot O'Hern (c. 1839—1876) | Mary Litogot O'Hern (c. 1839—1876) | Mary Litogot O'Hern (c. 1839—1876) | Mary Litogot O'Hern (c. 1839—1876) | Mary Litogot O'Hern (c. 1839—1876) | | | Jane Ford [Smith] (1829—1851) | Jane Ford [Smith] (1829—1851) | Jane Ford [Smith] (1829—1851) | Jane Ford [Smith] (1829—1851) | Jane Ford [Smith] (1829—1851) | Jane Ford [Smith] (1829—1851) | | | Henry Ford Sr. (1840—1901) | Henry Ford Sr. (1840—1901) | Henry Ford Sr. (1840—1901) | Henry Ford Sr. (1840—1901) | Henry Ford Sr. (1840—1901) | Henry Ford Sr. (1840—1901) | | | Mary Ford [Ford] (c. 1832—1882) | Mary Ford [Ford] (c. 1832—1882) | Mary Ford [Ford] (c. 1832—1882) | Mary Ford [Ford] (c. 1832—1882) | Mary Ford [Ford] (c. 1832—1882) | Mary Ford [Ford] (c. 1832—1882) | | | Nancy Ford [Flaherty] (1834—1920) | Nancy Ford [Flaherty] (1834—1920) | Nancy Ford [Flaherty] (1834—1920) | Nancy Ford [Flaherty] (1834—1920) | Nancy Ford [Flaherty] (1834—1920) | Nancy Ford [Flaherty] (1834—1920) | Samuel Ford (1837—1884) | Samuel Ford (1837—1884) | Samuel Ford (1837—1884) | Samuel Ford (1837—1884) | Samuel Ford (1837—1884) | Samuel Ford (1837—1884) |
| Infant (1861—1861) | Infant (1861—1861) | Infant (1861—1861) | Infant (1861—1861) | Infant (1861—1861) | Infant (1861—1861) | | | Ford Founder Henry Ford (1863—1947) | Ford Founder Henry Ford (1863—1947) | Ford Founder Henry Ford (1863—1947) | Ford Founder Henry Ford (1863—1947) | Ford Founder Henry Ford (1863—1947) | Ford Founder Henry Ford (1863—1947) | | | Clara Jane Bryant (1866—1950) | Clara Jane Bryant (1866—1950) | Clara Jane Bryant (1866—1950) | Clara Jane Bryant (1866—1950) | Clara Jane Bryant (1866—1950) | Clara Jane Bryant (1866—1950) | | | John Ford (c. 1865—1927) | John Ford (c. 1865—1927) | John Ford (c. 1865—1927) | John Ford (c. 1865—1927) | John Ford (c. 1865—1927) | John Ford (c. 1865—1927) | | | Margaret Ford [Ruddiman] (1867—1960) | Margaret Ford [Ruddiman] (1867—1960) | Margaret Ford [Ruddiman] (1867—1960) | Margaret Ford [Ruddiman] (1867—1960) | Margaret Ford [Ruddiman] (1867—1960) | Margaret Ford [Ruddiman] (1867—1960) | | | Jane Ford (c. 1869—1906) | Jane Ford (c. 1869—1906) | Jane Ford (c. 1869—1906) | Jane Ford (c. 1869—1906) | Jane Ford (c. 1869—1906) | Jane Ford (c. 1869—1906) | | | William Ford (1871—1959) | William Ford (1871—1959) | William Ford (1871—1959) | William Ford (1871—1959) | William Ford (1871—1959) | William Ford (1871—1959) | Robert Ford (1873—1934) | Robert Ford (1873—1934) | Robert Ford (1873—1934) | Robert Ford (1873—1934) | Robert Ford (1873—1934) | Robert Ford (1873—1934) | | | Infant (c. 1876—1876) | Infant (c. 1876—1876) | Infant (c. 1876—1876) | Infant (c. 1876—1876) | Infant (c. 1876—1876) | Infant (c. 1876—1876) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Edsel Ford (1893—1943) | Edsel Ford (1893—1943) | Edsel Ford (1893—1943) | Edsel Ford (1893—1943) | Edsel Ford (1893—1943) | Edsel Ford (1893—1943) | | | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896—1976) | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896—1976) | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896—1976) | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896—1976) | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896—1976) | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896—1976) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898—1973) | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898—1973) | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898—1973) | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898—1973) | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898—1973) | Harvey S. Firestone Jr. (1898—1973) | | | Elizabeth Parke (1897—1990) | Elizabeth Parke (1897—1990) | Elizabeth Parke (1897—1990) | Elizabeth Parke (1897—1990) | Elizabeth Parke (1897—1990) | Elizabeth Parke (1897—1990) |
| Henry Ford II (1917—1987) | Henry Ford II (1917—1987) | Henry Ford II (1917—1987) | Henry Ford II (1917—1987) | Henry Ford II (1917—1987) | Henry Ford II (1917—1987) | | | Anne McDonnell (1919—1996) | Anne McDonnell (1919—1996) | Anne McDonnell (1919—1996) | Anne McDonnell (1919—1996) | Anne McDonnell (1919—1996) | Anne McDonnell (1919—1996) | | | Benson Ford Sr. (1919—1978) | Benson Ford Sr. (1919—1978) | Benson Ford Sr. (1919—1978) | Benson Ford Sr. (1919—1978) | Benson Ford Sr. (1919—1978) | Benson Ford Sr. (1919—1978) | | | Edith McNaughton (1920—1980) | Edith McNaughton (1920—1980) | Edith McNaughton (1920—1980) | Edith McNaughton (1920—1980) | Edith McNaughton (1920—1980) | Edith McNaughton (1920—1980) | | | Josephine Clay Ford [Ford] (1923—2005) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ford] (1923—2005) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ford] (1923—2005) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ford] (1923—2005) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ford] (1923—2005) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ford] (1923—2005) | | | Walter Buhl Ford II (1920—1991) | Walter Buhl Ford II (1920—1991) | Walter Buhl Ford II (1920—1991) | Walter Buhl Ford II (1920—1991) | Walter Buhl Ford II (1920—1991) | Walter Buhl Ford II (1920—1991) | | | William Clay Ford Sr. (1925—2014) | William Clay Ford Sr. (1925—2014) | William Clay Ford Sr. (1925—2014) | William Clay Ford Sr. (1925—2014) | William Clay Ford Sr. (1925—2014) | William Clay Ford Sr. (1925—2014) | Martha Parke Firestone (b. 1925) | Martha Parke Firestone (b. 1925) | Martha Parke Firestone (b. 1925) | Martha Parke Firestone (b. 1925) | Martha Parke Firestone (b. 1925) | Martha Parke Firestone (b. 1925) |
| Charlotte M. Ford (b. 1941) | Charlotte M. Ford (b. 1941) | Charlotte M. Ford (b. 1941) | Charlotte M. Ford (b. 1941) | Charlotte M. Ford (b. 1941) | Charlotte M. Ford (b. 1941) | | | Anne Ford (b. 1943) | Anne Ford (b. 1943) | Anne Ford (b. 1943) | Anne Ford (b. 1943) | Anne Ford (b. 1943) | Anne Ford (b. 1943) | | | Edsel Ford II (b. 1948) | Edsel Ford II (b. 1948) | Edsel Ford II (b. 1948) | Edsel Ford II (b. 1948) | Edsel Ford II (b. 1948) | Edsel Ford II (b. 1948) | | | Walter Buhl Ford III (1943—2010) | Walter Buhl Ford III (1943—2010) | Walter Buhl Ford III (1943—2010) | Walter Buhl Ford III (1943—2010) | Walter Buhl Ford III (1943—2010) | Walter Buhl Ford III (1943—2010) | | | Eleanor Clay Ford [Sullivan] (b. 1946) | Eleanor Clay Ford [Sullivan] (b. 1946) | Eleanor Clay Ford [Sullivan] (b. 1946) | Eleanor Clay Ford [Sullivan] (b. 1946) | Eleanor Clay Ford [Sullivan] (b. 1946) | Eleanor Clay Ford [Sullivan] (b. 1946) | | | Josephine Clay Ford [Ingle] (b. 1949) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ingle] (b. 1949) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ingle] (b. 1949) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ingle] (b. 1949) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ingle] (b. 1949) | Josephine Clay Ford [Ingle] (b. 1949) | | | Alfred Brush Ford (b. 1950) | Alfred Brush Ford (b. 1950) | Alfred Brush Ford (b. 1950) | Alfred Brush Ford (b. 1950) | Alfred Brush Ford (b. 1950) | Alfred Brush Ford (b. 1950) |
| Elena Anne Ford (b. 1966) | Elena Anne Ford (b. 1966) | Elena Anne Ford (b. 1966) | Elena Anne Ford (b. 1966) | Elena Anne Ford (b. 1966) | Elena Anne Ford (b. 1966) | | | | | | | | | | | Benson Ford Jr. (b. 1949) | Benson Ford Jr. (b. 1949) | Benson Ford Jr. (b. 1949) | Benson Ford Jr. (b. 1949) | Benson Ford Jr. (b. 1949) | Benson Ford Jr. (b. 1949) | | | Lynn Ford [Alandt] (b. 1951) | Lynn Ford [Alandt] (b. 1951) | Lynn Ford [Alandt] (b. 1951) | Lynn Ford [Alandt] (b. 1951) | Lynn Ford [Alandt] (b. 1951) | Lynn Ford [Alandt] (b. 1951) | | | Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford [Morse] (b. 1948) | Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford [Morse] (b. 1948) | Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford [Morse] (b. 1948) | Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford [Morse] (b. 1948) | Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford [Morse] (b. 1948) | Martha Parke "Muffy" Ford [Morse] (b. 1948) | | | Sheila Ford [Hamp] (b. 1951) | Sheila Ford [Hamp] (b. 1951) | Sheila Ford [Hamp] (b. 1951) | Sheila Ford [Hamp] (b. 1951) | Sheila Ford [Hamp] (b. 1951) | Sheila Ford [Hamp] (b. 1951) | | | William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957) | William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957) | William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957) | William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957) | William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957) | William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957) | Elizabeth Ford [Kontulis] (b. 1961) | Elizabeth Ford [Kontulis] (b. 1961) | Elizabeth Ford [Kontulis] (b. 1961) | Elizabeth Ford [Kontulis] (b. 1961) | Elizabeth Ford [Kontulis] (b. 1961) | Elizabeth Ford [Kontulis] (b. 1961) |

## Businesses

The following is a list of businesses in which the Ford family have held a controlling or otherwise significant interest.
* Dearborn Independent
* Detroit Lions
* Fontinalis Partners
* Ford Lio Ho Motor
* Ford Motor Company
* Ford Motor Company of Canada
* Ford Otosan
* Ford Times
* Getrag Ford Transmissions
* Matford
* Pentastar Aviation
* Philco-Ford
* Samcor