Evening journal., 1896-07-27


him In vain for assistance when reversal
OF fortune demanded Of the higher hui
man feelings a sacrifice OF personal re-
sentiment on the altar of suffering hu-
manity The benefclent Influence OF
Mr.. Ford's remarkable life has been felt
Ia the opulept marks ct finance and trade 4
aud on down to the lowest walks OF life
where loaf OF bread Ia luxury aud =
ton OF coal a God-send
The Life work Of Mr.. Ford.
To know Peter j. Ford aud to fully
appreciate him one must be acquainted |
With his HES work he must be taken
in his social form which includes his
many benefactions; In his business form
which shows him to be thepossessoc OF one
the most remarkable minds In the State
of Delaware aud in his political form.
which demonstrates the magnetic power
of the man.
In It's general festures the life Of Mr.
Ford Ia Identical with that of thousands
of other Americans who have begun life
humbly, beset with difficulties of all
kinds, and by dint of indomitable cour
age and perseverance have surmounted
all obstacles In the path which leads to
worldly prosperity and esteem.
MIR. Ford's Ancestry.
Over half century ago Peter and Mary
O'Connor Ford left Ireland and came to
America, hoping to better their condition
In land OF such golden promises They
took up their rssldsnco at DuPont's
Banks, neAr Wilmington. snd during
their abode there were universally es
teemed for their thrift and sterling in
tegrity. In 1857, whllo Mrs Ford was
on her wsy to Ireland to recsive the last
blessings of her dying father The pres
ent aspirant for the governors chair was
born in village In England alorg the
/ line OF travel bstween London and
Liverpool. In a few weeks Mrs Ford
returned to DuPont's Banks with her
SOD, and his days Of infancy were passed
| there
While he was still young his parents
removed TO Wilmington. When old
enough he attended the public schools
and Was an apt pupil His high spirits,
/ independent character and generosity
made him a fsvorite With his school
mates, and he was q recognized leader In
all the boyish enterprises OF the day
| When old enough to be- put to trade hs be
came an apprentices in the oirriags works
/ Of Gregg 4 Bowe. he was an Indus
trlous and intelligent workman and, at
the time OF the completion Of hia
apprenticeship, was regarded 80 one of
the best workmen in the employ Of the
firm.
In Young Manhood.
Feeling that the trade did not offer
sufficient inducements, he associated
himself with bis brother, the lats ex'
Sheriff Thomas Ford, in his extensive
real estate and building operations,
becoming his general manager. showing
marked executive ability and becoming
noted for bis sterling integrity. At this
stage In his life no married Miss Margaret
, Megsry, and eot up ia the contracting
businsss for himself, the venture
, proving eminently successful.
/ But Mr. Ford had not yet reached hi
proper sphere Of operations 1t was not
until he Joined his brother In the manu-
faoture OF morocco that the great bnsi-
ness capacity OF the man became fully
manifest. He had found his true vocs
tion, and there he Is to-day doing one OF
/ largest trades Of its kind ia ths country,
and enjoying tho confidence and respect
OF the social and business world.
His Personal Character.
In his personal character Mr. Ford Il
both genial and generous BE possesses
, ! marked personal magnetism, and no man
, / In Wilmington has more warm and de
/ / voted friends While his educational
, advantages were restricted TO the public
schools, they are supplemented by un
usual common sense and the education
, | which comes Of close contact with th
! world at large, aud the commercial worl'
lin particular. He possesses strOnl
opinions on all subjscts. but is slwsy
, open to conviction, though when one
! ! convinced thst be Is right he goe
= ahead. regardless Of consequences, an
9 nerved BY the strength OF his convictions
a de is man OF strong domestic tende1
I cieF, as his beautiful and hEppy home q
y Fitsn and Rodney streets bears witness
e He Loves His Business.
Next to bis home he loves his business
4 His extsnsive morocco factory at Seconc
Third, Greenhill aud Webb streets is
!, model In point OF equipment and oPsri
: tion. 1t Is now one of the largest Ia th
United States, and at the present tim
- arrangements are being made for sue
. further engagements as will, when com
y plets make 1t the largest and most f.ell
- Equipped establishment OF It's kind In tt
= Uaited States
The business was started IL 1886 wit
= I. limited capital. At thst time from II
a to $50 hand were employed The bos
~ meas increased from year 70 year, until
1895, the capital was increased 20 $500
600, and the enlsTgements incident
J. that increase swelled the number {
re operatives TO from 500 to 200, sceordir
q. ( to the demands OF the market. Dnrin
al the psst year this factory has turned o'
lot more morocco than any factory Ia u
IT United States aud is doing It to da
OF While other manufacturers were sittlr
s- 10 their Offices and complaining OF ha'
be times and no work, Mr. Ford and
lis agents we're securing orders and hiiii
us them promptly. keeping their workmi
lie employed and the market supplied ~
Of daily out put is about 8. 900 skins, and
or is wonderfully interesting TO see the e
to penslve labor saving machinery, In {
81. hands Of skilled operatives, handliI
by this immense number Of raw skins a.
en- converting them Into the finished pr
ie. duct.
n An Immense Business.
sm The coronenv doas a Tremendous bu