The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-05

Powhatan House. at Eleventh and Broad
( Streets. The owners asked $1,000 for the
hotel, but Mrs. Mary Collins. an old
lady, had an Interest In it and she was
granted by court interest on $1,000
year during her life time. In order to
make the first payment on the property
Mr.. Ford drew his note for 5000 and the
late Mr.. Wellington Goddin gave him the
House, Fords Hotel and so 1t remained
until about four years ago when the
present lessees rechristened 1t New
Fords Hotel"
In order to save himself for the pay.
ment Of the annuity to Mrs. Collins. ne
insured her life for enough to cover
what he thought he would likely pay
out to her. But the tenaclty OF this
lady on life was wonderful. He soon
found out that he was paying out more
in premiums than he was In the inter-
est on $4,000 to her. SO he greatly In
creased the Insurance until he was pay
ing premiums on considerably more than
$4,000. Mrs. Collins lived for seven
teen years. during which time he paid
out interest and premiums each amounts
Ing to more than $4,000. But when he
collected the insurance money he round
he had enough to make all the remain
ing payments on the Fords and buy the
ST Claire Hotel, the Virginia House adj
Joining 1t and farm near Richmond
Upon selling the latter he purchased the
famous Castleton stock farm in Ken
lucky.
Mr.. Ford acquired his hotel when Rich
mond had none worthy of the name, and
he conducted a tirst-class hosiery as the
people Of that day understood 1t, and
he made money rapidly.
LOVED RICHMOND WE'LL.
Until about four years ago he con-
Quoted Fords. and during that long pc
Rod from 1869 until late in the nineties
he was a familiar figure on the streets
of Richmond and was regarded. as he
was. one Of the most substantial and
prosperous men Of the community.
Retiring from the management of the
Fords. the property was leased by him.
and he went to norfolk, where he con-
Quoted the Gladstone.
But Richmond was the dearest place
on earth to him. and he returned here
little more than year ago and opened
the Fords Union Hotel. at the Main
Street Depot Ill health and advancing
age forced him to retire from active
business, and some months ago he sold
his lease to Mr.. Edgar Allan, Jr., the
present manager.
az SSNilS ID pdluCu DIT Ldll d NIL.
lion dollars or more, the chief property
being New Ford's. which is assessed at
nearly 100000. This Is held by trustees,
which at the death Of Mrs. Ford Is to Be
equally divided among the four children.
Mr.. Ford's life is said to have been
insured at not less than 100000, paid up
since 1890.
WIFE AND CHILDREN.
Mrs. Ford was Miss Mary Louise Car
ter, of Cumberland county. She and
four children survive him. They are
Mrs. Charles Z. Quincy. of New York:
Mrs. Mary Lee Biting. Mr.. B. w. Ford
and Mr.. Stewart II. Ford. all Of Rich
mond.
Some years ago Mr.. Ford invested
quite largely in real estate at Glouces-
ter Point. This property for the most
part was decided to his wife, but place
of not more than seventeen acres he
retained. and there he uied None Of
the children were with him.
Mr. B. w. Ford went down yesterday
afternoon and Mr.. Bliley. the underta-
ker. Will go down this morning. taking
tho casket with him.
Tho place Is extremely difficult to
reach. The casket will have to be ta-
ken from the Chesapeake and Ohio train
at Lee Hall and conveyed across York
county IN wagon and then ferricd
across York river. The remains will
be brought to the city tomorrow morn
Ing. Via West Point and the South
ern.
The funeral Service will be conducted
at the vault In Hollywood Cemetery,
conducted by Or. Hawthorne The pail
bearers VIII be selected from among the
intimate friends Of tho deceased, and
these. with the completed funeral ar
ransenents, will be published tomorrow
morning. *. H 4 ~