In January 1908 it was the privilege of the writer to stand by the grave of the oldest man who ever lived in Whiteside. He was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery at Tampico. It is a regret never to have met the veteran, and hear from his own lips the incidents of a career that started with the last century. Some of his younger neighbors who knew the old gentleman well, have given the writer various reminiscenes of their intimacy.
Henry Pott and his brother-in-law, Henry Flock, ran a threshing machine, and frequently did work for Peter, on his farm. It was in the days when horse power was used. They had a pair of fine horses which they attached to the machine, the farmer furnishing the others. Henry did the driving with a long whip. Peter was lying barefoot by the stack, watching operations. The fat horses of the threshers were not pulling, and his own were doing most of the work, so Peter called out, Henry, touch up your team with your lash, the whiffletrees are dangling against their legs.” Peter was a close observer and saw evervthing.
On another threshing occasion. the men started before breakfast to set the machine firmly to be ready to begin work early. But a blind horse balked, refusing to pull, and while the men rode back to the barn, on the way they had to pass a pond where a flock of geese were sleeping. The blind horse stumbled over the birds, bruising an old gander, and the whole troupe set up a furious screaming. Peter's kitchen door was ajar, and a face peered in the direction of the clamor. At breakfast, they told Peter of the catastrophe, claiming that a wolf had killed one of the flock during the night. “Wolf!” exclaimed Peter, “it was your horse, your blind wolf, that spoiled my fowl.” To make the best of the disaster, Peter got the goose, and the two Henrys had the fat bird for dinner.
Several years ago Peter had a sore leg with an inflammation that refused to yield to repeated medical treatment, until a Spiritualist doctor was summoned from Polo, and the limb was restored whole as the other. This is not an advertisement, but belongs to our narrative.
His house had low ceilings, and on Mr. Pott telling him that he had to be continually dodging as he passed through the house, Peter said he didn’t build the cottage for anybody taller than he was. Peter was a small man of light frame, and until recent years of active habits, laboring regularly on his farm.
At one time, he had a large plantation of several hundred acres, lying northeast of Deer Grove, on the borders of Whiteside and Lee counties. Various misfortunes, however, rendered it necessary to sell parts, and at his death, he was in moderate circumstances. His son took charge of the farm in later years, and Peter with his wife retired to a home in Tampico, where he remained to her death. Since that time. he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Coleman, in Deer Grove, where be breathed his last.
His son Dominick lives in Sterling, and tells the writer his father at his death had a head of snow white hair, the color originally black. He had no full beard, simply whiskers on the chin.
His death occurred on Friday, May 17, 1907. Mr. Ford was born at Killala in county Mayo, Ireland, June 22, 1802. He was married to Miss Mary A. Muldoon on Jan. 24, 1834, and came to this country in 1840, locating near Utica, K. Y., where he worked on the Erie canal. Three years later his wife and two children came over and the family then went to Canada and made their home near Smith’s Falls until 1857. They came to Illinois that year and stayed in Dixon for a short time. Mr. Ford then purchased a farm in Hahnaman and engaged in farming. In 1887 he removed to Tampico, where he resided until his wife’s death in 1895, since which time he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Coleman, in Deer Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Ford had nine children, seven of whom are now living..
Mr. Ford retained his faculties well until his death. He was strictly temperate in his habits and never used tobacco nor intoxicating liquors although at one time he was employed for several years in a distillery. He had a retentive memory and easily recalled the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk and Mexican wars. He had a distinct memory of the death of every president of the United States except Washington
Mr. Ford came of a long lived race All of his brothers and sister's lived to he over 80: one aunt lived to be 115 year's of age and his grandmother also passed the century mark.
The highway commissioners of Hahuaman township are making arrangements to install two new steel bridges over Green river near Deer Grove. The structures spanning the river near Deer Grove have been in a daugerous condition for some time and these will he replaced with two good steel structures. The township of Hahnaman is one of the most costly townships of the county to be bridged, due to the many ditches and the green river which crosses it.
His daughter. Mrs. Coleman, says her father had no faith in doctors, would not take medicine, and when sick, would often fast four days. He lost his last teeth ten years before his death. Although for the last four years, he sat much in his chair, he was nor helpless. Appetite so good that he regularly took three meals a day. Took great interest in current affairs, and followed the operations of the Boer struggle and our Spanish-American war, he never wore glasses.
History of Whiteside County by W W Davis Pg 213
St. Mary’s Catholic church is the most costly and imposing in Tampico, perhaps in the county. Only completed in October, 1907. It is constructed of a beautiful brick, with a lofty spire containing two bells, the interior richly finished in hard wood, stained glass windows and paintings in the highest style of art, heated by hot water. The parish was organized in 1875, and at first in connection with Sheffield had the ministrations of the same priest. But for nearly thirty years Tampico has supported its own rector. McGuire was first resident priest, followed by Weber, Sullivan. and others, The present pastor, Rev. L. X. Du Four, in his fourth year, is popular with all classes, Catholic and Protestant. A saintly name. X stands for Xavier. the devoted apostle to the Indies. Du Four was ordained at Philadelphia in 1882. and has been professor and preacher. The membership of St. Mary's consists of one hundred families. The parsonage is a neat frame south of the church. A short distance to the north is the cemetery. In the center on a high wooden cross hangs the body of the Savior.
As may be expected, the names on the tombstones speak of the Emerald Isle: Sheehan, Murphy, Leahy, McGuire. Tierman, Conroy, Power, Curran. Any relative of Tyrone Power, the Irish comedian, lost in the steamship President 1840? Any relative of John Philpot Curran. the noted Irish orator? Let us keep track of our great kindred. Here is the monument of Mary A. Ford, 1816-1896. “May her soul rest in peace. Amen.’ On the same is the name of Peter Ford, her husband, laid by her side in 1907, the oldest man who ever lived in the county, an account of whose life will be found in Deer Grove. The memorials are chiefly granite, and display good taste.
History of Whiteside County by W W Davis Pg 203
