MSS 301 Seabury Ford Papers

              MSS 301
Seabury Ford Papers
1 cubic f o o t
Standard inventory
OHlO
H I S T O R Y
Collection Synopsis
Provenance: The Ohio H i s t o r i c a l Society acquired the Seabury Ford Papers from
the Ohio Governor's o f f i c e i n 1929. Peter Lundskow processed the c o l l e c t i o n i n
April 1985.
Property r i g h t s : The Ohio H i s t o r i c a l Society owns the property r i g h t s t o t h i s
c o l l e c t i o n .
Copyrights: Copyrights have not been dedicated t o the pub1 i c . Consideration
o f the requirements o f c o p y r i m i s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the author and publisher.
Access: This c o l l e c t i o n i s open under the rules and regulations o f the Ohio
H i s t o r i c a l Society. A Sire i n 1951 damaged and destroyed many items. Care i n
handling the f r a g i l e material i s requested.
C i t a t i o n : Researchers are requested t o c i t e c o l l ection name, c o l l e c t i on number,
and the Ohio H i s t o r i c a l Society i n a1 1 footnote and bib1 iographic references.
Note t o researchers: A calendar ( R016.091 Oh3c Vol. 4) t o the Ford Papers was
prepared by the Works Projects Administration H i s t o r i c a l Records Survey. The
calendar, however, i s incomplete and recommended only as a supplementary finding
aid. Appendix I, a calendar, follows the inventory and l i sts i tems added t o the
c o l l e c t i o n a f t e r completion o f the W. P. A. survey.
Biographical sketch: Seabury Ford was born i n Cheshire, New Haven County,
Connecticut, on October 15, 1801. He was the f i f t h o f seven children o f John
and Esther Ford who moved to Burton, Ohio, i n Geauga County i n 1807. Ford
graduated from Yale i n 1825 and returned to study law i n the o f f i c e o f an uncle.
I n 1827 he was admitted t o the bar and a year l a t e r married h i s cousin H a r r i e t
Cook. While p r a c t i c i n g law, Ford became a major general i n the state m i l i t i a
and j o i n e d t h e Whig Party i n the year o f i t s organization, 1834.
The following year, Ford was elected t o the Ohio House o f Representatives and
served i n e i t h e r the House or Senate through 1847, with the exception o f the
1842- 1843 session. Ford was also Speaker o f the House i n 1840 and 1841 and
Speaker o f the Senate i n 1845 and 1846. Ford's major accomplishment while i n
the l e g i s l a t u r e was the repeal o f the Loan Law. This reversal marked the end
o f state ownership i n p r i v a t e business such as canal and turnpike companies.
The Whigs named Ford as t h e i r gubernatorial candidate i n 1848. I n t h e c l o s e s t
governor's race i n the h i s t o r y o f Ohio Ford defeated Democrat John Weller by 311
votes. This e l e c t i o n was contested so h o t l y that it took nearly two months f o r
the general assembly to decide the outcome. With the 1 egis1 ature so closely
divided Ford accomplished 1 i t t l e during h i s one term. Notable were the repeal
o f the Black Laws which had discriminated against blacks, and the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
convention which adopted the current c o n s t i t u t i o n o f the state.
Ford returned t o Burton, Ohio, i n 1850, and suffered a stroke w i t h i n a week o f
h i s return. The l e f t side o f h i s body was paralyzed and he remained an i n v a l i d
u n t i l h i s death on May 8, 1855.
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
1982 Velma Avenue. Columbus, Ohio 43211- 2497 ph: 614.297.2330 fx: 614.297.2411
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