Jacob M. Ford

Jacob M. Ford was born in Perry County, Ohio, on March 16, 1836. He attended the local schools and, at the age of nineteen, in 1855, he moved west to New Point, Iowa. In 1859 he moved to Forest City, Missouri, and became a clerk in the general store of John S. Brittain. In 1867 he became a partner in the business and subsequently purchased Mr. Brittain's interest, becoming sole proprietor. The surrounding country was being settled rapidly and the young merchant built up a large business, investing his profits in land.

In 1882 Mr. Ford was married to Miss Nannie Litsey at Harrodsburg, Kentucky. They had met when she was visiting friends in Forest City. Their first son, Frazer L. Ford, was named for Mr. Ford's friend and business associate, Mr. Benjamin B. Frazer. There were two younger children, Mary, who married Harry Broadhead, and Litsey, who died in 1911.

After the 1867 change in the channel of the Missouri River away from Forest City, its importance declined, while the position of St. Joseph continued to advance. Mr. Ford had in mind the desirability of a move to the larger community and he awaited a favorable opportunity to do so. He was one of the incorporators of the Saxton National Bank in 1883 and in 1889 he moved his family to St. Joseph, although he continued his business interests in Forest City for a number of years. In 1894 the Saxton National Bank was merged with the Schuster-Hax National Bank to form the First National Bank of Buchanan County. Jacob M. Ford was elected president of the new institution in 1896. He became chairman of the board in 1907. The name of the bank was changed in 1914 to First National Bank of St. Joseph and was, for a period of fifty years, the largest bank between Kansas City and Omaha.

Mr. Ford organized the Ford Investment Company to handle his real estate investments. He and his son Frazer were the principal stockholders.

Mr. Ford died at his home, 2017 Clay Street, on May 17, 1913, at the age of seventy-seven.