About America Holton Ford

America Holton Ford was born in 1819 and raised on a Kentucky farm. When she was fourteen years old, her family moved to Connersville, Indiana, where she met young Dr. James Ford.

America Holton Ford was the household manager of the Ford home. Throughout their marriage, America raised their children, cared for the household, and supported her husband. She also turned the family finances around. When Dr. Ford left for the Civil War, the family had little money because he considered it beneath the ethics of his profession to ask for payment of his fees. In his absence, America collected his debts and Dr. Ford returned from the Civil War to find over $10,000 in his bank account.

"Suffice it to say, our business affairs were in quite as good, if not better shape, when he returned, than they were when he left all so unceremoniously to 'Go at his country's call.' " - America Holton Ford

James and America Holton Ford were deeply in love and passionately devoted to one another. When they married, Mrs. Ford committed her life to Dr. Ford. As the wife of a physician she grew accustomed to calls that took her husband away from home at unpredictable hours of the day and night. Naturally, she worried about him, but she always believed in his medical vocation. Without fail, America raised their six children and the daughter Mary Elizabeth's children, nursed her husband through an illness that left him weak for two years after leaving the military, and supported his civic, church and political activity. She also served as a bookkeeper and collection agent when he departed for the Civil War and left her with the responsibility of the family, new baby, and the finances.

"My history, if all written, would be similar to that of almost every other woman who has reared a family. It would be a life spent in the interest of husband, children, and others who came within her sphere of action. Home and family seemed by providence destined to be my special field of duty. Whatever other influence I exercised, if any, was only sort of radiation from that center. I think, however, the woman who discharges well her duty to her children and other members of her household, has ample scope for the exercise of all her powers, mental, moral, and physical." - American Holton Ford

America Holton Ford died in 1891.