William Ford (Henry's Dad)

William Ford

Since his immigration, in 1847, from County Cork Ireland to the burgeoning country village of Dearborn, Michigan; William Ford had worked hard. By the summer of 1863 he had married Mary Litogot (1861) and stood as a prosperous farmer as well as a respected community leader. On July 30, 1863 William and Mary's eldest surviving child was born. The couple named him Henry.

It did not take long for William to recognize his son's fascination with all things mechanical.

William tried to let the boy put his abilities to use around the farm whenever possible. It was in the company of his father that a young Henry Ford first saw a portable steam engine moving along the road under its own power. An intense moment, it-awakened him to the possibilities of a self-contained, self-propelled vehicle.

A love of nature was also fostered by the ways William tended his lands and by the teachings of Henry's grandfather, Patrick O'hern. Much of Ford's outlook on life came from his mother Mary, who taught him to read from his first McGuffy reader and instilled in him a sense of order, individualism and self-discipline. Her death in 1876 had a profound effect. "The house," recalled Henry, "was like a watch without a mainspring."

On April 11, 1866 Clara Jane Bryant was born. She was the eldest daughter (after two brothers) in a family of ten children born to Martha and Melvin Bryant. Like the Fords, the Bryants were a prosperous farming family, also active in the Dearborn community. Clara's father, Melvin, was active in both church and township affairs and served several terms in the state legislature. Martha Bryant was also active in her church as both Sunday school treasurer, teacher and as a member of the missionary society. As the oldest daughter in a large family, Clara helped her mother around the house with mending, washing, cooking, and baking.

Although Clara Bryant and Henry Ford grew up within eight miles of each other, a friendship did not develop between them until 1885. They first met at a New Year's Ball, held at a local establishment called the Martindale house. They spoke for only a few moments, but afterwards Henry Ford resolved to meet Clara Bryant again. Young Ford attended many dances that winter, but it was not until nearly a year later that he saw Miss Bryant again. By April of 1886 they were engaged.

Within thirty minutes of their meeting at the Martindale house, Mr. Ford said he knew Clara was the girl for him. It took a bit longer to convince Clara and her mother. After their engagement, Martha Bryant made the young couple wait another two years. She thought her daughter at twenty was too young for marriage. Henry Ford and Clara Jane Bryant were married on April 11, 1888, the bride's twenty-second birthday; the groom was twenty-four. Henry Ford often referred to his wife as his "Believer". Clara's faith and confidence through many years of moves, trials, and hard work, allowed Henry Ford to pursue his dream, bringing the Ford's to the pinnacle of success and, in 1915, to their stately Fair Lane home.

Clara Jane Bryant

An artistic, modest, and intelligent gentleman, Edsel Ford moved with the Grosse Pointe set.

In November 1893, the Ford's first and only child was born. An artistic, modest, and intelligent gentleman, Edsel Ford moved with the Grosse Pointe set. The Fords disliked the extravagance of the rich Detroiters that had migrated east to this exclusive area. When the decision was made to move from their Edison Avenue home to a more secluded local, the Ford's forsook Grosse Pointe and built their home in Dearborn on Ford farmland along the Rouge River.

To encourage twenty-three year old Edsel to spend his leisure time at home and avoid the temptations to engage in smoking or drinking, practices not tolerated by Mr. Ford, amenities such as a billiard room, bowling alley, and indoor swimming pool were included in Fair Lane's design. However Edsel stayed at home for less than a year. On November 1,1916, in a simple ceremony, Edsel Ford married Eleanor Clay, niece of department store magnate, J. L. Hudson. The couple moved to the posh Indian Village area of Detroit, 12 miles from the Ford Estate.

Edsel and Eleanor's marriage led to the birth of the Fords' four grandchildren, Henry II (1917), Benson (1919), Josephine (1923), and William Clay (1925). The first, Henry Ford II, instantly became a fixture at Fair Lane. The grandchildren spent many enjoyable afternoons with their grandparents at the estate. Besides the bowling alley and indoor swimming pool the grandchildren
enjoyed many unique playthings including a miniature farm complete with scaled down equipment, mini Custer cars for scurrying about the Estate's drive, and holiday visits with Santa Claus at a log cabin workshop.

From her study overlooking the Rouge River, Mrs. Ford administered the estate, managed staff and conducted meetings associated with horticulture, health care social and spiritual societies. Clara Ford had a great knowledge of flowers and spent several hours a day studying materials on the subject. She knew her garden projects and love for flowers interested her husband only mildly. On the other hand, she was indifferent to his experimental development of farm methods and plants. Both found delight in Fair Lane's acres of woods filled with the birds and wildlife.

With great wealth at hand, the Fords still held to many of their 19th Century ideals. Even after becoming a multimillionaire, Mr. Ford spent many long hours at the factory or tinkering in his laboratory, sometimes forgetting to come home to dinner. Mrs. Ford would spend evenings reading in the Library, doing needlepoint or darning worn socks for her husband.

For over 31 years, Mr. and Mrs. Ford enjoyed this private place, a haven for themselves, their friends and family. Mr. Ford once said, "I believe a home isn't four walls; it's a place where you get strength to go on".