dit James Ford b. 4 May 2874, Marquette, MI;
d. 16 Oct 1938, Dearborn, MI

My grandfather.

My grandfather was born in Marquette, MI, but returned with his family to Sault Ste Marie, MI, when he was a young man. He was baptised Jacques Mercier at St Peter’s Cathedral in Marquette, MI.

He married Adeline Campbell, 20 Aug 1894 in Sault Ste Marie, MI. His occupation was listed as dredgeman, when he worked on the SSM Locks. In 1908, he moved his family to Grosse Isle, MI, where he worked as a dredgemam on the Livingston Channel. The family returned to SSM, MI for a while, and then in 1922 returned permanently to the Detroit, MI area. He worked as a foreman in the steel division of the Ford Motor Company. His heritage became French/American, and his Indian heritage was never mentioned to future generations.

My grandmother Mary Adeline Campbell was born 9 Oct 1873, in SSM, MI. Her grandfather, John Baptiste Campbell was an original settler in SSM, MI, where he obtained a land grant from the U.S. government in 1856.

His occupation was listed as voyaguer in the 1850 census. As a young man he worked for the American Fur Company in SSM, MI. Her grandmother was Marie Vesina, 3/4 Chippewa Indian. It is Mrs. J. B. Campbell’s heritage that places the Campbell/Ford family members on the Durant Indian Rolls. This is the present day basis for membership in the SSM tribe of Chippewa Indians. My grandmother’s mother died in childbirth, and she was raised by her Indian grandmother. When she moved to the Detroit area she became French/American, and her Indian heritage was never mentioned.

James and Mary Ford raised a family of 5 boys and 3 girls, who all married and prospered. The family members were inseparable, and cousins became sisters and brothers.

The children of James and Mary Ford were:

Delphine's Family Tree Navigation
Joseph Boissoneau | Marguerite Boissonneau | Jacques Mercier | James Cletus Ford | Delphine Pearl Ford