Mary Litogot Ford

Mother of automobile industrialist Henry Ford I, born Mary Litogot, she was a foster daughter of Patrick Ahern & Margaret Stevens(on) who became an "acknowledged child" at age 3. The surname, "apparently Aherne in Ireland, began to vary on documents to Aharn, Ahern, O'Hern, O'Herin, O'Hara and other variants, perhaps because of his desertion from the British Army, but more likely because he could not write his name."--The Fords of Dearborn by Ford R. Bryan. Paraphrasing, Ahern was stationed in Quebec and became A.W.O.L. with a group which made its way to Detroit where he learned of work at Dearbornville. Apparently, only one picture of her exists, #188-2707; copies may be obtained for a nominal fee from the Curator of Graphics, Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, P.O. Box 1970, Dearborn MI 48121. On April 21 or 25, 1861, she married in the home of Thomas Maybury of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. She and William joined Christ Episcopal Church of Dearborn, first had a son who died as an infant, then had five additional children after Henry I at 2-year intervals. She died following yet another childbirth. William Sr. erected the tallest memorial on the cemetery premises for her. Inscription: In Memory OF MARY WIFE OF WILLIAM FORD DIED March 20, 1876 Aged 37 Years

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 30 2018, 12:52:00 UTC