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Black Hawk County >> 1886 Index Historical and Biographical Record of Black Hawk County,
Iowa F William O. Fairbairn, farmer, secton 34, Waterloo Township, was born in England, April 12, 1840, the eldest of a family of ten children of W. R. and Ellen M. (Richards) Fairbairn, who were also natives of England. His parents immigrated to America in 1842, and settled in Stephenson County, Illinois, remaining there till the father's death at the age of sixty-seven years. William O. was reared to manhood on a farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in May, 1865, locating at once in Eagle Township. He owns eight and a half acres of land where he resides, and has a half section of valuable land in Tama County, and a 150-acre valuable farm in Wright County. Mr. Fairbairn was married in Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1870, to Miss Susan Turner, a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1836. She died in 1883, and Mr. Fairbairn was again married February 22, 1884, taking for his second wife Rosa L. Jaqua. She was born in the State of Michigan in 1860, and was a daughter of Josiah Jaqua. This union has been blessed with one child--Edna M., born February 13, 1885. Mr. Fairbairn belongs to no church but is liberal in his religious views. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party, and is a highly respected citizen of this community. H. D. Ford, third child of Hampton W. and Anna (Combs) Ford, was born in Wyandotte County, Ohio, September 8, 1846. He came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, with his parents in April, 1856, and is a resident of Washington Township. He is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning in this township 250 acres, located on sections 23, 14 and 10. He has made his home in this county since coming here in 1856, with the exception of nine months spent in Cherokee County, Iowa, where he improved a farm. He was married February 5, 1866, to Naomi L. Watrous, who was born in Rock County, Wisconsin, June 13, 1845, daughter of George H. and Eunice (Fish) Watrous, the father a native of Connecticut, born December 25, 1814, and the mother born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, February 22, 1815. Her father is a minister of the United Brethren denomination, and has been a resident of many places, and is at present living in Clayton County, Iowa. Mrs. Ford's parents were married in Cuyahoga County, and had a family of four sons and four daughters, Mrs. Ford being the fourth child. At the age of thirteen years she came with her parents to Iowa, and when she was twenty-one years old she commenced teaching school in this county. Her mother died in Clayton County, Iowa, April 21, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have three children--George H., born January 10, 1868; William W., born August 19, 1872, and Hettie B., born November 15, 1879, all born on the homestead in Washington Township. Mrs. Ford is a member of the United Brethren church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He has served his township as supervisor for two years, and is now serving his seventh year as township assessor. He has also served as township trustee, and has been chairman of the Board of Directors for several years. Hampton Ford, father of our subject, was born in Ross County, Ohio, July 4, 1814. When he was fifteen years old he went to Wyandotte County, where he was married, his wife being a native of that county, born August 5, 1823, and they had born to them four sons and one daughter. The father came to this county with his family in 1856, living here till his death, which occurred February 10, 1877.
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