Rev. Spencer James Ford
Now Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Norwich
Utica Saturday Globe, March 1901
Rev. Spencer James Ford
1866 - 1927
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: Rev. Spencer J. Ford, who last Sunday began his pastorate of the Calvary Baptist Church, in this village, comes of a family of preachers. His grandfather, Rev. William Ford, was the first pastor of the Camden Baptist Church, of which his father, Rev. Jabez Ford, is the present pastor, an uncle, Rev. S.T. Ford, is pastor of the Central Baptist Church at Lowell, Mass., and a cousin, Rev. W.J. Ford is pastor of the Green Ridge Baptist Church, at Scranton, Pa. Mr. Ford, the subject of this sketch, has been for two years pastor of the Ford Baptist Church at Sidney Center, during which his work has been crowned with success and he won many warm friends, and his resignation was received with great regret.
Rev. Spencer J. Ford was born at Ford, N.Y., about 30 years ago, and is the eldest son of Rev. Jabez Ford. He spent his early years on his father's farm and in teaching district schools. Deciding to engage in the gospel ministry, he entered Colgate Academy, in Hamilton, in the fall of 1891, and remained three years. In 1894 he entered Colgate College and graduated in 1898 with the degree of Ph. D. He will graduate from Hamilton Theological Seminary next June.
Throughout his career at school Mr. Ford has taken an active part in the different phases of school life and became one of the best known and most popular young men in Hamilton. He was a member of the Colgate Chapter Beta Theta, of the fraternity of the Beta Theta Pi. He served on various committees of the Y.M.C.A. during his academic and college courses, and is the present president of the Y.M.C.A. of Hamilton Theological Seminary. He has represented the university on the various athletic teams. The impression prevails that he possesses all the requisites for a successful pastor and one in whose care the spiritual and temporal interests of the Calvary Church will be fostered and its work be blessed.
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Obituary
Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, October 10, 1927
Camden [Oneida Co., NY]: On Saturday, at the parsonage in Hillsboro, occurred the death of the Rev. Spencer James Ford, eldest son of the late Rev. Jabez and Margaret A. Ford. The deceased was in his usual health until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when he suffered a severe heart attack, and passed away shortly before 6 o'clock.
Mr. Ford was born in Camden, Nov. 21, 1866. He received his early education in the district schools. After teaching two years he entered Colgate Academy. He was graduated form Colgate university in 1898, and from Colgate Theological Seminary in 1901. Mr. Ford was very prominent in athletics, one distinction being his election as varsity football captain during his freshman year. He was a member of the football, baseball and track teams, during his four years at the university. He was also a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. While a student in the seminary he was pastor of the Baptist church at Sidney Center. After graduation he accepted a call to the Calvary Baptist church of Norwich, N.Y., where he remained until 1903. His next pastorate was the Central Park Baptist Church in New York city where he remained 13 years. He resigned in 1917, in order to engage in Y.M.C.A. work during the World War. Over 500,000 soldiers passed through his hut at Nouf Chateau, France, during his service there. After the close of the war, he was engaged in Americanization work in Long Island City, for two years. He was general secretary of the Railroad Y.MC.A. in Albany. Again feeling called to this ministry, Mr. Ford accepted a pastorate at the First Baptist Church in West Winfield, where he remained for five and one-half years. he was chaplain of the Masonic Lodge at West Winfield. For the past year he was president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Utica and vicinity. At present, Mr. Ford was pastor of the Hillsboro, Maple Flats and Constantia Center churches.
Mr. Ford had a strong, forceful personality. He whole heartedly entered into his work as a Christian minister. His work with young people governed much of his activity He enjoyed all clean sport. He played the game hard, being an example of clean living, good sportsmanship and practical Christianity.
The funeral will be held from his late residence Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock and from the Hillsboro Baptist Church at 2 o'clock. Interment in the Hillsboro cemetery.
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Harriet (Stilson) Ford
Utica Daily Press, October 18, 1970
Mrs. Harriet Ford, 97, formerly of West Winfield, widow of the Rev. Spencer J. Ford, died Tuesday in Carmel Community Hospital, Carmel, Calif. She was born in Sidney Center [Delaware Co., NY], daughter of Egbert and Emily Stilson. She attended school in Sidney Center and taught there for many years. In 1900 she was married to Mr. Ford, then minister of Calvary Baptist Church, Norwich. He died in 1927. Mrs. Ford later lived in Bellows Falls, Vt, West Winfield and Carmel with her daughter, Mrs. Emily Leonard. Mrs. Ford was a member of the Baptist church of West Winfield and the Gen. Winfield Scott Chapter DAR of which she was chaplain. Besides her daughter, she leaves a son Stilson J. Ford, West Winfield. Cremation was in Carmel following a prayer service in Chapel-by-the-Sea. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Federated Church of West Winfield. Burial will be in Hillsboro Cemetery, Hillsboro, N.Y.
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