Edwardsville in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Governor Thomas Ford

1842-1846

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 23, 2021

1. Governor Thomas Ford Marker

Inscription. Thomas Ford was Illinois' eighth governor. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, where his widowed mother struggled to raise the family amidst poverty. The family moved to Illinois in 1805. Ford studied law for one term at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY before returning to Illinois to open a law practice in Waterloo. He later joined a practice in Edwardsville and in 1829 was appointed state's attorney. Ford served in the Black Hawk War. Afterwards he returned to law where he was appointed to numerous positions including circuit court judge and state supreme court judge prior to being elected governor in 1842. His administration's greatest challenges were stabilizing the state's finances following the nation's Panic of 1837 and his leadership during the Mormon War (1838) and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). He is best known for his book, A History of Illinois: From its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. After serving as governor, he resumed a private law practice in Peoria, where he died in 1850.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, Mexican-American. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.

Location. 38° 48.481′ N,

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89° 57.325′ W. Marker is in Edwardsville, Illinois, in Madison County. It is on South Main Street (Illinois Route 159) south of West Schwartz Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 304 S Main St, Edwardsville IL 62025, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Governor John Reynolds (here, next to this marker); Governor Charles Deneen (here, next to this marker); Governor Ninian Edwards (here, next to this marker); Governor Edward Coles (here, next to this marker); The Madison County Poor Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Benjamin Stephenson House

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 23, 2021

2. Governor Thomas Ford Marker

Marker is on a post, second from the right. Edwardsville Police Department building is in the background

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Memory of Dr. Thomas R. Yates (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwardsville.

Also see . . . Thomas Ford on Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 29, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 29, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.