Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

President Gerald Ford Lived Here

1913

— “Under Extraordinary Circumstances” —

President Gerald Ford Lived Here Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 23, 2024

1. President Gerald Ford Lived Here Marker

Inscription. This home was built in 1911 by Clarence James for his bride-to-be, Tannisse Gardner. The future President of the United States' mother, Tannisse's sister, Dorothy Gardner King, brought him here as a newborn - originally named Leslie Lynch King Jr. - to escape domestic violence. They lived here for a couple of months before moving to Grand Rapids, MI, and came back regularly to visit after being adopted by Dorothy's new husband, Gerald R. Ford, and taking his name.

The family, including the great-granddaughter of Tannisse & Clarence, continued to live here until 1999.

Erected 2022.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #38 Gerald R. Ford, Jr. series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 41° 53.638′ N, 87° 46.591′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on North Humphrey Avenue south of Chicago Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 North Humphrey Avenue, Oak Park IL 60302, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 209 N. Humphrey Ave. (approx. ¼ mile away); The Austin Neighborhood Renaissance (approx.

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¼ mile away); St. James Apartments (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ridgeland School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gold Star Men of the World War (approx. 0.4 miles away); F.R. Schock Houses (approx. 0.4 miles away); OPRF Museum (approx. 0.4 miles away); Marie Schock House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

Also see . . .
1. Wait, Gerald Ford lived in Oak Park? Yes, for two months. From the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest (Submitted on April 23, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Gerald R. Ford Genealogical Information.

Excerpt from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library: "President Gerald R. Ford was born on July 14, 1913 at Omaha, Nebraska and was originally given the name Leslie Lynch King, Jr. His parents, Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Ayer Gardner, had been married on September 7, 1912 at Harvard, Illinois. Just over two weeks after the birth of their son, Dorothy separated from her husband and took her infant son to her sister's home in Oak Park, Illinois and then to her parents home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On December 19, 1913 an Omaha court granted
Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 23, 2024

2. President Gerald Ford Lived Here: 410 N. Humphrey, Oak Park, Illinois
her a divorce. In 1917 she married Grand Rapids businessman Gerald R. Ford and they soon began calling her son Gerald R. Ford, Jr., although his name was not legally changed until December 3, 1935."

(Submitted on April 23, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

400 North block of Humphrey Ave. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, April 23, 2024

3. 400 North block of Humphrey Ave.

The Ford house is the second on the left.

Gerald Ford and his mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner King image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, circa 1914

4. Gerald Ford and his mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner King

Caption: "Gerald R. Ford, Jr. (then known as Leslie Lynch King, Jr.) and Dorothy Ayer Gardner King on his baptism day. 1914." Ford and his mother lived in Oak Park for two months soon after his birth in 1913, and he took the name of his stepfather after he married Dorothy in 1916.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 654 times since then and 118 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on April 29, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.