Tirey L. Ford
Encyclopedia
Tirey Lafayette Ford was a successful San Francisco attorney, and Attorney-General of California
(1898-1902).
. For three years, he worked on his uncle (Hugh J. Glenn
)'s ranch; Glenn was a Democratic candidate for Governor. He became a student in the law office of Colonel Park Henshaw in Chico, California
. He was admitted to the California Bar in August, 1882.
Tirey moved to Oroville, California
to practice law, but after about three years moved to Downieville, the county seat of Sierra County
, California. In 1888, he married Miss Mary Emma Byington, sister of Lewis Francis Byington
. They had three children, Byington Ford
, Mary Relda Ford, and Tirey Lafayette Ford.
for Sierra County and was re-elected in 1890.
in 1892 and 1895 for Plumas, Sierra, and Nevada Counties. He was appointed attorney for the State Board of Harbor Commissioners in 1895, which office he held until elected Attorney General for the state of California in 1898.
1898-1902. He resigned in the midst of a bribery scandal in 1902, but was later found to be innocent.
and fire, he became a member of Mayor Eugene Schmitz
's Committee of Fifty
. Adolphus Frederic St. Sure
joined Ford's law firm in San Francisco.
.
in San Francisco, aged 70. He was interred at the family mausoleum, Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma
, San Mateo County, California.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(1898-1902).
Early life
Tirey L. Ford, was born in Monroe County, Missouri, the son of Jacob Harrison Ford and Mary Winn Abernathy. In 1877, at the age of 19, Ford came to Colusa County, CaliforniaColusa County, California
Colusa County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, northwest of state capital Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, its population was 21,419. The county seat is Colusa.-History:...
. For three years, he worked on his uncle (Hugh J. Glenn
Hugh J. Glenn
Hugh James Glenn was a prominent businessman and politician in California. Glenn was born near Staunton, Virginia, and grew up in Monroe County, Missouri. He was educated as a physician at McDowell's Medical College in St. Louis, Missouri. Glenn served with Colonel Alexander William Doniphan's...
)'s ranch; Glenn was a Democratic candidate for Governor. He became a student in the law office of Colonel Park Henshaw in Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
. He was admitted to the California Bar in August, 1882.
Tirey moved to Oroville, California
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
to practice law, but after about three years moved to Downieville, the county seat of Sierra County
Sierra County, California
Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville....
, California. In 1888, he married Miss Mary Emma Byington, sister of Lewis Francis Byington
Lewis Byington
Lewis Francis Byington was member of California state assembly 24th District, 1877–80, California.-Early life:Mr. Byington was born in Downieville, Sierra County, one of the historic mining towns in northern California. He was a son of Lewis Byington, one of the early pioneer citizen of northern...
. They had three children, Byington Ford
Byington Ford
Lewis Byington Ford, November 1, 1890 - January 19, 1985 was born in Downieville, Sierra County, California, the son of Tirey L. Ford and Mary Emma Byington.-Early life:...
, Mary Relda Ford, and Tirey Lafayette Ford.
Political life
In 1888, Tirey Ford was elected District AttorneyDistrict attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Sierra County and was re-elected in 1890.
State Senator
He became Republican State SenatorState Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
in 1892 and 1895 for Plumas, Sierra, and Nevada Counties. He was appointed attorney for the State Board of Harbor Commissioners in 1895, which office he held until elected Attorney General for the state of California in 1898.
California Attorney General
He served as the 18th California Attorney GeneralCalifornia Attorney General
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.The...
1898-1902. He resigned in the midst of a bribery scandal in 1902, but was later found to be innocent.
Private life
In 1902, he became general counsel for the United Railroads of San Francisco. During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
and fire, he became a member of Mayor Eugene Schmitz
Eugene Schmitz
Eugene Edward Schmitz was an American politician and the 26th mayor of San Francisco, who became notorious for his conviction by a jury on charges of corruption.-Life and career:...
's Committee of Fifty
Committee of Fifty (1906)
This Committee of Fifty, sometimes referred to as Committee of Safety, Citizens' Committee of Fifty or Relief and Restoration Committee of Law and Order, was called into existence by Mayor Eugene Schmitz during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake...
. Adolphus Frederic St. Sure
Adolphus Frederic St. Sure
Adolphus Frederic St. Sure was an American judge. He served as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California for 22 years, until June 30, 1947, although he was eligible for retirement in 1939.-History:Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he...
joined Ford's law firm in San Francisco.
Retirement
After his retirement, he took up historical studies and literary pursuits. In 1926 he published a well-received novel, Dawn and the Dons: The Romance of Monterey, with vignettes and sketches by Jo MoraJo Mora
Joseph Jacinto "Jo" Mora was an Uruguayan-born American cartoonist, illustrator and cowboy, who lived with the Hopi and wrote extensively about his experiences in California. He was an artist-historian, sculptor, painter, photographer, illustrator, muralist and author...
.
Death
On June 26, 1928, Tirey L. Ford died at the Pacific-Union ClubPacific-Union Club
The Pacific-Union Club is a private social club located at 1000 California Street in San Francisco, California, at the top of Nob Hill. It was founded in 1889 as a merger of two earlier clubs: the Pacific Club and the Union Club ....
in San Francisco, aged 70. He was interred at the family mausoleum, Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma
Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California is an American Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Established in 1887 on of a former potato farm, it is the oldest and largest cemetery established in Colma to serve the needs of San Francisco...
, San Mateo County, California.