--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 14 number: 4 published: 1911-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "The Fate of the Fords," *Improvement Era* 14, no. 4 (February 1911): 334–339.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1404unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1404unse start_page: 334 end_page: 339 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1404unse publication_year: 1911 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Fate of the Fords The Fate of the Fords. [In a recent settling of an estate, the demand for proof of the death of the Ford boys recalled to the town of Wellington, Kansas, the days of the horse thief, as well as the fate of Governor Ford's sons. The Ford boys, were "Prairie Riders," and fell the victims of Kansas Viligantes. They were sons of Governor Thomas Ford, of Illinois, through whose perfidy the Prophet and Patriarch, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, were cruelly murdered in Carthage jail, June 27, 1844. Mr. Ford acted as governor in 1842-46, and died in Peoria, Illinois, Novembers, 1850. The following dispatch, dated Wellington, Kansas, October 15, 1910, and printed in the Kansas City Star of Sunday, October 16, 1910, describes, with pictorial effect, what it calls the "finish" of the Fords.— Editors.] Could the occupant of a grave on a lonely hill on the Chi- kaskia river, a few miles north of Caldwell, speak, or would the years roll backward and lift the veil that shrouds the mysteries of an impromptu execution of three men for horse stealirg, and let these men rise from their resting places in the old graveyard in Wellington and talk, the identity and the fate of two sons of the late ex-Governor Ford of Illinois, about whom there has been a lot of questioning recently, would be explained. In the one instance, a lone horse thief known as Tom Smith was overtaken, while being brought to Wellington by a pcsse from Caldwell, and hanged to a tree in Ryland's Grove, then a favorite resting place for travelers, on the banks of the pretty Chikaskia river. He was Tom Ford, an alleged son of the then ex-governor of Illinois. He was positively identified. In the case of the other Ford, who was christened Sewell, and who was Charley Smith among his acquaintances, there was a triple lynching at the south limit of Wellington, Bill Brooks, an outlaw, and Charles Hasbrook, a young attorney, being hanged with him. This lynching was done by men from Wellington, and at least one is alive and living here, a wealthy man. Another died in the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth a short time ago. The trio was hanged for stealing horses, and Smith was positively identified as Sewell Ford. He was a younger brother of the man who had been hanged alone. The Ford boys were members of a band of ruffians and thieves, known as "Prairie Riders," which stole cattle and horses at will. The Vigilantes, organized in this county in 1871, and led by Jim Hamilton, later state treasurer, broke up the horse stealing for awhile. The Sons of a Governor. Relatives have been writing to early settlers in Wichita to know of the "finish" of the Fords, Some estate has fallen to the heirs of ex-Governor Ford, and affidavits as to the sons are necessary. These can be supplied by Frank Henderson, a former sheriff. The letters have found their way into the papers, and have been given wide circulation, reviving the tales of the border days when Wellington was a stage headquarters, and Cald- well was filled with a dangerous and reckless bunch of men. The Fords found their way into Wichita and joined the "Prairie Riders." They rode wild over the country, stealing cat- tle and horses and driving them to the railroads, where they sold them. The elder Ford strayed as far as Caldwell, in 1871, and stole a horse. He was caught and was given into the hands of Constable George Freeman, who started for Wellington with him. As they passed "Curley" Marshall's saloon, Ford, who had a few dollars, said: "Let's go in and spend this for drinks. I won't live to spend it for anything else." He knew that no trial was necessary to convict him. He had been an old offender, and he realized that his time had come. Freeman accommodated his prisoner, who w£s in irons, and Ford, THE FATE OF THE FOHDS. 337 with the nonchalance of a wine agent, waved everyone to the bar. He had no trouble spending his few dollars. Taken from the Officer. The departure from Caldwell was in the evening, a buckboard being the mode of conveyance. Four miles out from Caldwell, a rattle of hoofs behind told of the approach of the Vigilantes. "They're coming!" said the horse thief lo his guardian. The team was not fast enough for the fleeter-footed bronchos. After a chase of a mile, and the exchange of several shots, the officer and his prisoner were told to alight. While the two men stood over Freeman with drawn Colts, about two dozen took Ford to Ryland's grove and lynched him. The ceremony was brief. At dawn the next day Ford's bodv was buried across the river from where it was hanging, a distinction very seldom granted the horse thief. For years the mound was distinguishable, but the rains have leveled it. Ford was described as a good looking young man, about thirty years old, and, like many of the others, would not have been taken for a horse thief. Tried to Delay the Mail. On the night of July 29, 1874, Sewell Ford, Tom Ford's brother, followed him to a horse thief's fate. He, with Brooks and Hasbrook, were strung from a tree on the Hunnewell road, at the south edge of Wellington. They stole horses from a stage barn near Caldwell. They had been in jail in Caldwell, and were brought to Wellington to jail to await a preliminary. Preliminaries in those days of swift justice seldom were carried out according to the program. Monday night the three men were brought to Welling- ton, and Wednesday night they were hanged. The preliminary was to have been held Thursday morning. Instead of the prelim- inary, it was a rough burial in one grave the men were given. The lynching of Ford, Brooks and Hasbrook was the culmina- tion, it is said, of a fight between rival stage companies for the mail contract between Caldwell and Ft. Sill. One company had had it, but the Vail, Williamson & Co. concern had outbid hem for it, and were to have taken the mail the first time under the new contract July 1, 1874. The night of June 30, there was a wholesale theft of horses in the south part of the county. All of the Vail-Williamson horses were stolen, and nearly everyone in Caldwell and vicinity lost horses. The gang had planned, it was claimed, at the instigation of the old stage company, to render it impossible for the new company to take the mail out July 1, and thus invalidate its contract. It would, under the circumstances, revert to the old company. The raid failed in its purpose. A stage driver took a pony and took the mail out in a gunnysack. Riders were sent in every direction to rouse the people. Pursuit was not easy, because of the scarcity of horses, but finally one man was sent to Wellington to notify Sheriff John Davis, who racruited a company, among whom was J. M. Thralls, once sheriff, now wealthy, retired, and the trail was taken up. One man near Wellington could not join the posse because his mare had been stolen the night before. She was found seven days later tied in some trees almost starved to death. The Cald- well horse thieves had planned to stop pursuit. Many people found their horses staked in out-of-the-way places. At Caldwell, the trail of the horses and mules led south. Pat Hennessey, who was found dead by his freighting train about this time, was killed by this gang of horse thieves, the old settlers say. A few days after- wards, near Garfield, Kansas, the Wellington posse came upon the Vail-Williamson horses and mules, and one man called "Red" herding them. He was killed in an interchange of shots. Two others, Granger and Williams, escaped. They had a wagon belonging to Hennessey with a big load of provisions. He had been headed towards Colorado to dispose of the stolen stock. Granger and Williams never were caught. The Trio Was Watched. When the posse returned to Caldwell and told of its success, the people began to watch Brooks, Ford and Hasbrook, who had been known to associate with Granger and Williams. All had claims near town. Hasbrook, and a man named McClain, ran a dug-out saloon and eating-house. It was decided to arrest and THE FATE OF THE FORDS. 339 prosecute them. Hasbrook and Ford were taken easily. Brooks was troublesome. The three men were kept in jail at Caldwell until they could be brought here. They were given a promise of fair preliminary. Hasbrook, the attorney, said he could prove an alibi. However, he was known to have been in other bad deals, as had his companions. There were two nights of intense excitement in Wellington, preceding the lynching. Everyone knew it was coming, and stayed up two nights to watch. The third night the town had quieted down. Thi Vigilantes were called together, and a hasty trip made to the old frame jail. It was the work of a few seconds to get possession of the prisoners. Silently the mob did its work, but a crowd soon gath- ered, following the mob to Slate creek. It was a dark night. The road to the scene of the hanging was, and is, a much traveled one. Pickets were posted to keep the curious back. Brooks was hanged first. When the crowd voted on him, there was a multi- tude of ''ayes." He died without a word. Ford came next, and he died game. But Hasbrook put up an eloquent appeal for his life. He said he was not guilty, and asked for a hearing. The vote was taken. "Aye, aye!" came feebly from several throats. Afraid to Vote to Save Him. "Any one in favor of not hanging this man say 'no,' " came the hoarse voice of the Vigilantes' leader. There was no response, and Hasbrook was told he must die. Had there been a dissenting voice that night Hasbrook might have lived. He said if he ever got out he would leave Wellington and vicinity and never come back. Hasbrook was asked if he had any word to send to his rela- tives, and he replied that he had not. "I would not have them know this for the world!" he said. "Pull away!" said the captain to the men who had hold of the rope. And shortly the young lawyer was dead. The "Mormon" Exodus. BY THOMAS L. MARTIN. [For years the Y. M. M. I. A. of the Alpine Stake of Zion have held an annual oratorical contest. The ward associations have try-outs which culminate in the selection of two or more of the best speakers or orators, who are chosen for the stake contest. In the spring of 1910, the author won tin first prize — a silver loving-cup — over several others. The contests grow in usefulness and interest each season. — Editors]. One of the most interesting subjects of study, in these days, is the Anglo-Saxon people. Drifting back over the pages of his- tory, into the dawn of the life of that people, we find a spirit manifested worthy of admiration. Under the leadership of King Alfred, while still in their infancy, they de- manded their freedom with heroic de- termination. Again, following up the pages of history, we see them at Runny mede, frustrating the tyranny of their king, and making their rights more stable. A little further along, and their descendants, the Pilgrim Fathers, forsake all that is dear to them, that they may have freedom of conscience and liberty of action in the highest degree. Again, we see the offspring of that same people assert themselves, in the year 1776, with the dignity of kings, in the What is grander? Where do you THOMAS L. MARTIN, Winner of the Silver Loving Cup. Declaration of Independence.