-
Period: to
Birth to Early Adolescence
Henry Ford was born in Michigan on July 30th, 1863 to his mother Mary Litogot Ford and his father William Ford. He grew up on a small farm with his family, he became curious over the years and often took apart farming equipment and reassembled them. This is where his interest in machinery and engineering piqued and became the start to a bright future for Ford. -
First Job
Just at the age of 16, Ford was able to get his first job as an apprentice as a machinist. He unfortunately had to leave his life in Michigan behind and move to Detroit where he would further his interest in engineering. -
Return to Michigan
After only 3 years in Detroit where he was working his apprenticeship, Henry Ford had come back to Michigan where he provided assistance to his family's farm. Ford did not stop pursing engineering, he continued working in services such as operating steam engines -
Marriage
In the years to come following his return to Michigan, Ford met a woman from his hometown. At the age of 25, Henry Ford married 22 year old Clara Bryant. -
Period: to
Jobs and the Big Move
After getting married, Henry Ford would work small jobs here and there to support him and his wife Clara. In 1891, the two decided to move to Detroit where Ford had originally done his internship, he took a job as an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company. -
The Birth of a Son and Opportunities
After two years of working in the Edison Illuminating Company, Ford was able to move up to a higher position as a chief engineer. He coincidentally received this promotion just before the birth of his and Clara's first son, Edsel Bryant Ford. -
Quadricycle
Henry Ford officially completed a vehicle known as the Quadricycle. This consisted of four bicycle wheels and a two cylinder engine with four-horsepower gasoline. -
Period: to
Car Models
Over the years, Ford and his associates have been creating and remodeling a vast variety of Ford models. By this point there has been an A, B, AC, C, F, K, N, R, S, and continues working on perfecting the T model. -
Stocks Lawsuit
After less than a decade of success in this line of work, Henry Ford was presented with his first lawsuit coming from a pair of his stockholders who claimed Ford to have been violating the interest of many stockholders -
Stepping Down
Henry Ford leaves his then 25 year old son Edsel to take over the role of President of Ford Motor Company -
Time for a Change
After many years of developing model T cars, the sales were beginning to decline and the company was losing its popularity. This was the reality check for Ford to move on with something new to grab the attention of potential car buyers. -
Stock Market Crash and the Depression
When the Stock Market crashed in 1929, Henry Ford came up with the idea he had hoped would aid his worker's worries. He decided to start paying a salary of $7 as a means to keep his employee's afloat. This unfortunately does not work which lead to Ford having to lay off about half of his staff. -
Period: to
Unions and Agreements
Union workers began to fight for higher wages for the workers, allowed to get paid overtime, and overall security of the staff. After meeting with the Union to see what they wanted to change, Henry Ford was indifferent about their needs and did not sign to agree with those needs. After some talking from his son Edsel and hearing what the Union workers have to say, Ford finally agreed to meet those requirements of the union and signed an agreement months after he initially denied them. -
Passing
Henry Ford had passed away at the age of 83.