Next meeting of the Society will be in March 18, 2026. Location to be determined. Brady Peters will present the history of railroads in Ford County. Brady Peters is a Ford County native and former Mayor of Gibson City. His career in the railroad industry spans 27 years and focuses on the engineering aspect of the business. He has an affinity of local history as well as research in the realm of railroad history across the United States. He currently resides in Indiana and still farms in Ford County.
Embedded Files
About the Ford County Historical Society
In the spring of 1968 Dr. W. G. Raudabaugh of Piper City, a member of the Ford County Board, asked Dr. W. W. Sauer if he would attempt to form a county historical society. Each member of the county board agreed to invite 30 people to a public meeting which was held in the large court room of the County court house. About 150 people from all parts from the county attended and after an explanation of the aims of such a society, Judge Howard Benjamin made the motion which was passed unanimously to form The Ford County Historical Society.
Over the years bimonthly meetings have been held featuring programs dealing with many areas of local and area history. Each September a dinner meeting is held at which special program material is presented.
In addition to regular meetings the Society has honored county students who have taken part in special history projects. The Society has reprinted into one volume the Historical Atlas of 1884, 1904 and 1916 and reprinted The Prairie Farmers Directory of Ford County for 1917.
An archival file has grown over the years and contains much material which has been given to the Society by the public.
Purpose of the Ford County Historical Society
The purpose shall be to promote, through a museum, society activities and projects, a program of information, understanding and appreciation of Ford County, Illinois history and it’s role in our state, nation, and world.
Ford County was named after Thomas Ford, the eighth Governor of Illinois from 1842 - 1846.
He was born December 5, 1800 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and died November 12, 1850 in Peoria, Illinois.
The present area of Ford county was formerly in the following counties:
1826–1859 – Vermilion
1823–1826 – Edgar
1819–1823 – Clark
1816–1819 – Crawford
1815–1816 – Edwards
1812–1815 – Madison
1801–1812 – St. Clair
1790–1801 – Knox, Northwest Territory
2025-2026 Officers
2025-2026 Officers
President: Kay McCabe-Barnes
Vice-President: Pat Tavenner
Secretary: Carol Thilmony
Treasurer: Peggy Seibring
Directors: Mary Houston- 2026, Marlaina Lindgren - 2027, Gabe Burgess - 2028
© Ford County Historical Society 2025
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