Dorothy Ayer Gardner Ford
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Ayer Gardner King Ford (February 27, 1892 - September 17, 1967) was the mother of U.S. President Gerald Ford
.
to Levi Addison Gardner, a businessman and one-time mayor, and Adele Augusta (Ayer) Gardner.
There she married her first husband, wool trader Leslie Lynch King
of Omaha, Nebraska
, on September 7, 1912. She had met him while she was in college, as he was the charming brother of her roommate.
The couple rat their Victorian
mansion at 3202 Woolworth Avenue
. His parents were wealthy banker and businessman Charles Henry King
and the former Martha Alicia Porter, both from Fayette County, Pennsylvania
.
Dorothy and Leslie King's son was born on July 14, 1913. They named him Leslie Lynch King, Jr. Soon after her marriage, Dorothy had discovered that her husband was abusive. In Omaha she further discovered he was a liar and alcoholic, but she was soon pregnant. With the support of his parents, she stayed with them and her husband until the birth of their son. After Leslie threatened her and the child with a knife a few days after the birth, Gardner King completed her plans to leave her husband.
home of her sister Tannisse and her husband, Clarence Haskins James. From there she moved to the home of her parents, Adele and Levi Addison Gardner, who had moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
. That was where her son grew up.
Dorothy Gardner King quickly filed for formal separation and divorce. On December 19, 1913, an Omaha court granted a divorce to the Kings. Leslie King refused to pay child support. His father Charles Henry King
paid it until shortly before his death in 1930.
on February 1, 1917. They then called her first son Gerald Rudolff Ford, Jr., although he was not formally adopted by Ford. Gerald Ford, Jr. formally changed his name in 1935, in honor of his stepfather, the only father he really had. At the time, Ford adopted a more conventional spelling of his middle name. Later Ford recounted that his mother insisted he learn to control his temper, one he seemed to have inherited from his biological father.
Dorothy Ford bore three sons during her second marriage: Thomas Gardner Ford (July 15, 1918 - August 28, 1995), Richard Addison Ford (born June 3, 1924), and James Francis Ford (August 11, 1927 - January 23, 2001). All her children grew up with a rich relationship both with her parents, and with her husband and his family.
She and Gerald Ford, Sr. were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Grand Rapids.
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
.
Early life and marriage
Dorothy Gardner was born in the small town of Harvard, IllinoisHarvard, Illinois
Harvard is a city located in McHenry County in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Illinois, approximately south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The population was 7,996 at the 2000 census...
to Levi Addison Gardner, a businessman and one-time mayor, and Adele Augusta (Ayer) Gardner.
There she married her first husband, wool trader Leslie Lynch King
Leslie Lynch King, Sr.
Leslie Lynch King, Sr. was the biological father of U.S. President Gerald Ford. Because of his alcoholism and abusive behavior, his wife Dorothy Gardner left him sixteen days after the birth of their son...
of Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, on September 7, 1912. She had met him while she was in college, as he was the charming brother of her roommate.
The couple rat their Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
mansion at 3202 Woolworth Avenue
Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens
The Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska marks the location of the house at 3202 Woolworth Avenue where U.S. President Gerald R. Ford lived for a couple of weeks after his birth in July 1913...
. His parents were wealthy banker and businessman Charles Henry King
Charles Henry King
Charles Henry King was an Omaha businessman and banker who was instrumental in founding several cities in the states of Nebraska and Wyoming. He saw opportunity with the expansion of the railroad west and built up related retail businesses, banks and freight operations. His fortune was estimated...
and the former Martha Alicia Porter, both from Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.
Dorothy and Leslie King's son was born on July 14, 1913. They named him Leslie Lynch King, Jr. Soon after her marriage, Dorothy had discovered that her husband was abusive. In Omaha she further discovered he was a liar and alcoholic, but she was soon pregnant. With the support of his parents, she stayed with them and her husband until the birth of their son. After Leslie threatened her and the child with a knife a few days after the birth, Gardner King completed her plans to leave her husband.
Separation and divorce
Sixteen days after the birth of her son, Dorothy Gardner King left her husband. Divorce was unusual then, but she refused to continue to risk her son's safety or her own. She took Leslie, Jr. with her to the Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
home of her sister Tannisse and her husband, Clarence Haskins James. From there she moved to the home of her parents, Adele and Levi Addison Gardner, who had moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. That was where her son grew up.
Dorothy Gardner King quickly filed for formal separation and divorce. On December 19, 1913, an Omaha court granted a divorce to the Kings. Leslie King refused to pay child support. His father Charles Henry King
Charles Henry King
Charles Henry King was an Omaha businessman and banker who was instrumental in founding several cities in the states of Nebraska and Wyoming. He saw opportunity with the expansion of the railroad west and built up related retail businesses, banks and freight operations. His fortune was estimated...
paid it until shortly before his death in 1930.
Second marriage and family
Three years later, Dorothy married Grand Rapids businessman Gerald Rudolff FordGerald Rudolff Ford
Gerald Rudolff Ford was a Grand Rapids businessman and Republican politician who was the stepfather of U.S...
on February 1, 1917. They then called her first son Gerald Rudolff Ford, Jr., although he was not formally adopted by Ford. Gerald Ford, Jr. formally changed his name in 1935, in honor of his stepfather, the only father he really had. At the time, Ford adopted a more conventional spelling of his middle name. Later Ford recounted that his mother insisted he learn to control his temper, one he seemed to have inherited from his biological father.
Dorothy Ford bore three sons during her second marriage: Thomas Gardner Ford (July 15, 1918 - August 28, 1995), Richard Addison Ford (born June 3, 1924), and James Francis Ford (August 11, 1927 - January 23, 2001). All her children grew up with a rich relationship both with her parents, and with her husband and his family.
She and Gerald Ford, Sr. were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Grand Rapids.