Mary "Minnie" Kingsford
Next in our series on notable and remarkable people from the area is Mary “Minnie” (Flaherty) Kingsford. Mary was the wife of local developer Edward G. Kingsford, first cousin to automobile manufacturer Henry Ford and aunt to another of our upcoming notable locals, Robert J. Flaherty.
In researching, we came across numerous descriptions of Minnie but one stood out and it seemed futile for us to try and give a glimpse into the life of this intriguing woman when there exists a beautiful description on the Find-a-Grave site by the late Gloria Boyce. Below are excerpts from Gloria’s description of Minnie Kingsford. We have also attached the link to the full description at the conclusion of this post so you can discover more about Minnie for yourself.
MARY FRANCES "MINNIE" (FLAHERTY) KINGSFORD
December 5, 1865 – May 8, 1943
Minnie Flaherty was christened Mary Frances Flaherty in Ontonagon in 1865, the last year of the Civil War. Minnie's mother had been born Nancy Ann Ford, sister of William Ford, who was the father of Henry Ford, the automotive genius. In other words, Minnie and Henry were first cousins and resembled one another greatly in appearance.
A small, thin, wiry woman with deep-set eyes and hair pulled straight back with a knot in the back, Minnie Flaherty's quick Irish wit, her engaging conversation and her capacity for trying new things made her a popular young lady. No doubt these qualities attracted a handsome young lumber cruiser from Lower Michigan named Edward George Kingsford, and they were married. Three children were born to them: Seibert, who died at the age of 4, Ted and Dorothy.
Henry Ford and his wife, Clara, were always close to his cousin Minnie. It was that relationship which led Henry Ford to locate an automotive plant just outside the boundaries of Iron Mountain. The mines had ceased to operate and the town faced a gloomy future. Without Minnie, there would have been no Kingsford.
She loved working in her garden along with her husband. Theirs was a rock garden, reported to be the loveliest in town. An avid reader, she never stopped learning until the day she died. If she were not sure of something, she looked it up. As a result, she was one of the most interesting conversationalists in Iron Mountain. She loved parties, bridge and company calling. Lavender and purple were her favorite colors – the pansy her favorite flower. Minnie looked forward so to the wedding of a special friend's daughter, intending to wear a new lavender chiffon dress for the occasion. On May 8, 1943, the day of the wedding, Minnie Kingsford died. To the end her mind was bright and alert. She extracted a promise from her children that they were not to tell the wedding guests about her death – to go to the festivities and say nothing so that the wedding would be a happy occasion, unspoiled by the sad news. Even in death, Minnie Kingsford remained in character. She was buried in the lavender chiffon dress.
Edward and Minnie Kingsford