Sewell Ford(1868-1946)
- Writer
Sewell Ford, who is best remembered for his "Torchy" and "Shorty
McCabe" stories, was born on 07 March, 1868, at South Levant, Maine,
the son of John F. and Susan "Lottie" Morrill Ford. Sewell spent much
of his youth in Cheboygan, Michigan, where his father was the local
postmaster. Later his family moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts, where
his father worked as a procurement clerk and Sewell studied Latin for
four years.
After abandoning an early ambition to be a smuggler, Sewell began his
career as a newspaper reporter in Haverhill. Later he would go on to
work as a reporter or editor on papers in Baltimore, Boston and New
York. The last fifteen of his thirty-five year newspaper career was
spent on the editorial staff of the American Press Association.
Sewell's first book "Horses Nine: stories of harness and saddle was
published in 1903 and was followed by "Truegate of Mogador, and other
Cedarton Folks" and "Shorty McCabe" in 1906. Over the next sixteen
years he would publish around twenty books, mostly "Torchy" and "Shorty
McCabe" stories.
On the evening of 5 December 1905, Sewell was reportedly among the
approximately 170 literary figures that attended
Mark Twain's 70th birthday party at
Delmonico's in New York City.
Sewell Ford died on 26 October, 1946, at Keene, New Hampshire. He was
survived by his wife, the former Lillian Mayberry Sylvester
(1868-1950), daughter Hazel and son Torry. After he retired from
writing Sewell pursued his dream of becoming an amateur painter by
traveling and studying abroad.
McCabe" stories, was born on 07 March, 1868, at South Levant, Maine,
the son of John F. and Susan "Lottie" Morrill Ford. Sewell spent much
of his youth in Cheboygan, Michigan, where his father was the local
postmaster. Later his family moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts, where
his father worked as a procurement clerk and Sewell studied Latin for
four years.
After abandoning an early ambition to be a smuggler, Sewell began his
career as a newspaper reporter in Haverhill. Later he would go on to
work as a reporter or editor on papers in Baltimore, Boston and New
York. The last fifteen of his thirty-five year newspaper career was
spent on the editorial staff of the American Press Association.
Sewell's first book "Horses Nine: stories of harness and saddle was
published in 1903 and was followed by "Truegate of Mogador, and other
Cedarton Folks" and "Shorty McCabe" in 1906. Over the next sixteen
years he would publish around twenty books, mostly "Torchy" and "Shorty
McCabe" stories.
On the evening of 5 December 1905, Sewell was reportedly among the
approximately 170 literary figures that attended
Mark Twain's 70th birthday party at
Delmonico's in New York City.
Sewell Ford died on 26 October, 1946, at Keene, New Hampshire. He was
survived by his wife, the former Lillian Mayberry Sylvester
(1868-1950), daughter Hazel and son Torry. After he retired from
writing Sewell pursued his dream of becoming an amateur painter by
traveling and studying abroad.