Research Guide: Ford Motor Company Stockholders and Stock, 1903-1956

Answer

The Original Stockholders
Ford Motor Company Articles of Association, June 16, 1903

Henry Ford, 255 shares.
Henry Ford was Chief Engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company in Detroit before starting his first automobile company, Detroit Automobile Company, in 1899, followed by Henry Ford Company in 1901. After both ventures failed, Ford tried again, incorporating the Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903. 
 

Alexander Malcomson, 255 shares.
Alexander Malcomson was a coal merchant in Detroit who met Ford when he worked at Edison Illuminating. Malcomson financed some of Ford's early ventures, including the 999 racer, and in 1902 signed a partnership with Ford under Ford & Malcomson which later became Ford Motor Company.
 

John S. Gray, 105 shares.
John S. Gray was Alexander Malcomson's uncle and the president of the German-American Bank in Detroit. After investing a large amount of cash early in the company's history, he was named the first president of Ford Motor Company. 
 

     

John F. Dodge, 50 shares. Horace E. Dodge, 50 shares.
John and Horace Dodge had one of the best machine shops in the Midwest when Ford contracted them to supply chassis, transmissions, and axles for his vehicles in early 1903. They played a vital role as a supplier in Ford Motor Company's early years.
 

Albert Strelow, 50 shares.
Albert Strelow was one of the largest painting and carpentering contractors in Detroit and rented out one of his wagon shops to Ford and Malcomson at Park Place in Detroit in 1902 to start their automobile venture.
 

Vernon Fry, 50 shares.
Vernon Fry was Alexander Malcomson's cousin.
 

Charles H. Bennett, 50 shares.
Charles H. Bennett was the president of Daisy Air Rifle in Plymouth, Michigan. He was approached by Ford and Malcomson to purchase stock in the new company after he showed an interest in their automobile. 
 

John Anderson, 50 shares.
John Anderson was Alexander Malcomson's lawyer. He borrowed $5,000 from his father to invest in the company. 
 

Horace Rackham, 50 shares.
Horace Rackham was John Anderson's law office partner. He borrowed part of his investment from the Michigan Savings Bank.
 

James Couzens, 25 shares. 
James Couzens was a clerk in Alexander Malcomson's office when he met Henry Ford in 1902. He was named secretary of Ford Motor Company when they incorporated in 1903 and later went on to be general manager. Part of his shares represented his sister, Rosetta Couzens', investment of $100.
 

Charles Woodall, 10 shares. 
Charles Woodall was Alexander Malcomson's bookkeeper at his coal company. 

Timeline of Stock Sales and Stockholder Changes

  • 1905 Albert Strelow sold his 50 shares to James Couzens
  • 1906 Charles Woodall sold his 10 shares to Henry Ford
  • 1906 Charles Bennett sold his 50 shares to Alexander Malcomson
  • 1906 Alexander Malcomson sold his 255 shares to Henry Ford (of Bennett's shares, sold 35 to James Couzens and 15 to Henry Ford)
  • 1907 John Gray dies, left 1 share to his son David, the rest to his estate
  • 1907 Vernon Fry sold his 50 shares to Henry Ford
  • 1908 Capital stock of Ford Motor Company increased from $150,000 to $2,000,000. Each original share now increased to 20 shares.
  • 1919 Stockholders
    • Henry Ford, 11,700 shares.
    • David Gray / Gray Estate, 2,100 shares.
    • John F. Dodge, 1,000 shares.
    • Horace E. Dodge, 1,000 shares.
    • Horace Rackham, 1,000 shares.
    • John Anderson, 1,000 shares.
    • James Couzens, 2,200 shares. (20 shares are owned by Rosetta Couzens Hauss)

1919 Henry Ford buys out stockholders (8,300 shares)

  • 1919 Eastern Holding Company incorporated, 1000 shares
  • 1919 Ford Motor Company, Delaware incorporated, expanded to 1,000,000 shares
  • 1919 Henry Ford and Son, Dearborn Publishing Company, Dearborn Realty and Construction, and Hamilton and Rossville Hydraulic Company incorporated into Ford Motor Company, shares reconfigured (172,645 shares)

1919 Ford Motor Company of Delaware Stockholders

Henry Ford, 95,321 shares.
Henry Ford was the president of Ford Motor Company from 1906-1919. He remained the majority stockholder throughout his lifetime.
 

Edsel B. Ford, 71,911 shares.
Edsel Ford served as secretary of Ford Motor Company before being named president in 1919, a role he served until his death in 1943.
 

Clara B. Ford, 5,413 shares.
Clara Ford was the wife of Henry Ford and held a minority of company stock until her death in 1950.

  • 1935 stock converted from 172,645 shares to 3,452,500 shares and split into Class A and Class B stock
    • 3,279,875 Class A non-voting common stock (95%)
    • 172,625 Class B voting stock (5%)
  • 1935 Ford Motor Company stockholders
    • Henry Ford 1,898,875 shares.
    • Edsel Ford 1,432,787 shares.
    • Clara Ford 120,837 shares.
       

1936 Ford Foundation Established

  • 1943 Edsel Ford dies
    • Class A shares go to Ford Foundation
    • Class B shares go to wife, Eleanor Clay Ford, and children, Henry Ford II, Benson Ford, Josephine Ford, William Clay Ford
  • 1947 Henry Ford dies
    • Class A shares go to Ford Foundation
    • Class B shares go to grandchildren, Henry Ford II, Benson Ford, Josephine Ford, William Clay Ford
  • 1950 Clara Ford dies
    • Class A shares go to Ford Foundation
    • Class B shares go to grandchildren, Henry Ford II, Benson Ford, Josephine Ford, William Clay Ford
  • 1950 Ford Motor Company stockholders
    • Ford Foundation 3,089,908 shares Class A common stock
    • Eleanor Clay Ford, Henry Ford II, Benson Ford, Josephine Ford, William Clay Ford 172,625 shares Class B voting stock

1950 Ford Motor Company Class B Stockholders

Eleanor Clay Ford
Eleanor Clay Ford was Edsel Ford's wife and inherited a portion of his Class B stock at his death.
 

Henry Ford II
Henry Ford II was Edsel Ford's son and Henry Ford's grandson and inherited Class B stock from both of them when they died.
 

Benson Ford
Benson Ford was Edsel Ford's son and Henry Ford's grandson and inherited Class B stock from both of them when they died.
 

Josephine Ford
Josephine Ford was Edsel Ford's daughter and Henry Ford's granddaughter and inherited Class B stock from both of them when they died.
 

William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford was Edsel Ford's son and Henry Ford's grandson and inherited Class B stock from both of them when they died.
 

1956 Public Sale of Stock

  • 1955 stocks reassigned and split
    • Class A split 15 for 1 and divided into two classes
      • 36,132 239 Class A non-voting stock
      • Common stock (see below)
    • Class B split 21 for 1, 2/5 of voting rights 
    • Common stock, 10,200,000 shares with 3/5 of voting rights
  • 1955, November 7 sale of Common Stock announced
  • 1956, January 17 trading of Common Stock begins
  • 1956, January 26 distribution of Common Stock
     

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  • Last Updated Dec 02, 2024
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