(IV) George Frederick Fordon, a member of the third generation of his family in this country, is a well known farmer and fruit grower in Geneva, Ontario county, New York. He is descended from a family engaged in agriculture in England for many generations. Continuing the excellent and proven methods in vogue in that country for many years, he has supplemented them by adopting the most modern ideas that have been evolved in the cultivation of the soil and bringing its products to the highest state of perfection. In this direction, Mr. Fordon has been especially progressive, and the excellence of the output from his farm has earned him more than a merely local reputation, and his methods have found many imitators.
George Frederick, eldest child and only son of William and Honor Matilda (Durrant) Fordon, was born in the town of Seneca, Ontario county, New York, January 11, 1850. His education was acquired in the country district schools and in Geneva high school. As he had always been of an ambitious disposition, it is needless to say that he made the best use of his time in these institutions. His spare time was spent in supplementing the education thus obtained, and the habits of study acquired in his youth have been retained throughout his life. After his graduation he commenced teaching in Country District School No. 7, in the towns of Geneva and Seneca, during the winter months, while his summers were spent in assisting his father in the cultivation of the homestead farm. This period covered the years from 1869 until 1876. He then purchased a farm of his own, removed to it, and engaged in general farming and fruit growing, in which field he has been eminently successful. While retaining the methods which time has proved to be best suited to that latitude and climatic conditions, he makes a study of scientific farming and grafting, and, in some instances, has achieved results which are little short of marvellous. For many years he took charge of the entire farm alone, but in more recent time he has admitted his eldest Son to a partnership, and they now (1910) work hand in hand. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, but has held no public offices with the exception of those of school trustee and inspector of elections. He and his family are members of the Episcopal church.
Mr. Fordon married in Geneva, New York, November 1, 1876, Caroline Elizabeth, born in Seneca, New York, a daughter of William and Eliza (Newberry) Tills, the former a farmer and nurseryman, and whose other children are: Edward R., Lucy Alice and William N. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Fordon: 1. William Frederick, born October 8, 1877; graduated from Geneva high school, and is now (1910) in partnership with his father. He married, January 30, 1901, Jessie Baxter, and has children: Christine Honor, William Frederick Jr., Helen Dorothy and John Cameron. 2. Lucy Eliza, born October 18, 1899, was graduated from Geneva high school, and resides at home. 3. Sarah Frances, born July 30, 1882; graduated from Geneva high school and Geneseo Normal School, and is now (1910) occupied in teaching in the Amsterdam public schools, New York. 4. George Edward, born November 13, 1883; graduate of Geneva high school, now (1910) in the employ of the White Springs Farm Dairy Company. 5. Caroline Matilda, born July 20, 1886, graduated from Geneva high school, and from Elmira College in the class of 1910; she is now (1910) a member of the faculty of Miss Brownell’s Private School for Young Ladies, at Utica, New York. 6. Fanny Butler, born July lo, 1896, is a pupil at Geneva high school.