illegal. The governor believed that he could not declare martial law for the punishment of citizens without admitting that free government had failed; and assuming despotism was necessary in its place." Death and legacy Ford initially moved back to the Hambaugh farm after his gubernatorial term ended, but soon moved to Peoria, Illinois. There, he wrote his magnum opus of early Illinois history, as well as attempted to care for his wife (who died of stomach cancer on October 12, 1850; aged 38) and young children, as well as his own tuberculosis. He died on November 3, 1850, about six weeks after joining the local Methodist Church. Because the career civil servant was destitute because he did not take bribes nor tolerate corruption, the local citizenry raised money to pay for his interment at Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, as well as fostered out his children among various neighbors. Ford's A History of Illinois (Chicago, 1854), was published posthumously and relates the state history from its founding in 1818 until 1847. Ford County, Illinois is named for him. Notes References Jones, Dan, "The Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and His Brother Hyrum" BYU Studies. See . Ford, Thomas, A History of Illinois (1995 edition with introduction by Rodney O. Davis. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. 1995). External links Illinois 2005–2006 Blue Book John Cushman Abbott Exhibit Supplement—includes a discussion of Ford and his book A History of Illinois, from its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847, and a downloadable pdf of the book. 1800 births 1850 deaths 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis Democratic Party governors of Illinois Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court History of the Latter Day Saint movement Mormonism-related controversies American people of the Black Hawk War Politicians from Peoria, Illinois People from Uniontown, Pennsylvania Tuberculosis deaths in Illinois 19th-century American judges