Mister Barney Ford A Portrait in Bistre by Forbes Parkhill Denver: Sage Books, (1963). First edition. The autobiography of Colorado businessman, civil-rights pioneer, and escaped slave Barney Launcelot Ford (1822-1902) by American writer Forbes Parkhill (1892-1974). Born in Virginia, the son of his white master and the house slave Phoebe, Barney was sold as a youth after his mother died (she had secretly taught him to read). While working on a riverboat, he jumped ship at Quincey, Illinois and made his way to Chicago with the help of the Underground Railroad. He married and the couple went to Nicaragua, where they opened the United States Hotel and Restaurant. Unfortunately, this was destroyed in the Nicaraguan Civil War (with U.S. "intervention"). The Fords returned to Chicago and opened a livery stable, which also functioned as part of the Underground Railroad for many years. In 1860 they went to Colorado during the Gold Rush, but ended up settling in Denver. Ford was soon very successful in business, owning a barbershop, restaurant and hotels. By the 1870's he was one of the wealthiest men in Colorado, and he made and lost several fortunes in his lifetime. Deep grey blue cloth boards with silver titles to spine. Pictorial dust jacket with red and black titles to front and spine. Fine; in a near fine dust jacket. Eight pages of b/w illustrations from photographs. Octavo; (5-3/4" by 8-3/4"). 218 pages, including index. FREE SHIPPING to USA PLEASE VIEW OUR STORE FOR MORE GREAT FIRST EDITION BOOKS THANKS!