Fifty for 150: Colorado Black civic leader, businessman Barney Ford dies in 1902

Barney Ford, one of Colorado’s early Black leaders in business and civic life, was among the most influential residents in the years surrounding the state’s admission to the United States. He was born to a white plantation owner and enslaved woman in 1822 in South Carolina and ran to freedom when he was around 18 […]

By: Sara Wilson

Outlets: Colorado Newsline

Published: July 21, 2026

Words: 772

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 2 days ago

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Barney Ford, one of Colorado’s early Black leaders in business and civic life, was among the most influential residents in the years surrounding the state’s admission to the United States.

This story is part of Colorado at 150. Each Fifty for 150 story focuses on an event that helped define Colorado over 150 years of statehood. Newsline is publishing one Fifty for 150 story every weekday in reverse chronological order …

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