Born into slavery, “Barney” escaped and made his way to Chicago via the Underground Railroad. There he married, and rechristened himself “Barney Lancelot Ford” after a name he’d seen on a locomotive. In 1860, Barney and his wife moved to Denver, established a successful hotel and restaurant business, lobbied for voting rights, and opened a school for black children. He was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame, and was the first African American to be nominated to the Colorado Territorial Legislature. His image hangs in the State Capitol Building, and an elementary school in Montebello is named in his honor.
acoloradopanorama.wordpress.com 