Page 176 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Ford Q. Elvidge

1944-1946

Most Worshipful Brother Ford Quint Elvidge was born in
Oakland, California on November 30, 1892. His early years
were spent in Oakland before moving with his parents and
brother in 1911 to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

He took a business course there and then later became an
articled student-at-law and entered upon the study of law in
Vancouver, B. C. Uninterested in joining the Canadian bar,
he moved to Seattle in 1916 and entered the University of
Washington. He was studying law there when the United
States entered World War I in 1917. Elvidge enlisted in the
US Army Reserve Corps. He was commissioned and sent to training as part of the US Medical
Corps, making it as far as Camp Mills in New York before the armistice ending the war went into
effect.

In March of 1918 he was called into active service, in August was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant
of Infantry (13th Inf., 8th Div.) and in November of the same year was commissioned 1st
Lieutenant. He did not get "across" during the War. On February 28, 1919, he was honorably
discharged from the Army at Hoboken, N. J. In 1918 he was admitted to the Bar of the State of
Washington and began working with the law offices of Tucker and Hyland in Seattle. Eventually
he founded Elvidge, Watt, Veblen & Tewell, remaining there until his retirement in 1974.

Ford is a Past Master of Arcana Lodge, No. 87, of Seattle. He was Grand Orator of the Grand
Lodge of Washington for the year 1940-1941, being elected Junior Grand Warden in 1941, and
advanced successively for meritorious service, culminating in his election as Grand Master in
1944. On his journey to the Grand East, our Most Worshipful Brother found himself in the position
of “Acting as Grand Master” due to the untimely death of his predecessor, Most Worshipful
Brother Donald Franklin Kizer.

He is a Past Wise Master of Washington Chapter of Rose Croix, Past Commander of Seattle
Consistory,
A. A. S. R. S. J., U. S. A. In December of 1943 the Thirty-third Degree of Scottish Rite Masonry
was conferred upon him. Ford is a Past President of the Seattle High Twelve Club; a member of
Nile Temple,
A. A. O. N. M. S.; member of the National Sojourners and Heroes of 76 (Puget Sound Chapter,