Ferman Esco Fortenberry (1886 - 1952)

Born 18 Jun 1886 in Osyka, Pike, Mississippi, USA

Ancestors

Son of William Jackson Fortenberry and Canolia Ann Elizabeth (Simmons) Fortenberry

Husband of Nellie Mae (Simmons) Fortenberry — married 24 Dec 1913 in Pike County, Mississippi

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1952 at age 65 in Clarkston, DeKalb, Georgia, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Teresa Fortenberry [send private message]

Biography

Ferman was born 18 June 1886.

In 1909 at the age of 23, Ferman Fortenberry joined the U.S. Navy. Ferman was in the Navy until 1913 and while in, he kept a personal journal that in some places spoke of the history that was being experienced across the globe. One of the first ships Ferman was assigned to was the USS Pensacola, which, at the time, was a ship still with sailing masts AS WELL as having steam power! This ship was first laid out in 1859 and used by the Navy during the Civil War!

Ferman's second ship (a temporary assignment until he could be placed on an active vessel) was the USS Independence. This ship was completed in 1814 and in use during the War of 1812.

His permanent assignment came about a month later when he was assigned to the USS Tennessee, one of the newest ships the US Navy had to offer! In May of 1910, Ferman makes notes about the ship firing it's guns in salute for the death of England's king, Edward. In October, 1910, his ship was at Hampton Roads to pick up President Taft and make a fast run down to Panama for a Presidential visit to that country.... One MUST remember that in 1910, most "state of the art" naval ships were coaled!! They had to stop to re-supply the coal that would help propel the ship.

Selected entries from the PRIVATE LOG of F. E. Fortenberry

• My hair was cut short, it was very unpleasant to wash clothes, had several liberties in Frisco......" Dated 25 Aug, 1909 " Five months training, left Yerba Bund Island for U.S.S. Independence 4 Feb. 1910, 14 March 1910 overland to U.S.S. Tennessee at Bremerton, Washington."
• Crossed the Equator April 14th, 1910 at 11:30am. At this date and time I joined the Club and can never again be a land lubber. Ah, though, bought a Neptune Certificate.
• King Edward died May 7, 1910. Fired 68 1-minute gun salute May 8, 1910 National salute to King Edward's death.
• Tried to sail the same day in but couldn't as the fog was to heavy and had to return until the fog was cleared out. fog bells and whistles was all we could hear. The purpose of being in Portsmouth, N.H. so long was in Navy yard for repairs from Aug. 27, 1910 until Oct. 31, 1910. Had orders to get ready for President so we sailed for Hampton Roads and coaled ship, everybody anxious to get underway.
• (Nov. 6, 1910) The trip from Charleston, S.Car. to Colon, Panama was at full speed run to carry President Taft there, give him four days there and make it back with him in twelve days from the time of leaving so he could get back and look after some business....... Gee....
• (Nov. 17, 1910) All cleared up and ready for Pres. and staff to come aboard. Stopped at Cuba for Pres. to review target range, he was saluted each time leaving and coming aboard with 21 guns.
• (Same entry date) Arrived at Roads and before his departure he thanked the officers and crew for their strive to take and return him in the time he asked for, but gee it took work.
• April 15, 1912 Titanic disaster, everybody gone (?) over newspapers. The wires were all (buisy) busy. Tis a time to be long remembered. June 18, 26 birthday. Gave dinner on board.

More information may be found at:

• https://fortenberry.wordpress.com (please choose Ferman Fortenberry-Navy Years from the right side list)

Ferman Esco Fortenberry and Nellie Mae Simmons were married 24 December 1913. Nellie Mae was the daughter of William Eli Simmons, who was the son of George Washington Simmons, who was the son of Willis and Jane (Goslin) Simmons. Ferman Esco was the son of Canolia Simmons, who was the daughter of James Jackson Simmons, who was the son of Willis and Jane (Goslin) Simmons.

In the late 1910's and early 1920's, jobs were scarce in most of the country. Hearing the need for workers in the rice fields of Arkansas, Ferman moved his family into that state with hopes of permanent work. Arkansas opened one of it's first rice mills in 1906 and by 1910, it had opened four more mills. Unfortunately this didn't work out, so the family was moved to New Orleans, LA to work in the automotive industry. But when the unions began stirring up trouble for the workers, Ferman moved back to his home state of Mississippi and settled once again on farming.

Ferman Fortenberry family 1920 Arkansas

Ferman Fortenberry learned to build houses from his father, William Jackson Fortenberry. A number of houses in Pike County, Mississippi were built by William J. Fortenberry in the late 1800's and early 1900's. When family told him about the opportunities in the Atlanta, GA area, Ferman brought his family and his building skills to DeKalb County, Georgia. The SIX sons (there were no daughters) of Ferman and Mae Fortenberry organized a home building company, naming it in honor of their father, "F. E. Fortenberry and Sons".

Ferman Fortenberry died in 1952 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Sources

Personal log book of Ferman E. Fortenberry during his years in the U.S. Navy.

The Fortenberry Families of Southern Mississippi by Adrianne Fortenberry Criminger

The Silver Creek Simmons Families by Edna Simmons Campbell and Hansford Simmons.

Census records for Pike County, Mississippi 1900, 1920 (1910 census onboard the USS Tennessee) Census records for DeKalb County, Georgia 1940, 1950

Personal knowledge of Teresa Fortenberry

See also:

A great deal of information about Ferman Esco Fortenberry may be found at my sister's blog site:

• fortenberry.wordpress.com