John Horace Forney (1829 - 1902)

Born 12 Aug 1829 in Lincolton, Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Septima Sexta Middleton (Rutledge) Forney — married 5 Sep 1863 in Talladega County, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Sep 1902 at age 73 in Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama, United States

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Biography

John Forney is Notable.

General John Forney served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Apr 21, 1861
Mustered out: Jun 20, 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 10th Alabama Infantry Regiment

General John Forney was WIA during the United States Civil War.

Families such as Forney, Ramsaur and Johnston were pioneering families and those families provided those that defended the country that they emigrated to live in. At first, America was a Colony of Great Britain, and at first, tobacco was king, but then it was cotton, both were primary products of the Southern States and both relied on slavery. France, which had close ties to America, abolished slavery in 1774 but did reinstall it in 1802 under Napoleon, Great Britain followed within the country, but not in its Colonies. Then Great Britain suffered the defeat of the American Revolution.

John Brown was the main instigator of Abolishment in America, not to mention that John Brown's father had an apprentice called Ulysses S. Grant during the 1830s. Slavery in America was to end within 30 years, and America was once again to go to war, but this time it was not like the revolution, it was cousin against cousin, brother against brother and sometimes father against son, And the Forney's, Ramsaurs's and Johnson's not only had the enlisted men, but the Generals. The American Civil War was very profitable for some members of the British Parliament, cotton cost more and American Southern States needed the Enfield Rifle and the Minié balls.

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Early Life

John Horace Forney was born August 12, 1829, in Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina. He was the son of Jacob Forney and Sabina Swope Hoke. He was the younger brother of Brigadier General William H. Forney, first cousin of General Robert Daniel Johnston, and second cousin of Major Generals Robert Frederick Hoke and Stephen Dodson Ramsour, all would hold commissions in the Confederate States Army.

John Horace's family moved to Alabama when he was about 7 years old. He was educated at a military college. He later was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated 24th in his class in 1852.^[1]

Military Service, Civil War Era

After graduation from West Point in 1852, John Forney received a commission in the Army, where he served in the 7th US Infantry. He resigned in 1861 to serve in the Confederate States Army as Colonel of the 10th Alabama Infantry Regiment. The 10th fought in the First Battle of Manassas and John was wounded in Dranesville, Virginia in December 1861.^[2][3]

On March 14, 1862, John Horace Forney was promoted to Brigadier General, and on October 27, 1862, he was promoted again to the rank of Major General. Afterward, General John Horace Forney was assigned to the Department of South Alabama and West Florida, with headquarters in Mobile, Alabama.

In the summer of 1863, under Brigadier Generals Louis Hebert and John C. Moore, he led a division of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas troops at Vicksburg and was captured. He was paroled in July 1863.

He then commanded a parole camp in Enterprise, Clarke County Mississippi. From July 1864 until the end of the war, he commanded a division of troops in the District of Texas under General John B. Magruder. General John Horace Forney was paroled in Galveston, Texas on 20 June 1865.^[4][5]

John's early ranks, dates of appointment, and assignments are listed below. This is from the USMA records, and they have no facts on his Civil War service.^[6]

July 1, 1862 (after graduation from USMA) - Bvt. Second Lieut., 7th Infantry, US Army

Oct. 24, 1853 - Second Lieut., 7th Infantry, US Army,

Aug. 25, 1855- First Lieut., 10th Infantry

John's duty assignments.

Newport Barracks, Ky., 1852‑54

Ft. Gibson, I. T., 1854‑55

On Recruiting service, 1855, transferred to 10th Infantry, US Army

On Frontier duty at Ft. Crawford, Wis., 1855‑56

Expedition to the Red River of the North, 1856,

Ft. Snelling, Min., 1856‑57

Utah Expedition, 1857‑59

Military Academy, as Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics, Nov. 12, 1860, to Jan. 23, 1861

Resigned, Jan. 23, 1861. Joined in the Rebellion of 1861‑66 against the United States

Civil History — Civil Engineer and Farmer in Alabama from 1865 to 1902.

Marriage / Children

During the war, John married Septima Sexta Middleton Rutledge on September 5, 1863, in Talladega County, Alabama.^[7]

Children of General John Horace Forney and Septima Sexta Middleton Rutledge: ^[8]

1. Emma Rutledge Forney 1864 - 1953. ^[9]
2. Jacob Forney 1868 - 1902.
3. Mary Caroline Forney 1871 - 1939. ^[10]
4. Sabina Swope Forney 1873 - 1966 ^[11]
5. Annie Rowan Forney 1876 - 1974 ^[12]
6. Catherine Theresa Forney 1879 - 1881. Died Young

Death / Burial

John passed away on September 13, 1902, at the age of 73 and has a large memorial and informational marker at Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama.^[13]

John's obituaries contain the following information.^[14][15][16]

• Died at home in Jacksonville, Alabama after a short illness
• Was the Colonel of the 10th Alabama when he entered the service
• Was the brother of the late W. H. Forney, a member of congress
• Father of Professor Jacob Forney of Alabama State University.
• Will be buried with Masonic honors.
• Confederate veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy will attend the funeral
• Survived by his wife and several children
• He had been a resident of Jacksonville, Calhoun County for over 50 years
• John had been wounded in service and was promoted to Major General after recovering.
• His brother succeeded him as Colonel of the 10th Alabama

Research Notes

In the 1850 census of West Point Cadets, John is listed as born in Alabama. This is likely in error as other census reports indicate North Carolina and the 1900 census lists South Carolina. Census birth locations are listed below with the anomalies in bold font.

• 1850 - Alabama
• 1860 - South Carolina
• 1870 - South Carolina^[17]
• 1880 - North Carolina
• 1900 - South Carolina

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: MCB1-QQH : accessed 1 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6R73-8BF
   John H Forney (20) in Cornwall, Orange, New York, United States. Born in Alabama
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 10; Digital film/folder number: 004202541; FHL microfilm: 444289; Image number: 352; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01109-4.
2. ↑ Bio by Sons of Confedrate Veterans (NC): "Quick Facts: JHF," Sons of Confederate Veterans, 'North Carolina Division; Citing General John Horace Forney. Online at (http://www.ncscv.org/john-horace-forney, : accessed November 1, 2023)
3. ↑ Military Service Record – Fold3: "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Alabama," The National Archives, Pub No. M311, CatID 586957, Rcd Grp 109, Roll 193. Forty-one pages in file, imaged at fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/8231189 : accessed November 1, 2023)
4. ↑ Book- Dictionary of North Carolina: Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: Vol. 2, D-G Author; William S. Powell. Publisher; Univ of North Carolina Press, 9 Nov 2000. Sketch of Gen John Horace Forney. Pages; 221 & 222.
5. ↑ Military: "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database
   (FamilySearch Record: FSQ5-SY9 : accessed 1 November 2023)
   Name John H. Forney, Military Service Date from 1861 to 1865, Military Service Place Alabama, United States, Miitary Beginning Rank Colonel, Miitary Final Rank Colonel, Miitary Side Confederate, Miitary Unit 10th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Misc Note _
   citing Affiliate Publication Title: Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Alabama.; Affiliate Publication Number: M374; Affiliate Film Number: 15; FHL microfilm: 821963; Record number: 543; Packet letter: C.
6. ↑ Service Facts at UChicago.edu: "George W. Cullum's Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, since its establishment in 1802," excerpt citing John Forney biography, online at (https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/Cullums_Register/1557*.html : accessed November 1, 2023).
7. ↑ Marriage: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: 29FL-VNC : accessed 1 November 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9BLC-9MWC
   John H Forney marriage to Sephrina M Rutledge on 5 Feb 1863 in Talladega, Alabama, United States
   citing Page: 395; Digital film/folder number: 005205850_004_M99X-WV4; FHL microfilm: 001639298; Image number: 226.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4JX-FWT : Thu Oct 05 11:43:05 UTC 2023), Entry for J. H. Forney and S. S. K. Forney, 1880.
9. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKQ9-VZZ : Thu Nov 16 17:09:33 UTC 2023), Entry for Emma Rutledge Forney and John H. Forney, 1953.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDH-D7L : Fri Oct 06 07:43:33 UTC 2023), Entry for D P Forney and Sarah Forney, 1860.
11. ↑ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K79-91DB : 10 February 2023), John H Forney in entry for Sabina For Stevenson, .
12. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKSB-3J7 : Thu Nov 16 16:39:40 UTC 2023), Entry for Annie Rowan Forney Daugette and John H. Forney, 1974.
13. ↑ Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images
    (Find A Grave: Memorial #8848 : accessed 1 November 2023)
    Memorial page for John Horace Forney (12 Aug 1829-13 Sep 1902), citing Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
14. ↑ Newspaper Obituary - The Atlanta Journal: "Gen. John H. Forney, Civil War Hero, Dead: Obituary", The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, 14 September 1902, Page 7, Newspapers Clip: 134466320
15. ↑ Newspaper Obituary - The Birmingham Times: "General John H. Forney Dead", The Birmingham Times, Birmingham, Alabama, 19 September 1902, Page 6, Newspapers Clip: 134466730
16. ↑ Newspaper Obituary - The Anniston Star: "Another Landmark: Gen. J. H. Forney Dies at Jacksonville.", The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama, 14 September 1902, Page 1, Newspapers Clip: 134467453
17. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census," database with images
    Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 7163 #13002320 : accessed 1 November 2023)
    John Fama (41), Farmer, in Township 17 Range 7, Talladega, Alabama. Born in North Carolina
    citing Year 1870, Census Place Township 17 Range 7, Talladega, Alabama, Roll M593_41, Page 463A.

See Also:

• Newspaper Article on Forney Brothers "Forney's Confederate Contributions Rank Among Greatest Of Conflict", The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama, 29 November 1957, Page 28, Newspapers Clip: 134468432
• Biography at UChicago.edu "George W. Cullum's Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, since its establishment in 1802," excerpt citing John Forney biography, online at (https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Army/USMA/AOG_Reunions/35/John_H_Forney*.html accessed November 1, 2023.
• 1900 Census "United States Census, 1900," database with images (FamilySearch Record: M9ZY-XJ6 : accessed 1 November 2023) FamilySearch Image: S3HT-XXF9-FWL John H Forney (71), married head of household in Election Precinct 1 Jacksonville, Calhoun, Alabama, United States. Born in South Carolina citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 33; Digital film/folder number: 004119969; FHL microfilm: 1240005; Image number: 289; Sheet number: 7; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00821-8.
• Published Genealogy "History of the Swope family and descendants of Rockingham County, Virginia," Swope Family History Committee, McClure Print. Co. Verona, Va., 1971. Imaged at archive.org (https://archive.org/stream/historyofswopefa00swop#page/212/mode/2up : accessed November 1, 2023) Originally Compiled and Edited by Gilbert Ernest Swope. Lancaster, PA.: T.B. & H.B. Cochran, Printers. 1896. Page 213 and 214.
• Image of John Horace Forney "Civil War Glass Negatives and Related Prints," Library of Congress, Washington, DC, n.d. database with images, online at LOC (https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002710123/ : accessed November 1, 2023)
• Newspaper Article: Camp J B Martin Camp J B Martin No. 292 U.C.V. has first meeting and enrolls original members, Jacksonville Republican, Jacksonville, Alabama, 3 June 1893, Page 2, Newspapers Clip: 89072688 accessed November 1, 2023. citing Jno H. Forney