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- {geni:about_me} ''https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65195337/john-forney
''''Birth: Nov. 15, 1777
Elk Lick Township
Somerset County
Pennsylvania, USADeath: Sep. 6, 1846
Brothersvalley Township
Somerset County
Pennsylvania, USA
John Forney Sr. was the son of Joseph Forney and Barbara Yoder.He was a farmer and a Bishop and minister in the Church of the Brethren.(Beeghly book list death date 9-6-1846) John and Susanna Beeghly Forney had the following children:
Elizabeth:1805-Mar. Christian Boger
Jacob: 1807-Mar. Magdalene Landis
Samuel:1-24-1809 4-25-1890 Mar. Elizabeth Landis
Michael: 1-14-1811 3-20-1894 Mar. Rachel Horner
Catharina: 1-14-1813 5-24-1895 Mar. Michael Horner
John: 4-25-1815 2-6-1895 Mar. Eva Horner
Salome: 8-23-1817 11-25-1898 Mar. Abraham Miller
Joseph Sr: 4-19-1820 10-27-1890 Sarah Buechley first wife, Mary Saylor second wife
Daniel: 4-5-1824 7-26-1901 Mar. Anna Koontz
Elias: 10-11-1828 3-7-1905 Mar. Fannie Berkey
Peter: 11-28-1828 12-25-1915 Mar. Mary Blough
John 's bio at Church of the Brethen
https://archive.org/stream/historyofchurch00blou/historyofchurch00blou_djvu.txt
Family links:
Parents:
Joseph Forney (1744 - 1802)
Spouse:
Susanna Beeghley Forney (1786 - 1862)*
Children:
Samuel Forney (1809 - 1890)*
Michael Forney (1811 - 1894)*
John Christian Forney (1815 - 1895)*
Joseph Forney (1820 - 1899)*
Peter Forney (1828 - 1915)*
Siblings:
Catherine Anne Forney Gnagy (1774 - 1828)*
John Forney (1777 - 1846)
Peter Forney (1782 - 1871)*
(The book Brethren Of Western Pennsylvania lists his siblings as "There he grew up to manhood, with his three brothers, Abraham, Christian, and Peter, and some sisters)
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Blough Cemetery (Christian Blough)
Brothersvalley Township
Somerset County
Pennsylvania, USA
UNTITLED (DESCENDENTS OF JOSEPH FORNEY):
"Buried in Blough-Forney cemetery, Berlin, PA.
"John was Bishop in the Brethren Church. He died of dropsy."
( -- Copy obtained from Sharon Cline, 8/96)
PETITION OF JOHN FORNEY, NO. 6 -- 1802 (1806?)
"25th Aug 1806 Inquest awards of the time of holding by the [sheriff?] 10 days previous [orders?] to be given to the parties of the Guardians of such as may be under age (the lands to be [strike-out] particularly described?) in the Inquisition.
"To the Honorable John [?pring?] Esqs and his associates now sitting at Somerset for the County of Somerset - At August 1800 ---
"This Petition of John Forney son of Joseph Forney late of the township of Elk Lick in the County aforesaid deceased Respectfully [as herewith?] ---
"That your said Petitioner's father lately died Intestate leaving a widow [as? vig?] Barbara Forney and [Your?] seven children [vig?] Chatharine married to Christian Knagey John Forney your Petitioner, Elizabeth Forney Peter Forney Abraham Forney Nancy Forney and Christian Forney the two last of whom are still in their minority, and that the said Intestate [died? seized?] in [his? ole...?] as of fee of and in [?] certain [m...s?] good tracts of land with the appurtenances situate lying and being in Elk Lick Township in Somerset County aforesaid ---
"Your Petitioner therefore prays your honors to award [an?] Inquest to make partition of the [m...s?] aforesaid to and among the children and representatives of the said Intestate in such manner and in such proportions as by the laws of this Commonwealth is directed, if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole; but if such partition can not be made thereof, as aforesaid, then to [wr..? it?] and appraise the same, and make report of their [proceedings?] herein according to Law ---
"[A..s Your?] Petitioner [...?]
"John Forney"
Wm. Flory lists date of death as 6 Sep 1846. Lists source as W.G. Beeghly.
Minister, Elder - Brethren Encyclopedia, vol. 1, p. 466.
At his death he was the only elder at Conemaugh Congregation. Three of his sons, Michael, John Jr., and Peter were Brethren ministers.
Peter's obituary says he was the youngest of 12 children.
List of children from Robert C. Bowman, Manchester College: Elizabeth, Jacob, Samuel, Michael, Catharina, John Jr., Salome, Joseph, Daniel, Elias, Peter.
[Source: Jeremy Shuman and his father James, family knowledge, from an internet research on Beeghley name by Beatrice Horner Hayes 4/97.
Born on a farm near Salisbury, PA, John was one of the early bishops of the Brethren Church. About 1814 he was called to preach, later ordained as an elder. When Bishop Michael Moyer (Meyers) died in 1836, Elder Peter Cober and Elder Forney, Sr. were constituted bishops of the county jointly, each serving until his death. His youngest son Peter Forney in a letter to Jerome Blough wrote that he always had family worship, evening and morning. He wrote a good hand in both German and English, in German he signed his name "Fahrney", and in English "Forney". He was some kin to old Dr. Peter Fahrney, but how near he wasn't sure. His preaching always was sympathetic, he seemed to be tender-hearted. Three sons, Michael, John Jr., and Peter, were ministers and elders. These moved west. Others were deacons. Six grandsons and three great-grandsons by the name of Forney were ministers. He had several trades, carpenter and cooper. In his young days he was hewing timber, got very warm, went to the river, cut the ice, lay down and drank, and arose an afflicted man for his lifetime. He heard for weeks and months they thought every day would be his last. But he finally rallied, but had to do with it as long as he lived, and finally it turned into dropsy. The family of John Forney, Sr. lived on a farm in Brothersvalley Twp. until about 1840, when they moved to a farm on the west bank of Quemahoning Creek. He was the only elder in that branch of the church when he passed away. His body was laid in a lonely grave on the farm, but when the farm went out of the family's hands his body was moved to the Blough-Forney burying ground, near Berlin, where he and his wife lie buried side by side.
[Source: Two Centuries of the Church of the Brethren in Western PA 1751-1950, Brethren Publishing House 1953. Also, History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western Dist. of PA, 1916. Cited in Descendants of Johann Adam Buchele report by Beatrice Horner Hayes, Sumner, WA, 1997.]
The following from the book Brethren of Western Pennsylvania:
Jacob Beam was married to a Miss Anderson. They moved to the " Western Reserve," probably Holmes County, Ohio, wheretheir children were born and reared. When Isaiah, who was born December 28, 1817, was eight years old his mother died, leaving him to be pushed about anywhere. He made his way in the world as best he could, sometimes teaching school, sometimes carrying mail, and once for a while he was a conductor on the old Portage Railroad.
When he was 26 years of age he paid a visit to his uncles, Abraham and Hiram Beam, in Somerset County. He remained for some time, became acquainted with the family of Joseph Meyers and married his oldest daughter, Catharine, about the year 1845. The second year of his married life he lived in a house owned by John Forney, Sr., and ever after they were the best of friends. Forney was rather German and Beam was entirely English, and their associations together were mutually helpful, Forney acquiring the English language, and Beam the Pennsylvania Dutch. While living with Brother Forney he learned of the Brethren, and in 1847 he united with the church. He was Methodist, but is known to have said that he knew there ought to be a church like the Brethren when yet with the Methodists in Ohio. After leaving the Forney farm he bought eight acres of land upon which he erected a house and lived until 1858, when John Forney moved West, and Brother Beam bought his farm. This farm is a mile south of Jenners, in Jcnner Township. Here he lived till death. May 9, 1868, aged 50 years, 4 months and 11 days.
JOHN FORNEY, SR.
John Fornej^ Sr.. was born six miles south of Mcyersdale, near Salisbury, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1777. There he grew to manhood, with his three brothers, Abraham, Christian and Peter, and some sisters. He was married to Susannah Buechley, daughter of Elder John Buechley (Johann Michael Beeghly), of the Elk Lick church. To this union twelve children were born, nine sons and three daughters. Three sons, Michael, John, Jr., and Peter, were ministers and elders, and two sons, Daniel and Elias, deacons.
In 1817 he moved with his family to a large farm two miles north of Berlin, in Brothers Valley Township. Here he lived and reared his family till about 1840, when he moved to a farm on the West bank of the Quemahoning Creek, in Conemaugh Township, where he died August 31, 1846, aged 69 years, 9 months and 21 days. His widow died July 27, 1862, aged 75 3'ears, 11 months and 9 days.
After serving in the office of deacon for some years he was elected to the ministry in the Berlin church about 1830 (exact date not known), and with Peter Cober was ordained at a council at Berkley's, in October, 1836, " having a good report from those without as well as from those within." In 1840 he moved, as already stated, to Conemaugh Township, being the first and only elder in this arm of the church for six years, when he went to his reward. I have a letter from Elder Peter Forne3^ Glendale, Arizona, his youngest son, written April 4, 1914, when he was 84 years old, from which I quote: " I was the youngest one of the family, and I was very vain and foolish, ' cared for none of those things,' like GalHo, and my father died before I was eighteen. As to where he was born, or what his father's and mother's names were, or of what nationality he was I know absolutely nothing I heard him say that he and Peter Cober were elected to the deaconship at the same time, then chosen to the ministry, advanced to the second degree, and ordained to the eldership together, and they worked together, shoulder to shoulder, as long as they lived, without a clash. Father's preaching always was sympathetic. He seemed to be tender-hearted. I do not know that I ever heard him preach without shedding tears himself, as well as his congregation. As to how deep or shallow he was, 1 am not able to say. He always had family worship, evening and morning, and asked a blessing and returned thanks at meals, morning, noon and evening. I heard him say that by request he preached one funeral in English. He wrote a good hand, both in German and English. In German he signed his name Fahrney, and in English, Forney. He always kept a book of all his business with all with whom he had dealings. He was some kin to old Dr. Peter Fahrney, but how near 1 know not.
" He had several trades, carpenter and cooper. In his young days he was hewing timber, got very warm, went to the river, cut the ice, lay down and drank, and arose an afflicted man for his lifetime. I have heard told that for weeks and months they thought every day would be his last. But he finally rallied, but had to do with it as long as he lived, and finally it turned into dropsy.
" In March, 1846, he was called to preach a funeral across Stony Creek, near where Hooversville now is located. He went horseback. Next morning when he dressed himself he noticed that his feet were swollen a little. He pressed his thumb on the swelling and a dint remained. 'Why,' said he, 'they say that is dropsy.' He finished dressing and went aliout his work as usual. The next morning it was worse, and so it continued day by day until finally his legs burst open. His suffering was intense at times, and lasted till he died. So we are going down the valley one by one. My letter is somewhat fragmentary. I was out of fix for several days, so I could not write. Under the circumstances 1 did the best I could. 1 do not know whether my scril)bling will be of any use to you or not."
His body was laid in a lonely grave on tiie I'arni, but after the farm went out of the family's hands his body was removed to the Blough-l'^ofney burying ground, near Berlin, where he and his wife lie buried side by side.
Few men have the honor of being the ancestor of so long a line of ministers. Three sons, six grandsons and three great- prrandsons by the name of Forney were and are ministers. That was eight years ago. Probably there are more now.
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1777 - 1846 (68 years)
