Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 833 - 834

CHARLES N. FORWARD. Upon the principle that a limited area of land well cultivated is more desirable than a wide extent neglected, the subject of this sketch, since the spring of 1879, has given his attention mainly to his snug farm of eighty acres located on section 25, Afton Township. This place, a view of which is given in this work, invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler as one of the best appointed homesteads in the southwestern part of this county, It occupies a part of section 25, and is largely devoted to the raising of grain and stock. Mr. Forward, as an intelligent and enterprising citizen, is quite prominent in local affairs, serving as School Director for the last seven years in his district, and Road Overseer for some time. Politically, he votes with the Prohibitionists.

             Mr. Forward, a native of New York State, was born in Cayuga County, June 30, 1844, and is consequently in the prime of life. He is the offspring of an excellent old family, and the son of George and Sarah ((Jager) Forward, natives of Sussexshire, England. The father, born in 1808, departed this life at his home in Michigan, in September, 1884. He had followed farming all his days, and was notable among his neighbors as a man honest in his dealings, and of the strictest integrity. There were thirteen children in the parental household, of whom the record is as follows: George was first married to Miss Marian Deratt, who died leaving two children; his second marriage was with Miss Sarah Burnham; he is now carrying on butchering in Tampico, Ill. Charlotte became the wife of Lewis Booler, and died eighteen months after her wedding; William married Miss Belle Burnham, and is the father of six children; he is farming in Whiteside County, Ill. Frank married Miss Harriet Stalker, and is occupied at farming in Michigan; Edward was first married to Miss Elmira Foy, who died not long afterward, and his second wife was Miss Margaret Cranthan; Fanny is the wife of John Bunker, of this State; Charles N. was the fifth in order of birth; Mary Ann is the widow of Simeon Baird, and the mother of five children; Sarah died in infancy; Lewis married Miss Stella Sabin, and they are the parents of six children; he is carrying on farming and stock-raising in Kingman County, this State. Delbert married Miss Edith Harlow, and they have one child; he is farming in Clinton County, Mich. Two children died unnamed in infancy.

             The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools, which he attended mostly during the winter season, his services the balance of the year being utilized on the farm. After reaching his majority, he occupied himself at carpentering in Michigan, and seven years later was married, Sept. 10, 1872, to Miss Dulie Foss, who was born in Whiteside County, Ill., July 2, 1855. Mrs. Forward is the daughter of Harris and Martha (Berlin) Foss, the former born in New Hampshire, Aug. 14, 1823. The mother was a native of Ohio, and born April 8, 1827. They became early settlers of Illinois, but in 1868 moved to McPherson County, Kan., and there live retired from the labors of long and useful lives. They are the parents of eight children, of whom Sarah, the eldest, was born July 14, 1847; she is now the wife of John Griffin, a prosperous farmer and stockman of McPherson, Kan., and the mother of one child. Amanda was born April 7, 1850, and is the wife of Sylvester Jones, who is engaged in the livery business at McPherson; they have three children. DeWitt married Miss Leona Archer, and is employed as book-keeper by a hardware firm of Pratt City; Dulie, Mrs. Forward, was the next in order of birth; Olive was born Nov. 2, 1856, and is the wife of LeRoy Hill, who is carrying on farming in McPherson County; they have three children. Fred was born Oct. 21, 1864, and is operating a barber-shop in Hutchinson; Edward B., born in 1866, died in Illinois when about two years old; Rosa, born in 1868, died the year following.

             Mr. and Mrs. Forward are the parents of two bright children, a daughter and son: Annie Pearl, born Nov. 6, 1873, and Delbert, Aug. 27, 1876. They are pursuing their studies in the district school, and it is hardly necessary to say, constitute the hope and happiness of their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Forward are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Goddard, Kan.

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