Charlene Margaret Forney, b. 10 January 1914 in Mound City, Missouri, d. 7 October 1993 in Springfield, Missouri

Father: Moss Howard Forney, b. 11 May 1882 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 15 August 1949 in Mound City, Missouri
Mother: Nellie Kreek (2), b. 10 May 1887 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 2 May 1975 in Mound City, Missouri

Spouse: Walter Etson Redmon, b. 23 October 1911 in Almartha, Ozark County, Missouri, d. 27 January 1990 in Springfield, Missouri

Father: George Granville Redmon, b. 24 February 1881 in Craig, Missouri, d. 22 June 1938 in Fairfax, Missouri
Mother: Sarah Alma Piland, b. 6 December 1888 in Almartha, Missouri, d. 1 August 1978 in Maryville, Missouri
Walter grew up around Fairfax, Missouri, and attended college in Maryville for two years. In 1940, he moved his family to Ozark County where he bought the Piland family farm from his mother, Alma. He farmed during World War II. In 1945, he became an agent for Production Credit Association, serving in Ozark, Douglas and Texas counties for 16 years. He moved his family to Houston, Missouri, in the fall of 1951. Walter was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Houston, Missouri, and was also on the school board for several years. In early 1961, he quit working for PCA and worked for the Bank of Houston until June when he moved his family to Simmons, Missouri, where he bought a small grocery store. He ran the store for a short time before finally surrending to the Ministry. He was a Southern Baptist pastor, serving principally at Simmons Baptist Church which he helped to reestablish. He retired in 1983 and moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he joined the South Haven Baptist Church in 1984. Walter was, above all, a man of integrity with a total commitment to his Lord, Jesus Christ.
Married 21 October 1934 in Mound City, Missouri.

Children: To help insure the privacy of living individuals, they are not listed.

Moss Howard Forney, b. 11 May 1882 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 15 August 1949 in Mound City, Missouri

Father: Solomon Benjamin Forney, b. 11 November 1833 in Mt. Eaton, Wayne County, Ohio, d. 18 January 1927 in Oregon, Missouri
Mother: Cassandra Taylor, b. 3 March 1839 in Coshocton County, Ohio, d. 22 May 1916 in Oregon, Missouri

Spouse: Nellie Kreek (2), b. 10 May 1887 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 2 May 1975 in Mound City, Missouri

Father: Thomas Orrick Kreek, b. 1 September 1861 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 13 September 1940 in Oregon, Missouri
Mother: Malcolm (Mallie) Carothers, b. 28 July 1865 in Clarence, Missouri, d. 1945 in Oregon, Missouri
Nellie was born at Cracker's Neck which is now the Highland neighborhood. Nellie and Moss were married at her home. She was wearing her graduation dress.
Married May 1905 in Holt County, Missouri.

Children:

  1. Fern Edith Forney, b. 19 July 1906 in Mound City, Missouri, m. George Earl Brown, 13 November 1925, d. 26 February 1983 in Mound City, Missouri
  2. Solomon Orrick Forney, b. 11 February 1908 in Mound City, Missouri, m. Louise M. Ottman, 1936 in Mound City, Missouri, d. 14 January 1983 in Mound City, Missouri
  3. Merrill Howard Forney, b. 23 February 1912 in Mound City, Missouri
  4. Charlene Margaret Forney, b. 10 January 1914 in Mound City, Missouri, m. Walter Etson Redmon, 21 October 1934 in Mound City, Missouri, d. 7 October 1993 in Springfield, Missouri
  5. Sara Frances Forney, b. 9 August 1924 in Mound City, Missouri, m. Sammy Kunkel in Mound City, Missouri

Solomon Benjamin Forney, b. 11 November 1833 in Mt. Eaton, Wayne County, Ohio, m. Ellen Elizabeth Acton, 28 March 1855 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 18 January 1927 in Oregon, Missouri

Father: Peter Forney, b. 9 August 1782 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, d. 8 October 1871 in Holt County, Missouri
Mother: Frances Gundy, b. 15 January 1795 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, d. 20 April 1873 in Holt County, Missouri

Solomon came to Holt County, Missouri, in 1849 in company with his father, Peter and mother Frances and 41 other men, women, and children. Taking a boat at Steubensville, Ohio, they came down the Ohio River to Cairo, IL, up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri, and up the Missouri River to St. Joseph, Missouri. They were passengers on the steamer "Ben West." The boat sank near Boonville, Missouri, and the party spent three weeks ashore there until another steamer could be secured for St. Joseph, Missouri. Enroute, Mrs. Josiah Grim and a child of Joseph Forney, died of Cholera, and were buried in St. Joseph, Missouri. From there the colony of settlers made their way by wagon, horseback and on foot to Holt County, Missouri, and, upon reaching the Nodaway River, were again delayed. The tiny stream was at flood stage and nearly a mile wide at the crossing.

Solomon made several land transactions before he finally settled, one of them being in Forbes Township where his wife, Ellen, assisted him in buying eighty acres by trading in her negress. Ellen died on September 14, 1855, having been married to Solomon for only six months. In 1859 he married Cassandra and they lived to see 57 maried years together.

Spouse: Cassandra Taylor, b. 3 March 1839 in Coshocton County, Ohio, d. 22 May 1916 in Oregon, Missouri

Father: William D. Taylor, b. 19 January 1816 in Coshocton County, Ohio, d. 1 February 1886 in Holt County, Missouri
Mother: Hannah ?, d. 1844
Married 4 January 1859 in Oregon, Missouri.

Children:

  1. Franklin Corsey Forney, b. 1860 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Nancy Ellen Weaver, d. 1940 in Oregon, Missouri
  2. Sarah Ellen Forney, b. 1861 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Jefferson Springer, 30 November 1882, d. 1932 in Mound City, Missouri
  3. Anna Margaret Forney, b. 1863 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Frank P. Gott, d. 1955
  4. Mary Frances Forney, b. 1865 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Benjamin E. Mohler, d. 1933
  5. Ida Bell Forney, b. 1867 in Oregon, Missouri, m. George Flory, d. 1916
  6. Hattie Jane Forney, b. 1868 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Ellsworth Thrasher, d. 1953
  7. Hannah Cassandra Forney, b. 1870 in Oregon, Missouri, m. George W. Mohler, d. 1967
  8. Leona M. Forney, b. 1872 in Oregon, Missouri, m. James Weightman, d. 1956 in Mound City, Missouri
  9. Gertrude Forney, b. 22 December 1874 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 2 April 1941 in Oregon, Missouri
  10. Willie (Billie) Forney, b. 18 June 1877 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 25 August 1878 in Oregon, Missouri
  11. Moss Howard Forney, b. 11 May 1882 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Nellie Kreek (2), May 1905 in Holt County, Missouri, d. 15 August 1949 in Mound City, Missouri
  12. Maude Pearl Forney, b. 1888 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Nathan King, d. 1979 in Mound City, Missouri

Peter Forney, b. 9 August 1782 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Christena Zug, ABT 1802 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, d. 8 October 1871 in Holt County, Missouri

Father: Joseph Forney (1), b. 1744 in Pennsylvania, d. April 1802 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania
The Forney Family: This name, so honorably known in America, emanates from several emigrant heads, all undoubtedly traceable to the ancestral family seat at Ferney, a town in the Department of Ain, on the border of France, near the city of Geneva. the name occurs prominently in French history. Some of this name of the Huguenot faith forsook their native land, because of the religious persecutions, and located in Switzerland and the Palatinate immediately adjacent; from whence they came to AmeriABT It is a significant fact that nearly all the immigrants of this name came in the company of Huguenots. While we are not prepared to say that all of the Forney immigrants were of Huguenot antecedents, it is established beyond a doubt that Peter Forney, Sr., who came to Lancaster County prior to 1733, must be designated as one. He is known to have come from the borders of France, near Geneva, which would incline to the belief that his home was at or near the town from which the family took it's name. The date of his arrival is not certainly known. In 1733 he obtained a warrant for land on Cocalico, where he died intestate in 1749, leaving five children and a considerable estate.

The descendants of Peter Forney, Sr., preserve many traditions of their Huguenot antecedents. Colonel John W. Forney, during a visit to France in 1875, had the pleasure of meeting several distinguished personages of his name who claimed kinship. Among the descendants of Peter Forney, Sr., were Colonel John W. Forney, Colonel Wien Forney, both of whom were born in Lancaster County.

The father of Jacob Forney (1721-1806) fled from France to the Palatinate, from whence the son came to Lancaster County, in Pennsylvania. He married Maria Bergner and, in 1754, moved to Lincoln County, N.C.. In Wheeler's History of that state, we learn that they were Huguenots. He and his sons, Jacob, Peter and Abraham, became very prominent. The son, General Peter Forney (1756-1834), served in the revolution and was one of the foremost men of the state; he was a member of Congress 1814-1815. His brother, Abraham (1758-1849), also served in the revolution and greatly distinguished himself at the battle of King's Mountain.

Johann Adam Forney, son of Christian and Madle Frick Forney, no doubt, was born at or near the village of Fahrni, Switzerland. Records show he was an apprentice tailor at Steffisburg, Switzerland. During this writer's (Howard G. Forney) trip (1963) and search of the records of the archives in the town of Wachenheim, Germany, it was found that Johann Adam owned large vineyards of #1 quality. His brothers, Christian, a vine dresser and Felix, who was six years younger and also a tailor by trade, lived at Wachenheim. Johann Adam Forney and his wife, Elizabeth Lowisa, with their four children arrived at Philadelphia on October 16, 1721. The name then was spelled "Farney" and his wife was listed as "Lowisa Farnison" Their first ten years were spent in Philadelphia County, after which the family located in 1734 in Conewage Settlement, or, as is sometimes called "Diggs' Choice." Today this is known as Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania.

There is an early tradition that three Forney brothers came together to America, but all the genealogists deny the statement. However, with all the traditions and statistics gathered from many, many Forney families in various countries, it should be proof beyond doubt that Peter, Jacob and Johann Adam Forney were very closely related and that they were all Huguenots.

The Forney family is believed to have originated in Switzerland or near there in southern Germany. The name was spelled Pharney, Fahrney, Forni, Farni, Fornie, Fahrni, etc., with the Americanized spelling Forney.

A study made of the family revealed all Forneys were related in some fashion. Helbert's Research Agency indicated a few years ago there were over 1,350 heads of households and approximately 4,500 persons in the United States bearing the name.

The original Forneys migrated to the Colony of Maryland in the 1750s. Later they moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. From there the direct line can be traced to Holt County, Missouri. There are few in numbers still residing in the area, but many related families are scattered over the region.

The Forneys helped shape history. John Forney was a noted radical in Congress after the close of the Civil War. He helped make Reconstruction in the South a painful subject.

In the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina there was a Forney Ridge. A visit to the battlefield in Vicksburg, Mississippi, revealed a marker honoring a Confederate general named Forney who participated in that battle.

We have not, as yet, connected our Peter Forney with these Forneys but, since he came from the same area, it is quite likely that he is related.

In the public library at Hanover, Pennsylvania, there is a room that has a huge display of Forney artifacts, including the Forney sword that may have been used in the revolutionary war, many pictures and letters. The Forneys were prominent people there. In the Gettysburg museum there is part of a Forney house that has a cannon shell through seven of the rafters on display. Also many artifacts from that farmstead.

Spouse: Frances Gundy, b. 15 January 1795 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, d. 20 April 1873 in Holt County, Missouri

Father: Joseph Gundy, b. ABT 1750 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. ABT 1823 in Harrison County, Ohio
Mother: Veronica Kauffman, b. ABT 1756 in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Married 20 March 1823 in Harrison County, Ohio.

Children:

  1. Joseph Forney (2), b. May 1824 in Harrison County, Ohio, m. Mary Breninger, m. Eliza Jane (Louisa) Coon, 2 June 1854 in Holt County, Missouri, d. 25 October 1909 in Falls City, Nebraska
  2. Martha Forney, b. 1826 in Ohio
  3. Abraham (A.P.) Forney, b. 1831 in Wayne County, Ohio, d. 24 February 1909 in Lawrence, Kansas
  4. Solomon Benjamin Forney, b. 11 November 1833 in Mt. Eaton, Wayne County, Ohio, m. Ellen Elizabeth Acton, 28 March 1855 in Oregon, Missouri, m. Cassandra Taylor, 4 January 1859 in Oregon, Missouri, d. 18 January 1927 in Oregon, Missouri

Joseph Forney (1), b. 1744 in Pennsylvania, d. April 1802 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Information from John Forney Estate papers 1802-1806.

According to information received from David Forney, CA, Joseph may have had the name Peter as well. The name would have been either Peter Joseph Forney or Joseph Peter Forney.

Children:

  1. Catherine Forney, b. 1774 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Christian Kneagy, d. 15 September 1828
  2. John Forney, Sr., b. 15 November 1777 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Susanna Beeghley
  3. Elizabeth Forney, b. 1779 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania, d. 1852
  4. Peter Forney, b. 9 August 1782 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Christena Zug, ABT 1802 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Frances Gundy, 20 March 1823 in Harrison County, Ohio, d. 8 October 1871 in Holt County, Missouri
  5. Abraham Forney (1), b. 1785 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Catherine Welty, d. 8 October 1825
  6. Nancy Ann Forney, b. 1785 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Daniel Zug
  7. Christian Forney (1), b. 13 March 1790 in Elk Lick Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania, m. Sarah Meese, d. 26 June 1859 in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawus County, Ohio



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