My Genealogy Hound

HUGH FORRESTER, late of Bellevue, was born in Scotland, where he received his education, and on reaching, manhood he sailed to America, residing two years in Baltimore. In 1826 he came to Allegheny county, via the B. & O. R. R. as far as it was built, walking thence to Pittsburgh, where he soon formed a partnership with his brothers, John, Robert and James, in stone-contracting. A few years later they dissolved partnership, and he, with his brother James, continued the business until the death of the latter, about 1859, when Mr. Forrester took John Megraw into partnership, which continued until the retirement of the former in 1871. Mr. Forrester was one of the heaviest contractors at that time, and constructed many large buildings, among which were St. Andrew’s church, and the stonework of the first bridge over the Allegheny river, and the old penitentiary. In 1853 he moved to Bellevue and bought twenty acres of land, being the first sold off in town lots. Here he resided until his death, which occurred Dec. 26, 1885, when he was seventy-nine years of age, having amassed a large fortune. He was married, in 1834, to Nancy Ferguson, of Armstrong county, and to them were born six children. She died in 1843, and two years later Mr. Forrester married Mary Rodgers, who bore him ten children, eight of whom are yet living. She died in 1871, and he then married, in 1873, Ellen Henry, of Ohio, who now resides on the old homestead at Bellevue. Mr. Forrester was a member of the Sixth U. P. Church of Allegheny; he was well known and highly respected throughout the country.