My Genealogy Hound

Capt. B. F. Forney, late a retired merchant at Hope. Capt. Forney, who was formerly one of the most extensive merchants in Ultima Thule, Sevier County, was born in Tennessee, in 1834, and received his education in the common schools of Maury County, supplementing the same by several terms at McKenzie College, Tex. While attending the last-named institution, the war broke out between Texas and Mexico, and Capt. Forney joined the Texas army, and engaged in the war with Mexico. He was mustered in at Austin, and served as a private in Capt. Smith’s company for four months. He was then mustered out at Austin. After this he studied law, and was licensed to practice in the circuit court of Paris, Tex., in 1858, and in the Supreme Court of Arkansas in 1865. He came to the last-named State in 1862, locating in Sevier County, and practiced his profession at Paraclifta until the county seat was removed to Lockesburg, when he removed to that place, and continued practicing until 1883. He then went to Ultima Thule, and was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1885, when he removed to Hope, Hempstead County, after which he received a paralytic stroke, in the same year. He was married in 1860, to Miss Catherine A. De P. Greene, a native of Arkansas, born in 1843, and whose parents were natives of New York City and Missouri, the father of the former, and the mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Holman, of the latter State. The father came to Arkansas in 1840 or 1841, and was engaged in merchandising at Rocky Comfort. He died in 1856, but the mother is still living, and resides in Sevier County. In 1874 Capt. Forney was elected State Senator from the Twenty-second District (counties of Howard, Sevier, Little River and Polk), and was there one term. He was recognized among the people of Hempstead County as one of its representative and substantial citizens, being held in high esteem by all acquainted with him. He was a large land owner, having several farms in this and adjoining counties, and up to the time of his affliction was quite an active politician, being a strong adherent to the Democratic party. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Captain joined the Confederate army, and was body-guard to John McCollough. He was first lieutenant of Capt. Bennett’s company, and was on the east side of the river for some time. At the reorganization of the Confederate army he came west, and while in the service of the Western army, participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and numerous skirmishes east of the river. The parents of Capt. Forney were John and Luvenia (Webb) Forney. The father was one of the earliest settlers of Maury County, Tenn., emigrating to that county about the same time that Col. J. Smith did, and they were the first permanent settlers of the same. Mr. Forney was the owner of considerable land and quite a number of negroes. However, he made a specialty of flat-boating, on Duck River. He died in 1848. Capt. B. F. Forney died April 29, 1890, at his home in Hope, Hempstead County, Ark., of paralysis, having had the third stroke, and is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery, near that place. Even time cannot efface the recollection of his worthy career in this locality. His loss will continue to be keenly felt, for all realize that a good citizen and neighbor has been called home.