SAMUEL FORREY

FORREY, PARKER

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 3/9/2010 at 17:25:55

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, May 7, 1914

Ex-Judge SAMUEL FORREY died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. MILLARD F
STOOKEY, April 28, 1914 at 2 o'clock p.m., aged 88 years, 2 months and 16
days. He enjoyed remarkably good health for one of his advanced years until
the 22nd of last February when in attempting to cross his room he sank
helpless to the floor. He retained his mental faculties to the last and
manifested much interest in all local and public affairs. He rejected
medicine and the services of a physician, saying he was only tired and
wanted to rest. He gradually grew weaker until the end came peacefully
like one who wraps the drapery of his coach about him and lies down to
pleasant dreams."

The funeral services were held at the residence last Friday forenoon at 10 o
clock under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity, of which the deceased
had been a member for 58 years. The funeral flowers were profuse and very
beautiful. A quartette composed of Prof. Gass, Dr. Rowell, Leslie Grimes
and Raymond Jenkins rendered several selections including "Lead Kindly Light
and "Rock of Ages." The beautiful Episcopal service was used by Rev. Allan
Judd, of Des Moines, who delivered a scholarly sermon very appropriate for
the occasion. The ceremonies at the grave conducted by the Masonic
fraternity were both suitable and beautiful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SAMUEL FORREY was born in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pa., February 11, 1826
of French and German ancestry. His father was JACOB FORREY; his mother ANN
SEITZ. The first ancestor in this country was MADONIE FERREE, a French
Huguenot, who received a land grant of 10,000 acres from William Penn in the
year 1682, the land being located in Lancaster County. The subject of this
sketch was the tenth child of eleven children, his father dying when he was
a small boy. For some time he was employed in his father's flouring mill
and also his brother's woolen mills. He finally became a student in Wyoming
Seminary where he remained nearly three years. He then entered the law
office of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, and at the close of two years was admitted
to the bar. Thaddeus Stevens was one of Pennsylvania's greatest men and he
personally supervised the training of his law students to each of whom he
always presented his picture.

Judge FORREY began the practice of his profession at Chambersburg, Pa., in
1853, under favorable auspices, but his health declining he decided two
years later to seek a location in the west. In company with Prof. Kersey
Coates, a young professor of mathematics in the Lancaster schools, he
journeyed to St. Louis. Later on they continued their journey to Kansas
City where Coates finally located, became wealthy and was prominent in
promoting the growth of that growing city.

After visiting various portions of Kansas Judge FORREY came to Iowa and
located in Leon in the summer of 1855 and began the practice of law in which
he was very successful. He identified himself with pioneer life and was
prominent in every effort to develop the town and county. He was one of the
first superintendents of a union Sunday School. He supported Fremont for
president, was one of the first to declare his allegiance to the new
Republican Party, the organization of which in Decatur County he worked
intelligently and successfully. In the meantime his law practice increased
and he was recognized as an attorney of ability and integrity.

In 1870 he was appointed circuit judge by Gov. Merrill to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation of the late James W. McDill, who had been
elected district judge for the Third district. He served two years as
circuit judge and six years as district judge. His career on the bench was
eminently successful. He possessed a judicial mind, good judgment and was
well versed in law. Many of those who practiced law in Judge FORREY's court
have crossed the silent river. Among those who remain may be mentioned
Federal Judge McPherson, Ex-Congressman Hepburn, and Hon. N.W. Rowell.

Judge FORREY was married in 1860 to ABIGAIL JANE PARKER, daughter of WILLIAM
PARKER, and to this union four children were born, two sons and two
daughters, all of whom are living.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
March 9, 2010
iggy29@grm.net