Charles G. Forest, b. 30 Mar 1827

CAMPBELL, JOANNIN, CARVER, CUNNINGHAM, WALKER, COOK

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/29/2004 at 10:25:48

The subject of this notice, a resident of Miles, is one of the largest land-owners of this section, his possessions extending from the Mississippi River across Union Township into Iowa Township, embracing 800 acres of land in this county, while he also has 400 acres in Clinton County. He has made of farming, a science and an art. He possesses unbounded energy and a robust frame, which has never been impaired by dissipation or excesses of any kind.

The home of Mr. Forest and his excellent wife is one of the most hospitable roofs under which ever stepped a friend or a stranger. Mrs. Forest is a lady of excellent education and a cultivated mind, and for a period of six years in her youth followed the profession of a teacher. She has proved the most suitable partner of her husband in all his worthy ambitions, and, while his time and talents have been employed in bringing his farm to a condition that approaches perfection, Mrs. Forest has given her attention to the rearing of their children and the beautifying of her dwelling. The latter abounds with music, art and literature, indicating in a forcible manner the cultivated tastes of the inmates.

The Forest family was first represented in the United States prior to the Revolutionary War, and a large number of them did good service in the great conflict for American liberty. Afterward they settled in New England and New York State, most of them engaged in farming pursuits. George Forest, the father of our subject, was a native of Salem, Vt., whence he emigrated in early life to New York State, and there met and married Miss Sophia Campbell, who was born there, and was of Scotch ancestry. The Forest family traced its descent to England. The ten children of George and Sophia (Campbell) Forest were all natives of New York State, and nine lived to mature years, namely: Robert, Daniel, Lucy, Charles G., our subject, Joseph, Polly, Elizabeth, Mary A., and David. The father was a molder by trade, which he followed for a period of twenty-three years - six years in Jefferson County, N.Y. It is claimed that he molded the first cast iron plow in the United States in July, 1820. It was patented by J.O. Wood, of Seneca County, N.Y., but, as it was incomplete, was never used.

In the summer of 1845 the parents of our subject, with nine children, left the Empire State and settled in Walworth County, Wis., which was then denominated the "Far West." The father took up a tract of land in the burr oak openings, and there gained his first experience in farming. The family lived there until the children were grown to mature years. In the meantime Charles G., our subject, came to Iowa, where his parents afterward joined him, and at his home the mother died, Sept. 16, 1868. The father is still living, makes his home with his son, and has now reached the advanced age of ninety years, having been born in 1799.

Charles G. Forest was born in Onondaga County, N.Y., March 30, 1827, and remained a member of the parental household until reaching man's estate. When of suitable years he commenced assisting his father in the foundry, and, after the removal of the family to Wisconsin, performed his share in the opening up of the new farm. When twenty-one years old he started out for himself, working first on a farm, and then purchased a team and hauled grain from Walworth County to points along the Lake Shore. He met with various adventures in this capacity, and at one time, while crossing the bridge at Milwaukee, the structure broke down, letting himself and team into the river from which he narrowly escaped drowning. Indeed, he was taken out of the water in an unconscious condition and supposed to be dead, the papers giving a notice to this effect, and 200 spectators witnessing the accident. His horses were greatly injured, suffering inflammatory rheumatism from their cold bath, and crippling them for some time.

As soon as he recovered from this disaster, Mr. Forest resumed teaming, at which he was occupied until the fall of 1852. He then started for Clinton County, this State, with a capital of $16, a team of horses and the clothes which he wore. He first engaged at grading the track of the Northwestern Railroad Company, at Fulton, Ill., at which he was occupied the succeeding winter, and accumulated enough means to purchase 120 acres of Government land in Elk River Township, Clinton Co., Iowa. He immediately commenced the improvement of his purchase, having in view the establishment of a home of his own, and on the 26th of April, 1864, was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Joannin.

The young couple commenced their wedded life together on the new farm, and from that time worked on, hand in hand, with one mutual interest. Our subject especially labored early and late, and in due time began to realize the legitimate reward of his toil. Not only has he secured a competence for his declining years, but has established himself in the esteem and confidence of all who know him. His systematic manner of farming has been carried into his business transactions, and he has been a man prompt to meet his obligations - one expecting to receive what was due him, and equally ready to accord the same to his neighbor. He brought his large area of land to a thorough state of cultivation, put up a fine residence, large barns and other outbuildings, and gained with every new stroke of industry something creditable to his life and character.

Mrs. Caroline (Joannin) Forest was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, June 18, 1839. Her parents are Dominique and Marian (Carver) Joannin. Her father was born and reared in France, whose sunny hills he left in the latter part of 1829, when a man of twenty-tive years. In the meantime he learned the hatter's trade, which he pursued until crossing the Atlantic. He settled first in Ontario, Canada, but later emigrated to Buffalo, N.Y., lived there three months, and six months in Jersey City, and then returned to Canada. Mrs. Joannin was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, April 2, 1813, and when a maiden of eighteen years crossed the Atlantic with her brother and settled in Canada, where she lived with her brother until her marriage, which, however, took place in Buffalo, N.Y. Soon afterward, in the year 1833, Mr. and Mrs. Joannin removed to Canada, where the father began farming. They returned to the States nine years later, in August, 1842, being the parents of three children, of whom Mrs. Forest was the third born. Their eldest child died when two years old.

The parents of Mrs. Forest now set their faces toward the Far West, and located at Brookfield, Clinton County, this State (then a Territory), where they lived five years, and, with the exception of five years, were residents of that county until their removal to Miles, where they now live quite retired. The father was born March 25, 1805, and is consequently at this writing (1889) eighty-four years old.

In August, 1842, the parents of Mrs. Forest came to this county, and settled two and a half miles west of Maquoketa, where she attended school - one of the first institutions of the kind in this county. It is hardly necessary to say that this town was then in its infancy, and Indians frequently encamped in its vicinity. One of the chiefs sometimes dined at the home of the Joannins, and returned their hospitality by inviting the whole family over to his wigwam, where all were treated to venison. Mr. and Mrs. Joannin were the parents of four children, but there are now living only Mrs. Forest and her brother George, the latter a lumber dealer and sash and door manufacturer at Minneapolis, Minn.

The young girl took kindly to her books and fitted herself for a teacher, which profession she followed about six years before her marriage. Of her union with our subject there were born five children, the record of whom is as follows: George S. was born Feb. 13, 1865, was educated at Mt. Vernon, Burlington and Iowa City, was graduated in stenography, and is now carrying on business at Sopris, Colo. He married Miss Anna Cunningham, of Washington, Iowa, and they have one child, Ethel Lucille. Elmer C. was born Oct. 6, 1866, pursued his studies at Fulton College, Ill., married Miss Sybil Walker, and now operates the homestead. Minnie J. was born June 1, 1868, educated at Fulton, Ill., married Mr. David Cook, and is now residing at Vernon Prairie, in Clinton County. Effie C. was born on the 29th of April, 1870, and is a student in the classical department of Iowa College. Lilly B. was born Oct. 3, 1877, and, like her brothers and sisters, is being given the advantage of a first-class education. Mrs. Forest and her daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Forest, in December, 1886, decided to retired from the active labors of farm life, and, purchasing a pleasant home in Miles, repaired thither, where he is still living, although he maintains the supervision of his extensive property interests. He suffered the loss of his right hand in 1861, having it caught in the gearing of a threshing machine. Mrs. Forest occupies a prominent place in the social circles of Miles and vicinity, and always maintains a warm interest in educational matters and missionary work. Our subject, politically, has been a life-long Democrat, and maintains his principles with all the natural strength of his character. His career is finely illustrative of the self-made man, who, with the honorable desire to succeed, has furnished an example to the rising generation well worthy of their imitation.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)