The Forgerson Family

Grant Forgerson in Biographical Record of Sandusky County, Ohio

The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

GRANT FORGERSON. deceased, for- merly one of Rice Township's most respected and prominent citizens, self-made and largely self-educated, lived a long, useful and exem- plary life. He was born in Sandusky Town- ship, Sandusky County. Ohio, February 22, 1829. and died on his farm in Rice Township, December 17. 1906. His parents w ere Thomas and Mary A. (Hull) Forgerson.

The Forgerson family originated in Scot- land and the Hulls in England. The grand- father of the late Grant Forgerson settled in Orange County, New York, and there Thomas Forgerson was born and came from there to the wild regions of Sandusky County, in early manhood, becoming one of the pioneers on the borders of civilization. His was one of the first log cabins erected in the woods of San- dusky Township and his earliest neighbors were Indians. He married Mary A. Hull, whose parents kept a hotel in early days, on the present site of the First National Bank at Fremont. Mr. Hull was a victim of cholera.

The late Grant Forgerson was a clerk in the early postoffice at Fremont. When oniy eighteen years of age he enlisted as a soldier for the Mexican War. entering as a drummer l>oy but later carrying a musket and piruVi- pating in the dangers and triumphs 01 the campaign under Gen. Winfield Scott. He rc- turned to Sandusky County, but shortly after-

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ward went to Iowa, having a soldier's war- rant for land, and there entered r6o acres, liv- ing on it for a short period. He then came back to Sandusky County and early in the fif- ties settled on the farm in Rice Township on which his widow continues to reside. At that period this section was yet in a wild state and the present farm had to be developed from a forest. Mr. and Mrs. Forgerson passed through many hardships incident to pioneer- ing, but they survived to enjoy the comfortable home which their industry and good manage- ment secured. This farm of 134 acres is one of the most valuable and desirable in the whole township. Mr. Forgerson was an excellent farmer and for many years gave his close at- tention to the cultivation of his land and the raising of good stock. In all his efforts he was ably seconded by his wife, who was equally capable.

On January r, 1854, Mr. Forgerson was married to Miss Nancy G. Park, who was born in Union County, Ohio, April 29, 1835, and is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Longbrake) Park. James Park was a native of Kentucky and his wife of Union County, Ohio. At an early day he settled in Bay Township, Ottawa County. Two of his sons enlisted for service in the Civil War, one of them, John G., getting no further than Camp Chase, when stricken with the measles, from which he died. The other, James W., served through the war as a member of the mth O. Vol. Inf. During this period Mr. Park, wife and one daughter, moved to Fremont, where he owned and for a time operated a tannery on Ohio Avenue. This was subsequently operated with much success by his son James W., and the building is still standing. He died there in 1874. Mrs. Forgerson has one sister, Sarah J., who is the wife of A. G. Walters, and they reside at Fremont.

To Mr. and Mrs. Forgerson were born four children, namely: Mary E., wife of Joseph Young, of Rice Township; James G., resid- ing in Riley Township; Ada F., wife c f Frank Foster, of Fremont ; and Ida A., who is now- deceased.

In politics, the late Grant Forgerson was ;i Republican and was ever an active and useful

citizen of his community and served as town- ship clerk for several years. He was a man of sound sense and great understanding. He had been left fatherless in boyhood and had been forced to make his own way and his suc- cess proved the value of right living and the formation of habits of industry and frugality. He was identified with the Fair Association and when the celebration was Held at Fremont, he and wife contributed to the general good feeling and solid comfort of the people by con- ducting a first-class dining concession, one that was thoroughly appreciated. Mr. For- gerson was a liberal and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Fremont. He was a -man of charitable impulses and gave to the needy without making his generosity known. His widow- is a member of the San- dusky County Pioneer and Historical Asso- ciation. She recalls many of the most inter- esting events of the early days in this section, when she and her late husband began life here together, and she is held in the highest regard by those with whom she has lived in peace and concord for so many years. On January 1, 1904, they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at their beautiful home in Rice Township.

Source: Biographical Record of Sandusky County, Ohio. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.