PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM 

pg 561, 562 

     JONATHAN V. FORGY.  The progress of civilization in this century is noticeable in every department of industry, but especially so in farming.  Man no longer teases nature for a sustenance, but having a thorough knowledge of the soil and its adaptability to the different cereals, commences his labor systematically, and reaps in bountiful harvests, the fruit of his intelligent toil.  Few of the homesteads of which Clark County is justly proud, are more attractive or pleasant than that which is owned and operated by the gentleman of whom we write.  Here he was born March 4, 1833, and here he has resided nearly all of his life.  The estate which is located in Bethel Township, comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres on section 31.  Besides this farm, he also owns two hundred and twenty-five acres of land on section 25, of the same township, and other property in Indiana and Illinois, together with a considerable amount of bank stock.  His property represents the results of his almost unaided energy, industry and good management, and his wealth is the merited reward of his efforts.

     The parents of our subject were Joel and Hannah (PERRINE) FORGY, the former of whom was born in this county about 1805, and spent his whole life here.  In 1829 he settled where his son now lives, and here he died in 1857, after having secured a competency by agricultural labors.  For many years he was Township Treasurer.  Politically, he was a Whig, and religiously a Presbyterian, having been a member and Elder of the church for many years.  He was a son of John FORGY, of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio early in the present century and died in this county, in which the great-grandfather of our subject also breathed his last.  His wife was born in New Jersey in 1807, and died in this county in 1847.  She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John PERZINE, who came to this State about 1810, and lived many years in this county.  They afterward removed to Dayton, where they died and were buried.

     The household band, of which our subject made one, included ten sons and daughters, whose record is as follows:  James E., is deceased; Julia A. is the wife of Oliver MILLS, a farmer in Cass County, Iowa; Jonathan V. is the third child; Sarah S., Margaret and William H. are deceased; Frances is the wife of Corwin FERGUS, a farmer of Richardson County, Neb.; Mary is the wife of Clark HINKLE, a farmer of Darke County, this State; Edwin S. is a merchant in Dayton; Laura is the wife of William F. GARBER, a merchant at Humboldt, Richardson County, Neb.

     The gentleman of whom we write was reared upon the estate which he now occupies, receiving his education in the common schools and the High School at New Carlisle.  He left the farm when seventeen years old and learned the trade of a carriage-maker, working at it in various places for about seven years.  When his father died he abandoned his trade and took up farm life on the home estate.  He was at that time only about twenty-five years of age, but his early knowledge proved a sufficient foundation upon which to build his success in agriculture.  Mr. FORGY was one of the organizers of the New Carlisle Bank, in which he has always been a stockholder and of which he has been President five years.  He was connected with the creamery at New Carlisle while it was running, and has since been appointed receiver of the same.

     For many years Mr. FORGY has belonged to the Grange, while in the Masonic fraternity he stands very high, having taken all the degrees to the Thirty-second.  He belongs to Blue Lodge No. 100, Chapter No. 57, at New Carlisle, and to the Commandery at Springfield.  He has always been a Republican but does not allow his love for party to prevent his exercising sound judgment regarding the respective merits of candidates, his vote therefore being cast for the man rather than the party.  He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a liberal supporter of all enterprises in which men of public spirit are wont to be interested, and the wealth and ability which he possesses are used to benefit many outside of the family circle.

     The family of Mr. FORGY comprises a wife and two children –Louella M. and Herbert S., both unmarried and at home.  They have received excellent advantages in the way of acquiring knowledge, while their home surroundings and training have been such as to produce in them courteous manners and good principles.  The wife and mother, in her girlhood Miss Mary GARVER, was born in Miami County, April 18, 1840, and united in marriage with our subject November 12, 1865.  Her parents, David and Catherine (JOHNSON) GARVER, were born in Virginia and were early settlers in the Buckeye State.  Mrs. FORGY is intelligent and refined, with a disposition and character which win admiration, and is a fit companion for a gentleman in Mr. FORGY’S position in society.

     In connection with this sketch of his life, a lithographic portrait of Mr. FORGY will be notices elsewhere in this volume.  He enjoys the respect of the community, not only on account of his intelligence and advanced ideas in regard to farming, but also for his interest in financial enterprises, social orders, and all movements calculated to advance the welfare of this section of the country.