U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fortney, Thomas (1835-1934) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia The Journal Publishing Company, Kingwood W.Va. 1914 by J. R. Cole Pages 588-589 THOMAS FORTNEY. John Fortney was born in 1789. He was the son of Daniel, the original pioneer of that family so well and favorably known in Preston county. His wife, Keziah Fortney, was born in 1792. Their children were: Elisha, born in 1813; Nancy, born in 1815; Emily, born in 1817; Buckner, born in 1823; Charlotte, born in 1830; Thomas, born in 1835. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and has been a successful agriculturist all his life. He received a high school education under Martin R. O'Gorman, a college graduate educated for the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, and under that careful training Mr. Fortney became both a successful teacher and superintendent of schools himself. He taught school twelve years, and in 1875 was elected county superintendent of schools. Subsequently he became president of the Board of Education, and his work as an educator survives. Mr. Fortney also filled other important offices in Preston county. In 1877, he was elected assessor of the West Side, and re-elected for the next term. He was sent to the State Legislature subsequently, being elected a delegate in 1885. Mr. Fortney's record as a county and state official is a very creditalble one, but he finds life on the farm more congenial to him. He is a great reader, a close student, and naturally retired in his habits. In 1887, Mr. Fortney was married to Christianna, daughter of William J. and Christianna Guseman Kelly, near Gladesville. Her father was a farmer, and his children were Jerome, Albert, Jacob, John, Katherine, Christianna, Abraham, Elizabeth and Sarah. The children by this marriage are Carrie Welton, born in 1887. She married Orvill Rechtine and moved to Kentucky. R. Brook, born in 1893, has remained at home on the farm. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Information: --------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Preston County WV #5513 Full-name: Thomas Fortney Date-of-birth: 29-Nov-1835 in Preston County WV Date-of-death: 13-Apr-1934 in Preston County WV Marital-status: Widowed Occupation: Retired Farmer Father: John Fortney (born near Reedsville WV) Mother: Keziah Pyles (born in Preston County WV) Place-of-burial: Bethelm Cemetery DEATH CERTIFICATE, Preston County WV #7803 Full-name: Christania Kelly Fortney Date-of-birth: 8-Jul-1853 in Preston County WV Date-of-death: 24-Jun-1933 in Preston County WV Marital-status: Married Father: William J. Kelly (born in Preston County WV) Mother: Susan Guseman Kelly (born in Preston County WV) Place-of-burial: Bethelm Cemetery --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------