The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-17
JOHN w. PORNEY.


JOHN W. FORNEY.
Col, John W, Forney, the well known news
/ paper editor politician, &c, died al his home
| in Philadelphia on the 9th INST of Bright
disease He leaves widow, two sons ant
three daughters, one Of whom Is married.
Col Forney was a native of Lancaster county
Pa, acquiring his early education in the indt
ierent country schools Of the time until at III,
age of Is, he entered the office of the Lonca,
ter Inteligencer as an apprentice to the print
ing business. The paper AT the time was pub
lished and edited by Hugh Maxwell, prom
nent local politician, and was, as 1t is still
one of the leading democratic papers of the
state Young Forney was bright ana studious
and soon attracted the attention of his employ
er, who gave him every assistance and encOur.
agement At the death of Maxwell he sue.
ceeded to the ownership of the Inteliigencer,
continuing its publication with great success
until 1915, when President Polk appointed
him surveyor OF the port of Philadelphia, up
on which he severed his connection with the
Lancaster paper and soon afterwards bought a
half Interest in the Philadelphia Peansylpan.
can, then the leading democratic organ of the
state. In 1851 he was elected clerk of the
house at Washington, and IN 1856, when Blu
chanan was NOMINATED for the presidency, he
acted as chairman OF the democratic state
committee conducting the campaign with
such consummate skill as 10 be chiefly instru-
mental in Buchanan's election. In return for
this service, the democratic caucus of the
Pennsylvania legislature in 1857 nominated
him for the L. S. Senate, but he was cheated
out of the election by Simon Cameron's well
known purchase OF the seat for himself by
cOrrupting three democratic members Then
it Is said he asked for a place in Buchanans
cabinet, which being denied, he quarreled
with that "Old Pub Func." and soon after
wards joined the free soil party, OF which
thenceforward, under its changed name to Re
publican, and until the nomination of Han
cock year ago, he renamed "off and on" an
active and influential member. The only
office, however, the party ever gave him was
the position OF clerk of the house for three or
four years and Of Secretary of the L. S. sen.
ate, which he held until 1867, meantime start.
ing "two newspapers, both daily" as he was
wont to boast the Nointty Cnrontcye IN Wash
ington and the Press in Philadelphia Then
he travelled some years in Europe, writing let.
ters home to his two dallles, and returning in
oh T., ~
ed HIM collector Of customs at Philadelphia,
which he held until 1874 when he again went
abroad, this time as special centennial com
missioner in behalf of the great Philadelphia
pers, both daily" had passed into other hands.
and about 1877 he started a weekly publication
called the Progress which he was still editing
when he was stricken down
Orr personal recollectlons of John W. For
ney go back beyond 1856, when he was In his
prime. He was then a man of more than or
binary comeliness OF person, gay, sprightly, a
ready and fluent speaker, immensely popular,
somewhat of a bon gigoHt, the life of every tcs.
tive occasion and without a peer as post
prandial orator, unless it was his boon com
panion IN those days, the brilliant Wash Bar
ton, also of Lancaster The overwhelming
strength of the opposition in Lancaster as well
rs Philadelphia, however prevented HIM from
ever figuring rs u candidate for office before
the people.
After his breach with Buchanan his polItl.
cal career was somewhat Chequcred. He cor.
daily supported and then quarreled with Lin
coin, aid afterwards earnestly supported with
both his papers and then as earnestly turned
against Andrew Johnson We believe, how
ever, he stuck faithfully to Grant until after
his slaughter by the Chicago convention ia
1880. OF course long and conspicuous ca
reer like his could not be passed without as
PERSONS upon his character but except per.
haps the rather shabby role he played in the
celebrated Forrest Divorce case" there IS
nothing that we can think of to lmpeach his
bearing throughout as that of a gallant, chiv-
alrous, upright heightened gentleman.