The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-12-15
DEATH OF COL. FoRNEY.
A Brief Sketch of His Career
A Typo by Trade.

PHILADELPHIA, December 9.-COlOnel
John w. FOrney died at three o'clock this
morning of Bright's disease. When
leaving Philadelphia for Washington,
three weeks ago last Wednesday, Colonel
FOrney expressed himself as feeling
very well and had no apprehension of
sickness. While in Washington he was
caught in thunder storm and before
gaining shelter was dTenched with rain.
He remained in Washington but few
hours, going direct to New York, where
he stayed day and returned home.
He complained of a severe cold, but was
otherwise in good health. On Wednes-
day, November 30, he was Frustrated,
and DR.. Getchel, who was called at once,
pronounced the attack to be of an un-
usually serious nature. All that medical
skill could do was of no avail and Col.
FOrney, borne down by weight of years
and hard work, sank gradually, his mind
at times wandering and at other times
clOuded almost to an insensibility. He
remained in slightly varying condition
until three O'Clock this morning, when
he died.
[JOhn Weiss FOrney was born in Lam
caster, Pa, September 80, 1917. In 1888
be became an apprentice to the printers
trade in the office of the Lancaster
journal, and four years later he became
editor and joint owner of the Lancaster
Intelligence. Five years after he moved
to Philadelphia, where he was for long
time editor of the Pennsylvanian, a
Democratic jOIrnal. In 1851 he was
elected Clerk of the House of Represen.
tatives in Washington, and reelected
in 1858, his connection with the Penn
sylvanian having ceased in the mean
time, and he had become editor of the
Union, the Democratic organ of the
Capitol. lie resigning this post in 1856,
returned to Pennsylvania, and was
chosen Chairman of the State Demo-
cratic Committee. He conducted the
Buchanan campaign of that year, and
worked with tremendous energy. Penn
sylvania was the battle ground of the
Union, and FCrney won the battle for
the Democracy. The October election
settled the Presidency, and the defeat
of Fremont. In January, 1857, Colonel
FOTney was Democratic candidate for
the place of United States Senator, his
opponent being Simon Cameron. The
latter succeeded by the corruption of
four Democratic members, who deserted
FOrney and voted for Cameron. Al
though he had advocated the election of
Mr.. buchanan to the Presidency, Colo
mel FOrney became a determined OppO-
nent of his Administration when the
LecOmptOn Constitution of Kansas, be-
came topic of public debate; and he
was again chosen Clerk of the House,
this time by the Republicans of the
Thirty-siXth Congress. During the war
very active Republican. In 1861 he
began the publication of the Chronicle
in the city of Washington in addition to
the Press in Philadelphia, which he had
started after his defeat for Senator.
The Chronicle remained weekly until
October, 1862, and was then changed to
a daily. From 1861 to 1868, Mr.. FOrney
was Secretary of the United States SEN
ate. In 1867 he published Letters
From Europe" a series of sketches he
had contributed to the Press, and in
1873, anecdotes of Public Men" After
dispOsing of the Press and other news
paper interests, Mr.. FOrney again yiJ-
tied Europe and remained a year or
more. Upon his return he began the
publication of a weekly periodical in
Philadelphia under the title of Progress,
and has for the past few years devoted
himself to its fortunes, finding time
also to prepare new editions and
second volume of his Anecdotes of
Public Men," and also to write what he
termed distinctively American novel.