The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-07-11


 was a decided exodus from the city, and in a very few minutes after an en- tire vessel load of people came on board. among them were Dr. Dcwies' two daughters. a lieutenant ana mia- shipman. With the party was a gen tieman by the name or Chiids troth Middle Haddam. who was an old friend of the Forbes family. Through him Thomas Chester Forbes was introduced to the party, and when the story Of his shipwreck was known. he. was the hero of the occasion. Having. in the crowd cd condition of the vessel. given up his berth to the girls. he secured chair for a couch, to which one morning on awakening he found himself securely bound, hands and feet. by the handker- chiefs of his fair acQuaintances. with whom. however. he managed ta even matters before the trip was over.
 Reaching Middle Haddam. the entire party were invited to a dance which was to be given that night at the resi- dence of Mr. Childs. and the sparseness of young Forbes wardrobe was helped out by his naval friends who made q liberal contribution from their own stores. The next day the sioop reached Middletown, where the joy of reunion can well be imagined from the fact that tho report of his death had reached his mother tho week before.
 After clothing himself h the garb of civilization. he returned to the vessel. where his changed appearance was the cause of much comment among his new acauaintances. He was cordially tn- yited to accompany tho party to Hart ford, but there were other attractions in Middletown which prevented his ac- cepting the invitation. This sea-farins experience vas SO nearly fatal that his mother would not consent to his rnak- ing another voyage. but as many other lads have done, he ran away to sea, making the second trip in the Reaper to Santa Crus. This trip and the third trip were made in safety. and he was offered q fourth trip as mate. but the continued application of his mother led him to give up sea -farfng life. and he entered the general merchandise store of Samuel Spaulding, where he re- mained for the next two years.
 | At the expiration of this time new firm was formed under the name of Forbes & Fowlert which was afterwards succeeded by Mr. Forbes alone. In the meantime, on May 21. 1926, Mir. Forbes was married to Mary E. Sill, who was born in Middletown and was daugh- ter Of ThomAs and Clarissa Treadway Sill. Captain Benjamin Forbes had died previous to this marriage. Mr.
 Forbes continued to reside in Middle town for about six years longer, and three children. Harriet Brown. Henry Sill and Sarah Scott Forbes were born to him during thst time. During the year 1888 there was a decided emigra- ton to the west, and MT. William E. Russell and family were preparing to remove to Danville. Illinois, where Mr.
 Russell afterwards became register and receiver of the land office.
 MT. Forbes made trip of inspection to the west and in the summer removed
 with hissfamily to the new location, his mother having died in 1881. Part of the trip was made on the first railroad
 built in America, the cars at that time being drawn by horses. Much of the Journey was accomplished by canal and waterways, but from Newark, Ohio, to Danviile, Illinois, the entire party trar- eled in covered carriages and were safe lily landed at Danville. August 25, 1883. For the first year MT. Forbes was clerk in a general merchandise store, which MT. Russell had established; then he, was. clerk. for George Scar borough & Go, about two years, and at the expiration of that time went into business for himself, buying and selling Hand. and land warrants. The eni8ra- ton at that time WAS especially heavy and Re secured considerable business,
 which proved profitable. At one time he owned some 5000 acres of land throughout eastern Illinois. A partner
 ship was formed with MT. Levin T.
 Palmer, which lasted until the land office was removed from Danvtlle, about
 the beginning of the war This was inership resulted in making both men
 wealthy.
 When the first draft for soldiers was made for the army. MT. Forbes was se- Ilected, by the republican marshal ito
 draw the lots; he being staunch dem Loorat and exempt from services on ac- lcount of age. His eldest son had pre-
 viously enlisted but the company was not accepted, and MT. Forbes with his son Henry Forbes, contributed to equip lone Of the two regiments sent from Danville. After the termination of bis partnership with MT. Palmer. Mir. Forbes stlil remained in the land busi- Iness. handling, however, his own lands
 and changing his holdings as rapidly as Iposslble to improved farms. He has. on an average, some fifteen tenants. and his farms are from one to three hun
 dred acfes infextent. In addition to his
 land business. Mir. Forbes for many
 years, was engaged in the loaning of
 money. and although now in his nine
 ty-tSxst year he attends to all of his rents, collections and loans without the
 assistance of clerks He lives in com
 fortable home which he erected in 1885 l on lot bought that year, which is now
 situated in the very heart of the city, and in which he has lived continually
 since the building of the house. In lDanvilie three children were born to
 him, of whom the eldest. Thomas Rich ard Forbes, lived to maturity. His
 daughter Sarah. with her only daugh. ter, his grandchild. Hives naar him. The
 family of his son Henry Forbes, who
 died few years ego. live in a house
 built for them by fir. Forbes adjoining
 his own pvopssty. Henry left one
 daughtsr and a son. Chester Forbes ! H kI.z