The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-05-07
Judge Samuel FOrrey.

Judge Samuel Forrey.
Judge Samuel Forrey died at the
residence of his daughter, Mrs. Mil
lard F. Stookey, April %, 1914, at
Y o'clock p. M, aged SO years, 2
months and 16 days. He enjoyed
remarkably good health for one of
his advanced years until the 22nd
of last February, when in attempting
to cross his room he sank helpless
to the floor He retained his mental
! facilities to the last and manifested
much interest in all local and public
affairs. He rejected medicine and
the services of a physician saying he
was not sick but only tired and want
ed to rest. He gradually grew weak
er until the end came peacefully "like
one who wraps the drapery of his
couch about him and lies down to
pleasant dreams"
The fueral services were held at
the residence last Friday forenoon at
10 o'clock under the auspices of the
Masonic fraternity of which the de-
ceased had been a member for So
years. The funeral flowers were pro-
fuse and very beautiful. A quartette
composed of Prof Gass, DR.. Rowell,
Leslie Grimes and Raymond Jenkins
rendered several selections including
LEAD Kindly Light and Rock of
Ages" The beautiful Episcopal SER
vice was used by Rev. Allan Judd, of
Des Moines, who delivered a scholar
ly sermon very appropriate for the
occasion The ceremonies at the
grave conducted by the Masonic fra
ternity were both suitable and beau
tiful.
| Samuel Forrey was born in Colum-
bus, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania,
February II, 1926, of French and
German ancestry. His father was
Jacob Forrey; his mother Ann Seitz.
The first ancestor in this country was
Madonie Ferrer, French Huguen-
OF, who received land grant of 49,
900 acres from William Penn in the
year 1882, the land being located in
Lancaster county. The subject OF
this sketch was the tenth child of
eleven children, his father dying
when he was small boy. For some
time he was employed in his fathers
Touring mills, and also his brothers
wooden mills. He finally became
student in Wyoming seminary where
he remained nearly three years. He
then entered the law office of Hon.
Thaddeus Stevens and at the close OF
two years was admitted to the bar.
Thaddeus Stevens was one of Penn
sylvania's greatest men and he per-
sonally supervised the training of his
law students to each of whom he al
ways presented his picture.
Judge Forrey began the practice of
his profession at Chambersburg, Pa,
in 1853 under favorable auspices but
his health declining he decided two
years later to seek location in the
west In company with Prof. ker-
sey Coates, young professor OF
! mathematics in the Lancaster
schools, he journey to ST Louis. Lat
err on they continued their journey to
Kansas City where Coates finally To-
Gated, became wealthy and was
prominent in promoting the growth
of that growing city.
| After visiting various portions OF
Kansas Judge Forrey came to Iowa
and located in Leon the summer Of
1855 and began the practice Of law
| in which he was very successful. He
identified himself with pioneer life
and was prominent in every effort to
develop the town and county. He
was one Of the first superintendent
of a union Sunday school, He sup
ported Fremont for president, was
one of the first to declare his alleg
lance to the new republican party,
the organization of which in Decatur
county he worked intelligently and
successfully. In the meantime his
law practice increased and he was
Recognized as an attorney of ability
and integrity.
In 1870 he was appointed Circuit
Judge by Gov. Merrill to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the resignation
of the late James W. McDill, who
had been elected district judge for
the Third district. He served two
years as circuit judge and six years
as district Judge His career on
the bench was eminently successful.
He possessed a judicial mind, good
judgment and was well versed in
law. Many of those who practiced
law in Judge Forrey's court have
crossed the silent river. Among those
who remain may be mentioned FEEDER
al Judge Smith Mcpherson, ex-Con-
gresham Hepburn and Hon. N. W.
Rowell
Judge Forrey was married in 1860
to Abigail Jane Parker, daughter of
William Parker, and to this union
four children were born, two sons
and two daughters, all of whom are