Joseph Forker and Ruth [Unk]

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Husband Joseph Forker ^{1 2}

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           Born: 6 Jun 1829 - Mercer, Mercer Co, PA 1 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1888
         Buried: 

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         Father: Gen. John Forker (1800-1865) 2 4 5
         Mother: Isabella Graham (1801-1890) 5 6 7

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       Marriage: 1877 4

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   Other Spouse: Mary Matthews (      -1861) 1 4 7 - 1857 1 4

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Wife Ruth [Unk] ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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   Other Spouse: [Unk] Harrington (      -      ) 4

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Joseph Forker

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He grew to manhood in Mercer, Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen he began learning the gunsmith's trade in his father's shop, at which business he spent five years. In 1853 he began clerking in his brother Henry's drug store, and in 1857 formed a partnership with R. M. J. Zahniser and C. W. Whistler, under the firm of Forker, Zahniser & Co., and bought out his brother's store. In 1864 Mr. Forker sold out to his partners, and went into the coal business in Hickory Township, and for years thereafter was actively identified with the development of the Mercer County coal fields. In 1868 he became interested in the furnace of Henderson, Allen & Co., and after 1872 was connected with the Spearman Iron Com­pany. He was one of the organizers of the Sharon National Bank, in 1875, and was chosen its first president. He served until 1878, and was succeeded by James Westerman, who served until his death, July 20, 1884, when Mr. Forker was again chosen president. He was a Republican in politics, and the family belonged to the Episcopal Church. [HMC 1888, 724]

1 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 581.

2 Vilena Mae Forker Holliker, "Forker Genealogy" (San Antonio, TX: privately printed, 1976), Pg 1.

3 Vilena Mae Forker Holliker, "Forker Genealogy" (San Antonio, TX: privately printed, 1976), Pg 1, 2.

4 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 724.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1094.

6 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Its Past and Present (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 666.

7 Vilena Mae Forker Holliker, "Forker Genealogy" (San Antonio, TX: privately printed, 1976), Pg 2.