delicate and small. A brother, Alexander, said that he was "always sorry when Joe had to go on guard duty, for he was so small." He was detailed by the commanding officer at Philadelphia as his Secretary, and continued until he was appointed a Lieutenant of Cavalry in the Southern army, in which he served until the close of the war. He then studied law and settled in Camden, South Carolina. Here he attained distinction in the profession and was elected Judge of the Superior Courts. He wrote a Digest of the Laws of South Carolina, and several volumes of Reports. He was elected a member of Congress from his district 1819 to 1821, and died in Camden, South Carolina.

        The Forney family were among the early settlers of Lincoln county. The founder was Jacob Forney, sen., who was (born 1721, died 1804) the son of a French Huguenot; he fled from France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, and settled at Alsace on the Rhine. At the age of fourteen he came to Amsterdam, thence to America; settled first in Pennsylvania, and in 1754 he moved to Lincoln county, North Carolina. In the first years spent in this settlement he was greatly harrassed by the Indians. When the English were in pursuit of Morgan, their progress was impeded by the high waters of the Catawba. Lord Cornwallis made his Forney Catawba headquarters in Forney's comfortable house for three days, consuming his entire stock of cattle, hogs, poultry, &c. The early records of the county exhibit the following: "Ordered by the Court that Jacob Forney and his two sons pay no taxes for 1780." He was too old to do much service in the Revolution, but his sons, James, Peter and Abram, did their duty as unwavering Whigs. He died in 1804, near the place where he first settled in Lincoln county.

        Peter Forney, (born April, 1756, died February, 1834), was the second son of Jacob Forney, sen. He was born in Lincoln county. During the war of the Revolution his services were cheerfully rendered in defense of his country. Afterward he devoted his attention to the manufacture of iron, then a new and lucrative employment. In it his industry, prudence and sagacity soon made him prosperous, and he acquired fortune and comfort. His home was the resort of many who always found it "Mount Welcome," as it was appropriately named. There rich and poor were alike cared for. His unstinted hospitality and genial manners, as well as the high and honorable conduct which marked all his dealings with his fellow men, rendered him the object of their regard, and even affection. He was elected in 1794 to the House, and in 1801-'02 to the Senate of the State Legislature, and (in 1813 to 1815) a member of Congress. He served also as Elector on the Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson tickets. With these repeated evidences of the partiality of his friends, and with the weight of three score and ten years pressing upon him, he declined all further public service. After a short illness, without pain or suffering, he quietly departed this life February 1st, 1834.

        He married on March 4, 1783, Nancy Abernathy, by which union he had twelve children:

        I. Mary, married Christian Reindhart.

        II. David M. married Harriet Brevard.

        III. Jacob, married Sarah Hoke, from whom sprung: (1) David Peter, born 1819; (2) Joseph B., born 1821; (3) William H., born 1823; educated at University, an officer in Mexican War, lawyer, member of Legislature, General in Civil War, elected to the 44th Congress; (4) Barbara Ann, born 1826, married Rowan; (5) Emma, born in 1832, married Rev. Thomas A. Morris; (6) John H., born 1829, West Point; (7) George H., born 1835, killed in battle of Wilderness; (8) Amelia, married J. M. Wylie; (9) Maria Louisa, married Williams.

        IV. Eliza, married first, Webb, and afterward, Dr. John Meek, of Alabama.

        V. Susan, married Bartlett Shipp, from whom sprung: (1) William, M. (Judge of Superior Court,) married (1) Cameron, (2) Iredell, Legislature, Senator from Henderson 1862;) (2) Eliza, married

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