Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Forrester, B. A. April 28 1843 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 26, 2004, 10:37 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   B. A. FORRESTER, merchant and capitalist of Cowarts, Ala., is one of the
representative business men of the county. He was born in Beaufort county, S.
C., April 28, 1843, and was one of seven children born to Henry A. and Lucy A.
(Knight) Forrester. The father was born in South Carolina in 1811, and was a
descendant of a long line of democrats, his father being a nullifier in his
time. The ancestors came from the Emerald Isle, and belonged to that branch of
the Forrester family of Ireland, known as the most expert marksmen of their day.
These ancestors came to America and settled in South Carolina, and were among
its earliest, inhabitants. The father B. A. Forrester grew to manhood on the
farm and secured a very limited education. In 1839 he was married, and in 1849,
moved with his family to Gadsden county, Fla., where he bought a farm and
engaged in farming. He produced what is known as the long staple cotton, and
also the cigar leaf tobacco. In 1850 he removed to Alabama, settling in Henry
county, near the present town of Columbia. Later he removed near to the little
village of Cowarts, and remained there until his death, which occurred in
February, 1881. He was regarded as one of the most practical farmers of Henry
county, and indeed of the state. He was familiary known as "Uncle Henry." In his
early days he was a believer in the Universalist doctrine, but later he became a
member of the Missionary Baptist church. The mother of B. A. Forrester was born
in Beaufort county, S. C., and received her education there. She was a daughter
of Talbot Knight, a Baptist minister of distinction in that state. She was
married at the age of sixteen, and became the mother of fourteen children, six
of whom now survive. Early in life she united with the Missionary Baptist
church, and lived in accordance with its teachings until her death, which
occurred in 1887. B. A. Forrester grew up a farmer's boy, and although his
parents were the owners of numerous slaves, in their young days, he early in
life developed an active interest in business, and an independent spirit which
has remained with him through life, and which has been of great use to him in
his busy career. His education was very limited, and early in life he became a
planter. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Seventh Georgia
infantry, state troops, and served seven months, principally at the port of
Savannah. He then joined the Thirty-seventh Alabama infantry, in which he served
as a private soldier until the end of the war. He participated in many battles
and skirmishes, but was never severely wounded. He fought at the great battle of
Atlanta, and carried off the field William E. Bradley of Abbeville, who had had
his leg shot off. He participated in sixteen regular engagements, among them,
besides Gettysburg, the following: Iuka, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Missionary
Ridge, Resaca, New Hope Church, and Atlanta. He was wounded three times, all
flesh wounds. He was captured twice, but effected his escape in each case. In
1861 he was promoted to the second lieutenancy, but declined to accept the
commission, saying that he enlisted to carry a gun, and that he purposed to
fulfill his mission in that respect. He was discharged in April, 1865, at
Greensborough, N. C. After the war, he engaged in farming, pre-empting a farm of
160 acres, situated near the present village of Cowarts, to which he has added
until now he owns 2,000 acres of turpentine, timbered and good farming land. In
1836 his taxes were $1.50, while in 1891 he paid a tax on realty of $209. He has
followed farming ever since the close of the war, and he has always been one of
the most successful farmers of the county. In 1878 he engaged in mercantile
business with Mr. L. G. Clark, continuing until 1880, when he withdrew. He then
opened a general stock of merchandise at Cowarts, to which he has added until
now he runs a large store there. He also continues his farming operations, and
is in full partnership with his brother in a steam saw mill and lumber business,
and has numerous other interests. He has nine farms, all in good working order.
He was married December 24, 1865, to Miss Rebecca A. Autley, daughter of Emanuel
Autley, who fell mortally wounded at Vicksburg. Mrs. Forrester was born in Henry
county in 1852, and grew to womanhood near the beautiful home she now occupies.
She failed to receive the education she should have received, because the
country was then overrun by the armies of the conflicting interests. She was
married in her fifteenth year, and became the mother of fourteen children,
twelve of whom now survive, viz.: Theodosia, wife of James W. Folkes, residing
at Cowarts; Reding B., single and book-keeper for B. A. Forrester; Sterling P.,
married to Miss Jester of Cowarts; Vincent T., attending school; Oliver, clerk
for B. A. Forrester; Harvey G.; Escenith; Whitfield R.; Fernando C.; Fred F.;
Sibbie E.; and Otto. Both Mr. and Mrs. Forrester are members of the Missionary
Baptist church, of which Mr. Forrester is a deacon, and he is also the
superintendent of the Sunday school belonging to his church. In 1880 Mr.
Forrester took the initiatory steps necessary to secure a postoffice at Cowarts,
in which he was successful and has been postmaster ever since. He has been
township superintendent for fifteen years. Politically, Mr. Forrester is a
democrat. Personally he is one of the most courteous and genial of men. He has
had two principal aims in life, first to leave to his descendants an unblemished
name, and second, to accumulate a competency, in both of which, up to the
present time, at least, he has been successful.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1088-1090
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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