Georgia Biographies John Forsyth File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents: JOHN FORSYTH John Forsyth, the present Secretary of State for the United States, was born in Fredericksburg, Va., October, 1781. While a child his parents removed to Charleston, and in 1785 to Augusta. His father, Robert Forsyth, was for many years Federal Marshal of the State. Young Forsyth was prepared for college at the Richmond Academy, and at Mr. Springer’s classical school, in Wilkes. In 1799, he was graduated at Princeton College, returned home and studied the law in the office of J. E. Anderson, Esq.; admitted to practice in 1802. For many years he was Attorney General of the State, and assisting in the prosecution of the land commissioners who had committed fraud in the sale of fractions, he became generally known to the Legislature and people, and in 1812 was elected to Congress. He remained in the House of Representatives till 1818, when he was elected to the Senate. In March, 1819, was appointed Minister to Spain, where he continued about three years, and while absent was again elected to Congress, and represented the State in that situation till J. Q. Adams became President, in 1825. In October, 1827, he was elected Governor of Georgia, which office he held tow years, and was then elected Senator in Congress. Here he continued till appointed Secretary of State, in the summer of 1835. During most of his life, Mr. Forsyth has been a public and useful man. He married a daughter of Josiah Meigs, the first President of Franklin College, by whom he has several children. Ref: Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, 1837, Printed by P. Force, Washington City, p. 279. FORSYTH COUNTY, GEORGIA Laid out from Cherokee in 1832; named after the Hon. John Forsyth. CUMMING, named after Colonel William Cunning, is the county town, 143 miles from Milledgeville. The principal streams are the Chattahoochee and Etowah. The first persons who made settlements in this county were, A. Scudder, L. Blackburn, John Jolly, W. W. Vaughan, A. Cameron, Wm. Rogers, John Rogers, Noah Strong, L. Hudson, B. Allen, W. H. Bacon, L. D. Harris, Geo. Kellogg, Mr. Julian, Alfred Hudson, W. G. Fields. Ref: White, George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York, pp. 458-159. (Reprinted 1968, Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA) Note: Adiel Sherwood, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, Washington City, Printed by P. Force, 1837, pp. 255-256. APPENDIX: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES "The author conceived that a short biographical sketch of the individuals after whom the several counties were named, would furnish an instructive and pleasing appendage to his topographical work... Acquainted with the intimate friends of some of the 'venerable dead,' he has been furnished with sufficient materials to enlarge on their character... There are in the State ninety counties (book printed in 1837, presently in 2001, there are 159 counties)..." ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============