BIO: N.J.H. Fortman; Ferry Co., WA (formerly of New York State)

Transcribed by Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)

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From "History of North Washington" Published 1904
Ferry County Biographical Sketches

N.J.H. FORTMAN
    N.J.H. Fortman, a civil engineer of considerable experience throughout the
northwest who has shown himself very capable in his profession, is now
surveyor of Ferry county, he also does mining engineering.
    He was born in New York, on January 14, 1838, his parents J.C.H. and A.E.
(Devely) Fortman, were natives of Holland, who came to America and located in
New York state where they remained the rest of their lives. The father was the
professor of languages and they were the parents of three children, Nathaniel,
deceased, N.J.H., and Anna Kuyper. Our subject was educated in the state of
New York, and when sixteen entered the naval college. After his graduation
from the institution, he went to sea for practical experience, and followed
this for a number of years, visiting nearly every part of the globe. In 1856,
he was shipwrecked on the south coast of the island of Java. During the last
two years he served at sea, he was an officer. In 1859, Mr. Fortman came to
California and took up mining, and one year later we find him on Puget Sound.
There being very little work in civil enginerring, he turned his attention to
farming, which occupied him until 1873. For six years after, he was very
active in pursuing the higher intricacies of civil engineering, fitting
himself for every kind of work. For a number of years, he was surveyor at Port
Townsend, and later entered the employ of the Puget Sound Iron Company as
their leading agent and engineer. In due course of time, Mr. Fortman took up
real estate business and dealt in land during the boom days at Port Townsend.
He came to where Republic now stands, but before the town was started, and
here he has reamined since. He has done a great deal of excellent work
throughout the county and the adjoining the country. In political matters, Mr.
Fortman is a Democrat, and his party named him for surveyor, and he won the
day against Thomas M. Hammond. In former years, Mr. Fortman has been quite
active in political matters and has served in many official positions.
Fraternally, he is connected with the Red Men.