BIO: Solomon F. FORGEUS, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 58-59.
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  REV. SOLOMON F. FORGEUS, D.D., chaplain Pennsylvania Industrial 
Reformatory, Huntingdon, Pa., was born in South Coventry township, Chester 
county, Pa., August 19, 1844.  He was the son of Christian and Rebecca L. 
(Lindeman) Forgeus, natives of Chester county.  The ancestry of both parents 
was German; the father of Christian Forgeus was a Hessian soldier who 
deserted during the Revolution to the American side, and afterwards settled 
in Chester county; his wife's family had already settled in Montgomery 
county before the war began.  Christian Forgeus was engaged in mercantile 
business in Chester county, and in that county and in Berks, the worthy 
couple spent their entire lives.  Their only child was Solomon F.  The 
father died in Berks county, in 1855, and the mother in South Coventry 
township, Chester county, in September, 1881.
  The earliest years of Solomon F. Forgeus were spent in South Coventry 
township.  After the removal of the family to Berks county, he attended the 
public schools of Reading for some time.  After the death of his father, he 
returned with his mother to Chester county, where they resided in West 
Vincent township, and his education in elementary branches was carried on in 
the common schools of their neighborhood.  In 1861, he entered 
Conoquenessing Academy, at Zelienople, Butler county, and remained there 
until August 7, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company C, One 
Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers.  He served until May 27, 
1863, when his term of enlistment expired,  and he returned home; but on 
January 4, 1864, he re-enlisted, in Battery C, Third Pennsylvania Heavy 
Artillery, and served until June 5, 1865.  He was on that day commissioned 
second lieutenant in the Ninth U.S. Col'd Troops, was subsequently promoted 
to first lieutenant and to adjutant, and finally received his discharge at 
Baltimore, Md., December 19, 1866.
  In the autumn of 1867, Mr. Forgeus entered the preparatory of the 
University at Lewisburg, now Bucknell, from which he was graduated June 25, 
1872.  His education was further completed by certain semesters passed at 
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.  He now entered Crozer Theological Seminary 
at Chester, Delaware county, Pa., in September, 1872, and graduated, after a 
full three years' course, in May, 1875.  Having been called to the pastorate 
of the Baptist church at Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, Pa., Mr. Forgeus was 
ordained to the ministry of that denomination in Tunkhannock, August 12, 
1875.  In June, 1878, he left that place to take charge of the Clark's Green 
and Bethel churches, having his residence at Clark's Green, Lackawanna 
county, Pa.  Nine months later he exchanged the pastorate of the Bethel 
church for that of the church at Dunnings, Pa., to which place he removed 
May 1, 1881.  On October 1, 1881, Rev. Mr. Forgeus became pastor of Logan's 
Valley church, Bellwood, Blair county, Pa., where he remained until he 
entered upon his present duties, July 1, 1892.
  At Bellwood, Mr. Forgeus served four years as school director.  He is a 
member of Sanford F. Byers Post, No. 462, G.A.R., of Bellwood of Washington 
Camp, No. 321, P.O.S. of A.; and of Altoona Conclave, No. 132, I.O.H., of 
Altoona.  During his ministerial life, he has served as secretary of 
numerous church organizations; he is still secretary of the State 
Ministerial Union, clerk of the Centre Baptist Association, and vice 
president of the Baptist State Missionary Society; this last position he has 
filled for a number of years.
  Rev. Solomon F. Forgeus was married at Lewisburg, Pa., October 28, 1875, 
to Ida, daughter of Andrew and Catherine Kennedy, of Lancaster county, Pa.  
They have five children:  Susan, born May 6, 1877; Royal, May 3, 1880; 
Margaret R., January 2, 1882; Elizabeth, March 31, 1885; and Helen, March 3, 
1894.  In June, 1896, Mr. Forgeus received the degree of Doctor of Divinity 
from his Alma Mater.