Northumberland-Berks-Lebanon County PA Archives Biographies.....Forry, William F. 1865 - living in 1899

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Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



WILLIAM F. FORRY, junior member of the firm of I. W. Forry & Son, was born in

Womelsdorf, Pa., January 9, 1865. He is the son of Frank Forry and grandson of

George Forry, who was a native of Lebanon County, Pa., where he followed

agricultural pursuits for many years, and died.



  Frank Forry, father of our subject, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., and was

reared on his fathers farm, receiving a common school education. He went to

Sheridan when quite a young man and learned the milling business, which he

followed until 1865. Subsequently he started in the knitting business for himself.



  Mr. Forry was the proud possessor of the first circular knitting machine ever

brought into the state of Pennsylvania. This machine immediately was a source of

wonder to the inhabitants of Womelsdorf, where Mr. Forry resided, and it was a

pleasure to its owner, who exhibited it with delight and enjoyed showing the

skill and rapidity with which he turned out hosiery from it. Many circular

machines are now in use and it is impossible for hand-work to compete with them

in point of economy and beauty of workmanship.



  Our subject's father is now senior member of the firm of I. W. Forry & Son,

who own and operate a large knitting factory at Shamokin, Coal township, the

management of which business is entrusted to William F. Forry, our subject. Mr.

Forry has a branch factory at Myerstown, Lebanon County, having been located

there for the past thirteen years. He is a scientific man and devotes much of

his time to the improvement of knitting machinery.



  William F. Forry, our subject, received the rudiments of an education in the

public schools of Womelsdorf. At an early age he learned the knitting business

with his father, which he thoroughly mastered when quite young. He now has a

thorough knowledge of his vocation and is familiar with all the particular

features of the business and daily puts them into use. At the age of twenty-one

years he became a member of the firm of I. W. Forry & Son, and at the present

time has the management of the business at Shamokin.



  This factory, running on full time, employs 150 hands, and is engaged in

manufacturing half-hose, women's, children's and infants' hosiery, besides many

specialties. The yearly output of this factory is about 100,000 dozen, which is

sold to jobbers in the different states. The factory has an excellent reputation

for the fine quality of the yarn used and for the excellence of its goods. It is

an interesting sight to visit this factory, see the busy workers, hear the

click, click, of the machines, and witness the rapidity with which articles are

made.



  December 24, 1889, our subject was united in marriage with Amelia Adams,

daughter of Richard Adams of Bern township, Berks County, Pa., and unto Mr. and

Mrs. Forry were born the following children: John and Frank, twins, born on the

anniversary of the birth of the Father of our Country, February 22, 1893; and

Richard, the youngest, born August 8, 1896.



  Mr. Forry displays marked ability in the management of this industry, and it

is fair to predict a life of usefulness and prosperity for him.





Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

  

  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District

  Published by 

  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)





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