Tehama County

Biographies

 

ALFRED T. FORWARD – SONS AND BROTHER

One of the best farms of Tehama county was conducted by Alfred T. Forward in association with his sons and his brother, Frank Forward. The property is a fine ranch of two thousand acres near Manton, in the eastern part of the county, surrounded by ideal natural conditions. Alfred T. Forward was born in Shasta county, near Manton, on the 26th of July, 1876, and was a son of Walter K. and Mary L. (Greer) forward, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. The paternal grandfather was from the south, where he owned slaves, but in an early day he sold his interests there and went to Oregon. He built a sawmill at The Dalles, which he operated for a time, and then came to California, locating in Contra Costa county, where his death occurred when he was about one hundred years of age. Walter K. Forward graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in the same class with U. S. Grant, R. E. Lee and others who became military leaders. On coming west he went to Oregon, where he met Jerome B. Greer, who had preceded him. At that time also he formed the acquaintance of his future wife, Mary L. Greer. They became the parents of nine children, as follows: Walter K., who lives in Dunsmuir, California; Ella J., a brilliant woman, who though past seventy in years of age is still following the profession of teaching at Knightsen, this state; Blair, who is a stockman at Alturas, California; Cornelia, who died of influenza in 1918; Lincoln S., a stockman at Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Chauncey R., a master mechanic, who is with the Chevrolet Motor Company at Oakland; Frank, who was in partnership with his brother, Alfred T., in their ranching operations; Frances V., the wife of William E. Berdleman, a locomotive engineer in logging operations at Anderson, California; and Alfred T., of this review.

Alfred T. Forward received a public school education and has always been identified with farming and stock raising. He and his brother Frank were the owners of two thousand acres of land, northeast of Red Bluff, most of which is surrounded by big tree forests. An abundance of the purest water is supplied by never failing mountain streams, and here are raised the finest flavored pears, apples and other fruits, while the best of hunting and fishing abound, the whole presenting an extremely attractive prospect. The members of the Forward family have also been active in the lumber business during the past thirty-three years, and Alfred T. and Frank Forward cut down and utilized some of the monarchs of the forest with which the ranch is surrounded. For many years Alfred T. Forward had been in poor health, but his indomitable spirit carried him on until the end, his death occurring April 14, 1931. The sawmill which he formerly owned has been taken over by his sons, Alva and Lorin, and by their uncle Frank, who operate it to the fullest extent together with the supervision of their interests in the production and handling of fruit. Alva and Lorin Forward, together with their uncle Frank, have established their own retail and wholesale store for the sale of apples and such by-products as cider, jelly and apple butter, which they make themselves and deliver to all points in northern California by truck.

Alfred T. Forward was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Randall, whose father, Dan B. Randall, came here from Vermont and engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Forward became the parents of three children, Alva L., who is a graduate of the high school at Red Bluff, married Miss Bernice Johnson and they have two children, Russell Lewell and Beverly June. Lorin is at home and assists in the care of the farm and orchard. Thalia Alice also is at home. Mr. Forward gave his political support to the republican party and was a member of Red Bluff Lodge, No. 1250, B. P. O. E., at Red Bluff. He was a man of earnest purpose, clean life and kindly manner and all who came in contact with him held him in high regard.

Transcribed by Sande Beach.

 

© 2005 Sande Beach.