Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Forgeus, Rev. Solomon F. August 19, 1844 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

REV. SOLOMON F. FORGEUS,
an able and eloquent divine, the highly esteemed pastor of Logan's Valley
Baptist Church, of Bellwood, and vice-president of the Baptist State Mission
and State Education societies, is the only child of Christian and Rebecca
(Linderman) Forgeus, and was born in South Coventry township, Chester county,
Pennsylvania, August 19, 1844. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Forgeus, was
one of the Hessian soldiers who were brought over from Germany by King George
II, of England to aid in his vain attempt of putting down the American
Revolution. He deserted from the British Army, and enlisted under Washington
at Valley Forge. At the close of that war he settled in northern part of
Chester county, where he followed farming until his death. He was a member of
the Evangelical Lutheran church, and reared a respectable and industrious
family of several children. His son, Christian Forgeus (father), died in
Berks county in 1853. He was a shoemaker by trade, but followed
merchandising. He was a Lutheran in religious faith and church membership.
For his second wife he married Rebecca Linderman, daughter of John Linderman,
a native of Germany, who settled in Montgomery county.
   Solomon Forgeus was reared in his native county, and at eighteen years of
age, on August 7, 1862 enlisted as a private in Co. C, 134th Pennsylvania
Infantry, in which he served until May 26, 1863, when he re-enlisted as a
private in Battery C, 3d Pennsylvania heavy artillery. On January 5, 1864, he
was discharged from the battery in order to be commissioned second lieutenant
of Co. G, 9th Regiment United States colored troops. He was promoted to first
lieutenant January 7, 1866, appointed adjutant of the regiment April 1866, and
discharged from Federal service December 19, 1866. He served in the armies of
the James and the Potomac, and in Texas. Returning home from the army he
resumed his school studies at Conoquessing Academy, of Zelienople, Butler
county. At the completion of his academic course he entered Lewisburg
university, from which he was graduated in the class of 1872. Leaving the
university he commenced his studies for the Baptist ministry, and after some
time spent at Cornell university he entered Crozier Theological seminary,
from which he graduated in 1875. After graduation he was called to the
Baptist church of Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, where he was ordained and
installed as a pastor on August 12, 1875. He remained with that church until
1878, when he became pastor of Clark, Green and Mt. Bethel Churches of
Lackawanna county, which he served acceptably for three years. At the end of
that time he assumed charge of the Dunning church, of the same county, for
which he labored successfully until October, 1881. Then he accepted a call to
become pastor of Logan's Valley Baptist Church of Bellwood, where he has
labored diligently and successfully ever since for the upbuilding of the
kingdom of his Divine Master.
   October 28, 1875, Mr. Forgeus married Ida, daughter of Andrew Kennedy, of
Lancaster county. Rev. and Mrs. Forgeus have four children, one son and three
daughters: Susan, Royal, Margaret R., and Elizabeth.
   Rev. Forgeus, in politics, was formerly a republican but is now a
prohibitionist, and has served as a member of the borough school board since
its organization in 1888. His services for the advancement of his church and
in the cause of education and Christianity have received recognition at the
hands of the Baptists of the State, who, through their representatives in
associations and other organizations, have made him vice-president of their
State mission and educational societies, while he served for nearly ten years
as secretary of the Baptist State Minister's Union. Solomon F. Forgeus, while
pleasant and courteous, yet is firm in his convictions and decided in the
course of action which he deems to be right upon any question or issue. He is
a man of clear perception, good judgment, fine scholarship, and retentive
memory. He is logical, interesting, and at times very eloquent in advocating
what is right or denouncing that which is wrong. As a pastor his constant
endeavor has been to declare to his hearers the word of life, and his sermons
represent his own deep-felt convictions as to truth and duty. 

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Janet Gray.

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