A.C. FORGAY and ANNA BELL JORDAN FORGAY

A.C. Forgay, born January 29, 1893, spent his early childhood on a farm near Stephenville, TX.  Both of his parents died in 1906, leaving five boys and three girls orphans.  The three girls and baby brother were put into a orphan's home in Corsicana, TX.  A.C.'s Uncle Charlie Starr managed to keep him out of the orphan's home and brought him to Sweetwater in 1908.

Mr. Starr was a cattle buyer and owned a meat market.  A.C. learned the butcher trade, but did not stay with that too long before he went to work for John M. Green, in a cafe.  He became one of the better cooks or chefs of the area.

In 1912, A.C. married Anna Bell Jordan.  At this time A.C. and his brother-in-law, H.M. Turner, ran a tailor shop on the north side of the square.  His brother-in-law left Sweetwater and went back to East Texas, and A.C. went back into the restaurant business.

A.C. and Anna had five children, kind of two families, Fred and LoRay, then later there was Jack, Annette and A.C., Jr.

In World War I A.C. had to go with a harvent crew as a cook.  He was shipped back to Sweetwater in the winter of 1918 with the flu.  The doctors did not think he would survive, but his uncle got him on a farm in the Plum Creek Community, and he farmed for John Pepper, Sr., for two years.  In 1922 he bought his own farm in the Lake Trammel community.  The family moved back into town in the fall of 1924 for Fred and LoRay to go to public school.  A.C. and Gordon Headrick put in a meat market.  Gordon was Chief of Police so they ran the business as A.C. Forgay Meat Co..  This was the last meat market in Sweetwater that sold only meat.

On October 1, 1925, A.C. started to work on the fire department under Chief Zack Taylor.  The fire department was in 100 block of Locust Street, and the department had two American-LaFrance trucks and Dodge chemical truck.  In 1926 the present fire station was built, and in December 1933 Mr. Taylor died and A.C. was made Chief.  He held that title until he retired in 1961.

Anna was born in Denton County in 1894, and moved to Sweetwater in 1907.  She graduated from Sweetwater High in the 1911-12 term.  She was a very caring person and had a great love for mankind.  She made a wonderful home for A.C. and their children.  She cared for the sick, and never turned any one from her home without food.  If there ever was a saint, Anna was one.

Her health began to fail in the 40's and she passed away in 1951.

A.C. remarried in 1952 to Willie Lue Dooley.  Willie Lue was a teacher in the Sweetwater schools.

At the time A.C. retired from the fire department, he had a small farm on the Divide, so he spent his time back on the farm which was his secret love.  Those 13 years were good to him for he had a great love for the land.

A.C. and Anna were active members of the 4th and Elm Church of Christ.  A.C. did a lot of welfare work for the Boy Scouts and Goodfellows.  He died on February 23, 1974.  Willie Lue died in 1979.  A.C. and Anna are buried in the Sweetwater Cemetery in the Forgay plot.

First 100 Years Nolan County Texas, 1985; submitted by: Janie Davis

DEATH CERTIFICATES - NOLAN CO., TX

Submitted by:  Janie Healer Davis