Jonathan David Fortney 1820-1885 (111000)

Fortney's Mill, Preston County, West Virginia in about 1960.
It was located on Three Fork Creek, near the Tygart River.

Jonathan David Fortney, son of Peter & Doshia (Turner?) Fortney, was born 1 January 1820 near Shinnston, Harrison County, (now West) Virginia. This birth date comes from Family Search, and has yet to be confirmed. We know from census data that he was born about 1820. Since his family lived in Preston County, (West) Virginia, for the 1820 Census, it is likely that this was where he was born.

 

The falls near Fortney's Mill on Three Forks Creek. This
was part of the original Fortney property.

Jonathan married Nancy Jane Menear about 1841 in Preston County, (West) Virginia. No marriage record has been found for the couple, but Jonathan is mentioned in the book A History of Preston County, West Virginia by Oren Frederic Morton (1914) as a son of Peter Jr, and as being married to Nancy Menear, daughter of John Menear and Catherine Fortney. Catherine Fortney was the sister of Peter Fortney Jr., so Jonathan's aunt. This means that Jonathan married his first cousin. There are no marriage records extant for Preston County, where they were living, and undoubtedly where they were married, so such a record will probably never be found.

I have searched the West Virginia Vital Records site for marriage and death records for all of the children, in hopes that one might give the mother's maiden name. For most, I have found marriage records, and for some death records, none of these had the mother's maiden name listed. This makes it difficult to confirm the information given in the Preston County history. Given how early the book was written, it is probable that Morton would have interviewed family members who were still alive at the time the book was written. At least two sons lived until 1920. this makes it likely that the information in the book may be correct, and may be a reliable source of information about the family.

1850 United States Federal Census

Name:	Jonathan W Fortney
Age:	29
Birth Year:	abt 1821
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1850:	District 45, Preston, Virginia
Gender:	Male
Family Number:	458
Household Members:	Name Age Jonathan W Fortney 29 Nancy Fortney 27 Julia Fortney 6 John W Fortney 5 Simon P Fortney 5 Victoria Fortney 4 Lewis Fortney 2

This map shows the general location of Fortney's Mill, on Three Fork Creek in Preston County, West Virginia. The site is  now used as a public park and is a popular place for swimming and picnicking.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Jonathan "W" Fortney is living in District 45, Preston County, West Virginia in household and family number 458. He is 29 years old, with an occupation of Blacksmith. He is listed as born in Virginia. Living with him are his wife Nancy 27, and children--Julia 6, John W. 5, Simon P. 5, Victoria 4, Lewis 2.

Fortney's Mill Park

1860 United States Federal Census

Name:	Jonathan Fortney
Age in 1860:	40
Birth Year:	abt 1820
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1860:	District 7, Preston, Virginia
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Independence
Household Members:	Name Age Jonathan Fortney 40 Nancy J Fortney 37 Julia Fortney 17 Simon P Fortney 16 John W Fortney 16 Elizabeth V Fortney 13 Elzey L Fortney 12 Phebe Fortney 5 David C Fortney 3 Dona D Fortney 1

In the 1860 Federal Census, Jonathan Fortney is living in District 7, Preston County, West Virginia. The post office is Independence. He is 40 years old, with an occupation of Gunsmith. He has 5,000 dollars worth of real estate, and 200 dollars worth of personal estate.

In the 1850 Census, Jonathan was listed as being a Blacksmith. By the 1860 Census he was listed as a Gunsmith, so he had upgraded his skills in time for the Civil War when business for a gunsmith would have been booming. Gunsmithing was a proud tradition in the Fortney family for at least four generations before Jonathan.

This musket was created by Johan Melchior Fortineaux in about 1750. Note the lovely details in this piece. Gunsmithing skills were taught in the family over at least four generations. Jonathan was keeping with family tradition.

Jonathan served in the Home Guard in Preston County, as Captain:

West Virginia Militia Database Item Details: Record Id: 19488

County: Preston

Unit: Home Guard attchd to 173 Mil

Name: Jonathan Fortney

Rank: Capt.

Company: Wm H Moore Co.

The home guard had the task of patrolling the county borders, and protecting its citizens from encroaching enemy raiders and troops. As a Captain, Jonathan would be responsible for training his men, and setting up a schedule of patrols in the  area which they had been ordered to protect.

In 1866, "J. D. Fortney" appeared in the tax list as living near the city of Independence and working as a "manufacturer." I suspect that he was making guns and tools with his smithing skills.

1870 United States Federal Census

about Jouatha Fortney

Name:	Jouatha Fortney [Jonathan Fortney]
Age in 1870:	50
Birth Year:	abt 1820
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1870:	Lyon, Preston, West Virginia
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Rowlesburg
Household Members:	Name Age Jonathan Fortney 50 Nancy Fortney 48 Julia Fortney 36 Ellery L Fortney 21 David Fortney 14 Phoebe Fortney 15 Dona Fortney 11 Benjam Fortney 8 Charles Fortney 6

In the 1870 Federal Census, he was living in Lyon, Preston County West Virginia. The post office is given as Rowlesburg, house number 425 and family visited number is the same. Jonathan Fortney is listed as 50 years old, with occupation as Gunsmith & Miller (this last is difficult to read, but can also be seen in listings for his son's occupations). He has 2800 dollars worth of real estate, and 150 dollars worth of personal property.

1880 United States Federal Census

Name:	J. D. Fortney
Age:	59
Birth Year:	abt 1821
Birthplace:	Virginia
Home in 1880:	Lyon, Preston, West Virginia
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Self (Head)
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Nancy J. Fortney
Father's Birthplace:	Maryland
Mother's Birthplace:	Maryland
Occupation:	Miller
Household Members:	Name Age J. D. Fortney 59 Nancy J. Fortney 57 David Fortney 22 Benj. Fortney 18 Charles Fortney 14

In the 1880 Federal Census, J. D. Fortney was listed as in the 304 household and 313 family visited. He was living in Lyon, Preston County, West Virginia. He was 59 years old, and had settled into a peaceful full time occupation of "Miller," though he undoubtedly still used his smithing skills as needed. He shares with the enumerator that he was born in Virginia, and both parents were born in Maryland.

The Fortineux Family book has him as number 1-3-7-5-2 Jonathan David, and has his occupation listed as Miller, Gunsmith, Mechanic. The occupations Miller and Gunsmith are given in the census records. The land on which Jonathan lived later became a public park called "Fortney's Mill." The mill was still standing after the property had become a park, but in the 1960s it was deemed a public hazard and so was burned down. This was because the wood in the building was beginning to rot, and visitors might fall through the collapsing edifice, which was already well over a hundred years old.

His parents are named in his death record, which also gives his death date 4 Jul 1885 at age 74 (if this were correct, he would have been born about 1811), and his wife, Nancy, is also named. His death record also says that his occupation was Miller, and he died of an "Abscess in Stomach." Family tradition says that he was struck in the stomach by a plow while working in the field, which may have caused the abscess. It is unknown where he is buried, though it is likely that it was on the family property somewhere.