History of Lincoln County North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

Peter Forney, representative, was Born in Lincoln county, N.C., in April, 1756. His ancestors were Huguenots who left France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and subsequently found a home in America. Peter was a soldier in the American army during the war for independence and afterward engaged in the manufacture of iron. He was a member of the house of commons of North Carolina, 1794-96, and a state senator, 1801-02. He represented North Carolina in the 13th congress, 1813-15. He was a presidential elector, 1800-1832, voting for Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson. He died in Lincoln county, N.C., Feb. 1, 1834.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Graham, representative, was born in Lincoln county, N.C., January, 1793; son of Gen. Joseph Graham, a patriot of the war of the Revolution. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1814 and became a lawyer in Lincoln county. He removed to Rutherford county from where he was a Whig representative in the house of commons of the state, 1822-29, and a representative in the 23d-27th congresses, 1833-43, anal in the 29th congress, 1845-47. He died in Rutherfordton, N.C., Sept. 25, 1851.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Henry Forney, representative, was born in Lincoln county, N.C, Nov. 9, 1823; son of the Hon. Daniel M. Forney, and grandson of the Hon. Peter Forney. He was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1844 and was a 1st lieutenant in the 1st Alabama volunteers in the war with Mexico. On returning from Mexico he was admitted to, the bar in 1848 and practised law for twenty-five years. He was a representative in the Alabama state legislature in 1859; a captain in the Confederate army in 1861, and surrendered at Appomattox in 1865 when holding the rank of brigadier-general in Lee's army. Returning to Alabama he was a state senator, 1865-66. He came under the operation of the reconstruction acts of congress and held no state office after 1866. He was a trustee of the University of Alabama, 1851-60. He was a representative in the 44th-52d congresses, 1874-94, and died in Washington, D.C., Jan. 17, 1894.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Pinckney Henderson, governor of Texas, was born in Lincoln county, N.C., March 31, 1808. He was educated in Lincolnton, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1828, before he had reached his majority. In 1835 he removed to Mississippi and recruited a company for service in behalf of the republic of Texas. He preceded his company to Texas in the spring of 1836 and reached Austin after the battle of San Jacinto. President Burnet commissioned him brigadier-general and he returned to the United States to recruit volunteers. He raised a company at his own expense in his native state, with which he reached Galveston in November, 1836, just after Gen. Sam Houston had been inaugurated president of the republic. Houston made him attorney-general and soon after secretary of state. Early in 1838 he was made envoy to England and France to secure recognition from those nations of the independence of Texas, and to effect treaties of amity and commerce. Lewis Cass was U.S. minister to France and greatly aided Envoy Henderson in his difficult mission. While in Paris in 1839 he was married to Frances E. Cox, of Philadelphia, Pa. He returned to Texas in February, 1840, where he was accorded an ovation for his diplomatic service. He was appointed in 1844 Texan minister-extraordinary to the United States to join Resident Minister Van Zandt in negotiating a treaty of annexation. The treaty as prepared was rejected by the U.S. senate, but annexation was secured, March 1, 1845, by joint resolutions of the U.S. congress. He was a delegate to the convention which framed the state constitution in 1845 and in November of that year was elected the first governor of Texas. He was inaugurated Feb. 19, 1846, and by May of that year he had four regiments in the field to take part in the war with Mexico. He was authorized by the legislature to lead the troops and was commissioned major-general in the U.S. army. He achieved distinction at the battle of Monterey, Sept. 21-25, 1846, and was voted a sword and thanks of congress. He was, with Jefferson Davis and others, a commissioner to negotiate terms of capitulation with Ampudia, the commander of the Mexican forces at Monterey. After six months' service he resumed his office as governor of Texas and completed his term of office, refusing re-election, his health being much broken. In December, 1857, the legislature of Texas elected him U.S. senator as successor to his law partner, Thomas J. Rusk, deceased. He went to Cuba for his health, then proceeded to Washington, where he took his seat in March, 1858, during the first session of the 35th congress. He served but a few days, and then went to Philadelphia for medical treatment. He died in Washington, D.C., June 4, 1858.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Lincoln County North Carolina

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