|
|
|
|
|
Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Benjamin Forstner
~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Print Friendly Version |
|
Benjamin Forstner
|
|
| LAST NAME: Forstner
|
FIRST NAME: Benjamin
|
MIDDLE NAME:
|
NICKNAME:
|
|
| MAIDEN NAME:
|
AKA 1:
|
AKA 2:
|
AKA 3:
|
|
| TITLE: Mr.
|
GENDER: M
|
MILITARY:
|
|
| BORN: 25 Mar 1834
|
DIED: 27 Feb 1897
|
BURIED: 2 Mar 1897
|
|
| ETHNICITY:
|
OCCUPATION: Gunsmith, inventor, merchant
|
|
| BIRTH PLACE: Beaver Co., Pennsylvania
|
|
| DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
|
|
NOTES:
IOOF - Benjamin Forstner, age 62 y's 11 m's 2 d's, born in Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, died at N. Commercial St., of la gripee, deceased was a gun smith by profession.
MARRIAGE - "Benj. Forstner & Louisa Snyder, m 20 Oct 1868 at house of & by C. F.Dininger, M.G. Wit: John w. Bates & Rosie Deininger #1098 pg 416".
|
|
DEATH CERTIFICATE:
|
|
OBITUARY:
BENJ. FORSTNER DEAD. HE WAS A GUNSMITH IN SALEM FOR MANY YEARS.
Came to Oregon in 1863 as a Member of the Aurora Colony. Benjamin Forstner, for many years a gunsmith of Salem and later engaged in the dry goods business, died at his home on North Commercial street at 2:51 p.m. yesterday.
At 1 o'clock he dined with his wife and daughter, occupying the head of the table as usual. He was in excellent spirits and remarked that he felt quite well, having experienced considerable illness for a year or more by reason of a severe attack of la grippe. After dinner he engaged in a business talk with Mr. Kightlinger, a visitor, and a few minutes later was heard to complain of being slightly fatigued. He laid down, his wife attending him, and he began coughing. Suddenly and without the least warning his life became extinct.
Mr. Forstner was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on March 25, 1834. He remained in that state until he reached his majority and then moved to Missouri where he resided until 1863 when he joined the Kyle colony and started for Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama route.
He was with the colony in the founding of the town of Aurora, in Marion county. In 1865 Mr. Forstner came to Salem and the following year he was united in wedlock with Miss Louisa Snyder, who is a sister of Mrs. John Knight. The only child is an adopted daughter, a niece of Mrs. Forstner.
Mr. Forstner established himself in the gunsmith business in this city at an early day and continued to pursue that work until about eight years ago when he retired, having by considerable energy and strict economy accumulated sufficient money and property to enable him to take up an occupation less irksome. His residence and workshop were situated on the ground where his two commodious brick buildings now stand--on the west side of Commercial street and at the present occupied by the Salem woolen mill store and E. F. Neff.
Last year he erected a large and handsome residence on his block of land near the northern terminus of Commercial street. He possessed considerable farm property across the river in Polk county, and also owned 160 acres of timber near Gates, on the upper Santiam river.
Mr. Forstner was the inventor of the celebrated "Forstner flange bit" or Webfoot augur, which is now manufactured by the Colts company at Bridgeport, Connecticut; this company was paying him a large royalty for the right to manufacture and sell the bit. He was awarded the premium for it at the centennial expecition and World's fair of 1876 and 1893, respectively. He also invented an electric motor. He made several trips throughout the United States in the interest of his patents and was among the visitors at the two great exhibitions aforementioned. Mrs. John Bier, formerly of Salem, but now of Corvallis, is his sister. A. H. Forstner, of Salem, is his first cousin. The funeral arrangements had not been perfected up to a late hour last evening.
Daily Oregon Statesman 28 Feb 1897 5:4
The funeral of Benjamin Forstner, deceased, will be held at the family residence on North Commercial street at 2 o'clock p.m. today. Friends of the family are invited to be present.
Daily Oregon Statesman 2 Mar 1897 4:3
|
|
INSCRIPTION:
Benjamin Forstner
Died
Feb. 27, 1897
Aged 63 years 11 mos 4 da.
|
|
SOURCES:
LR
IOOF Register of Burials
Marion County Oregon Marriage Records, 1849-1871, Vol. I, pg 71
DAR pg 14
OS 28 Feb 1897 5:4
OS 2 Mar 1897 4:3
|
|
CONTACTS:
|
|
| LOT: 375
|
SPACE: S½
|
LONGITUDE:
|
LATITUDE:
|
|
|
|
|
