
Stehman
Forney,
an officer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
since 1865, and a veteran of the Civil War, died in New York
City on August 8, in the 71st year of his age. Mr. Forney
was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on April 22, 1846, and
was educated at Lebanon, West Chester, and Lititz Academies,
in Pennsylvania. He entered the Coast Survey as aid January
1, 1865; was promoted to subassistant July 1, 1868, and was
appointed an assistant April 1, 1871.
Mr. Forney enlisted as a Private in the 127th Pennsylvania
Volunteers in 1863, and was twice wounded during the war.
He was taken prisoner by the Confederates at the Battle of
Gettysburg. After entering the Coast Survey, in January 1865,
he was attached to the party of Charles O. Bontelle, United
States Coast Survey, commanding the Steamer BIBB, then serving
under the orders of Admiral Dahlgren, United States Navy,
on the coast of South Carolina, and he continued on this duty
until June 30, 1865. Mr. Forney's service in the Coast and
Geodetic Survey was of a varied nature.
He served with Professor George Davidson in Alaska when that
Territory was transferred to the United States by Russia in
1867. He served on both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and
in Puerto Rico in charge of parties engaged in triangulations,
topographic and hydrographic work. The last field work upon
which he was engaged was a revision of the surveys in the
vicinity of Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. For a time
he was in charge of the Engraving Division of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey office.
Mr. Forney was an excellent topographer, and incidentally
rendered valuable service in training the young officers assigned
to work under his direction. He had been in bad health for
more than a year. A wife and one daughter survive him.
C&GS Bulletin, 8/19/1916