Joseph Forbes
| Date of Interment or Death | 08/31/1960 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Fairview |
| Section | D |
| Block-Lot-Grave | 4-8-9 |
Obituary
Dean of States Attorneys, Jos. G. Forbes, Dies at 92
Funeral services for Joseph G Forbes, 92, dean of North Dakota attorneys who died Tuesday, will be held Friday afternoon at two o’clock from First Congregational church. Rev. Frank Hirons officiating. Masonic graveside rites will be held. The body will lie in state at the Vertin-Schmitt and Poulton North Chapel after 4 p.m., Thursday.
Joseph Forbes was born March 19, 1868 in Ontario, one of 13 children who have all preceded him in death. He graduated from high school in Marshall and attended Hamline University. He taught school at Morton and Sleepy Eye, Minn., and then entered the practice of law in Sleepy Eye. He later moved to Lake Benton and was county attorney there several years, resigning in 1899 to move to Wahpeton. He joined the law firm of U.S. Senator Porter J. McCumber and Dan R. Jones. Later he formed the law firm of Forbes and Forbes. He married Katherine Watson in Marshall, Minn., Oct. 21, 1893. Their oldest son Arnold was born in Lake Benton. Stanley, who died at the age of 21, was born in Wahpeton as was Vernon.
Both Arnold and Vernon joined their father in the law firm, both were states attorneys in Richland county as their father had been. Arnold is now district judge in Bemidji; Vernon has just completed a term as U.S. judge in Alaska, now is a bank official in Fairbanks.
Joseph Forbes never became a judge although he was offered an appointment by Governor Shafer, following the death of the late Charles E. Wolfe. He disqualified himself, pointing out that he could not accept because he was a state senator at the time. He retired in 1954.
Through the years he was prominent in Wahpeton affairs. He was on the school board many terms and president of the board nine years. He was president of the board of Leach Public library for many years. He served as state senator from this district one term, being followed in that office by the late Henry Field. In the senate he served on the judiciary committee. He was president of the District Bar Association.
Interment will be in the family lot in Fairview Cemetery beside his wife, who died July 1, and his son, Stanley, who died in 1923. Pallbearers at the last rites will be Leo Novetzke, S. H. Murray, Harvey Bisek, B. P. McCusker, Dale McMichael and Wallace Worner.
Mr. and Mrs. Forbes marked their 66th wedding anniversary at Wahpeton Rehabilitation Center where they made their home the last year.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
Old Fairview is located on the southern half of the cemetery grounds.