William Dexter Forinash b. 25 Nov 1848 Lewis Co., VA d. 24 Oct 1890 Braxton Co., WV: Meadow Bluff Meanderings

1848 - 1890 (41 years)

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Name	William Dexter Forinash
Birth	25 Nov 1848	Lewis Co., VA [1, 2]
Gender	Male
Census	4 Sep 1850	Lewis Co., VA [3]
	1850
	He was 33 years old, a farmer, born in Virginia. Also living in his household were his wife Milly A. (age 25, born in Virginia), daughter Sarah E. (age 7, born in Virginia), son William D. (age 3, born in Virginia), and son David W. (age 1, born in Virginia). Role: Household Member
Census	26 Jun 1860	Weston, Lewis Co., VA [4]
	1860
	He was 43 years old, a farmer. He had personal estate valued at $100. Also living in his household were his wife Milly A. (age 35), daughter Sarah E. (age 17), son William D. (age 12), daughter Mary C. (age 8), daughter Cynthia J. (age 4), and son Jacob L. (age 2). Role: Household Member
Census	26 Jul 1870	Bulltown, Braxton Co., WV [5]
	1870
	He was 21 years old, a farmer. He owned real estate valued at $450 and personal estate valued at $150. Also living in his household were his wife Cyntha J. (age 21, keeping house), and his son, Nathan T. (age 1).
Census	21 Jun 1880	Kanawha District, Braxton Co., WV [6]
	1880
	He was 32 years old, a farmer, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia. Also living in his household were his wife, Cyntha J. (age 32, keeping house, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia); son, Nathan T. (age 11, works on farm, born in West Virginia); daughter, Cora F. (age 6, born in West Virginia); and daughter Matilda F. (age 3, born in West Virginia).
Employment	1885-1886	Newville, Braxton Co., WV [7]
	postmaster
	He was appointed on 23 Sep 1885 and succeeded by Andrew B. Beamer on 5 Mar 1886.
Occupation	farmer
Death	24 Oct 1890	Braxton Co., WV [2]
Burial	Newville Cemetery, Newville, Braxton Co., WV [8]
Person ID	I3954	Meadow Bluff Meanderings
Last Modified	21 Sep 2025

Father	Isaac Forinash, b. 14 Apr 1817, Buckhannon, Lewis Co., VA d. Between 1891 and 1896 (Age 73 years)
Mother	Amelia Ann "Millie" Plant, b. 1822, Harrison Co., VA d. Between 1896 and 1900 (Age 74 years)
Marriage	7 Nov 1841	Lewis Co., VA [9]
	Married by Carr Bailey, minister of the Baptist Church. [9]
Family ID	F8008	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Cyntha Jane Hardman, b. 26 Mar 1848, Lewis Co., VA d. 19 May 1934, Sutton, Braxton Co., WV (Age 86 years)

Marriage 11 Mar 1868 Braxton Co., WV [10]

Married by George J. Marsh. [10]

Children

	1. Nathan Theodore Forinash, b. 15 Mar 1869, Braxton Co., WV d. 24 Oct 1936, Orlando, Lewis Co., WV (Age 67 years)
	2. John Simon Forinash, b. 10 Sep 1872, Braxton Co., WV d. 2 Dec 1872, Braxton Co., WV (Age 0 years)
	3. Cora Frances Forinash, b. 3 Mar 1873, Braxton Co., WV d. 27 Jan 1961, Elkins, Randolph Co., WV (Age 87 years)
	4. Matilda Florence "May" Forinash, b. 1 Sep 1875, Braxton Co., WV d. 14 Mar 1944, Summersville, Nicholas Co., WV (Age 68 years)

Family ID F1672 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 20 Jun 2010

Event Map

Employment - postmaster - 1885-1886 - Newville, Braxton Co., WV

= Link to Google Earth

Notes

Braxton County, West Virginia
Will Book 4, p. 216-217

This My last will and testament made this the the 23rd Day of October A.D. 1890 in the County of Braxton and State of Virginia, witnesseth: I, W. D. Forinash being feeble in body but of sound mind do hereby, will and bequeath my property as follows:

First: I give to my son Theodore Forinash, one lot or parcel of of land containing one acre, in the town of Shaversville, also my one fourth interest in Mill Lot and Flouring Mill in Shaversville, County and State aforesaid, which is to be his entire portion of my estate both real and personal.

Second: I give to my wife Cyntha Jane Forinash her mentainance from my farm her natural lifetime, also one grey mare, also two cows her choice.

Third: I give my entire farm, on Bens Run a branch of Elk river County and State aforesaid to my two daughters Cora Francis Forinash, and Matilda Florence Forinash to be divided equally between them.

Fourth: I give to the M. P. Church house now building in Newville, County and State aforesaid twenty-five dollars.

Fifth: I give to my wife Cynthia Jane Forinash all my household effects and five head of hogs and four pigs and my watch - to be her own.

Sixth: I direct that my half interest in the sawed lumber and my half interest in all unsawed timber owned by me and John M. Marple on Laurel Patch run and my interest in a steam saw mill, now on Laurel Patch run, and my four horse team, gears and wagon and all other personal effects not herein disposed of sold to the best advantage purchaser giving bond with approved security for same.

Seventh: After paying all my debts and this will complied with, if there should be any money left, I give it to my wife Cynthia Jane Forinash for her benefit in keeping up the farm. Eighth: I hereby appoint my wife Cynthia Jane Forinash executor of this my last will and testament. Witness my signature and seal this the 23rd day of October 1890.

his
W. D. X Forinash (seal)
Mark

Teste: W. C. Jenkins
Philip Rogers
C. B. Beamer

State of West Virginia
Braxton County court clerks office November 10 - 1890
The last will and testament of W. D. Forinash deceased was this day presented in said office and proven by the oaths of W. C. Jenkins and Philip Rogers lieu of the subscribing witnesses herein and is admitted to record.
Teste C. K. Newlon Clerk

Sources

[S2389] Jim Comstock, editor, The West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, (Richwood, West Virginia: Jim Comstock, 1974.), 3: 80. (Reliability: 3).
lists date of birth as 25 Nov 1848.
[S2450] Newville Cemetery (Newville, Braxton County, West Virginia), Newville Cemetery, Newville, WV, W. D. Forinash marker, photo by Kay Hunter, 20 Sep 2025. (Reliability: 3).
grave marker reads, "W. D. Forinash, DIED Oct. 24, 1890, AGED 43 Yrs. 10 Mos. 29 Ds."
[S1419] Virginia, Lewis County, FCR: Lewis Co., VA 1850, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M432, roll 956, District No. 30, p. 77B, dwelling 1028, family 1043, Isaac Forinash, accessed 19 Sep 2025 (Reliability: 3).
[S2443] Virginia, Lewis County, FCR: Lewis Co., VA 1860, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M653, roll 1358, Weston, p. 73, dwelling 480, family 480, Isaac Forinash, accessed 19 Sep 2025 (Reliability: 3).
[S2392] West Virginia, Braxton County, FCR: Braxton Co., WV 1870, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M593, roll 1685, Clay Township, p. 393B, dwelling 95, family 95, William D. Forinash, accessed 19 Sep 2025 (Reliability: 3).
[S2393] West Virginia, Braxton County, FCR: Braxton Co., WV 1880, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 1999), T9, roll 1400, Kanawha District, enumeration district (ED) 8, p. 441D, dwelling 238, family 238, William D. Forinash, accessed 19 Sep 2025 (Reliability: 3).
[S1686] National Archives and Records Administration Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28, Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, (Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2010), 29 Jun 2014, West Virginia, Barbour - Greenbrier: 17; <http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 Jun 2014 (Reliability: 3).
[S1241] Find A Grave, Find A Grave, ((http://www.findagrave.com/)), accessed 1 Sep 2025), memorial page for William Dexter Forinash (25 Nov 1848–10 Nov 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 138568261; citing Newville Cemetery, Newville, Braxton County, West Virginia, USA; Maintained by Paula Harper (contributor 47628529). (Reliability: 3).
[S1266] West Virginia. Lewis County., Lewis Co., WV Marriage Register, (Digital images. West Virginia Division of Culture and History, West Virginia Vital Research Records. http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/ : 2009.), marriage register, 2: 76, Fornash-Plant, 1841; accessed 19 Jun 2010. (Reliability: 3).
[S1256] West Virginia. Braxton County., Braxton Co., WV Marriage Register, (Digital images. West Virginia Division of Culture and History, West Virginia Vital Research Records. http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/ : 2009.), marriage register, 1: 6, line 13, Forinash-Hardman, 1868; accessed 20 Jun 2010. (Reliability: 3).