Nathaniel B. Forgay

"He was born at Natchez, Mississippi, November 7, 1839. In the year 1854 he came overland with a team to California, settling at Spring Garden ranch, and mining for six months. From there he went to Indian valley, and worked on a farm until 1857, and then mined at Rich Gulch until 1863. For a few months he freighted from Indian Valley to Virginia City, Nevada. In 1864 he bought the farm now owned by William Foreman, and sold it in 1868, when he went to Big Meadows, purchased another ranch, sold it the following year, and went to Indian Valley. He then bought the Maxwell place, near Greenville, on which he has since resided. With additions made, he now has 388 acres. He was married April 25, 1865, to Miss Lucretia Johnston, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 12, 1840, and came to Plumas County in 1864. Their children are Lizzie, born January 29, 1866; Paradine, March 14, 1867; James A., April 12, 1868; Arnold, June 12, 1870; Alma, September 26, 1872; Leota, October 28, 1878—all of whom are living in Indian valley. Mr. Forgay is a member of Indian Valley Lodge No. 136, I.O.O.F."

Courtesy Plumas County Biographies.

INDIAN VALLEY PIONEER GOES

  TO HOME IN GREAT BEYOND

Nathaniel B. Forgay Dies September

    16, Buried Sunday; Leaves Two

        Sons and Three Daughters.

    GREENVILLE, Sept. 22 - With the death of Nathaniel B. Forgay in his home near here Friday (16 Sep 1921), Plumas County loses another of its rapidly diminishing band of pioneers and trail blazers and an energetic and progressive community build.

    Mr. Forgay was a native of Mississippi, having been born in Natchez, November 1835.  He came to California in 1854, traveling by team along the old overland trail.  For the first six months of his residence in Plumas County he was located near Spring Garden, engaged in mining.

    From Spring Garden, he moved to Indian Valley where he worked on a ranch until 1857.  He then went to Rich Gulch where he followed mining until 1863.

    In 1864, after a few months as a freighter between Indian Valley and Virginia City (Nevada) which he worked until 1868 when he sold it and removed to Big Meadows.  He purchased a farm there, only to sell it the following year and return to Indian Valley to purchase the Maxwell place, near Greenville, where he resided until his death.

    April 25, 1865, Mr. Forgay took as his bride Miss Lucretia Johnson, who was born in Pennsylvania May 12, 1840, and came to Plumas County in 1864.

    Mr. Forgay is survived by two sons, James A., who resides on the home place near here, and Arnold, in business in Los Angeles (California), and three daughters, Mrs. Leota Muller (Mullen), of Engelmine, Mrs. Alma Landon, of Greenville, and Mrs. Laradine Kaiser, also of Greenville.  A fourth daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth McKenzie, died several years ago.  There are also several grandchildren, including L.N. Kaiser and Mrs. Walter Hall of this place.

     Funeral services were held at the home Sunday (18 Sep 1922) afternoon at 2 o'clock under the auspices of the Taylorsville I.O.O.F. lodge, of which Mr. Forgay was a member for many years.  Burial was made in Greenville Cemetery.

    The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Indian Valley, friends coming from far and near.  Mr. Forgay was highly esteemed and respected, and his death is a decided loss to the community.

(Quincy, California, Plumas National - Bulletin, 22 Sep 1922, page 1)

Note:  Items in parentheses is added information.)