Biography of Earl W. Forrest, pages 873/874.  History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914



Earl W. Forrest



One of Smithfield township’s agriculturists and stock men who is 
deserving of a place in this book is Earl W. Forrest, a man of courage, 
self-reliance and the utmost integrity of purpose, as a result of which 
he has, during his entire life, stood high in the estimation of his 
neighbors and friends, whose interest he has sought to promote while 
endeavoring to advance his own.

	Earl W. Forrest was born on August 6, 1879, on the old homestead 
farm on section 19, Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is 
the son of William R. and Lucy C. (Canfield) Forrest.  He was reared 
under the parental roof, securing a good education in the schools of 
his native township, and has followed farming from his boyhood.  He was 
early in life imbued with he notion that there was a dignity and 
independence in the agricultural vocation not to be found in any other 
line of effort, and he has intelligently and properly directed his 
efforts along this line, this labors being crowned with a fair measure 
of success.  In addition to farming operation, Mr. Forrest has also 
engaged in threshing in season up to the present time, having 
purchased, in the fall of 1909, a complete, modern threshing outfit, 
and is this special line of effort he has been successful on his own 
account, and has been of great assistance to the farmers of his 
community.   He engages in farming operation on his father’s farm of 
one hundred acres and forty acres where he lives, and he just completed 
the erection of a fine, up-to-date barn, costing about three thousand 
dollars, and which is generally considered one of the best structures 
of its kind in the township.  It is note worthy that most of the heavy 
material for this barn was cut and shaped on the farm where it was 
used. Active, resourceful and progressive, Mr. Forrest has the true 
twentieth-century spirit of enterprise, not being bound by old-time 
methods; but has forged ahead and followed the most improved lines, 
being rightfully classed among the leading agriculturists of his 
county.  Politically, Mr. Forrest is an earnest Republican and active 
in his interest for that organization, though his private affairs have 
made such heavy demands on his time that he has not aspired to any 
public office for himself.

	Mr. Forrest was married on July 9, 1898, to Myrtle Curry, the 
daughter of David and Emma (Thorpe) Curry.  Mrs. Forrest’s father was a 
native of Ohio, who came to Allen county, Indiana, in 1874, living in 
Huntertown until about three years ago, when he located in Garrett, 
Indiana, where he now resides.   To him and his wife were born six 
children, viz.: Henry; Myrtle, Mrs. Forrest; Mrs. Luella Hoover, of 
Garrett; Mrs. Carrie Waterbeck, of Garrett; Charles and Bessie.  Mrs. 
Forrest’s mother, who was born near Maysville, now known as Harlan, 
Indiana, is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Forrest have been born seven 
children, viz.: Loyd, who died at the age of three years; Orville, 
deceased; Edna, Lavon, Viola, Donald and Clark.

	In his relations with his fellow men, Mr. Forrest has been guided 
by the highest motives.  He has the greatest sympathy for his fellows 
and is always willing to aid and encourage those who are struggling to 
aid themselves.  Yet in this, as in other things, he is entirely 
unassuming.  When he believes that he is on the right path, nothing can 
swerve him from it.  His home life is a sacred trust, and his 
friendships are inviolable.  He has commanded the respect of all 
classes by his exemplary life, and today is an honor to the community 
in which he lives.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com